On Thu, 29 Oct 2015 09:26:07 +0100 Thierry Reding <thierry.reding@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > From: Thierry Reding <treding@xxxxxxxxxx> > > Boot consoles are typically replaced by proper consoles during the boot > process. This can be problematic if the boot console data is part of the > init section that is reclaimed late during boot. If the proper console > does not register before this point in time, the boot console will need > to be removed (so that the freed memory is not accessed), leaving the > system without output for some time. > > There are various reasons why the proper console may not register early > enough, such as deferred probe or the driver being a loadable module. If > that happens, there is some amount of time where no console messages are > visible to the user, which in turn can mean that they won't see crashes > or other potentially useful information. > > To avoid this situation, only remove the boot console when it resides in > the init section. Code exists to replace the boot console by the proper > console when it is registered, keeping a seamless transition between the > boot and proper consoles. OK. > --- a/kernel/printk/printk.c > +++ b/kernel/printk/printk.c > @@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ > #include <linux/uio.h> > > #include <asm/uaccess.h> > +#include <asm-generic/sections.h> > > #define CREATE_TRACE_POINTS > #include <trace/events/printk.h> > @@ -2661,7 +2662,8 @@ static int __init printk_late_init(void) > > for_each_console(con) { > if (!keep_bootcon && con->flags & CON_BOOT) { > - unregister_console(con); > + if (init_section_contains(con, sizeof(*con))) > + unregister_console(con); > } It's a bit hacky. It might be nicer to add a new CON_foo flag specifying the treatment but a) there are waaay too many consoles in the kernel and b) it's fragile to require every register_console() caller to remember to do this, and to maintain the CON_foo as code evolves. So I guess we go with hacky. There is no way in which a reader can work out why this code is here, without forcing them to go off and wrestle with git-blame. Can we please add a comment to save them from this fate? -- To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-arch" in the body of a message to majordomo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html