naïve question

[Massimiliano Hofer <max@nucleus.it>]

Hi,
I noticed in various part of the kernel that there are assignments on live 
kernel structures without locks to protect them (of course there are proper 
memory barriers).

Example from ipt_recent.c:
	curr_table->status_proc->read_proc = ip_recent_get_info;
	curr_table->status_proc->write_proc = ip_recent_ctrl;


I know that on a x86 a 32 bit assignment is atomic (I'm not sure about 386SXs) 
and the same goes for x86_64 and 64 bit pointer, but I'm not sure that it 
really works on other architectures.

I didn't find documentation about it. Is it just a normal practice due to the 
fact that exotic archs with odd bus widths aren't usually SMP or is it 
guaranteed?

-- 
Saluti,
   Massimiliano Hofer
        Nucleus