dyntick-idle CPU and node's qsmask

[Joel Fernandes <joel@joelfernandes.org>]

Hi Paul and everyone,

I was tracing/studying the RCU code today in paul/dev branch and noticed that
for dyntick-idle CPUs, the RCU GP thread is clearing the rnp->qsmask
corresponding to the leaf node for the idle CPU, and reporting a QS on their
behalf.

rcu_sched-10    [003]    40.008039: rcu_fqs:              rcu_sched 792 0 dti
rcu_sched-10    [003]    40.008039: rcu_fqs:              rcu_sched 801 2 dti
rcu_sched-10    [003]    40.008041: rcu_quiescent_state_report: rcu_sched 805 5>0 0 0 3 0

That's all good but I was wondering if we can do better for the idle CPUs if
we can some how not set the qsmask of the node in the first place. Then no
reporting would be needed of quiescent state is needed for idle CPUs right?
And we would also not need to acquire the rnp lock I think.

At least for a single node tree RCU system, it seems that would avoid needing
to acquire the lock without complications. Anyway let me know your thoughts
and happy to discuss this at the hallways of the LPC as well for folks
attending :)

thanks,

- Joel