netdev - Re: [PATCH] carl9170: Replace rcu_dereference() with rcu_access

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Date:	Mon, 18 Aug 2014 21:29:36 +0200
From:	Christian Lamparter <chunkeey@...glemail.com>
To:	Andreea-Cristina Bernat <bernat.ada@...il.com>
Cc:	linville@...driver.com, linux-wireless@...r.kernel.org,
	netdev@...r.kernel.org, linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org,
	paulmck@...ux.vnet.ibm.com
Subject: Re: [PATCH] carl9170: Replace rcu_dereference() with rcu_access_pointer()

On Sunday, August 17, 2014 01:48:07 PM Andreea-Cristina Bernat wrote:
> The rcu_dereference() call is used directly in a condition.
> Since its return value is never dereferenced it is recommended to use
> "rcu_access_pointer()" instead of "rcu_dereference()".
> Therefore, this patch makes the replacement.
> [...]
> Signed-off-by: Andreea-Cristina Bernat <bernat.ada@...il.com>
> ---
>  drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/main.c | 2 +-
>  1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)
> 
> diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/main.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/main.c
> index f8ded84..12018ff 100644
> --- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/main.c
> +++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/main.c
> @@ -1431,7 +1431,7 @@ static int carl9170_op_ampdu_action(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
>  			return -EOPNOTSUPP;
>  
>  		rcu_read_lock();
> -		if (rcu_dereference(sta_info->agg[tid])) {
> +		if (rcu_access_pointer(sta_info->agg[tid])) {
>  			rcu_read_unlock();
>  			return -EBUSY;
>  		}

There's more. The check does not do a whole lot. I think *it* [the check] and the
rcu_read_[un]lock [and the return -EBUSY] can be removed completely from the
IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_START code-path in carl9170_op_ampdu_action.

It would be awesome, if you could you make a patch which removes this 
unneeded cosmic-ray-protection check :-) .

Thanks
Christian
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