Re: [PATCH v13 3/9] block: add emulation for copy

Ming Lei
2023-06-29T08:42:00Z

Hi Nitesh,

On Wed, Jun 28, 2023 at 12:06:17AM +0530, Nitesh Shetty wrote:
> For the devices which does not support copy, copy emulation is added.
> It is required for in-kernel users like fabrics, where file descriptor is

I can understand copy command does help for FS GC and fabrics storages,
but still not very clear why copy emulation is needed for kernel users,
is it just for covering both copy command and emulation in single
interface? Or other purposes?

I'd suggest to add more words about in-kernel users of copy emulation.

> not available and hence they can't use copy_file_range.
> Copy-emulation is implemented by reading from source into memory and
> writing to the corresponding destination asynchronously.
> Also emulation is used, if copy offload fails or partially completes.

Per my understanding, this kind of emulation may not be as efficient
as doing it in userspace(two linked io_uring SQEs, read & write with
shared buffer). But it is fine if there are real in-kernel such users.

Thanks,
Ming