On Mon, Aug 25, 2014 at 09:45:34PM -0700, Hugh Dickins wrote: > > +static int clear_refs(struct mm_struct *mm, enum clear_refs_types type, > > + int write) > > +{ ... > > + > > + if (write) > > + down_write(&mm->mmap_sem); > > + else > > + down_read(&mm->mmap_sem); > > + > > + if (type == CLEAR_REFS_SOFT_DIRTY) > > + mmu_notifier_invalidate_range_start(mm, 0, -1); > > + > > + for (vma = mm->mmap; vma; vma = vma->vm_next) { > > + cp.vma = vma; > > + if (is_vm_hugetlb_page(vma)) > > + continue; ... > > + if (type == CLEAR_REFS_ANON && vma->vm_file) > > + continue; > > + if (type == CLEAR_REFS_MAPPED && !vma->vm_file) > > + continue; > > + if (type == CLEAR_REFS_SOFT_DIRTY && > > + (vma->vm_flags & VM_SOFTDIRTY)) { > > + if (!write) { > > + r = -EAGAIN; > > + break; > > Hmm. For a long time I thought you were fixing another important bug > with down_write, since we "always" use down_write to modify vm_flags. > > But now I'm realizing that if this is the _only_ place which modifies > vm_flags with down_read, then it's "probably" safe. I've a vague > feeling that this was discussed before - is that so, Cyrill? Well, as far as I remember we were not talking before about vm_flags and read-lock in this function, maybe it was on some unrelated lkml thread without me CC'ed? Until I miss something obvious using read-lock here for vm_flags modification should be safe, since the only thing which is important (in context of vma-softdirty) is the vma's presence. Hugh, mind to refresh my memory, how long ago the discussion took place? -- To unsubscribe, send a message with 'unsubscribe linux-mm' in the body to majordomo@xxxxxxxxx. For more info on Linux MM, see: http://www.linux-mm.org/ . Don't email: <a href=mailto:"dont@xxxxxxxxx"> email@xxxxxxxxx </a>