Re: [PATCH v5 6/7] module: Improve support for asynchronous module exit code

Luis Chamberlain
2022-09-28T00:02:55Z

On Tue, Sep 20, 2022 at 10:13:40AM -0700, Bart Van Assche wrote:
> On 9/14/22 15:56, Bart Van Assche wrote:
> > Some kernel modules call device_del() from their module exit code and
> > schedule asynchronous work from inside the .release callback without waiting
> > until that callback has finished. As an example, many SCSI LLD drivers call
> > scsi_remove_host() from their module exit code. scsi_remove_host() may
> > invoke scsi_device_dev_release_usercontext() asynchronously.
> > scsi_device_dev_release_usercontext() uses the host template pointer and
> > that pointer usually exists in static storage in the SCSI LLD. Support
> > using the module reference count to keep the module around until
> > asynchronous module exiting has completed by waiting in the delete_module()
> > system call until the module reference count drops to zero.
>
> Hi Luis,
>
> I'd like to know your opinion about this patch since you are the maintainer
> of the kernel module system.

See this patch which extends the documentation of try_module_get():

https://lkml.kernel.org/r/20211029184500.2821444-7-mcgrof@kernel.org

You can ignore discussion around the thread as sadly it is just
irrelevant stuff not about that patch. But the logic it spells out
is still true.

So, in short, using try_module_get() on exit is actually the wrong
thing to do and it is no surprise it would fail. I haven't gotten
yet around to reviewing Mauro's driver API which let's you unbind
drivers, but it sounds related so I CC'd you on that.

So I'd like to ask instead if an alternative to using try_module_get()
on exit would be better here and for the future.

Luis