Re: device driver / char module interrupt vector -> user space code

[Jan Hudec <bulb@ucw.cz>]

On Fri, Aug 09, 2002 at 11:34:00AM +0100, Alan Cox wrote:
> On Fri, 2002-08-09 at 09:49, SA wrote:
> > I am writing a char module for a PCI stage controller and want to add the 
> > following functionality; 
> > 
> > The device will generate an interrupt (or software trigger) and I want this to 
> > run a bit of user code with relatively latency.  (<1ms).  I am unclear how to
> > do this while still separating the user from the kernel code and maintaining
> > security - would this usually be handled by issuing a signal to the user space
> > process? if so how and what latency can I expect? 
> 
> You could deliver a signal, or if appropriate you can have a system call
> that blocks until the IRQ. To get good reliable latency, mlockall() the 
> process you need to be real time, and set it to a real time scheduling
> priority.

If you noticed the discussion about signal delivery and context switch
latency, a syscall (can be ioctl on special device) waiting for the
event would be faster than signal.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
						 Jan 'Bulb' Hudec <bulb@ucw.cz>