>
> On Thu, Jul 30, 2026 at 10:40:21PM +0000, Zqiang wrote:
>
> >
> > On Thu, Jul 30, 2026 at 12:20:54PM +0000, Zqiang wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > call_rcu() touches its per-CPU callback list only with interrupts
> > > disabled: the enqueue runs under local_irq_save() (plus the nocb locks
> > > when offloaded), as do callback invocation and grace-period work. A
> > > call_rcu() that arrives with interrupts already disabled may be
> > > interrupting one of those, so enqueuing directly could corrupt the list
> > > or deadlock -- as an NMI or re-entrant instrumentation can.
> > >
> > > Defer in that case: stage the callback on a per-CPU llist and kick an
> > > irq_work that re-issues it once interrupts are back on, going straight to
> > > the enqueue so it cannot defer again. Callers that merely hold interrupts
> > > off are deferred too, which is harmless. Skip the gate while the
> > > scheduler is down (RCU_SCHEDULER_INACTIVE): irq_work is not usable until
> > > init_IRQ(), yet rcu_init() already calls call_rcu().
> > >
> > > rcu_barrier() flushes pending deferred callbacks first: it waits out each
> > > online CPU's irq_work and drains an offline CPU's list directly, as that
> > > irq_work may never run again. rcutree_migrate_callbacks() also drains an
> > > outgoing CPU's ->defer_head, so a callback deferred late in the offline
> > > path runs even without an rcu_barrier(). The irq_work is
> > > IRQ_WORK_INIT_HARD so the re-issue runs promptly and callbacks do not
> > back
> > > up; on PREEMPT_RT a non-HARD irq_work would run in a kthread that can be
> > > delayed under load. A new hidden CONFIG_RCU_DEFER gates the code and the
> > > IRQ_WORK dependency; without it call_rcu() enqueues directly as before.
> > >
> > > Under CONFIG_PROVE_RCU, warn if the direct path is reached from NMI,
> > which
> > > would mean interrupts were enabled on NMI entry.
> > >
> > > Suggested-by: Paul E. McKenney <[email protected]>
> > > Signed-off-by: Puranjay Mohan <[email protected]>
> > > ---
> > > kernel/rcu/Kconfig | 6 +++
> > > kernel/rcu/rcu.h | 15 ++++++
> > > kernel/rcu/tree.c | 120 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++----
> > > kernel/rcu/tree.h | 5 ++
> > > 4 files changed, 136 insertions(+), 10 deletions(-)
> > >
> > > diff --git a/kernel/rcu/Kconfig b/kernel/rcu/Kconfig
> > > index f15da8038d0ba..1a5fb3156c062 100644
> > > --- a/kernel/rcu/Kconfig
> > > +++ b/kernel/rcu/Kconfig
> > > @@ -175,6 +175,12 @@ config RCU_STALL_COMMON
> > > config RCU_NEED_SEGCBLIST
> > > def_bool ( TREE_RCU || TREE_SRCU || TASKS_RCU_GENERIC )
> > >
> > > +# The deferral (and the IRQ_WORK it uses) is only needed where
> > call_rcu() /
> > > +# call_srcu() can be invoked while a callback-list operation is in
> > flight.
> > > +config RCU_DEFER
> > > + def_bool HAVE_NMI || KPROBES || FUNCTION_TRACER || TRACEPOINTS
> > > + select IRQ_WORK
> > > +
> > > config RCU_FANOUT
> > > int "Tree-based hierarchical RCU fanout value"
> > > range 2 64 if 64BIT
> > > diff --git a/kernel/rcu/rcu.h b/kernel/rcu/rcu.h
> > > index 39a9f6fa9a7b2..ed6604445f2ac 100644
> > > --- a/kernel/rcu/rcu.h
> > > +++ b/kernel/rcu/rcu.h
> > > @@ -572,6 +572,21 @@ static inline void tasks_cblist_init_generic(void)
> > { }
> > > #define RCU_SCHEDULER_INIT 1
> > > #define RCU_SCHEDULER_RUNNING 2
> > >
> > > +/*
> > > + * Should a call_rcu()/call_srcu() callback be deferred rather than
> > enqueued
> > > + * now? Defer whenever interrupts are disabled: a callback-list
> > operation may
> > > + * be in flight on this CPU, so enqueuing now could corrupt it. But not
> > while
> > > + * the scheduler is down -- early boot is single-threaded and can call
> > this
> > > + * before init_IRQ() makes irq_work usable (e.g. rcu_init()'s
> > self-tests).
