Re: Bug#1127612: linux-image-6.12.69+deb13-amd64: hp_bioscfg mm/page_alloc.c:4802 warning

Re: Bug#1127612: linux-image-6.12.69+deb13-amd64: hp_bioscfg mm/page_alloc.c:4802 warning

[Uwe Kleine-König]

[-- Attachment #1: Type: text/plain, Size: 2467 bytes --]

Control: forwarded -1 https://lore.kernel.org/all/aZMt6sSlpKK_JAdT@monoceros

Hello Paul,

On Tue, Feb 10, 2026 at 12:19:45PM +0000, Paul Kerry wrote:
> Subject: linux-image-6.12.69+deb13-amd64: hp_bioscfg mm/page_alloc.c:4802 warning
> Package: src:linux
> Version: 6.12.69-1
> Severity: normal
> X-Debbugs-Cc: p.kerry@sheffield.ac.uk
> Dear Maintainer,
> *** Reporter, please consider answering these questions, where appropriate ***
>    * What led up to the situation?
> Booting a system into the recent debian 6.12.69+deb13-amd64 kernel upgrade from 6.12.63+deb13-amd64

Probably the relevant difference between these two kernel versions is
commit b2e79963525205707c87391a01435cfdc9fc2d1e
(https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git/commit/?h=linux-6.12.y&id=b2e79963525205707c87391a01435cfdc9fc2d1e).

Can you confirm that when booting the older kernel, running

	modprobe hp_bioscfg

will break in the same way as the new kernel? If so, the driver was
broken already before and just unused. You can achieve this behaviour
with 6.12.69, too, by blacklisting the hp_bioscfg module. Either by
adding:

	module_blacklist=hp_bioscfg

on the kernel command line, or

	echo blacklist hp_bioscfg >> /etc/modprobe.d/broken-hp-bioscfg.conf
	update-initramfs -k all -u

>    * What exactly did you do (or not do) that was effective (or
>      ineffective)?
> n/a
>    * What was the outcome of this action?
> dmesg under 6.12.69+deb13-amd64 is now displaying the following...
> [    3.346704] ------------[ cut here ]------------
> [    3.347194] WARNING: CPU: 11 PID: 606 at mm/page_alloc.c:4802 __alloc_pages_noprof+0x2a7/0x310

This is

        if (WARN_ON_ONCE_GFP(order > MAX_PAGE_ORDER, gfp))
                return NULL;

which is probably triggered by

        bioscfg_drv.enumeration_data = kcalloc(bioscfg_drv.enumeration_instances_count,
                                               sizeof(*bioscfg_drv.enumeration_data), GFP_KERNEL);

I manually determined sizeof(*bioscfg_drv.enumeration_data) to be around
20K. I have no idea about what the driver does here, but it seems to
request more than 2**10 pages continuous pages here which suggests that
bioscfg_drv.enumeration_instances_count, is bigger than 200.

@Jorge: Is that expected?

I dropped much context (mostly automatically collected information about
the machine where this triggered). If you're intested in that, check out
https://bugs.debian.org/1127612.

Best regards
Uwe

[-- Attachment #2: signature.asc --]
[-- Type: application/pgp-signature, Size: 488 bytes --]

Re: Bug#1127612: linux-image-6.12.69+deb13-amd64: hp_bioscfg mm/page_alloc.c:4802 warning

[Paul Kerry]

Hi Uwe

Thanks for the reply and information.

You are correct: when I boot the HP Z2 Tower G9 into the older 6.12.63+deb13-amd64 kernel, the hp_bioscfg module is not loaded which I had not noticed, and running a "modprobe hp_bioscfg" on that older 6.12.63+deb13-amd64 kernel does indeed generate the same dmesg warnings as 6.12.69+deb13-amd64 does, which auto-loads the hp_bioscfg module.

I've not had any noticeable problems caused by this issue since 6.12.69+deb13-amd64 came out.

Best regards
Paul

Re: Bug#1127612: linux-image-6.12.69+deb13-amd64: hp_bioscfg mm/page_alloc.c:4802 warning

[Mario Limonciello]

On 2/16/26 10:18 AM, Paul Kerry wrote:
> 
> Hi Uwe
> 
> Thanks for the reply and information.
> 
> You are correct: when I boot the HP Z2 Tower G9 into the older 
> 6.12.63+deb13-amd64 kernel, the hp_bioscfg module is not loaded which I 
> had not noticed, and running a "modprobe hp_bioscfg" on that older 
> 6.12.63+deb13-amd64 kernel does indeed generate the same dmesg warnings 
> as 6.12.69+deb13-amd64 does, which auto-loads the hp_bioscfg module.
> 
> I've not had any noticeable problems caused by this issue since 
> 6.12.69+deb13-amd64 came out.
> 
> Best regards
> Paul
> 
> 

Hi,

Considering there appears to be a rather large number of attributes on 
this system, maybe we should be using a different memory allocation method?

