netdev - Re: [PATCH v2] net/mlx5e: Use refcount

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Date:   Tue, 6 Aug 2019 09:59:58 +0300
From:   Leon Romanovsky <leon@...nel.org>
To:     Saeed Mahameed <saeedm@...lanox.com>
Cc:     "hslester96@...il.com" <hslester96@...il.com>,
        "davem@...emloft.net" <davem@...emloft.net>,
        "netdev@...r.kernel.org" <netdev@...r.kernel.org>,
        "linux-rdma@...r.kernel.org" <linux-rdma@...r.kernel.org>,
        "linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org" <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>
Subject: Re: [PATCH v2] net/mlx5e: Use refcount_t for refcount

On Mon, Aug 05, 2019 at 08:06:36PM +0000, Saeed Mahameed wrote:
> On Mon, 2019-08-05 at 14:55 +0800, Chuhong Yuan wrote:
> > On Mon, Aug 5, 2019 at 2:13 PM Leon Romanovsky <leon@...nel.org>
> > wrote:
> > > On Sun, Aug 04, 2019 at 10:44:47PM +0800, Chuhong Yuan wrote:
> > > > On Sun, Aug 4, 2019 at 8:59 PM Leon Romanovsky <leon@...nel.org>
> > > > wrote:
> > > > > On Sat, Aug 03, 2019 at 12:48:28AM +0800, Chuhong Yuan wrote:
> > > > > > refcount_t is better for reference counters since its
> > > > > > implementation can prevent overflows.
> > > > > > So convert atomic_t ref counters to refcount_t.
> > > > >
> > > > > I'm not thrilled to see those automatic conversion patches,
> > > > > especially
> > > > > for flows which can't overflow. There is nothing wrong in using
> > > > > atomic_t
> > > > > type of variable, do you have in mind flow which will cause to
> > > > > overflow?
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks
> > > >
> > > > I have to say that these patches are not done automatically...
> > > > Only the detection of problems is done by a script.
> > > > All conversions are done manually.
> > >
> > > Even worse, you need to audit usage of atomic_t and replace there
> > > it can overflow.
> > >
> > > > I am not sure whether the flow can cause an overflow.
> > >
> > > It can't.
> > >
> > > > But I think it is hard to ensure that a data path is impossible
> > > > to have problems in any cases including being attacked.
> > >
> > > It is not data path, and I doubt that such conversion will be
> > > allowed
> > > in data paths without proving that no performance regression is
> > > introduced.
> > > > So I think it is better to do this minor revision to prevent
> > > > potential risk, just like we have done in mlx5/core/cq.c.
> > >
> > > mlx5/core/cq.c is a different beast, refcount there means actual
> > > users
> > > of CQ which are limited in SW, so in theory, they have potential
> > > to be overflown.
> > >
> > > It is not the case here, there your are adding new port.
> > > There is nothing wrong with atomic_t.
> > >
> >
> > Thanks for your explanation!
> > I will pay attention to this point in similar cases.
> > But it seems that the semantic of refcount is not always as clear as
> > here...
> >
>
> Semantically speaking, there is nothing wrong with moving to refcount_t
> in the case of vxlan ports.. it also seems more accurate and will
> provide the type protection, even if it is not necessary. Please let me
> know what is the verdict here, i can apply this patch to net-next-mlx5.

There is no verdict here, it is up to you., if you like code churn, go
for it.

Thanks

>
> Thanks,
> Saeed.