linux-phytec-fsl

pktgen: RCU-ify "if_list" to remove lock in next_to_run()

The if_lock()/if_unlock() in next_to_run() adds a significant
overhead, because its called for every packet in busy loop of
pktgen_thread_worker().  (Thomas Graf originally pointed me
at this lock problem).

Removing these two "LOCK" operations should in theory save us approx
16ns (8ns x 2), as illustrated below we do save 16ns when removing
the locks and introducing RCU protection.

Performance data with CLONE_SKB==100000, TX-size=512, rx-usecs=30:
 (single CPU performance, ixgbe 10Gbit/s, E5-2630)
 * Prev   : 5684009 pps --> 175.93ns (1/5684009*10^9)
 * RCU-fix: 6272204 pps --> 159.43ns (1/6272204*10^9)
 * Diff   : +588195 pps --> -16.50ns

To understand this RCU patch, I describe the pktgen thread model
below.

In pktgen there is several kernel threads, but there is only one CPU
running each kernel thread.  Communication with the kernel threads are
done through some thread control flags.  This allow the thread to
change data structures at a know synchronization point, see main
thread func pktgen_thread_worker().

Userspace changes are communicated through proc-file writes.  There
are three types of changes, general control changes "pgctrl"
(func:pgctrl_write), thread changes "kpktgend_X"
(func:pktgen_thread_write), and interface config changes "etcX@N"
(func:pktgen_if_write).

Userspace "pgctrl" and "thread" changes are synchronized via the mutex
pktgen_thread_lock, thus only a single userspace instance can run.
The mutex is taken while the packet generator is running, by pgctrl
"start".  Thus e.g. "add_device" cannot be invoked when pktgen is
running/started.

All "pgctrl" and all "thread" changes, except thread "add_device",
communicate via the thread control flags.  The main problem is the
exception "add_device", that modifies threads "if_list" directly.

Fortunately "add_device" cannot be invoked while pktgen is running.
But there exists a race between "rem_device_all" and "add_device"
(which normally don't occur, because "rem_device_all" waits 125ms
before returning). Background'ing "rem_device_all" and running
"add_device" immediately allow the race to occur.

The race affects the threads (list of devices) "if_list".  The if_lock
is used for protecting this "if_list".  Other readers are given
lock-free access to the list under RCU read sections.

Note, interface config changes (via proc) can occur while pktgen is
running, which worries me a bit.  I'm assuming proc_remove() takes
appropriate locks, to assure no writers exists after proc_remove()
finish.

I've been running a script exercising the race condition (leading me
to fix the proc_remove order), without any issues.  The script also
exercises concurrent proc writes, while the interface config is
getting removed.

Signed-off-by: Jesper Dangaard Brouer <brouer@redhat.com>
Reviewed-by: Florian Westphal <fw@strlen.de>
Signed-off-by: David S. Miller <davem@davemloft.net>