Re: [PATCH 1/6] rcu: Make call_rcu() safe to call from any context

["Zqiang" <qiang.zhang@linux.dev>]

> 
> On Thu, Jul 30, 2026 at 10:40:21PM +0000, Zqiang wrote:
> 
> > 
> > On Thu, Jul 30, 2026 at 12:20:54PM +0000, Zqiang wrote:
> >  
> >  > 
> >  > call_rcu() touches its per-CPU callback list only with interrupts
> >  > disabled: the enqueue runs under local_irq_save() (plus the nocb locks
> >  > when offloaded), as do callback invocation and grace-period work. A
> >  > call_rcu() that arrives with interrupts already disabled may be
> >  > interrupting one of those, so enqueuing directly could corrupt the list
> >  > or deadlock -- as an NMI or re-entrant instrumentation can.
> >  > 
> >  > Defer in that case: stage the callback on a per-CPU llist and kick an
> >  > irq_work that re-issues it once interrupts are back on, going straight to
> >  > the enqueue so it cannot defer again. Callers that merely hold interrupts
> >  > off are deferred too, which is harmless. Skip the gate while the
> >  > scheduler is down (RCU_SCHEDULER_INACTIVE): irq_work is not usable until
> >  > init_IRQ(), yet rcu_init() already calls call_rcu().
> >  > 
> >  > rcu_barrier() flushes pending deferred callbacks first: it waits out each
> >  > online CPU's irq_work and drains an offline CPU's list directly, as that
> >  > irq_work may never run again. rcutree_migrate_callbacks() also drains an
> >  > outgoing CPU's ->defer_head, so a callback deferred late in the offline
> >  > path runs even without an rcu_barrier(). The irq_work is
> >  > IRQ_WORK_INIT_HARD so the re-issue runs promptly and callbacks do not back
> >  > up; on PREEMPT_RT a non-HARD irq_work would run in a kthread that can be
> >  > delayed under load. A new hidden CONFIG_RCU_DEFER gates the code and the
> >  > IRQ_WORK dependency; without it call_rcu() enqueues directly as before.
> >  > 
> >  > Under CONFIG_PROVE_RCU, warn if the direct path is reached from NMI, which
> >  > would mean interrupts were enabled on NMI entry.
> >  > 
> >  > Suggested-by: Paul E. McKenney <paulmck@kernel.org>
> >  > Signed-off-by: Puranjay Mohan <puranjay@kernel.org>
> >  > ---
> >  > kernel/rcu/Kconfig | 6 +++
> >  > kernel/rcu/rcu.h | 15 ++++++
> >  > kernel/rcu/tree.c | 120 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++----
> >  > kernel/rcu/tree.h | 5 ++
> >  > 4 files changed, 136 insertions(+), 10 deletions(-)
> >  > 
> >  > diff --git a/kernel/rcu/Kconfig b/kernel/rcu/Kconfig
> >  > index f15da8038d0ba..1a5fb3156c062 100644
> >  > --- a/kernel/rcu/Kconfig
> >  > +++ b/kernel/rcu/Kconfig
> >  > @@ -175,6 +175,12 @@ config RCU_STALL_COMMON
> >  > config RCU_NEED_SEGCBLIST
> >  > def_bool ( TREE_RCU || TREE_SRCU || TASKS_RCU_GENERIC )
> >  > 
> >  > +# The deferral (and the IRQ_WORK it uses) is only needed where call_rcu() /
> >  > +# call_srcu() can be invoked while a callback-list operation is in flight.
> >  > +config RCU_DEFER
> >  > + def_bool HAVE_NMI || KPROBES || FUNCTION_TRACER || TRACEPOINTS
> >  > + select IRQ_WORK
> >  > +
> >  > config RCU_FANOUT
> >  > int "Tree-based hierarchical RCU fanout value"
> >  > range 2 64 if 64BIT
> >  > diff --git a/kernel/rcu/rcu.h b/kernel/rcu/rcu.h
> >  > index 39a9f6fa9a7b2..ed6604445f2ac 100644
> >  > --- a/kernel/rcu/rcu.h
> >  > +++ b/kernel/rcu/rcu.h
> >  > @@ -572,6 +572,21 @@ static inline void tasks_cblist_init_generic(void) { }
> >  > #define RCU_SCHEDULER_INIT 1
> >  > #define RCU_SCHEDULER_RUNNING 2
> >  > 
> >  > +/*
> >  > + * Should a call_rcu()/call_srcu() callback be deferred rather than enqueued
> >  > + * now? Defer whenever interrupts are disabled: a callback-list operation may
> >  > + * be in flight on this CPU, so enqueuing now could corrupt it. But not while
> >  > + * the scheduler is down -- early boot is single-threaded and can call this
> >  > + * before init_IRQ() makes irq_work usable (e.g. rcu_init()'s self-tests).