Something like this:

diff --git a/drivers/platform/x86/hp/hp-bioscfg/enum-attributes.c 
b/drivers/platform/x86/hp/hp-bioscfg/enum-attributes.c
index f346aad8e9d89..72bd6037300ab 100644
--- a/drivers/platform/x86/hp/hp-bioscfg/enum-attributes.c
+++ b/drivers/platform/x86/hp/hp-bioscfg/enum-attributes.c
@@ -94,8 +94,11 @@ int hp_alloc_enumeration_data(void)
         bioscfg_drv.enumeration_instances_count =
                 hp_get_instance_count(HP_WMI_BIOS_ENUMERATION_GUID);

-       bioscfg_drv.enumeration_data = 
kcalloc(bioscfg_drv.enumeration_instances_count,
- 
sizeof(*bioscfg_drv.enumeration_data), GFP_KERNEL);
+       if (!bioscfg_drv.enumeration_instances_count)
+               return -EINVAL;
+
+       bioscfg_drv.enumeration_data = 
kvcalloc(bioscfg_drv.enumeration_instances_count,
+ 
sizeof(*bioscfg_drv.enumeration_data), GFP_KERNEL);
         if (!bioscfg_drv.enumeration_data) {
                 bioscfg_drv.enumeration_instances_count = 0;
                 return -ENOMEM;

Re: Bug#1127612: linux-image-6.12.69+deb13-amd64: hp_bioscfg mm/page_alloc.c:4802 warning

[Uwe Kleine-König]

[-- Attachment #1: Type: text/plain, Size: 2193 bytes --]

Hello,

On Tue, Feb 17, 2026 at 07:53:17AM -0600, Mario Limonciello wrote:
> On 2/16/26 10:18 AM, Paul Kerry wrote:
> > 
> > Hi Uwe
> > 
> > Thanks for the reply and information.
> > 
> > You are correct: when I boot the HP Z2 Tower G9 into the older
> > 6.12.63+deb13-amd64 kernel, the hp_bioscfg module is not loaded which I
> > had not noticed, and running a "modprobe hp_bioscfg" on that older
> > 6.12.63+deb13-amd64 kernel does indeed generate the same dmesg warnings
> > as 6.12.69+deb13-amd64 does, which auto-loads the hp_bioscfg module.
> > 
> > I've not had any noticeable problems caused by this issue since
> > 6.12.69+deb13-amd64 came out.
> 
> Considering there appears to be a rather large number of attributes on this
> system, maybe we should be using a different memory allocation method?
> 
> Something like this:
> 
> diff --git a/drivers/platform/x86/hp/hp-bioscfg/enum-attributes.c
> b/drivers/platform/x86/hp/hp-bioscfg/enum-attributes.c
> index f346aad8e9d89..72bd6037300ab 100644
> --- a/drivers/platform/x86/hp/hp-bioscfg/enum-attributes.c
> +++ b/drivers/platform/x86/hp/hp-bioscfg/enum-attributes.c
> @@ -94,8 +94,11 @@ int hp_alloc_enumeration_data(void)
>         bioscfg_drv.enumeration_instances_count =
>                 hp_get_instance_count(HP_WMI_BIOS_ENUMERATION_GUID);
> 
> -       bioscfg_drv.enumeration_data =
> kcalloc(bioscfg_drv.enumeration_instances_count,
> - sizeof(*bioscfg_drv.enumeration_data), GFP_KERNEL);
> +       if (!bioscfg_drv.enumeration_instances_count)
> +               return -EINVAL;
> +
> +       bioscfg_drv.enumeration_data =
> kvcalloc(bioscfg_drv.enumeration_instances_count,
> + sizeof(*bioscfg_drv.enumeration_data), GFP_KERNEL);
>         if (!bioscfg_drv.enumeration_data) {
>                 bioscfg_drv.enumeration_instances_count = 0;
>                 return -ENOMEM;

The patch looks fine to me and now I wonder how to continue here. Would
a test by Paul help? Or are we sure enough the patch is fine?

@Paul: Could you test the patch? Are you able to create a kernel image
with that patch included yourself, or would a test package help you?

