[v2,4/4] rcu/kvfree: Use a polled API to speedup a reclaim process

Message ID 20221129155822.538434-5-urezki@gmail.com
State New
Headers
Series kvfree_rcu() updates related to polled API |

Commit Message

Uladzislau Rezki Nov. 29, 2022, 3:58 p.m. UTC
  Currently all objects placed into a batch require a full GP
after passing which objects in a batch are eligible to be
freed.

The problem is that many pointers may already passed several
GP sequences so there is no need for them in extra delay and
such objects can be reclaimed right away without waiting.

In order to reduce a memory footprint this patch introduces
a per-page-grace-period-controlling mechanism. It allows us
to distinguish pointers for which a grace period is passed
and for which not.

A reclaim thread in its turn frees a memory in a reverse
order starting from a tail because a GP is likely passed
for objects in a page. If a page with a GP sequence in a
list hits a condition when a GP is not ready we bail out
requesting one more grace period in order to complete a
drain process for left pages.

Test example:

kvm.sh --memory 10G --torture rcuscale --allcpus --duration 1 \
  --kconfig CONFIG_NR_CPUS=64 \
  --kconfig CONFIG_RCU_NOCB_CPU=y \
  --kconfig CONFIG_RCU_NOCB_CPU_DEFAULT_ALL=y \
  --kconfig CONFIG_RCU_LAZY=n \
  --bootargs "rcuscale.kfree_rcu_test=1 rcuscale.kfree_nthreads=16 \
  rcuscale.holdoff=20 rcuscale.kfree_loops=10000 \
  torture.disable_onoff_at_boot" --trust-make

Total time taken by all kfree'ers: 8535693700 ns, loops: 10000, batches: 1188, memory footprint: 2248MB
Total time taken by all kfree'ers: 8466933582 ns, loops: 10000, batches: 1157, memory footprint: 2820MB
Total time taken by all kfree'ers: 5375602446 ns, loops: 10000, batches: 1130, memory footprint: 6502MB
Total time taken by all kfree'ers: 7523283832 ns, loops: 10000, batches: 1006, memory footprint: 3343MB
Total time taken by all kfree'ers: 6459171956 ns, loops: 10000, batches: 1150, memory footprint: 6549MB

Total time taken by all kfree'ers: 8560060176 ns, loops: 10000, batches: 1787, memory footprint: 61MB
Total time taken by all kfree'ers: 8573885501 ns, loops: 10000, batches: 1777, memory footprint: 93MB
Total time taken by all kfree'ers: 8320000202 ns, loops: 10000, batches: 1727, memory footprint: 66MB
Total time taken by all kfree'ers: 8552718794 ns, loops: 10000, batches: 1790, memory footprint: 75MB
Total time taken by all kfree'ers: 8601368792 ns, loops: 10000, batches: 1724, memory footprint: 62MB

Signed-off-by: Uladzislau Rezki (Sony) <urezki@gmail.com>
---
 kernel/rcu/tree.c | 47 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++--------
 1 file changed, 39 insertions(+), 8 deletions(-)
  

