[PATCH kcsan 9/9] tools/memory-model: Document locking corner cases

paulmck
2020-08-31T18:21:11Z

From: "Paul E. McKenney" <paulmck@kernel.org>

Most Linux-kernel uses of locking are straightforward, but there are
corner-case uses that rely on less well-known aspects of the lock and
unlock primitives. This commit therefore adds a locking.txt and litmus
tests in Documentation/litmus-tests/locking to explain these corner-case
uses.

Signed-off-by: Paul E. McKenney <paulmck@kernel.org>
---
.../litmus-tests/locking/DCL-broken.litmus | 55 ++++
.../litmus-tests/locking/DCL-fixed.litmus | 56 ++++
.../litmus-tests/locking/RM-broken.litmus | 42 +++
Documentation/litmus-tests/locking/RM-fixed.litmus | 42 +++
tools/memory-model/Documentation/locking.txt | 320 +++++++++++++++++++++
5 files changed, 515 insertions(+)
create mode 100644 Documentation/litmus-tests/locking/DCL-broken.litmus
create mode 100644 Documentation/litmus-tests/locking/DCL-fixed.litmus
create mode 100644 Documentation/litmus-tests/locking/RM-broken.litmus
create mode 100644 Documentation/litmus-tests/locking/RM-fixed.litmus
create mode 100644 tools/memory-model/Documentation/locking.txt

diff --git a/Documentation/litmus-tests/locking/DCL-broken.litmus b/Documentation/litmus-tests/locking/DCL-broken.litmus
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cfaa25f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Documentation/litmus-tests/locking/DCL-broken.litmus
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+C DCL-broken
+
+(*
+ * Result: Sometimes
+ *
+ * This litmus test demonstrates more than just locking is required to
+ * correctly implement double-checked locking.
+ *)
+
+{
+ int flag;
+ int data;
+ int lck;
+}
+
+P0(int *flag, int *data, int *lck)
+{
+ int r0;
+ int r1;
+ int r2;
+
+ r0 = READ_ONCE(*flag);
+ if (r0 == 0) {
+ spin_lock(lck);
+ r1 = READ_ONCE(*flag);
+ if (r1 == 0) {
+ WRITE_ONCE(*data, 1);
+ WRITE_ONCE(*flag, 1);
+ }
+ spin_unlock(lck);
+ }
+ r2 = READ_ONCE(*data);
+}
+
+P1(int *flag, int *data, int *lck)
+{
+ int r0;
+ int r1;
+ int r2;
+
+ r0 = READ_ONCE(*flag);
+ if (r0 == 0) {
+ spin_lock(lck);
+ r1 = READ_ONCE(*flag);
+ if (r1 == 0) {
+ WRITE_ONCE(*data, 1);
+ WRITE_ONCE(*flag, 1);
+ }
+ spin_unlock(lck);
+ }
+ r2 = READ_ONCE(*data);
+}
+
+locations [flag;data;lck;0:r0;0:r1;1:r0;1:r1]
+exists (0:r2=0 \/ 1:r2=0)
diff --git a/Documentation/litmus-tests/locking/DCL-fixed.litmus b/Documentation/litmus-tests/locking/DCL-fixed.litmus
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..579d6c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Documentation/litmus-tests/locking/DCL-fixed.litmus
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+C DCL-fixed
+
+(*
+ * Result: Never
+ *
+ * This litmus test demonstrates that double-checked locking can be
+ * reliable given proper use of smp_load_acquire() and smp_store_release()
+ * in addition to the locking.
+ *)
+
+{
+ int flag;
+ int data;
+ int lck;
+}
+
+P0(int *flag, int *data, int *lck)
+{
+ int r0;
+ int r1;
+ int r2;
+
+ r0 = smp_load_acquire(flag);
+ if (r0 == 0) {
+ spin_lock(lck);
+ r1 = READ_ONCE(*flag);
+ if (r1 == 0) {
+ WRITE_ONCE(*data, 1);
+ smp_store_release(flag, 1);
+ }
+ spin_unlock(lck);
+ }
+ r2 = READ_ONCE(*data);
+}
+
+P1(int *flag, int *data, int *lck)
+{
+ int r0;
+ int r1;
+ int r2;
+
+ r0 = smp_load_acquire(flag);
+ if (r0 == 0) {
+ spin_lock(lck);
+ r1 = READ_ONCE(*flag);
+ if (r1 == 0) {
+ WRITE_ONCE(*data, 1);
+ smp_store_release(flag, 1);
+ }
+ spin_unlock(lck);
+ }
+ r2 = READ_ONCE(*data);
+}
+
+locations [flag;data;lck;0:r0;0:r1;1:r0;1:r1]
+exists (0:r2=0 \/ 1:r2=0)
diff --git a/Documentation/litmus-tests/locking/RM-broken.litmus b/Documentation/litmus-tests/locking/RM-broken.litmus
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c586ae4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Documentation/litmus-tests/locking/RM-broken.litmus
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+C RM-broken
+
+(*
+ * Result: DEADLOCK
+ *
+ * This litmus test demonstrates that the old "roach motel" approach
+ * to locking, where code can be freely moved into critical sections,
+ * cannot be used in the Linux kernel.
