Re: [PATCH RESEND v3 03/10] mm/vma: rename is_vma_write_only(), separate out shared refcount put

Suren Baghdasaryan
2026-01-22T19:31:28Z

On Thu, Jan 22, 2026 at 9:36 AM Vlastimil Babka <vbabka@suse.cz> wrote:
>
> On 1/22/26 14:01, Lorenzo Stoakes wrote:
> > The is_vma_writer_only() function is misnamed - this isn't determining if
> > there is only a write lock, as it checks for the presence of the
> > VM_REFCNT_EXCLUDE_READERS_FLAG.
> >
> > Really, it is checking to see whether readers are excluded, with a
> > possibility of a false positive in the case of a detachment (there we
> > expect the vma->vm_refcnt to eventually be set to
> > VM_REFCNT_EXCLUDE_READERS_FLAG, whereas for an attached VMA we expect it to
> > eventually be set to VM_REFCNT_EXCLUDE_READERS_FLAG + 1).
> >
> > Rename the function accordingly.
> >
> > Relatedly, we use a finnicky __refcount_dec_and_test() primitive directly
> > in vma_refcount_put(), using the old value to determine what the reference
> > count ought to be after the operation is complete (ignoring racing
> > reference count adjustments).

Sorry, by mistake I replied to an earlier version here:
https://lore.kernel.org/all/CAJuCfpF-tVr==bCf-PXJFKPn99yRjfONeDnDtPvTkGUfyuvtcw@mail.gmail.com/
Copying my comments here.

IIUC, __refcount_dec_and_test() can decrement the refcount by only 1
and the old value returned (oldcnt) will be the exact value that it
was before this decrement. Therefore oldcnt - 1 must reflect the
refcount value after the decrement. It's possible the refcount gets
manipulated after this operation but that does not make this operation
wrong. I don't quite understand why you think that's racy or finnicky.

> >
> > Wrap this into a __vma_refcount_put() function, which we can then utilise
> > in vma_mark_detached() and thus keep the refcount primitive usage
> > abstracted.
> >
> > Also adjust comments, removing duplicative comments covered elsewhere and
> > adding more to aid understanding.
> >
> > No functional change intended.
> >
> > Signed-off-by: Lorenzo Stoakes <lorenzo.stoakes@oracle.com>
>
> Again very useful, thanks!
>
> > ---
> > include/linux/mmap_lock.h | 62 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++--------
> > mm/mmap_lock.c | 18 +++++-------
> > 2 files changed, 57 insertions(+), 23 deletions(-)
> >
> > diff --git a/include/linux/mmap_lock.h b/include/linux/mmap_lock.h
> > index a764439d0276..0b3614aadbb4 100644
> > --- a/include/linux/mmap_lock.h
> > +++ b/include/linux/mmap_lock.h
> > @@ -122,15 +122,27 @@ static inline void vma_lock_init(struct vm_area_struct *vma, bool reset_refcnt)
> > vma->vm_lock_seq = UINT_MAX;
> > }
> >
> > -static inline bool is_vma_writer_only(int refcnt)
> > +/**
> > + * are_readers_excluded() - Determine whether @refcnt describes a VMA which has
> > + * excluded all VMA read locks.
> > + * @refcnt: The VMA reference count obtained from vm_area_struct->vm_refcnt.
> > + *
> > + * We may be raced by other readers temporarily incrementing the reference
> > + * count, though the race window is very small, this might cause spurious
> > + * wakeups.
>
> I think this part about spurious wakeups belongs more to the usage of the
> function in vma_refcount_put()? Because there are no wakeups done here. So
> it should be enough to explain how it can be false positive like in the
> paragraph below.
>
> > + *
> > + * In the case of a detached VMA, we may incorrectly indicate that readers are
> > + * excluded when one remains, because in that scenario we target a refcount of
> > + * VM_REFCNT_EXCLUDE_READERS_FLAG, rather than the attached target of
> > + * VM_REFCNT_EXCLUDE_READERS_FLAG + 1.
> > + *
> > + * However, the race window for that is very small so it is unlikely.
> > + *
> > + * Returns: true if readers are excluded, false otherwise.
> > + */
> > +static inline bool are_readers_excluded(int refcnt)
>
> I wonder if a include/linux/ header should have such a generically named
> function (I understand it's necessary for it to be here). Maybe prefix the
> name and make the comment not a kerneldoc because it's going to be only the
> vma locking implementation using it and not the vma locking end-users? (i.e.
> it's "intermediate").
>
> > {
> > /*
> > - * With a writer and no readers, refcnt is VM_REFCNT_EXCLUDE_READERS_FLAG
> > - * if the vma is detached and (VM_REFCNT_EXCLUDE_READERS_FLAG + 1) if it is
> > - * attached. Waiting on a detached vma happens only in
> > - * vma_mark_detached() and is a rare case, therefore most of the time
> > - * there will be no unnecessary wakeup.
> > - *
> > * See the comment describing the vm_area_struct->vm_refcnt field for
> > * details of possible refcnt values.
> > */
> > @@ -138,18 +150,42 @@ static inline bool is_vma_writer_only(int refcnt)
> > refcnt <= VM_REFCNT_EXCLUDE_READERS_FLAG + 1;
> > }
> >
> > +static inline bool __vma_refcount_put(struct vm_area_struct *vma, int *refcnt)
>
> Basically change are_readers_excluded() like this, with __vma prefix?
>
> But this one could IMHO use use some comment (also not kerneldoc) saying
> what the return value and *refcnt indicate?
>
> > +{
> > + int oldcnt;
> > + bool detached;
> > +
> > + detached = __refcount_dec_and_test(&vma->vm_refcnt, &oldcnt);
> > + if (refcnt)
> > + *refcnt = oldcnt - 1;
> > + return detached;