Comments

Paul E. McKenney Dec. 1, 2022, 11:45 p.m. UTC | #1
On Tue, Nov 29, 2022 at 04:58:22PM +0100, Uladzislau Rezki (Sony) wrote:
> Currently all objects placed into a batch require a full GP
> after passing which objects in a batch are eligible to be
> freed.
> 
> The problem is that many pointers may already passed several
> GP sequences so there is no need for them in extra delay and
> such objects can be reclaimed right away without waiting.
> 
> In order to reduce a memory footprint this patch introduces
> a per-page-grace-period-controlling mechanism. It allows us
> to distinguish pointers for which a grace period is passed
> and for which not.
> 
> A reclaim thread in its turn frees a memory in a reverse
> order starting from a tail because a GP is likely passed
> for objects in a page. If a page with a GP sequence in a
> list hits a condition when a GP is not ready we bail out
> requesting one more grace period in order to complete a
> drain process for left pages.
> 
> Test example:
> 
> kvm.sh --memory 10G --torture rcuscale --allcpus --duration 1 \
>   --kconfig CONFIG_NR_CPUS=64 \
>   --kconfig CONFIG_RCU_NOCB_CPU=y \
>   --kconfig CONFIG_RCU_NOCB_CPU_DEFAULT_ALL=y \
>   --kconfig CONFIG_RCU_LAZY=n \
>   --bootargs "rcuscale.kfree_rcu_test=1 rcuscale.kfree_nthreads=16 \
>   rcuscale.holdoff=20 rcuscale.kfree_loops=10000 \
>   torture.disable_onoff_at_boot" --trust-make
> 
> Total time taken by all kfree'ers: 8535693700 ns, loops: 10000, batches: 1188, memory footprint: 2248MB
> Total time taken by all kfree'ers: 8466933582 ns, loops: 10000, batches: 1157, memory footprint: 2820MB
> Total time taken by all kfree'ers: 5375602446 ns, loops: 10000, batches: 1130, memory footprint: 6502MB
> Total time taken by all kfree'ers: 7523283832 ns, loops: 10000, batches: 1006, memory footprint: 3343MB
> Total time taken by all kfree'ers: 6459171956 ns, loops: 10000, batches: 1150, memory footprint: 6549MB
> 
> Total time taken by all kfree'ers: 8560060176 ns, loops: 10000, batches: 1787, memory footprint: 61MB
> Total time taken by all kfree'ers: 8573885501 ns, loops: 10000, batches: 1777, memory footprint: 93MB
> Total time taken by all kfree'ers: 8320000202 ns, loops: 10000, batches: 1727, memory footprint: 66MB
> Total time taken by all kfree'ers: 8552718794 ns, loops: 10000, batches: 1790, memory footprint: 75MB
> Total time taken by all kfree'ers: 8601368792 ns, loops: 10000, batches: 1724, memory footprint: 62MB
> 
> Signed-off-by: Uladzislau Rezki (Sony) <urezki@gmail.com>

A couple more questions interspersed below upon further reflection.

Thoughts?

						Thanx, Paul

> ---
>  kernel/rcu/tree.c | 47 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++--------
>  1 file changed, 39 insertions(+), 8 deletions(-)
> 
> diff --git a/kernel/rcu/tree.c b/kernel/rcu/tree.c
> index c94c17194299..44279ca488ef 100644
> --- a/kernel/rcu/tree.c
> +++ b/kernel/rcu/tree.c
> @@ -2741,11 +2741,13 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(call_rcu);
>  /**
>   * struct kvfree_rcu_bulk_data - single block to store kvfree_rcu() pointers
>   * @list: List node. All blocks are linked between each other
> + * @gp_snap: Snapshot of RCU state for objects placed to this bulk
>   * @nr_records: Number of active pointers in the array
>   * @records: Array of the kvfree_rcu() pointers
>   */
>  struct kvfree_rcu_bulk_data {
>  	struct list_head list;
> +	unsigned long gp_snap;
>  	unsigned long nr_records;
>  	void *records[];
>  };
> @@ -2762,13 +2764,15 @@ struct kvfree_rcu_bulk_data {
>   * struct kfree_rcu_cpu_work - single batch of kfree_rcu() requests
>   * @rcu_work: Let queue_rcu_work() invoke workqueue handler after grace period
>   * @head_free: List of kfree_rcu() objects waiting for a grace period
> + * @head_free_gp_snap: Snapshot of RCU state for objects placed to "@head_free"
>   * @bulk_head_free: Bulk-List of kvfree_rcu() objects waiting for a grace period
>   * @krcp: Pointer to @kfree_rcu_cpu structure
>   */
>  
>  struct kfree_rcu_cpu_work {
> -	struct rcu_work rcu_work;
> +	struct work_struct rcu_work;
>  	struct rcu_head *head_free;
> +	unsigned long head_free_gp_snap;
>  	struct list_head bulk_head_free[FREE_N_CHANNELS];
>  	struct kfree_rcu_cpu *krcp;
>  };
> @@ -2964,10 +2968,11 @@ static void kfree_rcu_work(struct work_struct *work)
>  	struct rcu_head *head;
>  	struct kfree_rcu_cpu *krcp;
>  	struct kfree_rcu_cpu_work *krwp;
> +	unsigned long head_free_gp_snap;
>  	int i;
>  
> -	krwp = container_of(to_rcu_work(work),
> -			    struct kfree_rcu_cpu_work, rcu_work);
> +	krwp = container_of(work,
> +		struct kfree_rcu_cpu_work, rcu_work);
>  	krcp = krwp->krcp;
>  
>  	raw_spin_lock_irqsave(&krcp->lock, flags);
> @@ -2978,12 +2983,29 @@ static void kfree_rcu_work(struct work_struct *work)
>  	// Channel 3.
>  	head = krwp->head_free;
>  	krwp->head_free = NULL;
> +	head_free_gp_snap = krwp->head_free_gp_snap;
>  	raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore(&krcp->lock, flags);
>  
>  	// Handle the first two channels.
> -	for (i = 0; i < FREE_N_CHANNELS; i++)
> +	for (i = 0; i < FREE_N_CHANNELS; i++) {
> +		// Start from the tail page, so a GP is likely passed for it.
> +		list_for_each_entry_safe_reverse(bnode, n, &bulk_head[i], list) {
> +			// Not yet ready? Bail out since we need one more GP.
> +			if (!poll_state_synchronize_rcu(bnode->gp_snap))
> +				break;
> +
> +			list_del_init(&bnode->list);
> +			kvfree_rcu_bulk(krcp, bnode, i);
> +		}
> +
> +		// Please note a request for one more extra GP can
> +		// occur only once for all objects in this batch.
> +		if (!list_empty(&bulk_head[i]))
> +			synchronize_rcu();

