tree 2c6c4c0a295c3522ed41e47b63ba6b84356bfe28
parent f52ba1fef7b92e74d58efef8eae7b6f48c6d218d
author Tejun Heo <tj@kernel.org> 1521056712 -0700
committer Tejun Heo <tj@kernel.org> 1521479384 -0700

percpu_ref: Update doc to dissuade users from depending on internal RCU grace periods

percpu_ref internally uses sched-RCU to implement the percpu -> atomic
mode switching and the documentation suggested that this could be
depended upon.  This doesn't seem like a good idea.

* percpu_ref uses sched-RCU which has different grace periods regular
  RCU.  Users may combine percpu_ref with regular RCU usage and
  incorrectly believe that regular RCU grace periods are performed by
  percpu_ref.  This can lead to, for example, use-after-free due to
  premature freeing.

* percpu_ref has a grace period when switching from percpu to atomic
  mode.  It doesn't have one between the last put and release.  This
  distinction is subtle and can lead to surprising bugs.

* percpu_ref allows starting in and switching to atomic mode manually
  for debugging and other purposes.  This means that there may not be
  any grace periods from kill to release.

This patch makes it clear that the grace periods are percpu_ref's
internal implementation detail and can't be depended upon by the
users.

Signed-off-by: Tejun Heo <tj@kernel.org>
Cc: Kent Overstreet <kent.overstreet@gmail.com>
Cc: Linus Torvalds <torvalds@linux-foundation.org>
Signed-off-by: Tejun Heo <tj@kernel.org>