IIUC there is always a connection between detached and *refcnt
resulting value. If detached==true then the resulting *refcnt has to
be 0. If so, __vma_refcount_put() can simply return (oldcnt - 1) as
new count:

static inline int __vma_refcount_put(struct vm_area_struct *vma)
{
int oldcnt;

__refcount_dec_and_test(&vma->vm_refcnt, &oldcnt);
return oldcnt - 1;
}

And later:

newcnt = __vma_refcount_put(&vma->vm_refcnt);
detached = newcnt == 0;

> > +}
> > +
> > +/**
> > + * vma_refcount_put() - Drop reference count in VMA vm_refcnt field due to a
> > + * read-lock being dropped.
> > + * @vma: The VMA whose reference count we wish to decrement.
> > + *
> > + * If we were the last reader, wake up threads waiting to obtain an exclusive
> > + * lock.
> > + */
> > static inline void vma_refcount_put(struct vm_area_struct *vma)
> > {
> > - /* Use a copy of vm_mm in case vma is freed after we drop vm_refcnt */
> > + /* Use a copy of vm_mm in case vma is freed after we drop vm_refcnt. */
> > struct mm_struct *mm = vma->vm_mm;
> > - int oldcnt;
> > + int refcnt;
> > + bool detached;
> >
> > rwsem_release(&vma->vmlock_dep_map, _RET_IP_);
> > - if (!__refcount_dec_and_test(&vma->vm_refcnt, &oldcnt)) {
> >
> > - if (is_vma_writer_only(oldcnt - 1))
> > - rcuwait_wake_up(&mm->vma_writer_wait);
> > - }
> > + detached = __vma_refcount_put(vma, &refcnt);
> > + /*
> > + * __vma_enter_locked() may be sleeping waiting for readers to drop
> > + * their reference count, so wake it up if we were the last reader
> > + * blocking it from being acquired.
> > + */
> > + if (!detached && are_readers_excluded(refcnt))
> > + rcuwait_wake_up(&mm->vma_writer_wait);
> > }
> >
> > /*
> > diff --git a/mm/mmap_lock.c b/mm/mmap_lock.c
> > index 75dc098aea14..ebacb57e5f16 100644
> > --- a/mm/mmap_lock.c
> > +++ b/mm/mmap_lock.c
> > @@ -130,25 +130,23 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(__vma_start_write);
> >
> > void vma_mark_detached(struct vm_area_struct *vma)
> > {
> > + bool detached;
> > +
> > vma_assert_write_locked(vma);
> > vma_assert_attached(vma);
> >
> > /*
> > - * We are the only writer, so no need to use vma_refcount_put().
> > - * The condition below is unlikely because the vma has been already
> > - * write-locked and readers can increment vm_refcnt only temporarily

I think the above part of the comment is still important and should be
kept intact.

> > - * before they check vm_lock_seq, realize the vma is locked and drop
> > - * back the vm_refcnt. That is a narrow window for observing a raised
> > - * vm_refcnt.
> > - *
> > * See the comment describing the vm_area_struct->vm_refcnt field for
> > * details of possible refcnt values.
> > */
> > - if (unlikely(!refcount_dec_and_test(&vma->vm_refcnt))) {
> > + detached = __vma_refcount_put(vma, NULL);
> > + if (unlikely(!detached)) {
> > /* Wait until vma is detached with no readers. */
> > if (__vma_enter_locked(vma, true, TASK_UNINTERRUPTIBLE)) {
> > - bool detached;
> > -
> > + /*
> > + * Once this is complete, no readers can increment the
> > + * reference count, and the VMA is marked detached.
> > + */
> > __vma_exit_locked(vma, &detached);
> > WARN_ON_ONCE(!detached);
> > }
> > --
> > 2.52.0
>