sysfs: reimplement symlink using sysfs_dirent tree

sysfs symlink is implemented by referencing dentry and kobject from
sysfs_dirent - symlink entry references kobject, dentry is used to
walk the tree.  This complicates object lifetimes rules and is
dangerous - for example, there is no way to tell to which module the
target of a symlink belongs and referencing that kobject can make it
linger after the module is gone.

This patch reimplements symlink using only sysfs_dirent tree.  sd for
a symlink points and holds reference to the target sysfs_dirent and
all walking is done using sysfs_dirent tree.  Simpler and safer.

Please read the following message for more info.

  http://article.gmane.org/gmane.linux.kernel/510293

Signed-off-by: Tejun Heo <htejun@gmail.com>
Signed-off-by: Greg Kroah-Hartman <gregkh@suse.de>

3 files changed