>> >> --- a/mm/highmem.c >> >> +++ b/mm/highmem.c >> >> @@ -220,8 +220,11 @@ static void flush_all_zero_pkmaps(void) >> >> set_page_address(page, NULL); >> >> need_flush = 1; >> >> } >> >> - if (need_flush) >> >> + if (need_flush) { >> >> + unlock_kmap(); >> >> flush_tlb_kernel_range(PKMAP_ADDR(0), PKMAP_ADDR(LAST_PKMAP)); >> >> + lock_kmap(); >> >> + } >> >> } >> >> >Why is dropping the lock like this safe? What data is it protecting >> >and why is it OK to leave that data unprotected here? >> >> kmap_lock is used to protect pkmap_count, pkmap_page_table and last_pkmap_nr(static variable). >> When call flush_tlb_kernel_range(PKMAP_ADDR(0), >> PKMAP_ADDR(LAST_PKMAP)), flush_tlb_kernel_range will neither modify nor read these variables. Leave that data unprotected here is safe. >No, the risk here is that when the lock is dropped, other threads will modify the data. And when this thread (the one running >flush_all_zero_pkmaps()) retakes the lock, that data may now be unexpectedly altered. map_new_virtual aims to find an usable entry pkmap_count[last_pkmap_nr]. When read and modify the pkmap_count[last_pkmap_nr], the kmap_lock is not dropped. "if (!pkmap_count[last_pkmap_nr])" determine pkmap_count[last_pkmap_nr] is usable or not. If unusable, try agin. Furthermore, the value of static variable last_pkmap_nr is stored in a local variable last_pkmap_nr, when kmap_lock is acquired, this is thread-safe. In an extreme case, if Thread A and Thread B access the same last_pkmap_nr, Thread A calls function flush_tlb_kernel_range and release the kmap_lock, and Thread B then acquires the kmap_lock and modifies the variable pkmap_count[last_pkmap_nr]. After Thread A completes the execution of function flush_tlb_kernel_range, it will check the variable pkmap_count[last_pkmap_nr]. If pkmap_count[last_pkmap_nr] != 0, Thread A continue to call get_next_pkmap_nr and get next last_pkmap_nr. static inline unsigned long map_new_virtual(struct page *page) { unsigned long vaddr; int count; unsigned int last_pkmap_nr; // local variable to store static variable last_pkmap_nr unsigned int color = get_pkmap_color(page); start: ... flush_all_zero_pkmaps();// release kmap_lock, then acquire it count = get_pkmap_entries_count(color); } ... if (!pkmap_count[last_pkmap_nr]) // pkmap_count[last_pkmap_nr] is used or not break; /* Found a usable entry */ if (--count) continue; ... vaddr = PKMAP_ADDR(last_pkmap_nr); set_pte_at(&init_mm, vaddr, &(pkmap_page_table[last_pkmap_nr]), mk_pte(page, kmap_prot)); pkmap_count[last_pkmap_nr] = 1; ... return vaddr; } -- 1.8.3.1