RE: [PATCH] mm/mlock: fix BUG_ON unlocked page for nolinear VMAs

From: Motohiro Kosaki
Date: Fri Jan 10 2014 - 12:49:35 EST


> diff --git a/mm/rmap.c b/mm/rmap.c
> index 068522d..b99c742 100644
> --- a/mm/rmap.c
> +++ b/mm/rmap.c
> @@ -1389,9 +1389,19 @@ static int try_to_unmap_cluster(unsigned long
> cursor, unsigned int *mapcount,
> BUG_ON(!page || PageAnon(page));
>
> if (locked_vma) {
> - mlock_vma_page(page); /* no-op if already
> mlocked */
> - if (page == check_page)
> + if (page == check_page) {
> + /* we know we have check_page locked */
> + mlock_vma_page(page);
> ret = SWAP_MLOCK;
> + } else if (trylock_page(page)) {
> + /*
> + * If we can lock the page, perform mlock.
> + * Otherwise leave the page alone, it will be
> + * eventually encountered again later.
> + */
> + mlock_vma_page(page);
> + unlock_page(page);
> + }
> continue; /* don't unmap */
> }

I audited all related mm code. However I couldn't find any race that it can close.

First off, current munlock code is crazy tricky.

munlock
down_write(mmap_sem)
do_mlock()
mlock_fixup
munlock_vma_pages_range
__munlock_pagevec
spin_lock_irq(zone->lru_lock)
TestClearPageMlocked(page)
del_page_from_lru_list
spin_unlock_irq(zone->lru_lock)
lock_page
__munlock_isolated_page
unlock_page

up_write(mmap_sem)

Look, TestClearPageMlocked(page) is not protected by lock_page. But this is still
safe because Page_mocked mean one or more vma marked VM_LOCKED then we
only need care about turning down final VM_LOCKED. I.e. mmap_sem protect them.

And,

spin_lock_irq(zone->lru_lock)
del_page_from_lru_list
spin_unlock_irq(zone->lru_lock)

This idiom ensures I or someone else isolate the page from lru and isolated pages
will be put back by putback_lru_page in anycase. So, the pages will move the right
lru eventually.

And then, taking page-lock doesn't help to close vs munlock race.

On the other hands, page migration has the following call stack.

some-caller [isolate_lru_page]
unmap_and_move
__unmap_and_move
trylock_page
try_to_unmap
move_to_new_page
migrate_page
migrate_page_copy
unlock_page

The critical part (i.e. migrate_page_copy) is protected by both page isolation and page lock.
Page fault path take lock page and doesn't use page isolation. This is correct.
try_to_unmap_cluster doesn't take page lock, but it ensure the page is isolated. This is correct too.

Plus, do_wp_page() has the following comment. But it is wrong. This lock is necessary to protect against
page migration, but not lru manipulation.

if ((ret & VM_FAULT_WRITE) && (vma->vm_flags & VM_LOCKED)) {
lock_page(old_page); /* LRU manipulation */
munlock_vma_page(old_page);
unlock_page(old_page);
}


But, you know, this is crazy ugly lock design. I'm ok to change the rule to that PG_mlocked must be protected
page lock. If so, I propose to add PageMlocked() like this

} else if (!PageMlocked() && trylock_page(page)) {
/*
* If we can lock the page, perform mlock.
* Otherwise leave the page alone, it will be
* eventually encountered again later.
*/
mlock_vma_page(page);
unlock_page(page);

This is safe. Even if race is happen and vmscan failed to mark PG_mlocked, that's no problem. Next vmscan may
do the right job and will fix the mistake.

Anyway, I'm also sure this is not recent issue. It lived 5 years. It is no reason to rush.

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