> >  > + */
> >  > +static inline bool should_rcu_defer(void)
> >  > +{
> >  > + if (!IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_RCU_DEFER))
> >  > + return false;
> >  > +
> >  > + return irqs_disabled() && rcu_scheduler_active != RCU_SCHEDULER_INACTIVE;
> >  > +}
> >  > +
> >  > enum rcutorture_type {
> >  > RCU_FLAVOR,
> >  > RCU_TASKS_FLAVOR,
> >  > diff --git a/kernel/rcu/tree.c b/kernel/rcu/tree.c
> >  > index 21b6ce1dffb63..93c4242345e67 100644
> >  > --- a/kernel/rcu/tree.c
> >  > +++ b/kernel/rcu/tree.c
> >  > @@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
> >  > #include <linux/smp.h>
> >  > #include <linux/rcupdate_wait.h>
> >  > #include <linux/interrupt.h>
> >  > +#include <linux/llist.h>
> >  > #include <linux/sched.h>
> >  > #include <linux/sched/debug.h>
> >  > #include <linux/nmi.h>
> >  > @@ -3148,21 +3149,27 @@ static void check_cb_ovld(struct rcu_data *rdp)
> >  > raw_spin_unlock_rcu_node(rnp);
> >  > }
> >  > 
> >  > -static void
> >  > -__call_rcu_common(struct rcu_head *head, rcu_callback_t func, bool lazy_in)
> >  > +/*
> >  > + * The callback list is only ever accessed with interrupts disabled (enqueue,
> >  > + * callback invocation, grace-period work). A call_rcu() with interrupts already
> >  > + * disabled may interrupt one of those, so __call_rcu_common() defers: the
> >  > + * callback is staged on a per-CPU llist that an irq_work re-issues once
> >  > + * interrupts are on. Only CONFIG_RCU_DEFER kernels can hit this.
> >  > + */
> >  > +static void rcu_defer_drain(struct irq_work *iw);
> >  > +
> >  > +/*
> >  > + * Enqueue @head on this CPU's rcu_segcblist. Also called by rcu_defer_drain()
> >  > + * to re-issue a deferred callback, so it must not re-check the deferral
> >  > + * condition. Either caller may have interrupts already disabled.
> >  > + */
> >  > +static void rcu_do_enqueue(struct rcu_head *head, rcu_callback_t func, bool lazy_in)
> >  > {
> >  > static atomic_t doublefrees;
> >  > unsigned long flags;
> >  > bool lazy;
> >  > struct rcu_data *rdp;
> >  > 
> >  > - /* Misaligned rcu_head! */
> >  > - WARN_ON_ONCE((unsigned long)head & (sizeof(void *) - 1));
> >  > -
> >  > - /* Avoid NULL dereference if callback is NULL. */
> >  > - if (WARN_ON_ONCE(!func))
> >  > - return;
> >  > -
> >  > if (debug_rcu_head_queue(head)) {
> >  > /*
> >  > * Probable double call_rcu(), so leak the callback.
> >  > @@ -3206,6 +3213,83 @@ __call_rcu_common(struct rcu_head *head, rcu_callback_t func, bool lazy_in)
> >  > local_irq_restore(flags);
> >  > }
> >  > 
> >  > +/*
> >  > + * Re-issue deferred callbacks, going straight to the enqueue so they cannot
> >  > + * defer again. defer_lock is held across llist_del_all() and the re-issue so
> >  > + * the drainers -- this CPU's irq_work, rcu_defer_flush() and
> >  > + * rcutree_migrate_callbacks() -- serialize and never leave a callback off
> >  > + * ->defer_head yet not on a callback list.