Does directly invoking synchronize_rcu() instead of using queue_rcu_work()
provide benefits, for example, reduced memory footprint?  If not,
it would be good to instead use queue_rcu_work() in order to avoid an
unnecessary context switch in this workqueue handler.

My concern is that an RCU CPU stall might otherwise end up tying up more
workqueue kthreads as well as more memory.

>  		list_for_each_entry_safe(bnode, n, &bulk_head[i], list)
>  			kvfree_rcu_bulk(krcp, bnode, i);
> +	}
>  
>  	/*
>  	 * This is used when the "bulk" path can not be used for the
> @@ -2992,7 +3014,10 @@ static void kfree_rcu_work(struct work_struct *work)
>  	 * queued on a linked list through their rcu_head structures.
>  	 * This list is named "Channel 3".
>  	 */
> -	kvfree_rcu_list(head);
> +	if (head) {
> +		cond_synchronize_rcu(head_free_gp_snap);

And similarly here.

> +		kvfree_rcu_list(head);
> +	}
>  }
>  
>  static bool
> @@ -3059,6 +3084,11 @@ static void kfree_rcu_monitor(struct work_struct *work)
>  			if (!krwp->head_free) {
>  				krwp->head_free = krcp->head;
>  				WRITE_ONCE(krcp->head, NULL);
> +
> +				// Take a snapshot for this krwp. Please note no more
> +				// any objects can be added to attached head_free channel
> +				// therefore fixate a GP for it here.
> +				krwp->head_free_gp_snap = get_state_synchronize_rcu();
>  			}
>  
>  			WRITE_ONCE(krcp->count, 0);
> @@ -3068,7 +3098,7 @@ static void kfree_rcu_monitor(struct work_struct *work)
>  			// be that the work is in the pending state when
>  			// channels have been detached following by each
>  			// other.
> -			queue_rcu_work(system_wq, &krwp->rcu_work);
> +			queue_work(system_wq, &krwp->rcu_work);
>  		}
>  	}
>  
> @@ -3196,8 +3226,9 @@ add_ptr_to_bulk_krc_lock(struct kfree_rcu_cpu **krcp,
>  		list_add(&bnode->list, &(*krcp)->bulk_head[idx]);
>  	}
>  
> -	/* Finally insert. */
> +	// Finally insert and update the GP for this page.
>  	bnode->records[bnode->nr_records++] = ptr;
> +	bnode->gp_snap = get_state_synchronize_rcu();
>  	return true;
>  }
>  
> @@ -4801,7 +4832,7 @@ static void __init kfree_rcu_batch_init(void)
>  		struct kfree_rcu_cpu *krcp = per_cpu_ptr(&krc, cpu);
>  
>  		for (i = 0; i < KFREE_N_BATCHES; i++) {
> -			INIT_RCU_WORK(&krcp->krw_arr[i].rcu_work, kfree_rcu_work);
> +			INIT_WORK(&krcp->krw_arr[i].rcu_work, kfree_rcu_work);
>  			krcp->krw_arr[i].krcp = krcp;
>  
>  			for (j = 0; j < FREE_N_CHANNELS; j++)
> -- 
> 2.30.2
>
  
