This changeset fixes a common problem for busy networking kthreads.
These threads, e.g. NAPI threads, typically will do:
* polling a batch of packets
* if there are more work, call cond_resched() to allow scheduling
* continue to poll more packets when rx queue is not empty
We observed this being a problem in production, since it can block RCU
tasks from making progress under heavy load. Investigation indicates
that just calling cond_resched() is insufficient for RCU tasks to reach
quiescent states. This also has the side effect of frequently clearing
the TIF_NEED_RESCHED flag on voluntary preempt kernels. As a result,
schedule() will not be called in these circumstances, despite schedule()
in fact provides required quiescent states. This at least affects NAPI
threads, napi_busy_loop, and also cpumap kthread.
By reporting RCU QSes in these kthreads periodically before cond_resched, the
blocked RCU waiters can correctly progress. Instead of just reporting QS for
RCU tasks, these code share the same concern as noted in the commit
d28139c4e967 ("rcu: Apply RCU-bh QSes to RCU-sched and RCU-preempt when safe").
So report a consolidated QS for safety.
It is worth noting that, although this problem is reproducible in
napi_busy_loop, it only shows up when setting the polling interval to as high
as 2ms, which is far larger than recommended 50us-100us in the documentation.
So napi_busy_loop is left untouched.
Lastly, this does not affect RT kernels, which does not enter the scheduler
through cond_resched(). Without the mentioned side effect, schedule() will
be called time by time, and clear the RCU task holdouts.
V4: https://lore.kernel.org/bpf/cover.1710525524.git.yan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx/
V3: https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20240314145459.7b3aedf1@xxxxxxxxxx/t/
V2: https://lore.kernel.org/bpf/ZeFPz4D121TgvCje@debian.debian/
V1: https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/Zd4DXTyCf17lcTfq@debian.debian/#t
changes since v4:
* polished comments and docs for the RCU helper as Paul McKenney suggested
changes since v3:
* fixed kernel-doc errors
changes since v2:
* created a helper in rcu header to abstract the behavior
* fixed cpumap kthread in addition
changes since v1:
* disable preemption first as Paul McKenney suggested
Yan Zhai (3):
rcu: add a helper to report consolidated flavor QS
net: report RCU QS on threaded NAPI repolling
bpf: report RCU QS in cpumap kthread
include/linux/rcupdate.h | 31 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
kernel/bpf/cpumap.c | 3 +++
net/core/dev.c | 3 +++
3 files changed, 37 insertions(+)
--
2.30.2
