On Wed, Apr 07, 2010 at 02:22:41PM +0100, David Howells wrote: > Paul E. McKenney <paulmck@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > > +#define rcu_access_pointer(p, c) \ > > Why is there a need for 'c'? An example use is where rcu_access_pointer() is legal because we are either initializing or cleaning up, so that no other CPU has access to the pointer. In these cases, you might do something like: q = rcu_access_pointer(p->a, p->refcnt == 0); > > +#define rcu_dereference_protect(p, c) \ > > I'd prefer rcu_dereference_protected(), I think. This macro doesn't protect > anything. Also, again, why the need for 'c'? Agreed on rcu_dereference_protected(). I succumbed to a fit of "make the identifier shorter", please accept my apologies. > For instance, in: > > static struct nfs_delegation *nfs_detach_delegation_locked(struct nfs_inode *nfsi, const nfs4_stateid *stateid) > { > struct nfs_delegation *delegation = > rcu_dereference_protected(nfsi->delegation, ????); > > what would be the condition? That the spinlock is held? That's a condition > for calling the function. Yep, that the spinlock is held. I agree that it is a bit obvious in this case, but I have come across a number of RCU uses where the lock in question was acquired many function calls removed from the access, and where there other locks were held for other purposes. > And in: > > void nfs_inode_return_delegation_noreclaim(struct inode *inode) > { > struct nfs_client *clp = NFS_SERVER(inode)->nfs_client; > struct nfs_inode *nfsi = NFS_I(inode); > struct nfs_delegation *delegation; > > if (rcu_access_pointer(nfsi->delegation, ????) != NULL) { > > what would be the condition here? There's no lock to check - that's the whole > point of the macro. I also can't give it nfsi->delegation to check as the > value may change between the two accesses. I suggest something like the following: /* protected by double-check lock pattern. */ if (rcu_access_pointer(nfsi->delegation, 1) != NULL) { Thanx, Paul -- To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-nfs" in the body of a message to majordomo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html