+ *)
+
+{
+ int lck;
+ int x;
+ int y;
+}
+
+P0(int *x, int *y, int *lck)
+{
+ int r2;
+
+ spin_lock(lck);
+ r2 = atomic_inc_return(y);
+ WRITE_ONCE(*x, 1);
+ spin_unlock(lck);
+}
+
+P1(int *x, int *y, int *lck)
+{
+ int r0;
+ int r1;
+ int r2;
+
+ spin_lock(lck);
+ r0 = READ_ONCE(*x);
+ r1 = READ_ONCE(*x);
+ r2 = atomic_inc_return(y);
+ spin_unlock(lck);
+}
+
+locations [x;lck;0:r2;1:r0;1:r1;1:r2]
+filter (y=2 /\ 1:r0=0 /\ 1:r1=1)
+exists (1:r2=1)
diff --git a/Documentation/litmus-tests/locking/RM-fixed.litmus b/Documentation/litmus-tests/locking/RM-fixed.litmus
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6728567
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Documentation/litmus-tests/locking/RM-fixed.litmus
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+C RM-fixed
+
+(*
+ * Result: Never
+ *
+ * This litmus test demonstrates that the old "roach motel" approach
+ * to locking, where code can be freely moved into critical sections,
+ * cannot be used in the Linux kernel.
+ *)
+
+{
+ int lck;
+ int x;
+ int y;
+}
+
+P0(int *x, int *y, int *lck)
+{
+ int r2;
+
+ spin_lock(lck);
+ r2 = atomic_inc_return(y);
+ WRITE_ONCE(*x, 1);
+ spin_unlock(lck);
+}
+
+P1(int *x, int *y, int *lck)
+{
+ int r0;
+ int r1;
+ int r2;
+
+ r0 = READ_ONCE(*x);
+ r1 = READ_ONCE(*x);
+ spin_lock(lck);
+ r2 = atomic_inc_return(y);
+ spin_unlock(lck);
+}
+
+locations [x;lck;0:r2;1:r0;1:r1;1:r2]
+filter (y=2 /\ 1:r0=0 /\ 1:r1=1)
+exists (1:r2=1)
diff --git a/tools/memory-model/Documentation/locking.txt b/tools/memory-model/Documentation/locking.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a6ad6aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/memory-model/Documentation/locking.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,320 @@
+Locking
+=======
+
+Locking is well-known and the common use cases are straightforward: Any
+CPU holding a given lock sees any changes previously seen or made by any
+CPU before it previously released that same lock. This last sentence
+is the only part of this document that most developers will need to read.
+
+However, developers who would like to also access lock-protected shared
+variables outside of their corresponding locks should continue reading.
+
+
+Locking and Prior Accesses
+--------------------------
+
+The basic rule of locking is worth repeating:
+
+ Any CPU holding a given lock sees any changes previously seen
+ or made by any CPU before it previously released that same lock.
+
+Note that this statement is a bit stronger than "Any CPU holding a
+given lock sees all changes made by any CPU during the time that CPU was
+previously holding this same lock". For example, consider the following
+pair of code fragments:
+
+ /* See MP+polocks.litmus. */
+ void CPU0(void)
+ {
+ WRITE_ONCE(x, 1);
+ spin_lock(&mylock);
+ WRITE_ONCE(y, 1);
+ spin_unlock(&mylock);
+ }
+
+ void CPU1(void)
+ {
+ spin_lock(&mylock);
+ r0 = READ_ONCE(y);
+ spin_unlock(&mylock);
+ r1 = READ_ONCE(x);
+ }
+
+The basic rule guarantees that if CPU0() acquires mylock before CPU1(),
+then both r0 and r1 must be set to the value 1. This also has the
+consequence that if the final value of r0 is equal to 1, then the final
+value of r1 must also be equal to 1. In contrast, the weaker rule would
+say nothing about the final value of r1.
