Re: [PATCH] printk: drop in_nmi check from printk_safe_flush_on_panic()

From: Sergey Senozhatsky
Date: Wed May 30 2018 - 06:00:51 EST


On (05/30/18 18:55), Sergey Senozhatsky wrote:
> >
> > I understand why you came with it but I am against this change without
> > a proper research. This would redirect too valuable messages into
> > a buffer of a limited size and postpone flushing them to the consoles.
> >
> > We would need to really carefully compare chances where this would
> > help and where it would make things worse. There is a high chance
> > that we could come with a better solution once we have the analyze.
>
> I agree, sure.
>
> The thing is, we, in fact, already invoke panic() in printk_safe mode.
> Sometimes.
>
> Namely,
>
> nmi_panic() -> panic()
>
> is invoked while we are in printk_nmi(), so all printk()-s go
> to the per-CPU buffers. So, at least to some extent, panic()
> in printk_safe context is not something never seen before. Just
> saying.

Well, we have a PRINTK_NMI_DEFERRED_CONTEXT_MASK mode for
printk_nmi(). May be we can [if need be] come up with the same trick
for printk_safe_panic() mode. If logbuf spin_lock is unlocked, then
we use the main logbuf, if it is locked, we redirect printk to per-CPU
buffers and then flush it via printk_safe_flush_on_panic(), which will
re-init (unlock) the logbuf.

-ss