Re: [PATCH RFC] fix RCU-callback-after-kmem_cache_destroy problem in sl[aou]b

Paul E. McKenney
2009-06-30T05:58:36Z

On Mon, Jun 29, 2009 at 07:06:34PM -0500, Matt Mackall wrote:
> On Mon, 2009-06-29 at 19:19 -0400, Christoph Lameter wrote:
> > On Mon, 29 Jun 2009, Matt Mackall wrote:
> >
> > > This is a reasonable point, and in keeping with the design principle
> > > 'callers should handle their own special cases'. However, I think it
> > > would be more than a little surprising for kmem_cache_free() to do the
> > > right thing, but not kmem_cache_destroy().
> >
> > kmem_cache_free() must be used carefully when using SLAB_DESTROY_BY_RCU.
> > The freed object can be accessed after free until the rcu interval
> > expires (well sortof, it may even be reallocated within the interval).
> >
> > There are special RCU considerations coming already with the use of
> > kmem_cache_free().
> >
> > Adding RCU operations to the kmem_cache_destroy() logic may result in
> > unnecessary RCU actions for slabs where the coder is ensuring that the
> > RCU interval has passed by other means.
>
> Do we care? Cache destruction shouldn't be in anyone's fast path.
> Correctness is more important and users are more liable to be correct
> with this patch.

I am with Matt on this one -- if we are going to hand the users of
SLAB_DESTROY_BY_RCU a hand grenade, let's at least leave the pin in.

Thanx, Paul