From 3cf2f34e1a3d4d5ff209d087925cf950e52f4805 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Tim Chen Date: Fri, 2 May 2014 12:53:57 -0700 Subject: [PATCH] rwsem: Add comments to explain the meaning of the rwsem's count field It took me quite a while to understand how rwsem's count field mainifested itself in different scenarios. Add comments to provide a quick reference to the the rwsem's count field for each scenario where readers and writers are contending for the lock. Hopefully it will be useful for future maintenance of the code and for people to get up to speed on how the logic in the code works. Signed-off-by: Tim Chen Cc: Davidlohr Bueso Cc: Alex Shi Cc: Michel Lespinasse Cc: Rik van Riel Cc: Peter Hurley Cc: Paul E.McKenney Cc: Jason Low Cc: Peter Zijlstra Cc: Linus Torvalds Cc: Andrew Morton Cc: Paul E. McKenney Link: http://lkml.kernel.org/r/1399060437.2970.146.camel@schen9-DESK Signed-off-by: Ingo Molnar --- kernel/locking/rwsem-xadd.c | 49 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 49 insertions(+) diff --git a/kernel/locking/rwsem-xadd.c b/kernel/locking/rwsem-xadd.c index 1d66e08e897d..b4219ff87b8c 100644 --- a/kernel/locking/rwsem-xadd.c +++ b/kernel/locking/rwsem-xadd.c @@ -11,6 +11,55 @@ #include #include +/* + * Guide to the rw_semaphore's count field for common values. + * (32-bit case illustrated, similar for 64-bit) + * + * 0x0000000X (1) X readers active or attempting lock, no writer waiting + * X = #active_readers + #readers attempting to lock + * (X*ACTIVE_BIAS) + * + * 0x00000000 rwsem is unlocked, and no one is waiting for the lock or + * attempting to read lock or write lock. + * + * 0xffff000X (1) X readers active or attempting lock, with waiters for lock + * X = #active readers + # readers attempting lock + * (X*ACTIVE_BIAS + WAITING_BIAS) + * (2) 1 writer attempting lock, no waiters for lock + * X-1 = #active readers + #readers attempting lock + * ((X-1)*ACTIVE_BIAS + ACTIVE_WRITE_BIAS) + * (3) 1 writer active, no waiters for lock + * X-1 = #active readers + #readers attempting lock + * ((X-1)*ACTIVE_BIAS + ACTIVE_WRITE_BIAS) + * + * 0xffff0001 (1) 1 reader active or attempting lock, waiters for lock + * (WAITING_BIAS + ACTIVE_BIAS) + * (2) 1 writer active or attempting lock, no waiters for lock + * (ACTIVE_WRITE_BIAS) + * + * 0xffff0000 (1) There are writers or readers queued but none active + * or in the process of attempting lock. + * (WAITING_BIAS) + * Note: writer can attempt to steal lock for this count by adding + * ACTIVE_WRITE_BIAS in cmpxchg and checking the old count + * + * 0xfffe0001 (1) 1 writer active, or attempting lock. Waiters on queue. + * (ACTIVE_WRITE_BIAS + WAITING_BIAS) + * + * Note: Readers attempt to lock by adding ACTIVE_BIAS in down_read and checking + * the count becomes more than 0 for successful lock acquisition, + * i.e. the case where there are only readers or nobody has lock. + * (1st and 2nd case above). + * + * Writers attempt to lock by adding ACTIVE_WRITE_BIAS in down_write and + * checking the count becomes ACTIVE_WRITE_BIAS for successful lock + * acquisition (i.e. nobody else has lock or attempts lock). If + * unsuccessful, in rwsem_down_write_failed, we'll check to see if there + * are only waiters but none active (5th case above), and attempt to + * steal the lock. + * + */ + /* * Initialize an rwsem: */ -- 2.30.2