> > > + */
> > > +static inline bool should_rcu_defer(void)
> > > +{
> > > + if (!IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_RCU_DEFER))
> > > + return false;
> > > +
> > > + return irqs_disabled() && rcu_scheduler_active !=
> > RCU_SCHEDULER_INACTIVE;
> > > +}
> > > +
> > > enum rcutorture_type {
> > > RCU_FLAVOR,
> > > RCU_TASKS_FLAVOR,
> > > diff --git a/kernel/rcu/tree.c b/kernel/rcu/tree.c
> > > index 21b6ce1dffb63..93c4242345e67 100644
> > > --- a/kernel/rcu/tree.c
> > > +++ b/kernel/rcu/tree.c
> > > @@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
> > > #include <linux/smp.h>
> > > #include <linux/rcupdate_wait.h>
> > > #include <linux/interrupt.h>
> > > +#include <linux/llist.h>
> > > #include <linux/sched.h>
> > > #include <linux/sched/debug.h>
> > > #include <linux/nmi.h>
> > > @@ -3148,21 +3149,27 @@ static void check_cb_ovld(struct rcu_data *rdp)
> > > raw_spin_unlock_rcu_node(rnp);
> > > }
> > >
> > > -static void
> > > -__call_rcu_common(struct rcu_head *head, rcu_callback_t func, bool
> > lazy_in)
> > > +/*
> > > + * The callback list is only ever accessed with interrupts disabled
> > (enqueue,
> > > + * callback invocation, grace-period work). A call_rcu() with
> > interrupts already
> > > + * disabled may interrupt one of those, so __call_rcu_common() defers:
> > the
> > > + * callback is staged on a per-CPU llist that an irq_work re-issues once
> > > + * interrupts are on. Only CONFIG_RCU_DEFER kernels can hit this.
> > > + */
> > > +static void rcu_defer_drain(struct irq_work *iw);
> > > +
> > > +/*
> > > + * Enqueue @head on this CPU's rcu_segcblist. Also called by
> > rcu_defer_drain()
> > > + * to re-issue a deferred callback, so it must not re-check the deferral
> > > + * condition. Either caller may have interrupts already disabled.
> > > + */
> > > +static void rcu_do_enqueue(struct rcu_head *head, rcu_callback_t func,
> > bool lazy_in)
> > > {
> > > static atomic_t doublefrees;
> > > unsigned long flags;
> > > bool lazy;
> > > struct rcu_data *rdp;
> > >
> > > - /* Misaligned rcu_head! */
> > > - WARN_ON_ONCE((unsigned long)head & (sizeof(void *) - 1));
> > > -
> > > - /* Avoid NULL dereference if callback is NULL. */
> > > - if (WARN_ON_ONCE(!func))
> > > - return;
> > > -
> > > if (debug_rcu_head_queue(head)) {
> > > /*
> > > * Probable double call_rcu(), so leak the callback.
> > > @@ -3206,6 +3213,83 @@ __call_rcu_common(struct rcu_head *head,
> > rcu_callback_t func, bool lazy_in)
> > > local_irq_restore(flags);
> > > }
> > >
> > > +/*
> > > + * Re-issue deferred callbacks, going straight to the enqueue so they
> > cannot
> > > + * defer again. defer_lock is held across llist_del_all() and the
> > re-issue so
> > > + * the drainers -- this CPU's irq_work, rcu_defer_flush() and
> > > + * rcutree_migrate_callbacks() -- serialize and never leave a callback
> > off
> > > + * ->defer_head yet not on a callback list.
