[PATCH v3 0/3] ALSA: firewire-lib: restore process context workqueue to prevent deadlock

Edmund Raile
2024-07-29T21:42:18Z

This patchset serves to prevent an AB/BA deadlock:

thread 0:
* (lock A) acquire substream lock by
snd_pcm_stream_lock_irq() in
snd_pcm_status64()
* (lock B) wait for tasklet to finish by calling
tasklet_unlock_spin_wait() in
tasklet_disable_in_atomic() in
ohci_flush_iso_completions() of ohci.c

thread 1:
* (lock B) enter tasklet
* (lock A) attempt to acquire substream lock,
waiting for it to be released:
snd_pcm_stream_lock_irqsave() in
snd_pcm_period_elapsed() in
update_pcm_pointers() in
process_ctx_payloads() in
process_rx_packets() of amdtp-stream.c

? tasklet_unlock_spin_wait
</NMI>
<TASK>
ohci_flush_iso_completions firewire_ohci
amdtp_domain_stream_pcm_pointer snd_firewire_lib
snd_pcm_update_hw_ptr0 snd_pcm
snd_pcm_status64 snd_pcm

? native_queued_spin_lock_slowpath
</NMI>
<IRQ>
_raw_spin_lock_irqsave
snd_pcm_period_elapsed snd_pcm
process_rx_packets snd_firewire_lib
irq_target_callback snd_firewire_lib
handle_it_packet firewire_ohci
context_tasklet firewire_ohci

The issue has been reported as a regression of kernel 5.14:
Link: https://lore.kernel.org/regressions/kwryofzdmjvzkuw6j3clftsxmoolynljztxqwg76hzeo4simnl@jn3eo7pe642q/T/#u
("[REGRESSION] ALSA: firewire-lib: snd_pcm_period_elapsed deadlock with
Fireface 800")

Commit 7ba5ca32fe6e ("ALSA: firewire-lib: operate for period elapse event
in process context") removed the process context workqueue from
amdtp_domain_stream_pcm_pointer() and update_pcm_pointers() to remove
its overhead.
Commit b5b519965c4c ("ALSA: firewire-lib: obsolete workqueue for period
update") belongs to the same patch series and removed
the now-unused workqueue entirely.

Though being observed on RME Fireface 800, this issue would affect all
Firewire audio interfaces using ohci amdtp + pcm streaming.

ALSA streaming, especially under intensive CPU load will reveal this issue
the soonest due to issuing more hardIRQs, with time to occurrence ranging
from 2 secons to 30 minutes after starting playback.

to reproduce the issue:
direct ALSA playback to the device:
mpv --audio-device=alsa/sysdefault:CARD=Fireface800 Spor-Ignition.flac
Time to occurrence: 2s to 30m
Likelihood increased by:
- high CPU load
stress --cpu $(nproc)
- switching between applications via workspaces
tested with i915 in Xfce
PulsaAudio / PipeWire conceal the issue as they run PCM substream
without period wakeup mode, issuing less hardIRQs.

Cc: stable@vger.kernel.org
Backport note:
Also applies to and fixes on (tested):
6.10.2, 6.9.12, 6.6.43, 6.1.102, 5.15.164

Edmund Raile (3):
Revert "ALSA: firewire-lib: obsolete workqueue for period update"
Revert "ALSA: firewire-lib: operate for period elapse event in process
context"
ALSA: firewire-lib: amdtp-stream work queue inline description

sound/firewire/amdtp-stream.c | 38 ++++++++++++++++++++++-------------
sound/firewire/amdtp-stream.h | 1 +
2 files changed, 25 insertions(+), 14 deletions(-)

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2.45.2