[PATCH v6 01/18] mm: Clarify the spec for set_ptes()

Ryan Roberts
2024-02-15T10:32:58Z

set_ptes() spec implies that it can only be used to set a present pte
because it interprets the PFN field to increment it. However,
set_pte_at() has been implemented on top of set_ptes() since set_ptes()
was introduced, and set_pte_at() allows setting a pte to a not-present
state. So clarify the spec to state that when nr==1, new state of pte
may be present or not present. When nr>1, new state of all ptes must be
present.

While we are at it, tighten the spec to set requirements around the
initial state of ptes; when nr==1 it may be either present or
not-present. But when nr>1 all ptes must initially be not-present. All
set_ptes() callsites already conform to this requirement. Stating it
explicitly is useful because it allows for a simplification to the
upcoming arm64 contpte implementation.

Acked-by: David Hildenbrand <david@redhat.com>
Signed-off-by: Ryan Roberts <ryan.roberts@arm.com>
---
include/linux/pgtable.h | 4 ++++
1 file changed, 4 insertions(+)

diff --git a/include/linux/pgtable.h b/include/linux/pgtable.h
index 49ab1f73b5c2..231370e1b80f 100644
--- a/include/linux/pgtable.h
+++ b/include/linux/pgtable.h
@@ -229,6 +229,10 @@ static inline pte_t pte_next_pfn(pte_t pte)
* @pte: Page table entry for the first page.
* @nr: Number of pages to map.
*
+ * When nr==1, initial state of pte may be present or not present, and new state
+ * may be present or not present. When nr>1, initial state of all ptes must be
+ * not present, and new state must be present.
+ *
* May be overridden by the architecture, or the architecture can define
* set_pte() and PFN_PTE_SHIFT.
*
--
2.25.1