> > > + */
> > > +static void rcu_defer_drain(struct irq_work *iw)
> > > +{
> > > + struct rcu_data *rdp = container_of(iw, struct rcu_data, defer_work);
> > > + struct llist_node *node, *next;
> > > + unsigned long flags;
> > > +
> > > + raw_spin_lock_irqsave(&rdp->defer_lock, flags);
> > > + llist_for_each_safe(node, next, llist_del_all(&rdp->defer_head)) {
> > > + struct rcu_head *head = (struct rcu_head *)node;
> > > +
> > > + rcu_do_enqueue(head, head->func, false);
> > > + }
> > > + raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore(&rdp->defer_lock, flags);
> > > +}
> > > +
> > > +/* Stage @head for this CPU's irq_work when call_rcu() cannot enqueue
> > now. */
> > > +static void call_rcu_defer(struct rcu_head *head, rcu_callback_t func)
> > > +{
> > > + struct rcu_data *rdp = this_cpu_ptr(&rcu_data);
> > > +
> > > + head->func = func;
> > > + if (llist_add((struct llist_node *)head, &rdp->defer_head))
> > > + irq_work_queue(&rdp->defer_work);
> > >
> > > If current CPU is isolation and nozh_full, maybe we should avoid to
> > > queue irq_work to current CPUs(include srcu, tasks-rcu) ?
> > >
> > > Maybe can wrap a helper function:
> > >
> > > bool rcu_irq_work_queue(struct irq_work *iw)
> > > {
> > > if (in_nmi())
> > > return irq_work_queue(iw);
> > >
> > > int cpu = smp_processor_id();
> > > if (!housekeeping_test_cpu(cpu, HK_TYPE_KERNEL_NOISE))
> > > cpu = housekeeping_any_cpu(HK_TYPE_KERNEL_NOISE);
> > >
> > > return irq_work_queue_on(iw, cpu);
> > > }
> > >
> > You lost me on this one. We cannot invoke call_rcu() and friends unless
> > we are running in kernel context, so usermode operation has already
> > been interrupted, perhaps due to a configuration error that failed to
> > direct interrupts away from the current CPU. In that case, is the added
> > disruption of the irq-work really worth worrying about?
> >
> > The irqs_disabled() can return true, even if we not in hardirq context,
> > for example, before this we invoke local_irq_save() to disable local
> > CPU's irq.
> > If a userspace application bound to isolate and nohz_full CPUS, and
> > cycle enters the kernelspace do wakeup. we use ebpf hook tracepoint in
> > try_to_wake_up(), in ebpf code, the call_rcu() or call_srcu() check
> > irq_disabled() return true, enter defer path, trigger irq_work to current
> > CPUs, can make some noise.
> >
> > Did I miss something?
> >
> No, what you described really can happen, but only if the application
> does a system call that does a fair amount of work. In that case,
> is the overhead of the irq-work measureable compared to the total
> system-call overhead?
>
> Don't get me wrong, it might well be measureable. But I do need to see
> hard numbers to justify the added complexity.
Ok, I see.
We have similar scenarios on our product, I'm trying to measure it.
Thanks
Zqiang
>
> Thanx, Paul
>
> >
> > Thanks
> > Zqiang
> >
> >
> >
> > What am I missing here?
> >
> > Thanx, Paul
> >
> > >
> > > Thanks
> > > Zqiang
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > +}
> > > +
> > > +/*
> > > + * Register pending deferred callbacks into the callback lists so a
> > following
> > > + * rcu_barrier() waits for them. This runs before rcu_barrier() scans
> > the
> > > + * lists. An online CPU's own irq_work re-issues its callbacks, so wait
> > it out;
> > > + * an offline CPU's irq_work may never run again, so drain its list
> > directly
> > > + * onto this CPU instead.
