Re: [PATCH v2 6/8] KVM: Fix multiple races in gfn=>pfn cache refresh

[Sean Christopherson]

On Fri, May 20, 2022, Paolo Bonzini wrote:
> On 4/27/22 03:40, Sean Christopherson wrote:
> > +		 * Wait for mn_active_invalidate_count, not mmu_notifier_count,
> > +		 * to go away, as the invalidation in the mmu_notifier event
> > +		 * occurs_before_  mmu_notifier_count is elevated.
> > +		 *
> > +		 * Note, mn_active_invalidate_count can change at any time as
> > +		 * it's not protected by gpc->lock.  But, it is guaranteed to
> > +		 * be elevated before the mmu_notifier acquires gpc->lock, and
> > +		 * isn't dropped until after mmu_notifier_seq is updated.  So,
> > +		 * this task may get a false positive of sorts, i.e. see an
> > +		 * elevated count and wait even though it's technically safe to
> > +		 * proceed (becase the mmu_notifier will invalidate the cache
> > +		 *_after_  it's refreshed here), but the cache will never be
> > +		 * refreshed with stale data, i.e. won't get false negatives.
> 
> I am all for lavish comments, but I think this is even too detailed.

Yeah, the false positive/negative stuff is probably overkill.

> What about:
> 
>                 /*
>                  * mn_active_invalidate_count acts for all intents and purposes
>                  * like mmu_notifier_count here; but we cannot use the latter
>                  * because the invalidation in the mmu_notifier event occurs
>                  * _before_ mmu_notifier_count is elevated.

Looks good, though I'd prefer to avoid the "we", and explicitly call out that its
the invalidation of the caches.


		/*
		 * mn_active_invalidate_count acts for all intents and purposes
		 * like mmu_notifier_count here; but the latter cannot be used
		 * here because the invalidation of caches in the mmu_notifier
		 * event occurs _before_ mmu_notifier_count is elevated.
		 *
		 * Note, it does not matter that mn_active_invalidate_count
		 * is not protected by gpc->lock.  It is guaranteed to
		 * be elevated before the mmu_notifier acquires gpc->lock, and
		 * isn't dropped until after mmu_notifier_seq is updated.
		 */


Also, you'll definitely want to look at v3 of this series.  I'm 99% certain I didn't
change the comment though :-)

https://lore.kernel.org/all/20220429210025.3293691-1-seanjc@xxxxxxxxxx