> >  > + */
> >  > +static void rcu_defer_drain(struct irq_work *iw)
> >  > +{
> >  > + struct rcu_data *rdp = container_of(iw, struct rcu_data, defer_work);
> >  > + struct llist_node *node, *next;
> >  > + unsigned long flags;
> >  > +
> >  > + raw_spin_lock_irqsave(&rdp->defer_lock, flags);
> >  > + llist_for_each_safe(node, next, llist_del_all(&rdp->defer_head)) {
> >  > + struct rcu_head *head = (struct rcu_head *)node;
> >  > +
> >  > + rcu_do_enqueue(head, head->func, false);
> >  > + }
> >  > + raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore(&rdp->defer_lock, flags);
> >  > +}
> >  > +
> >  > +/* Stage @head for this CPU's irq_work when call_rcu() cannot enqueue now. */
> >  > +static void call_rcu_defer(struct rcu_head *head, rcu_callback_t func)
> >  > +{
> >  > + struct rcu_data *rdp = this_cpu_ptr(&rcu_data);
> >  > +
> >  > + head->func = func;
> >  > + if (llist_add((struct llist_node *)head, &rdp->defer_head))
> >  > + irq_work_queue(&rdp->defer_work);
> >  > 
> >  > If current CPU is isolation and nozh_full, maybe we should avoid to
> >  > queue irq_work to current CPUs(include srcu, tasks-rcu) ?
> >  > 
> >  > Maybe can wrap a helper function:
> >  > 
> >  > bool rcu_irq_work_queue(struct irq_work *iw) 
> >  > {
> >  > if (in_nmi())
> >  > return irq_work_queue(iw);
> >  > 
> >  > int cpu = smp_processor_id();
> >  > if (!housekeeping_test_cpu(cpu, HK_TYPE_KERNEL_NOISE))
> >  > cpu = housekeeping_any_cpu(HK_TYPE_KERNEL_NOISE);
> >  > 
> >  > return irq_work_queue_on(iw, cpu);
> >  > }
> >  > 
> >  You lost me on this one. We cannot invoke call_rcu() and friends unless
> >  we are running in kernel context, so usermode operation has already
> >  been interrupted, perhaps due to a configuration error that failed to
> >  direct interrupts away from the current CPU. In that case, is the added
> >  disruption of the irq-work really worth worrying about?
> >  
> >  The irqs_disabled() can return true, even if we not in hardirq context,
> >  for example, before this we invoke local_irq_save() to disable local
> >  CPU's irq.
> >  If a userspace application bound to isolate and nohz_full CPUS, and
> >  cycle enters the kernelspace do wakeup. we use ebpf hook tracepoint in 
> >  try_to_wake_up(), in ebpf code, the call_rcu() or call_srcu() check
> >  irq_disabled() return true, enter defer path, trigger irq_work to current
> >  CPUs, can make some noise.
> >  
> >  Did I miss something?
> > 
> No, what you described really can happen, but only if the application
> does a system call that does a fair amount of work. In that case,
> is the overhead of the irq-work measureable compared to the total
> system-call overhead?
> 
> Don't get me wrong, it might well be measureable. But I do need to see
> hard numbers to justify the added complexity.

Ok, I see.  

We have similar scenarios on our product, I'm trying to measure it.

Thanks
Zqiang

> 
>  Thanx, Paul
> 
> > 
> > Thanks
> >  Zqiang
> >  
> >  
> >  
> >  What am I missing here?
> >  
> >  Thanx, Paul
> >  
> >  > 
> >  > Thanks
> >  > Zqiang
> >  > 
> >  > 
> >  > 
> >  > +}
> >  > +
> >  > +/*
> >  > + * Register pending deferred callbacks into the callback lists so a following
> >  > + * rcu_barrier() waits for them. This runs before rcu_barrier() scans the
> >  > + * lists. An online CPU's own irq_work re-issues its callbacks, so wait it out;
> >  > + * an offline CPU's irq_work may never run again, so drain its list directly
> >  > + * onto this CPU instead.
