Re: [RFC PATCH v3 07/37] mm/damon/core: apply access reports to high level snapshot

SeongJae Park
2025-12-13T05:53:38Z

On Sat, 13 Dec 2025 13:09:37 +0900 JaeJoon Jung <rgbi3307@gmail.com> wrote:

> On Sat, 13 Dec 2025 at 12:21, SeongJae Park <sj@kernel.org> wrote:
> >
> > On Sat, 13 Dec 2025 10:10:38 +0900 JaeJoon Jung <rgbi3307@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > On Sat, 13 Dec 2025 at 08:11, SeongJae Park <sj@kernel.org> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > On Fri, 12 Dec 2025 22:20:04 +0900 JaeJoon Jung <rgbi3307@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > On Mon, 8 Dec 2025 at 15:35, SeongJae Park <sj@kernel.org> wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Now any DAMON API callers can report their observed access information.
> > > > > > The DAMON core layer is just ignoring those, though. Update the core to
> > > > > > use the reported information at building the high level access pattern
> > > > > > snapshot.
> > > > >
> > > > > It seems inefficient to repeatedly access the damon_access_reports[1000] array
> > > > > using a for loop in the kdamond_check_reported_accesses() function.
> > > > > It is inefficient to for loop through the entire
> > > > > damon_access_reports[1000] array.
> > > > > When CONFIG_HZ and jiffies are increased as follows and
> > > > > damond sample_interval is 5000us (5ms), the time flow diagram is as follows.
> > > > >
> > > > > CONFIG_HZ 1000, jiffies == 1ms
> > > > > damond sample_interval == 5000us (5ms)
> > > > >
> > > > > reports_len(==): [0 ... 5]
> > > > > [*]
> > > > > 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 997 998 999
> > > > > [====|====|====|====|====]-----|----|----|----| .... |------|-------|
> > > > > jiffies++ 1 2 3 4 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
> > > > > damond_fn(sample interval) -5[0<]
> > > > >
> > > > > reports_len(==): [997 ... 2]
> > > > > [*]
> > > > > 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 997 998 999
> > > > > [======|======]----|----|----|-----|----|----|----| .... [=====|=====]
> > > > > jiffies++ 1001 1002 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 997 998 999
> > > > > damond_fn(sample interval)
> > > > > -5[997<]
> > > >
> > > > Please use fixed-length fonts for something like above, from next time. I
> > > > fixed the diagram with my best effort, as above. But I still fail at
> > > > understanding your point. More clarification about what the diagram means
> > > > would be nice.
> > >
> > > Thank you for readjusting the font to fit. The first diagram above is when
> > > reports_len is processed normally starting from 0 to reports_len.
> > > The second diagram shows the process where reports_len increases to its
> > > maximum values of 997, 998, 999, and then returns to 0.
> >
> > Thank you for adding this clarification.
> >
> > > The biggest problem here is that the latter part of the array is not processed.
> >
> > I don't get what "processed" is meaning, and what is the latter part of the
> > array that not processed, and why it is a problem. Could you please clarify?
>
> I'll just organize the code related to this issue as below.
> This applies when kdamond_check_reported_accesses() is executed
> when damon_access_reports_len becomes DAMON_ACCESS_REPORTS_CAP.
>
> void damon_report_access(struct damon_access_report *report)
> {
> ...
> if (damon_access_reports_len == DAMON_ACCESS_REPORTS_CAP)
> damon_access_reports_len = 0;
> ...
> }
>
> static void kdamond_check_reported_accesses(struct damon_ctx *ctx)
> {
> for (i = 0; i < damon_access_reports_len; i++) {
> ...
> }
> }

Ok, so I understand that when damon_access_reports_len is reset, the reports
that stored at the end part of the array is simply ignored. And your suggested
change can fix it.

