Re: [PATCH v2 10/10] nf_conntrack: Use rcu_barrier() and fix kmem_cache_create flags

On Wed, 2009-06-24 at 15:58 +0200, Patrick McHardy wrote:

Jesper Dangaard Brouer wrote:

quoted

Adjusting SLAB_DESTROY_BY_RCU flags.

 kmem_cache_create("nf_conntrack", ...) does not need the
 SLAB_DESTROY_BY_RCU flag.

It does need it. We're using it instead of call_rcu() for conntracks.

quoted

 But the
 kmem_cache_create("nf_conntrack_expect", ...) should use the
 SLAB_DESTROY_BY_RCU flag, because it uses a call_rcu() callback to
 invoke kmem_cache_free().

No, using call_rcu() means we don't need SLAB_DESTROY_BY_RCU.
Please see the note in include/linux/slab.h.

Oh, I see.  The description is some what cryptic, but I think I got it,
after reading through the code.

BUT this still means that we need to do rcu_barrier() if the
SLAB_DESTROY_BY_RCU is NOT set and we do call_rcu() our self.

Look at: slab.c kmem_cache_destroy()

void kmem_cache_destroy(struct kmem_cache *cachep)
{
	...<cut>...
	if (__cache_shrink(cachep)) {
		slab_error(cachep, "Can't free all objects");
		...<cut>...
		return;
	}

	if (unlikely(cachep->flags & SLAB_DESTROY_BY_RCU))
		synchronize_rcu();

	__kmem_cache_destroy(cachep);
	...<cut>...
}

My understanding for the code is (please feel free to correct me): that
if SLAB_DESTROY_BY_RCU _is_ set, then the __cache_shrink() call will
call drain_freelist(), which calls slab_destroy().

If SLAB_DESTROY_BY_RCU _is_ set, then slab_destroy() will then start a
call_rcu() callback to kmem_rcu_free() which calls kmem_cache_free().
Given that the callback code kmem_rcu_free() is not removed, we are not
worried about unloading the module at this point.

I'm a bit worried about what happens if __kmem_cache_destroy() is
invoked and there is still callbacks for kmem_rcu_free() in flight?
The synchronize_rcu() between __cache_shrink() and
__kmem_cache_destroy() should perhaps be changed to rcu_barrier()?

But I'm sure that the SLAB/MM guys will tell me that this case is
handled (and something about its unlinked from the appropiate
lists)??? ;-)

quoted

RCU barriers, rcu_barrier(), is inserted two places.

 In nf_conntrack_expect.c nf_conntrack_expect_fini() before the
 kmem_cache_destroy(), even though the use of the SLAB_DESTROY_BY_RCU
 flag, because slub does not (currently) handle rcu sync correctly.

I think that should be fixed in slub then.

I don't think so, we/I'm are talking about "nf_conntrack_expect" and not
"nf_conntrack" slab.  Clearly the slab "nf_conntrack" is handled
correcly (according to description above). 

We still need to make sure the callbacks for "nf_conntrack_expect", are
done before unloading/removing the code they are about to call.

quoted

 And in nf_conntrack_extend.c nf_ct_extend_unregister(), inorder to
 wait for completion of callbacks to __nf_ct_ext_free_rcu(), which is
 invoked by __nf_ct_ext_add().  It might be more efficient to call
 rcu_barrier() in nf_conntrack_core.c nf_conntrack_cleanup_net(), but
 thats make it more difficult to read the code (as the callback code
 in located in nf_conntrack_extend.c).

This one looks fine.

Should I make two different patchs?

quoted

diff --git a/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_core.c b/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_core.c
index 5f72b94..438ce84 100644
--- a/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_core.c
+++ b/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_core.c

@@ -1242,7 +1242,7 @@ static int nf_conntrack_init_init_net(void)
 
 	nf_conntrack_cachep = kmem_cache_create("nf_conntrack",
 						sizeof(struct nf_conn),
-						0, SLAB_DESTROY_BY_RCU, NULL);
+						0, 0, NULL);
 	if (!nf_conntrack_cachep) {
 		printk(KERN_ERR "Unable to create nf_conn slab cache\n");
 		ret = -ENOMEM;

diff --git a/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_expect.c b/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_expect.c
index afde8f9..56227c2 100644
--- a/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_expect.c
+++ b/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_expect.c

@@ -593,7 +593,7 @@ int nf_conntrack_expect_init(struct net *net)
 	if (net_eq(net, &init_net)) {
 		nf_ct_expect_cachep = kmem_cache_create("nf_conntrack_expect",
 					sizeof(struct nf_conntrack_expect),
-					0, 0, NULL);
+					0, SLAB_DESTROY_BY_RCU, NULL);
 		if (!nf_ct_expect_cachep)
 			goto err2;
 	}

@@ -617,8 +617,15 @@ err1:
 void nf_conntrack_expect_fini(struct net *net)
 {
 	exp_proc_remove(net);
-	if (net_eq(net, &init_net))
+	if (net_eq(net, &init_net)) {
+		/* hawk@comx.dk 2009-06-24: The rcu_barrier() can be
+		 * removed once the sl*b allocators has been fixed
+		 * regarding handling the SLAB_DESTROY_BY_RCU flag
+		 * correctly.
+		 */
+		rcu_barrier(); /* Wait for call_rcu() before destroy */
 		kmem_cache_destroy(nf_ct_expect_cachep);
+	}
 	nf_ct_free_hashtable(net->ct.expect_hash, net->ct.expect_vmalloc,
 			     nf_ct_expect_hsize);
 }

diff --git a/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_extend.c b/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_extend.c
index 4b2c769..fef95be 100644
--- a/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_extend.c
+++ b/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_extend.c

@@ -186,6 +186,6 @@ void nf_ct_extend_unregister(struct nf_ct_ext_type *type)
 	rcu_assign_pointer(nf_ct_ext_types[type->id], NULL);
 	update_alloc_size(type);
 	mutex_unlock(&nf_ct_ext_type_mutex);
-	synchronize_rcu();
+	rcu_barrier(); /* Wait for completion of call_rcu()'s */
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(nf_ct_extend_unregister);

-- 
Med venlig hilsen / Best regards
  Jesper Brouer
  ComX Networks A/S
  Linux Network developer
  Cand. Scient Datalog / MSc.
  Author of http://adsl-optimizer.dk
  LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/brouer