> >  > + */
> >  > +static void rcu_defer_flush(void)
> >  > +{
> >  > + int cpu;
> >  > +
> >  > + if (!IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_RCU_DEFER))
> >  > + return;
> >  > +
> >  > + for_each_possible_cpu(cpu) {
> >  > + struct rcu_data *rdp = per_cpu_ptr(&rcu_data, cpu);
> >  > +
> >  > + if (cpu_online(cpu))
> >  > + irq_work_sync(&rdp->defer_work);
> >  > + else
> >  > + rcu_defer_drain(&rdp->defer_work);
> >  > + }
> >  > +}
> >  > +
> >  > +static void
> >  > +__call_rcu_common(struct rcu_head *head, rcu_callback_t func, bool lazy_in)
> >  > +{
> >  > + /* Misaligned rcu_head! */
> >  > + WARN_ON_ONCE((unsigned long)head & (sizeof(void *) - 1));
> >  > +
> >  > + /* Avoid NULL dereference if callback is NULL. */
> >  > + if (WARN_ON_ONCE(!func))
> >  > + return;
> >  > +
> >  > + if (should_rcu_defer()) {
> >  > + call_rcu_defer(head, func);
> >  > + return;
> >  > + }
> >  > +
> >  > + /* An NMI reaching here entered with irqs enabled, so the enqueue can race. */
> >  > + WARN_ON_ONCE(IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_PROVE_RCU) && in_nmi());
> >  > +
> >  > + rcu_do_enqueue(head, func, lazy_in);
> >  > +}
> >  > +
> >  > #ifdef CONFIG_RCU_LAZY
> >  > static bool enable_rcu_lazy __read_mostly = !IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_RCU_LAZY_DEFAULT_OFF);
> >  > module_param(enable_rcu_lazy, bool, 0444);
> >  > @@ -3896,8 +3980,12 @@ void rcu_barrier(void)
> >  > unsigned long flags;
> >  > unsigned long gseq;
> >  > struct rcu_data *rdp;
> >  > - unsigned long s = rcu_seq_snap(&rcu_state.barrier_sequence);
> >  > + unsigned long s;
> >  > +
> >  > + /* Register any deferred callbacks before snapshotting the sequence. */
> >  > + rcu_defer_flush();
> >  > 
> >  > + s = rcu_seq_snap(&rcu_state.barrier_sequence);
> >  > rcu_barrier_trace(TPS("Begin"), -1, s);
> >  > 
> >  > /* Take mutex to serialize concurrent rcu_barrier() requests. */
> >  > @@ -4231,6 +4319,10 @@ rcu_boot_init_percpu_data(int cpu)
> >  > rdp->rcu_onl_gp_state = RCU_GP_CLEANED;
> >  > rdp->last_sched_clock = jiffies;
> >  > rdp->cpu = cpu;
> >  > + init_llist_head(&rdp->defer_head);
> >  > + raw_spin_lock_init(&rdp->defer_lock);
> >  > + /* Hard irq_work so the re-issue runs promptly. */
> >  > + rdp->defer_work = IRQ_WORK_INIT_HARD(rcu_defer_drain);
> >  > rcu_boot_init_nocb_percpu_data(rdp);
> >  > }
> >  > 
> >  > @@ -4528,6 +4620,14 @@ void rcutree_migrate_callbacks(int cpu)
> >  > struct rcu_data *rdp = per_cpu_ptr(&rcu_data, cpu);
> >  > bool needwake;
> >  > 
> >  > + /*
> >  > + * Callbacks the outgoing CPU deferred late in the offline path (past the
> >  > + * point its irq_work can run) sit on ->defer_head, which the ->cblist
> >  > + * migration below does not cover. Drain them here, before the early
> >  > + * returns; the re-issue lands on this CPU.
> >  > + */
> >  > + rcu_defer_drain(&rdp->defer_work);
> >  > +
> >  > if (rcu_rdp_is_offloaded(rdp))
> >  > return;
> >  > 
> >  > diff --git a/kernel/rcu/tree.h b/kernel/rcu/tree.h
> >  > index eedfa43059e80..3a8e17136c5a7 100644
> >  > --- a/kernel/rcu/tree.h
> >  > +++ b/kernel/rcu/tree.h
> >  > @@ -229,6 +229,11 @@ struct rcu_data {
> >  > struct rcu_head barrier_head;
> >  > int exp_watching_snap; /* Double-check need for IPI. */
> >  > 
> >  > + /* Deferral of an NMI/reentrant call_rcu(); see __call_rcu_common(). */
> >  > + struct llist_head defer_head;
> >  > + struct irq_work defer_work;
> >  > + raw_spinlock_t defer_lock;
> >  > +
> >  > /* 5) Callback offloading. */
> >  > #ifdef CONFIG_RCU_NOCB_CPU
> >  > struct swait_queue_head nocb_cb_wq; /* For nocb kthreads to sleep on. */
> >  > -- 
> >  > 2.53.0-Meta
> >  >
> >
>