Uladzislau Rezki Dec. 2, 2022, 12:54 p.m. UTC | #2
> 
> A couple more questions interspersed below upon further reflection.
> 
> Thoughts?
> 
See below my thoughts:

> 						Thanx, Paul
> 
> > ---
> >  kernel/rcu/tree.c | 47 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++--------
> >  1 file changed, 39 insertions(+), 8 deletions(-)
> > 
> > diff --git a/kernel/rcu/tree.c b/kernel/rcu/tree.c
> > index c94c17194299..44279ca488ef 100644
> > --- a/kernel/rcu/tree.c
> > +++ b/kernel/rcu/tree.c
> > @@ -2741,11 +2741,13 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(call_rcu);
> >  /**
> >   * struct kvfree_rcu_bulk_data - single block to store kvfree_rcu() pointers
> >   * @list: List node. All blocks are linked between each other
> > + * @gp_snap: Snapshot of RCU state for objects placed to this bulk
> >   * @nr_records: Number of active pointers in the array
> >   * @records: Array of the kvfree_rcu() pointers
> >   */
> >  struct kvfree_rcu_bulk_data {
> >  	struct list_head list;
> > +	unsigned long gp_snap;
> >  	unsigned long nr_records;
> >  	void *records[];
> >  };
> > @@ -2762,13 +2764,15 @@ struct kvfree_rcu_bulk_data {
> >   * struct kfree_rcu_cpu_work - single batch of kfree_rcu() requests
> >   * @rcu_work: Let queue_rcu_work() invoke workqueue handler after grace period
> >   * @head_free: List of kfree_rcu() objects waiting for a grace period
> > + * @head_free_gp_snap: Snapshot of RCU state for objects placed to "@head_free"
> >   * @bulk_head_free: Bulk-List of kvfree_rcu() objects waiting for a grace period
> >   * @krcp: Pointer to @kfree_rcu_cpu structure
> >   */
> >  
> >  struct kfree_rcu_cpu_work {
> > -	struct rcu_work rcu_work;
> > +	struct work_struct rcu_work;
> >  	struct rcu_head *head_free;
> > +	unsigned long head_free_gp_snap;
> >  	struct list_head bulk_head_free[FREE_N_CHANNELS];
> >  	struct kfree_rcu_cpu *krcp;
> >  };
> > @@ -2964,10 +2968,11 @@ static void kfree_rcu_work(struct work_struct *work)
> >  	struct rcu_head *head;
> >  	struct kfree_rcu_cpu *krcp;
> >  	struct kfree_rcu_cpu_work *krwp;
> > +	unsigned long head_free_gp_snap;
> >  	int i;
> >  
> > -	krwp = container_of(to_rcu_work(work),
> > -			    struct kfree_rcu_cpu_work, rcu_work);
> > +	krwp = container_of(work,
> > +		struct kfree_rcu_cpu_work, rcu_work);
> >  	krcp = krwp->krcp;
> >  
> >  	raw_spin_lock_irqsave(&krcp->lock, flags);
> > @@ -2978,12 +2983,29 @@ static void kfree_rcu_work(struct work_struct *work)
> >  	// Channel 3.
> >  	head = krwp->head_free;
> >  	krwp->head_free = NULL;
> > +	head_free_gp_snap = krwp->head_free_gp_snap;
> >  	raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore(&krcp->lock, flags);
> >  
> >  	// Handle the first two channels.
> > -	for (i = 0; i < FREE_N_CHANNELS; i++)
> > +	for (i = 0; i < FREE_N_CHANNELS; i++) {
> > +		// Start from the tail page, so a GP is likely passed for it.
> > +		list_for_each_entry_safe_reverse(bnode, n, &bulk_head[i], list) {
> > +			// Not yet ready? Bail out since we need one more GP.
> > +			if (!poll_state_synchronize_rcu(bnode->gp_snap))
> > +				break;
> > +
> > +			list_del_init(&bnode->list);
> > +			kvfree_rcu_bulk(krcp, bnode, i);
> > +		}
> > +
> > +		// Please note a request for one more extra GP can
> > +		// occur only once for all objects in this batch.
> > +		if (!list_empty(&bulk_head[i]))
> > +			synchronize_rcu();
> 
> Does directly invoking synchronize_rcu() instead of using queue_rcu_work()
> provide benefits, for example, reduced memory footprint?
>
queue_rcu_work() will delay freeing of all objects in a batch. We can
make use of it but it should be only for the ones which still require
a grace period. A memory footprint and a time depends on when our
callback is invoked by the RCU-core to queue the reclaim work.