+
+
+Locking and Subsequent Accesses
+-------------------------------
+
+The converse to the basic rule also holds: Any CPU holding a given
+lock will not see any changes that will be made by any CPU after it
+subsequently acquires this same lock. This converse statement is
+illustrated by the following litmus test:
+
+ /* See MP+porevlocks.litmus. */
+ void CPU0(void)
+ {
+ r0 = READ_ONCE(y);
+ spin_lock(&mylock);
+ r1 = READ_ONCE(x);
+ spin_unlock(&mylock);
+ }
+
+ void CPU1(void)
+ {
+ spin_lock(&mylock);
+ WRITE_ONCE(x, 1);
+ spin_unlock(&mylock);
+ WRITE_ONCE(y, 1);
+ }
+
+This converse to the basic rule guarantees that if CPU0() acquires
+mylock before CPU1(), then both r0 and r1 must be set to the value 0.
+This also has the consequence that if the final value of r1 is equal
+to 0, then the final value of r0 must also be equal to 0. In contrast,
+the weaker rule would say nothing about the final value of r0.
+
+These examples show only a single pair of CPUs, but the effects of the
+locking basic rule extend across multiple acquisitions of a given lock
+across multiple CPUs.
+
+
+Double-Checked Locking
+----------------------
+
+It is well known that more than just a lock is required to make
+double-checked locking work correctly, This litmus test illustrates
+one incorrect approach:
+
+ /* See Documentation/litmus-tests/locking/DCL-broken.litmus. */
+ P0(int *flag, int *data, int *lck)
+ {
+ int r0;
+ int r1;
+ int r2;
+
+ r0 = READ_ONCE(*flag);
+ if (r0 == 0) {
+ spin_lock(lck);
+ r1 = READ_ONCE(*flag);
+ if (r1 == 0) {
+ WRITE_ONCE(*data, 1);
+ WRITE_ONCE(*flag, 1);
+ }
+ spin_unlock(lck);
+ }
+ r2 = READ_ONCE(*data);
+ }
+ /* P1() is the exactly the same as P0(). */
+
+There are two problems. First, there is no ordering between the first
+READ_ONCE() of "flag" and the READ_ONCE() of "data". Second, there is
+no ordering between the two WRITE_ONCE() calls. It should therefore be
+no surprise that "r2" can be zero, and a quick herd7 run confirms this.
+
+One way to fix this is to use smp_load_acquire() and smp_store_release()
+as shown in this corrected version:
+
+ /* See Documentation/litmus-tests/locking/DCL-fixed.litmus. */
+ P0(int *flag, int *data, int *lck)
+ {
+ int r0;
+ int r1;
+ int r2;
+
+ r0 = smp_load_acquire(flag);
+ if (r0 == 0) {
+ spin_lock(lck);
+ r1 = READ_ONCE(*flag);
+ if (r1 == 0) {
+ WRITE_ONCE(*data, 1);
+ smp_store_release(flag, 1);
+ }
+ spin_unlock(lck);
+ }
+ r2 = READ_ONCE(*data);
+ }
+ /* P1() is the exactly the same as P0(). */
+
+The smp_load_acquire() guarantees that its load from "flags" will
+be ordered before the READ_ONCE() from data, thus solving the first
+problem. The smp_store_release() guarantees that its store will be
+ordered after the WRITE_ONCE() to "data", solving the second problem.
+The smp_store_release() pairs with the smp_load_acquire(), thus ensuring
+that the ordering provided by each actually takes effect. Again, a
+quick herd7 run confirms this.
+
+In short, if you access a lock-protected variable without holding the
+corresponding lock, you will need to provide additional ordering, in
+this case, via the smp_load_acquire() and the smp_store_release().
+
+
+Ordering Provided by a Lock to CPUs Not Holding That Lock
+---------------------------------------------------------
+
+It is not necessarily the case that accesses ordered by locking will be
+seen as ordered by CPUs not holding that lock. Consider this example:
+
+ /* See Z6.0+pooncelock+pooncelock+pombonce.litmus. */
+ void CPU0(void)
+ {
+ spin_lock(&mylock);
+ WRITE_ONCE(x, 1);
+ WRITE_ONCE(y, 1);
+ spin_unlock(&mylock);
+ }
+
+ void CPU1(void)
+ {
+ spin_lock(&mylock);
+ r0 = READ_ONCE(y);
+ WRITE_ONCE(z, 1);
+ spin_unlock(&mylock);
+ }
+
+ void CPU2(void)
+ {
+ WRITE_ONCE(z, 2);
+ smp_mb();
+ r1 = READ_ONCE(x);
+ }
+
+Counter-intuitive though it might be, it is quite possible to have
+the final value of r0 be 1, the final value of z be 2, and the final
+value of r1 be 0. The reason for this surprising outcome is that CPU2()
+never acquired the lock, and thus did not fully benefit from the lock's
+ordering properties.