Best regards
Uwe

[-- Attachment #2: signature.asc --]
[-- Type: application/pgp-signature, Size: 488 bytes --]

Re: Bug#1127612: linux-image-6.12.69+deb13-amd64: hp_bioscfg mm/page_alloc.c:4802 warning

[Mario Limonciello]

On 2/21/2026 9:26 AM, Uwe Kleine-König wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> On Tue, Feb 17, 2026 at 07:53:17AM -0600, Mario Limonciello wrote:
>> On 2/16/26 10:18 AM, Paul Kerry wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi Uwe
>>>
>>> Thanks for the reply and information.
>>>
>>> You are correct: when I boot the HP Z2 Tower G9 into the older
>>> 6.12.63+deb13-amd64 kernel, the hp_bioscfg module is not loaded which I
>>> had not noticed, and running a "modprobe hp_bioscfg" on that older
>>> 6.12.63+deb13-amd64 kernel does indeed generate the same dmesg warnings
>>> as 6.12.69+deb13-amd64 does, which auto-loads the hp_bioscfg module.
>>>
>>> I've not had any noticeable problems caused by this issue since
>>> 6.12.69+deb13-amd64 came out.
>>
>> Considering there appears to be a rather large number of attributes on this
>> system, maybe we should be using a different memory allocation method?
>>
>> Something like this:
>>
>> diff --git a/drivers/platform/x86/hp/hp-bioscfg/enum-attributes.c
>> b/drivers/platform/x86/hp/hp-bioscfg/enum-attributes.c
>> index f346aad8e9d89..72bd6037300ab 100644
>> --- a/drivers/platform/x86/hp/hp-bioscfg/enum-attributes.c
>> +++ b/drivers/platform/x86/hp/hp-bioscfg/enum-attributes.c
>> @@ -94,8 +94,11 @@ int hp_alloc_enumeration_data(void)
>>          bioscfg_drv.enumeration_instances_count =
>>                  hp_get_instance_count(HP_WMI_BIOS_ENUMERATION_GUID);
>>
>> -       bioscfg_drv.enumeration_data =
>> kcalloc(bioscfg_drv.enumeration_instances_count,
>> - sizeof(*bioscfg_drv.enumeration_data), GFP_KERNEL);
>> +       if (!bioscfg_drv.enumeration_instances_count)
>> +               return -EINVAL;
>> +
>> +       bioscfg_drv.enumeration_data =
>> kvcalloc(bioscfg_drv.enumeration_instances_count,
>> + sizeof(*bioscfg_drv.enumeration_data), GFP_KERNEL);
>>          if (!bioscfg_drv.enumeration_data) {
>>                  bioscfg_drv.enumeration_instances_count = 0;
>>                  return -ENOMEM;
> 
> The patch looks fine to me and now I wonder how to continue here. Would
> a test by Paul help? Or are we sure enough the patch is fine?
> 

I think it's OK, but it's entirely possible it's going to uncover 
another issue on this system, so I would prefer if we can get a test 
result before proceeding.

> @Paul: Could you test the patch? Are you able to create a kernel image
> with that patch included yourself, or would a test package help you?
> 
> Best regards
> Uwe

Re: Bug#1127612: linux-image-6.12.69+deb13-amd64: hp_bioscfg mm/page_alloc.c:4802 warning

[Paul Kerry]

On Mon, 23 Feb 2026 12:46:54 +0000 Paul Kerry <p.kerry@sheffield.ac.uk> wrote:
> Hi Uwe and Mario
> 
> Thanks, and yes I should be able to incorporate the patch and create a kernel image: I've now moved up to the recently released 6.12.73+deb13-amd64 kernel and the same warning occurs, so would you like me to try to build the patched version against that or on 6.12.69+deb13-amd64 ?

[apologies - I didn't include all email addresses into my previous reply]

Hi Uwe

I'm following...
https://kernel-team.pages.debian.net/kernel-handbook/ch-common-tasks.html#s-common-official

and I've tried to patch things using debian/bin/test-patches but am getting...

patch: **** malformed patch at line 11: kcalloc(bioscfg_drv.enumeration_instances_count,

so perhaps it is how I am copying/pasting the lines from the earlier post into a file that is then causing the problem?

It's also been quite some time since I built a kernel and a debian patched one at that, so I'm more than likely doing something wrong, so if you could create a test package instead of me having to build things, that would be a big help thank you.

Best regards
Paul

Re: Bug#1127612: linux-image-6.12.69+deb13-amd64: hp_bioscfg mm/page_alloc.c:4802 warning

[Mario Limonciello]

On 2/23/26 8:26 AM, Paul Kerry wrote:
> On Mon, 23 Feb 2026 12:46:54 +0000 Paul Kerry <p.kerry@sheffield.ac.uk> 
> wrote:
>> Hi Uwe and Mario
>>
>> Thanks, and yes I should be able to incorporate the patch and create a 
>> kernel image: I've now moved up to the recently released 
>> 6.12.73+deb13-amd64 kernel and the same warning occurs, so would you 
>> like me to try to build the patched version against that or on 
>> 6.12.69+deb13-amd64 ?
> 
> [apologies - I didn't include all email addresses into my previous reply]
> 
> Hi Uwe
> 
> I'm following...
> https://kernel-team.pages.debian.net/kernel-handbook/ch-common- 
> tasks.html#s-common-official
> 
> and I've tried to patch things using debian/bin/test-patches but am 
> getting...
> 
> patch: **** malformed patch at line 11: 
> kcalloc(bioscfg_drv.enumeration_instances_count,
> 
> so perhaps it is how I am copying/pasting the lines from the earlier 
> post into a file that is then causing the problem?

