linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH v1 1/3] coding-style.rst: document BUG() and WARN() rules ("do not crash the kernel")

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Date:   Tue, 4 Oct 2022 14:32:45 +0200
From:   David Hildenbrand <david@...hat.com>
To:     Kalle Valo <kvalo@...nel.org>
Cc:     linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org, linux-mm@...ck.org,
        linux-doc@...r.kernel.org, linuxppc-dev@...ts.ozlabs.org,
        Linus Torvalds <torvalds@...ux-foundation.org>,
        Andrew Morton <akpm@...ux-foundation.org>,
        Ingo Molnar <mingo@...nel.org>,
        David Laight <David.Laight@...LAB.COM>,
        Jonathan Corbet <corbet@....net>,
        Andy Whitcroft <apw@...onical.com>,
        Joe Perches <joe@...ches.com>,
        Dwaipayan Ray <dwaipayanray1@...il.com>,
        Lukas Bulwahn <lukas.bulwahn@...il.com>,
        Baoquan He <bhe@...hat.com>, Vivek Goyal <vgoyal@...hat.com>,
        Dave Young <dyoung@...hat.com>,
        Jani Nikula <jani.nikula@...ux.intel.com>,
        Michael Ellerman <mpe@...erman.id.au>,
        Nicholas Piggin <npiggin@...il.com>,
        Christophe Leroy <christophe.leroy@...roup.eu>
Subject: Re: [PATCH v1 1/3] coding-style.rst: document BUG() and WARN() rules
 ("do not crash the kernel")

On 26.09.22 09:44, Kalle Valo wrote:
> David Hildenbrand <david@...hat.com> writes:
> 
>>>> +Use WARN_ON_ONCE() rather than WARN() or WARN_ON()
>>>> +**************************************************
>>>> +
>>>> +WARN_ON_ONCE() is generally preferred over WARN() or WARN_ON(), because it
>>>> +is common for a given warning condition, if it occurs at all, to occur
>>>> +multiple times. This can fill up and wrap the kernel log, and can even slow
>>>> +the system enough that the excessive logging turns into its own, additional
>>>> +problem.
>>>
>>> FWIW I have had cases where WARN() messages caused a reboot, maybe
>>> mention that here? In my case the logging was so excessive that the
>>> watchdog wasn't updated and in the end the device was forcefully
>>> rebooted.
>>>
>>
>> That should be covered by the last part, no? What would be your suggestion?
> 
> I was just thinking that maybe make it more obvious that even WARN_ON()
> can crash the system, something along these lines:
> 
> "..., additional problem like stalling the system so much that it causes
> a reboot."

Hi Kalle,

sorry for the late reply. Jonathan already queued v2 and sent it upstream.

I think that's it is already covered by the statement and that the 
additional example isn't required -- most of us learned the hard way 
that "excessive logging turns into its own problem" includes all weird 
kinds of kernel crashes. A panic/reboot due to a watchdog not firing is 
one such possible outcome.

Thanks!

-- 
Thanks,

David / dhildenb