+
+Ordering can be extended to CPUs not holding the lock by careful use
+of smp_mb__after_spinlock():
+
+ /* See Z6.0+pooncelock+poonceLock+pombonce.litmus. */
+ void CPU0(void)
+ {
+ spin_lock(&mylock);
+ WRITE_ONCE(x, 1);
+ WRITE_ONCE(y, 1);
+ spin_unlock(&mylock);
+ }
+
+ void CPU1(void)
+ {
+ spin_lock(&mylock);
+ smp_mb__after_spinlock();
+ r0 = READ_ONCE(y);
+ WRITE_ONCE(z, 1);
+ spin_unlock(&mylock);
+ }
+
+ void CPU2(void)
+ {
+ WRITE_ONCE(z, 2);
+ smp_mb();
+ r1 = READ_ONCE(x);
+ }
+
+This addition of smp_mb__after_spinlock() strengthens the lock
+acquisition sufficiently to rule out the counter-intuitive outcome.
+In other words, the addition of the smp_mb__after_spinlock() prohibits
+the counter-intuitive result where the final value of r0 is 1, the final
+value of z is 2, and the final value of r1 is 0.
+
+
+No Roach-Motel Locking!
+-----------------------
+
+This example requires familiarity with the herd7 "filter" clause, so
+please read up on that topic in litmus-tests.txt.
+
+It is tempting to allow memory-reference instructions to be pulled
+into a critical section, but this cannot be allowed in the general case.
+For example, consider a spin loop preceding a lock-based critical section.
+Now, herd7 does not model spin loops, but we can emulate one with two
+loads, with a "filter" clause to constrain the first to return the
+initial value and the second to return the updated value, as shown below:
+
+ /* See Documentation/litmus-tests/locking/RM-fixed.litmus. */
+ P0(int *x, int *y, int *lck)
+ {
+ int r2;
+
+ spin_lock(lck);
+ r2 = atomic_inc_return(y);
+ WRITE_ONCE(*x, 1);
+ spin_unlock(lck);
+ }
+
+ P1(int *x, int *y, int *lck)
+ {
+ int r0;
+ int r1;
+ int r2;
+
+ r0 = READ_ONCE(*x);
+ r1 = READ_ONCE(*x);
+ spin_lock(lck);
+ r2 = atomic_inc_return(y);
+ spin_unlock(lck);
+ }
+
+ filter (y=2 /\ 1:r0=0 /\ 1:r1=1)
+ exists (1:r2=1)
+
+The variable "x" is the control variable for the emulated spin loop.
+P0() sets it to "1" while holding the lock, and P1() emulates the
+spin loop by reading it twice, first into "1:r0" (which should get the
+initial value "0") and then into "1:r1" (which should get the updated
+value "1").
+
+The purpose of the variable "y" is to reject deadlocked executions.
+Only those executions where the final value of "y" have avoided deadlock.
+
+The "filter" clause takes all this into account, constraining "y" to
+equal "2", "1:r0" to equal "0", and "1:r1" to equal 1.
+
+Then the "exists" clause checks to see if P1() acquired its lock first,
+which should not happen given the filter clause because P0() updates
+"x" while holding the lock. And herd7 confirms this.
+
+But suppose that the compiler was permitted to reorder the spin loop
+into P1()'s critical section, like this:
+
+ /* See Documentation/litmus-tests/locking/RM-broken.litmus. */
+ P0(int *x, int *y, int *lck)
+ {
+ int r2;
+
+ spin_lock(lck);
+ r2 = atomic_inc_return(y);
+ WRITE_ONCE(*x, 1);
+ spin_unlock(lck);
+ }
+
+ P1(int *x, int *y, int *lck)
+ {
+ int r0;
+ int r1;
+ int r2;
+
+ spin_lock(lck);
+ r0 = READ_ONCE(*x);
+ r1 = READ_ONCE(*x);
+ r2 = atomic_inc_return(y);
+ spin_unlock(lck);
+ }
+
+ locations [x;lck;0:r2;1:r0;1:r1;1:r2]
+ filter (y=2 /\ 1:r0=0 /\ 1:r1=1)
+ exists (1:r2=1)
+
+If "1:r0" is equal to "0", "1:r1" can never equal "1" because P0()
+cannot update "x" while P1() holds the lock. And herd7 confirms this,
+showing zero executions matching the "filter" criteria.
+
+And this is why Linux-kernel lock and unlock primitives must prevent
+code from entering critical sections. It is not sufficient to only
+prevnt code from leaving them.
--
2.9.5