> > > + */
> > > +static void rcu_defer_flush(void)
> > > +{
> > > + int cpu;
> > > +
> > > + if (!IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_RCU_DEFER))
> > > + return;
> > > +
> > > + for_each_possible_cpu(cpu) {
> > > + struct rcu_data *rdp = per_cpu_ptr(&rcu_data, cpu);
> > > +
> > > + if (cpu_online(cpu))
> > > + irq_work_sync(&rdp->defer_work);
> > > + else
> > > + rcu_defer_drain(&rdp->defer_work);
> > > + }
> > > +}
> > > +
> > > +static void
> > > +__call_rcu_common(struct rcu_head *head, rcu_callback_t func, bool
> > lazy_in)
> > > +{
> > > + /* Misaligned rcu_head! */
> > > + WARN_ON_ONCE((unsigned long)head & (sizeof(void *) - 1));
> > > +
> > > + /* Avoid NULL dereference if callback is NULL. */
> > > + if (WARN_ON_ONCE(!func))
> > > + return;
> > > +
> > > + if (should_rcu_defer()) {
> > > + call_rcu_defer(head, func);
> > > + return;
> > > + }
> > > +
> > > + /* An NMI reaching here entered with irqs enabled, so the enqueue can
> > race. */
> > > + WARN_ON_ONCE(IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_PROVE_RCU) && in_nmi());
> > > +
> > > + rcu_do_enqueue(head, func, lazy_in);
> > > +}
> > > +
> > > #ifdef CONFIG_RCU_LAZY
> > > static bool enable_rcu_lazy __read_mostly =
> > !IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_RCU_LAZY_DEFAULT_OFF);
> > > module_param(enable_rcu_lazy, bool, 0444);
> > > @@ -3896,8 +3980,12 @@ void rcu_barrier(void)
> > > unsigned long flags;
> > > unsigned long gseq;
> > > struct rcu_data *rdp;
> > > - unsigned long s = rcu_seq_snap(&rcu_state.barrier_sequence);
> > > + unsigned long s;
> > > +
> > > + /* Register any deferred callbacks before snapshotting the sequence. */
> > > + rcu_defer_flush();
> > >
> > > + s = rcu_seq_snap(&rcu_state.barrier_sequence);
> > > rcu_barrier_trace(TPS("Begin"), -1, s);
> > >
> > > /* Take mutex to serialize concurrent rcu_barrier() requests. */
> > > @@ -4231,6 +4319,10 @@ rcu_boot_init_percpu_data(int cpu)
> > > rdp->rcu_onl_gp_state = RCU_GP_CLEANED;
> > > rdp->last_sched_clock = jiffies;
> > > rdp->cpu = cpu;
> > > + init_llist_head(&rdp->defer_head);
> > > + raw_spin_lock_init(&rdp->defer_lock);
> > > + /* Hard irq_work so the re-issue runs promptly. */
> > > + rdp->defer_work = IRQ_WORK_INIT_HARD(rcu_defer_drain);
> > > rcu_boot_init_nocb_percpu_data(rdp);
> > > }
> > >
> > > @@ -4528,6 +4620,14 @@ void rcutree_migrate_callbacks(int cpu)
> > > struct rcu_data *rdp = per_cpu_ptr(&rcu_data, cpu);
> > > bool needwake;
> > >
> > > + /*
> > > + * Callbacks the outgoing CPU deferred late in the offline path (past
> > the
> > > + * point its irq_work can run) sit on ->defer_head, which the ->cblist
> > > + * migration below does not cover. Drain them here, before the early
> > > + * returns; the re-issue lands on this CPU.
> > > + */
> > > + rcu_defer_drain(&rdp->defer_work);
> > > +
> > > if (rcu_rdp_is_offloaded(rdp))
> > > return;
> > >
> > > diff --git a/kernel/rcu/tree.h b/kernel/rcu/tree.h
> > > index eedfa43059e80..3a8e17136c5a7 100644
> > > --- a/kernel/rcu/tree.h
> > > +++ b/kernel/rcu/tree.h
> > > @@ -229,6 +229,11 @@ struct rcu_data {
> > > struct rcu_head barrier_head;
> > > int exp_watching_snap; /* Double-check need for IPI. */
> > >
> > > + /* Deferral of an NMI/reentrant call_rcu(); see __call_rcu_common(). */
> > > + struct llist_head defer_head;
> > > + struct irq_work defer_work;
> > > + raw_spinlock_t defer_lock;
> > > +
> > > /* 5) Callback offloading. */
> > > #ifdef CONFIG_RCU_NOCB_CPU
> > > struct swait_queue_head nocb_cb_wq; /* For nocb kthreads to sleep on. */
> > > --
> > > 2.53.0-Meta
> > >
> >
>
