On 06/12/2013 07:38 AM, Vinod Koul wrote: > On Mon, Jun 10, 2013 at 07:29:46PM +0200, Lars-Peter Clausen wrote: >> On 05/30/2013 08:46 PM, Lars-Peter Clausen wrote: >>>>> +static int jz4740_dma_alloc_chan_resources(struct dma_chan *c) >>>>> +{ >>>>> + struct jz4740_dmaengine_chan *chan = to_jz4740_dma_chan(c); >>>>> + >>>>> + chan->jz_chan = jz4740_dma_request(chan, NULL); >>>>> + if (!chan->jz_chan) >>>>> + return -EBUSY; >>>>> + >>>>> + jz4740_dma_set_complete_cb(chan->jz_chan, jz4740_dma_complete_cb); >>>>> + >>>>> + return 0; >>>> Sorry, I didnt reply on this one. The API expects you to allocate a pool of >>>> descriptors. These descriptors are to be used in .device_prep_xxx calls later. >>> >>> The size of the descriptor is not fixed, so they can not be pre-allocated. And >>> this is nothing new either, most of the more recently added dmaengine drivers >>> allocate their descriptors on demand. >> >> Vinod, are you ok with this explanation? > Sorry, I was travelling... > > Can you explain more of a bit when you say size is not fixed. This is the function that allocates the descriptor: static struct jz4740_dma_desc *jz4740_dma_alloc_desc(unsigned int num_sgs) { return kzalloc(sizeof(struct jz4740_dma_desc) + sizeof(struct jz4740_dma_sg) * num_sgs, GFP_ATOMIC); } So the size depends on the entries in the sg list. > Why would it be > issue if we allocate descriptors at the alloc_chan. The idea is that you > preallocated pool at alloc_chan and since the .device_prep_xxx calls can be > called from atomic context as well, you dont need to do this later. You can use use > these descriptors at that time. The idea is keep rotating the descriptors from > free poll to used one Yes, I know all that. And it makes sense to use a pool in certain situations, e.g. if the hardware only supports a limited set of physical descriptors. But in this case the descriptors are completely virtual. Forcing the driver to use a pool would make it more complex, use more memory and also a bit slower (although probably not noticeable). - Lars