diff options
| author | Tim Chen <tim.c.chen@linux.intel.com> | 2026-09-21 17:37:22 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Ingo Molnar <mingo@kernel.org> | 2026-09-22 10:49:53 +0200 |
| commit | 0d6526f82c3cdefcca47f73f5fc08dc6f335eac6 (patch) | |
| tree | 176dc2d685debcfb082c151ee94f2425ac96b364 /Documentation/driver-api/console.rst | |
| download | linux-stable-0d6526f82c3cdefcca47f73f5fc08dc6f335eac6.tar.gz linux-stable-0d6526f82c3cdefcca47f73f5fc08dc6f335eac6.zip | |
sched/cache: Keep nr_pref_llc_running in the runnable domain, to fix LLC mis-scheduling buggrafted
alb_break_llc() decides whether to break LLC preference during active
load balance. It does so by testing that every runnable fair task on the
source rq prefers its LLC:
env->src_rq->nr_pref_llc_running == env->src_rq->cfs.h_nr_runnable
But the two counters cover different sets. nr_pref_llc_running is updated
in account_llc_enqueue()/account_llc_dequeue(), next to cfs_rq->nr_queued,
so it follows queued tasks. h_nr_runnable is updated in set_delayed()/
clear_delayed() and drops delay-dequeued tasks.
So under DELAY_DEQUEUE, a preferring task that goes to sleep stays counted
in nr_pref_llc_running while h_nr_runnable falls. The equality then breaks,
alb_break_llc() returns false, and active balance is free to pull a task
off its preferred LLC. Active balance only moves runnable tasks, and this
is the only LLC check it consults: once the stopper runs, LBF_ACTIVE_LB
skips the per-task test in can_migrate_task(). The runnable set is the one
we want.
Fix it on the counter side. A task should be counted in
nr_pref_llc_running exactly while it is both queued on its preferred LLC
(pref_llc_queued) and runnable (!sched_delayed). Define that membership
once in task_pref_llc_runnable(), and adjust the counter only through
pref_llc_running_inc()/pref_llc_running_dec() from the four sites that
change either input: account_llc_enqueue(), account_llc_dequeue(),
set_delayed() and clear_delayed(). Gating every update on the same
predicate keeps the delay, wake and dequeue paths from double-counting
or underflowing; see the comments at those sites for the ordering.
nr_llc_running and sd->llc_counts are not touched and stay on queued
semantics.
Fixes: 714059f79ff0 ("sched/cache: Handle moving single tasks to/from their preferred LLC")
Closes: https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20260827135000.735138-1-zhanxusheng@xiaomi.com/
Reported-by: Zhan Xusheng <zhanxusheng@xiaomi.com>
Suggested-by: Chen Yu <yu.c.chen@intel.com>
Signed-off-by: Tim Chen <tim.c.chen@linux.intel.com>
Signed-off-by: Peter Zijlstra (Intel) <peterz@infradead.org>
Signed-off-by: Ingo Molnar <mingo@kernel.org>
Reviewed-by: Kayra Cizmeci <kayracizmeci@gmail.com>
Cc: <stable@kernel.org> # v7.2.x
Link: https://patch.msgid.link/06af61afedac32e6477f57feb4d658f6c411c3af.1790035273.git.tim.c.chen@linux.intel.com
Diffstat (limited to 'Documentation/driver-api/console.rst')
| -rw-r--r-- | Documentation/driver-api/console.rst | 152 |
1 files changed, 152 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/Documentation/driver-api/console.rst b/Documentation/driver-api/console.rst new file mode 100644 index 000000000..8394ad774 --- /dev/null +++ b/Documentation/driver-api/console.rst @@ -0,0 +1,152 @@ +.. SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 + +=============== +Console Drivers +=============== + +The Linux kernel has 2 general types of console drivers. The first type is +assigned by the kernel to all the virtual consoles during the boot process. +This type will be called 'system driver', and only one system driver is allowed +to exist. The system driver is persistent and it can never be unloaded, though +it may become inactive. + +The second type has to be explicitly loaded and unloaded. This will be called +'modular driver' by this document. Multiple modular drivers can coexist at +any time with each driver sharing the console with other drivers including +the system driver. However, modular drivers cannot take over the console +that is currently occupied by another modular driver. (Exception: Drivers that +call do_take_over_console() will succeed in the takeover regardless of the type +of driver occupying the consoles.) They can only take over the console that is +occupied by the system driver. In the same token, if the modular driver is +released by the console, the system driver will take over. + +Modular drivers, from the programmer's point of view, have to call:: + + do_take_over_console() - load and bind driver to console layer + give_up_console() - unload driver; it will only work if driver + is fully unbound + +In newer kernels, the following are also available:: + + do_register_con_driver() + do_unregister_con_driver() + +If sysfs is enabled, the contents of /sys/class/vtconsole can be +examined. This shows the console backends currently registered by the +system which are named vtcon<n> where <n> is an integer from 0 to 15. +Thus:: + + ls /sys/class/vtconsole + . .. vtcon0 vtcon1 + +Each directory in /sys/class/vtconsole has 3 files:: + + ls /sys/class/vtconsole/vtcon0 + . .. bind name uevent + +What do these files signify? + + 1. bind - this is a read/write file. It shows the status of the driver if + read, or acts to bind or unbind the driver to the virtual consoles + when written to. The possible values are: + + 0 + - means the driver is not bound and if echo'ed, commands the driver + to unbind + + 1 + - means the driver is bound and if echo'ed, commands the driver to + bind + + 2. name - read-only file. Shows the name of the driver in this format:: + + cat /sys/class/vtconsole/vtcon0/name + (S) VGA+ + + '(S)' stands for a (S)ystem driver, i.e., it cannot be directly + commanded to bind or unbind + + 'VGA+' is the name of the driver + + cat /sys/class/vtconsole/vtcon1/name + (M) frame buffer device + + In this case, '(M)' stands for a (M)odular driver, one that can be + directly commanded to bind or unbind. + + 3. uevent - ignore this file + +When unbinding, the modular driver is detached first, and then the system +driver takes over the consoles vacated by the driver. Binding, on the other +hand, will bind the driver to the consoles that are currently occupied by a +system driver. + +NOTE1: + Binding and unbinding must be selected in Kconfig. It's under:: + + Device Drivers -> + Character devices -> + Support for binding and unbinding console drivers + +NOTE2: + If any of the virtual consoles are in KD_GRAPHICS mode, then binding or + unbinding will not succeed. An example of an application that sets the + console to KD_GRAPHICS is X. + +How useful is this feature? This is very useful for console driver +developers. By unbinding the driver from the console layer, one can unload the +driver, make changes, recompile, reload and rebind the driver without any need +for rebooting the kernel. For regular users who may want to switch from +framebuffer console to VGA console and vice versa, this feature also makes +this possible. (NOTE NOTE NOTE: Please read fbcon.txt under Documentation/fb +for more details.) + +Notes for developers +==================== + +do_take_over_console() is now broken up into:: + + do_register_con_driver() + do_bind_con_driver() - private function + +give_up_console() is a wrapper to do_unregister_con_driver(), and a driver must +be fully unbound for this call to succeed. con_is_bound() will check if the +driver is bound or not. + +Guidelines for console driver writers +===================================== + +In order for binding to and unbinding from the console to properly work, +console drivers must follow these guidelines: + +1. All drivers, except system drivers, must call either do_register_con_driver() + or do_take_over_console(). do_register_con_driver() will just add the driver + to the console's internal list. It won't take over the + console. do_take_over_console(), as it name implies, will also take over (or + bind to) the console. + +2. All resources allocated during con->con_init() must be released in + con->con_deinit(). + +3. All resources allocated in con->con_startup() must be released when the + driver, which was previously bound, becomes unbound. The console layer + does not have a complementary call to con->con_startup() so it's up to the + driver to check when it's legal to release these resources. Calling + con_is_bound() in con->con_deinit() will help. If the call returned + false(), then it's safe to release the resources. This balance has to be + ensured because con->con_startup() can be called again when a request to + rebind the driver to the console arrives. + +4. Upon exit of the driver, ensure that the driver is totally unbound. If the + condition is satisfied, then the driver must call do_unregister_con_driver() + or give_up_console(). + +5. do_unregister_con_driver() can also be called on conditions which make it + impossible for the driver to service console requests. This can happen + with the framebuffer console that suddenly lost all of its drivers. + +The current crop of console drivers should still work correctly, but binding +and unbinding them may cause problems. With minimal fixes, these drivers can +be made to work correctly. + +Antonino Daplas <adaplas@pol.net> |
