* Kirill A. Shutemov [off-list ref] wrote:

On Tue, Oct 24, 2017 at 11:40:40AM +0200, Ingo Molnar wrote:

quoted

* Kirill A. Shutemov [off-list ref] wrote:

quoted

On Mon, Oct 23, 2017 at 02:40:14PM +0200, Ingo Molnar wrote:

quoted

* Kirill A. Shutemov [off-list ref] wrote:

quoted

quoted

Making a variable that 'looks' like a constant macro dynamic in a rare Kconfig 
scenario is asking for trouble.

We expect boot-time page mode switching to be enabled in kernel of next
generation enterprise distros. It shoudn't be that rare.

My point remains even with not-so-rare Kconfig dependency.

I don't follow how introducing new variable that depends on Kconfig option
would help with the situation.

A new, properly named variable or function (max_physmem_bits or 
max_physmem_bits()) that is not all uppercase would make it abundantly clear that 
it is not a constant but a runtime value.

Would we need to rename every uppercase macros that would depend on
max_physmem_bits()? Like MAXMEM.

MAXMEM isn't used in too many places either - what's the total impact of it?

quoted

quoted

We would end up with inverse situation: people would use MAX_PHYSMEM_BITS
where the new variable need to be used and we will in the same situation.

It should result in sub-optimal resource allocations worst-case, right?

I don't think it's the worst case.

For instance, virt_addr_valid() depends indirectly on it:

  virt_addr_valid()
    __virt_addr_valid()
      phys_addr_valid()
        boot_cpu_data.x86_phys_bits (initialized with MAX_PHYSMEM_BITS)

virt_addr_valid() is used in things like implementation /dev/kmem.

To me it's far more risky than occasional build breakage for
CONFIG_X86_5LEVEL=y.

So why do we have two variables here, one boot_cpu_data.x86_phys_bits and the 
other MAX_PHYSMEM_BITS - both set once during boot?

I'm trying to find a clean solution for this all - hiding a boot time dependency 
into a constant-looking value doesn't feel clean.

Thanks,

	Ingo

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