On Tue, Dec 20, 2022 at 09:41:17PM -0500, Joel Fernandes wrote: > > > > On Dec 20, 2022, at 7:50 PM, Frederic Weisbecker <frederic@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > > > On Tue, Dec 20, 2022 at 07:15:00PM -0500, Joel Fernandes wrote: > >> On Tue, Dec 20, 2022 at 5:45 PM Frederic Weisbecker <frederic@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > >> Agreed about (1). > >> > >>> _ In (2), E pairs with the address-dependency between idx and lock_count. > >> > >> But that is not the only reason. If that was the only reason for (2), > >> then there is an smp_mb() just before the next-scan post-flip before > >> the lock counts are read. > > > > The post-flip barrier makes sure the new idx is visible on the next READER's > > turn, but it doesn't protect against the fact that "READ idx then WRITE lock[idx]" > > may appear unordered from the update side POV if there is no barrier between the > > scan and the flip. > > > > If you remove the smp_mb() from the litmus test I sent, things explode. > > Sure I see what you are saying and it’s a valid point as well. However why do you need memory barrier D (labeled such in the kernel code) for that? You already have a memory barrier A before the lock count is read. That will suffice for the ordering pairing with the addr dependency. > In other words, if updater sees readers lock counts, then reader would be making those lock count updates on post-flip inactive index, not the one being scanned as you wanted, and you will accomplish that just with the mem barrier A. > > So D fixes the above issue you are talking about (lock count update), however that is already fixed by the memory barrier A. But you still need D for the issue I mentioned (unlock counts vs flip). > > That’s just my opinion and let’s discuss more because I cannot rule out that I > am missing something with this complicated topic ;-) I must be missing something. I often do. Ok let's put that on litmus: ---- C srcu {} // updater P0(int *IDX, int *LOCK0, int *UNLOCK0, int *LOCK1, int *UNLOCK1) { int lock1; int unlock1; int lock0; int unlock0; // SCAN1 unlock1 = READ_ONCE(*UNLOCK1); smp_mb(); // A lock1 = READ_ONCE(*LOCK1); // FLIP smp_mb(); // E WRITE_ONCE(*IDX, 1); smp_mb(); // D // SCAN2 unlock0 = READ_ONCE(*UNLOCK0); smp_mb(); // A lock0 = READ_ONCE(*LOCK0); } // reader P1(int *IDX, int *LOCK0, int *UNLOCK0, int *LOCK1, int *UNLOCK1) { int tmp; int idx; // 1st reader idx = READ_ONCE(*IDX); if (idx == 0) { tmp = READ_ONCE(*LOCK0); WRITE_ONCE(*LOCK0, tmp + 1); smp_mb(); /* B and C */ tmp = READ_ONCE(*UNLOCK0); WRITE_ONCE(*UNLOCK0, tmp + 1); } else { tmp = READ_ONCE(*LOCK1); WRITE_ONCE(*LOCK1, tmp + 1); smp_mb(); /* B and C */ tmp = READ_ONCE(*UNLOCK1); WRITE_ONCE(*UNLOCK1, tmp + 1); } // second reader idx = READ_ONCE(*IDX); if (idx == 0) { tmp = READ_ONCE(*LOCK0); WRITE_ONCE(*LOCK0, tmp + 1); smp_mb(); /* B and C */ tmp = READ_ONCE(*UNLOCK0); WRITE_ONCE(*UNLOCK0, tmp + 1); } else { tmp = READ_ONCE(*LOCK1); WRITE_ONCE(*LOCK1, tmp + 1); smp_mb(); /* B and C */ tmp = READ_ONCE(*UNLOCK1); WRITE_ONCE(*UNLOCK1, tmp + 1); } } exists (0:lock1!=0) --- This gives: Test srcu Allowed States 1 0:lock1=0; No Witnesses Positive: 0 Negative: 9 Condition exists (not (0:lock1=0)) Observation srcu Never 0 9 Time srcu 0.57 Hash=855d17de503814d2421602174f307c59 Now if I comment out the "smp_mb() /* E */" line this gives: Test srcu Allowed States 3 0:lock1=0; 0:lock1=1; 0:lock1=2; Ok Witnesses Positive: 4 Negative: 9 Condition exists (not (0:lock1=0)) Observation srcu Sometimes 4 9 Thanks