>
> >
> > >
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > It seems that only the section corresponding to the sample interval ([==|==])
> > > > > can be cycled as follows. And, how about enjoying damon_access_reports[1000]
> > > > > as damon_access_reports[500]? Even if it reduce the 1000ms to 500ms
> > > > > array space, it seems that it can sufficiently report and process within
> > > > > the sample interval of 5ms.
> > > >
> > > > Are you assuming the the reports can be made only once per 1 millisecond? That
> > > > is not true. The design assumes any kernel API caller could make the report,
> > > > so more than one report can be made within one millisecond. Am I
> > > > missingsomething?
> > >
> > > jiffies 1ms is just to simply unfold the passage of time when
> > > CONFIG_HZ is set to 1000.
> > > This is a simplification to help it understand the flow of time.
> >
> > So I understand you are saying that only one report can be made per jiffy. But
> > that doesn't answer my question because I'm saying that design allows any
> > report at any time. Any number of reports can be made within one jiffy time
> > interval.
>
> The input events are what you pointed out, but when reporting,
> it is processed in jiffies time with time_before/after().
> So we have to take everyone into consideration.

I don't get your point yet. Can you please elaborate?

>
> >
> > >
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > static unsigned int kdamond_check_reported_accesses(struct damon_ctx *ctx)
> > > > > {
> > > > > - int i;
> > > > > + int i = damon_access_reports_len;
> > > > > + unsigned int nr = 0;
> > > > > struct damon_access_report *report;
> > > > > struct damon_target *t;
> > > > >
> > > > > @@ -2904,16 +2905,18 @@ static unsigned int
> > > > > kdamond_check_reported_accesses(struct damon_ctx *ctx)
> > > > > return 0;
> > > > >
> > > > > mutex_lock(&damon_access_reports_lock);
> > > > > - for (i = 0; i < damon_access_reports_len; i++) {
> > > > > - report = &damon_access_reports[i];
> > > > > - if (time_before(report->report_jiffies,
> > > > > - jiffies -
> > > > > - usecs_to_jiffies(
> > > > > - ctx->attrs.sample_interval)))
> > > > > - continue;
> > > > > + report = &damon_access_reports[i];
> > > > > + while (time_after(report->report_jiffies,
> > > > > + jiffies - usecs_to_jiffies(ctx->attrs.sample_interval))) {
> > > > > damon_for_each_target(t, ctx)
> > > > > kdamond_apply_access_report(report, t, ctx);
> > > > > + if (++nr >= DAMON_ACCESS_REPORTS_CAP)
> > > > > + break;
> > > > > +
> > > > > + i = (i == 0) ? (DAMON_ACCESS_REPORTS_CAP - 1) : (i - 1);
> > > > > + report = &damon_access_reports[i];
> > > > > }
> > > > > +
> > > > > mutex_unlock(&damon_access_reports_lock);
> > > > > /* For nr_accesses_bp, absence of access should also be reported. */
> > > > > return kdamond_apply_zero_access_report(ctx);
> > > > > }
> > > >
> > > > So I still don't get your points before the above code diff, but I understand
> > > > this code diff.
> > > >
> > > > I agree this is more efficient. I will consider doing something like this in
> > > > the next spin.
> > >
> > > What I tried above is to process the current array [1000] as
> > > efficiently as possible.
> > > But, if I think again, It would be better to store it in a linked-list
> > > and process it
> > > in FIFO mode whenever requested in damon_report_page_fault(),
> > > damon_report_access(report)
> > > instead of storing it in an array. I'm also analyzing the source code
> > > starting this week,
> > > so I'll organize it a bit more and get back to you with my opinion.
> >
> > I personally don't feel linked list is specially better than the current
> > ring-buffer like implementation at the moment. But I would be happy to learn
> > new ideas. Please feel free to revisit when you get a chance.
>
> I agree that the ring-buffer you mentioned is good.
> However, if this is not well controlled, it is less efficient than FIFO,
> so I am analyzing your source code a bit more.

We consider not only efficiency but also simplicity. Please keep that in mind.

Thanks,
SJ …