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linux/kernel
John Stultz 7a3a6bfbd6 sched: Rework prev_balance() to avoid stale prev references
Historically, the prev value from __schedule() was the rq->curr.
This prev value is passed down through numerous functions, and
used in the class scheduler implementations. The fact that
prev was on_cpu until the end of __schedule(), meant it was
stable across the rq lock drops that the class->balance()
implementations often do.

However, with proxy-exec, the prev passed to functions called
by __schedule() is rq->donor, which may not be the same as
rq->curr and may not be on_cpu, this makes the prev value
potentially unstable across rq lock drops.

A recently found issue with proxy-exec, is when we begin doing
return migration from try_to_wake_up(), its possible we may be
waking up the rq->donor.  When we do this, we proxy_resched_idle()
to put_prev_set_next() setting the rq->donor to rq->idle, allowing
the rq->donor to be return migrated and allowed to run.

This however runs into trouble, as on another cpu we might be in
the middle of calling __schedule(). Conceptually the rq lock is
held for the majority of the time, but in calling prev_balance()
its possible the class->balance() handler call may briefly drop the rq lock.
This opens a window for try_to_wake_up() to wake and return migrate the
rq->donor before the class logic reacquires the rq lock.

Unfortunately prev_balance() pass in a prev argument, to which we pass
rq->donor. However this prev value can now become stale and incorrect across a
rq lock drop.

So, to correct this, rework the prev_balance() call so that it does not take a
"prev" argument.

Signed-off-by: John Stultz <jstultz@google.com>
Signed-off-by: Peter Zijlstra (Intel) <peterz@infradead.org>
Link: https://patch.msgid.link/20260512025635.2840817-2-jstultz@google.com
2026-06-02 12:26:06 +02:00
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