[PATCH v2 2/2] x86_64: Don't save flags on context switch

Andy Lutomirski
2014-10-01T04:51:45Z

Now that the kernel always runs with clean flags (in particular, NT
is clear), there is no need to save and restore flags on every
context switch.

Signed-off-by: Andy Lutomirski <luto@amacapital.net>
---
arch/x86/include/asm/switch_to.h | 12 ++++++++----
1 file changed, 8 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/arch/x86/include/asm/switch_to.h b/arch/x86/include/asm/switch_to.h
index d7f3b3b78ac3..751bf4b7bf11 100644
--- a/arch/x86/include/asm/switch_to.h
+++ b/arch/x86/include/asm/switch_to.h
@@ -79,12 +79,12 @@ do { \
#else /* CONFIG_X86_32 */

/* frame pointer must be last for get_wchan */
-#define SAVE_CONTEXT "pushf ; pushq %%rbp ; movq %%rsi,%%rbp\n\t"
-#define RESTORE_CONTEXT "movq %%rbp,%%rsi ; popq %%rbp ; popf\t"
+#define SAVE_CONTEXT "pushq %%rbp ; movq %%rsi,%%rbp\n\t"
+#define RESTORE_CONTEXT "movq %%rbp,%%rsi ; popq %%rbp\t"

#define __EXTRA_CLOBBER \
, "rcx", "rbx", "rdx", "r8", "r9", "r10", "r11", \
- "r12", "r13", "r14", "r15"
+ "r12", "r13", "r14", "r15", "flags"

#ifdef CONFIG_CC_STACKPROTECTOR
#define __switch_canary \
@@ -100,7 +100,11 @@ do { \
#define __switch_canary_iparam
#endif /* CC_STACKPROTECTOR */

-/* Save restore flags to clear handle leaking NT */
+/*
+ * There is no need to save or restore flags, because flags are always
+ * clean in kernel mode, with the possible exception of IOPL. Kernel IOPL
+ * has no effect.
+ */
#define switch_to(prev, next, last) \
asm volatile(SAVE_CONTEXT \
"movq %%rsp,%P[threadrsp](%[prev])\n\t" /* save RSP */ \
--
1.9.3