It's totally possible the patch got mangled when I copied and pasted 
too.  It's pretty trivial, I'd just make the modifications directly if 
it's not applying from copy/paste.

> 
> It's also been quite some time since I built a kernel and a debian 
> patched one at that, so I'm more than likely doing something wrong, so 
> if you could create a test package instead of me having to build things, 
> that would be a big help thank you.
> 
> Best regards
> Paul
> 

Re: Bug#1127612: linux-image-6.12.69+deb13-amd64: hp_bioscfg mm/page_alloc.c:4802 warning

[Mario Limonciello]

On 2/23/26 8:28 AM, Mario Limonciello wrote:
> On 2/23/26 8:26 AM, Paul Kerry wrote:
>> On Mon, 23 Feb 2026 12:46:54 +0000 Paul Kerry 
>> <p.kerry@sheffield.ac.uk> wrote:
>>> Hi Uwe and Mario
>>>
>>> Thanks, and yes I should be able to incorporate the patch and create 
>>> a kernel image: I've now moved up to the recently released 
>>> 6.12.73+deb13-amd64 kernel and the same warning occurs, so would you 
>>> like me to try to build the patched version against that or on 
>>> 6.12.69+deb13-amd64 ?
>>
>> [apologies - I didn't include all email addresses into my previous reply]
>>
>> Hi Uwe
>>
>> I'm following...
>> https://kernel-team.pages.debian.net/kernel-handbook/ch-common- 
>> tasks.html#s-common-official
>>
>> and I've tried to patch things using debian/bin/test-patches but am 
>> getting...
>>
>> patch: **** malformed patch at line 11: 
>> kcalloc(bioscfg_drv.enumeration_instances_count,
>>
>> so perhaps it is how I am copying/pasting the lines from the earlier 
>> post into a file that is then causing the problem?
> 
> It's totally possible the patch got mangled when I copied and pasted 
> too.  It's pretty trivial, I'd just make the modifications directly if 
> it's not applying from copy/paste.
> 
>>
>> It's also been quite some time since I built a kernel and a debian 
>> patched one at that, so I'm more than likely doing something wrong, so 
>> if you could create a test package instead of me having to build 
>> things, that would be a big help thank you.
>>
>> Best regards
>> Paul
>>
> 

I've posted the patch separately for you to be able to test with.

https://lore.kernel.org/platform-driver-x86/20260223163245.3294630-1-mario.limonciello@amd.com/T/#u

Re: Bug#1127612: linux-image-6.12.69+deb13-amd64: hp_bioscfg mm/page_alloc.c:4802 warning

[Paul Kerry]

On Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:39:31 -0600 Mario Limonciello <mario.limonciello@amd.com> wrote:
> 
> I've posted the patch separately for you to be able to test with.
> 
> https://lore.kernel.org/platform-driver-x86/20260223163245.3294630-1-mario.limonciello@amd.com/T/#u
> 

Thanks Mario

I've tested that patch applied manually (your patch looks to be diff'd against a different source as a line to be removed contains "kzalloc..." rather than "kcalloc...") on a build of vanilla 6.12.73 this morning and that works perfectly with no more dmesg warnings, and hp_bioscfg successfully loads.

Many thanks for the fix.

Best regards
Paul

Re: Bug#1127612: linux-image-6.12.69+deb13-amd64: hp_bioscfg mm/page_alloc.c:4802 warning

[Mario Limonciello]

On 2/24/2026 5:21 AM, Paul Kerry wrote:
> On Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:39:31 -0600 Mario Limonciello 
> <mario.limonciello@amd.com> wrote:
>>
>> I've posted the patch separately for you to be able to test with.
>>
>> https://lore.kernel.org/platform-driver-x86/20260223163245.3294630-1- 
>> mario.limonciello@amd.com/T/#u
>>
> 
> Thanks Mario
> 
> I've tested that patch applied manually (your patch looks to be diff'd 
> against a different source as a line to be removed contains "kzalloc..." 
> rather than "kcalloc...") on a build of vanilla 6.12.73 this morning and 
> that works perfectly with no more dmesg warnings, and hp_bioscfg 
> successfully loads.
> 
> Many thanks for the fix.
> 
> Best regards
> Paul

Thanks for confirming!