Such time can be long, because it depends on many factors:

- scheduling delays in waking gp;
- scheduling delays in kicking nocb;
- delays in waiting in a "cblist":
    - dequeuing and invoking f(rhp);
- delay in waking our final reclaim work and giving it a CPU time.

This patch combines a possibility to reclaim asap for objects which
passed a grace period and requesting one more GP for the ones which
have not passed it yet.

>
> If not, it would be good to instead use queue_rcu_work() in order
> to avoid an unnecessary context switch in this workqueue handler.
>
I went by the most easiest way from code perspective since i do not
see problems with a current approach from testing and personal point
of views.

If we are about to do that i need to add extra logic to split ready
and not ready pointers for direct reclaim and the rest over the
queu_rcu_work().

I can check how it goes.

> 
> My concern is that an RCU CPU stall might otherwise end up tying up more
> workqueue kthreads as well as more memory.
> 
There is a limit. We have two batches, one work for each. Suppose the
reclaim kthread is stuck in synchronize_rcu() so it does not do any
progress. In this case same work can be only in pending state and
nothing more no matter how many times the queue_work() is invoked:

2 * num_possible_cpus();

If we end up in RCU stall we will not be able to reclaim anyway.

--
Uladzislau Rezki
  
Paul E. McKenney Dec. 2, 2022, 7:14 p.m. UTC | #3
On Fri, Dec 02, 2022 at 01:54:17PM +0100, Uladzislau Rezki wrote:
> > 
> > A couple more questions interspersed below upon further reflection.
> > 
> > Thoughts?
> > 
> See below my thoughts:
> 
> > 						Thanx, Paul
> > 
> > > ---
> > >  kernel/rcu/tree.c | 47 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++--------
> > >  1 file changed, 39 insertions(+), 8 deletions(-)
> > > 
> > > diff --git a/kernel/rcu/tree.c b/kernel/rcu/tree.c
> > > index c94c17194299..44279ca488ef 100644
> > > --- a/kernel/rcu/tree.c
> > > +++ b/kernel/rcu/tree.c
> > > @@ -2741,11 +2741,13 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(call_rcu);
> > >  /**
> > >   * struct kvfree_rcu_bulk_data - single block to store kvfree_rcu() pointers
> > >   * @list: List node. All blocks are linked between each other
> > > + * @gp_snap: Snapshot of RCU state for objects placed to this bulk
> > >   * @nr_records: Number of active pointers in the array
> > >   * @records: Array of the kvfree_rcu() pointers
> > >   */
> > >  struct kvfree_rcu_bulk_data {
> > >  	struct list_head list;
> > > +	unsigned long gp_snap;
> > >  	unsigned long nr_records;
> > >  	void *records[];
> > >  };
> > > @@ -2762,13 +2764,15 @@ struct kvfree_rcu_bulk_data {
> > >   * struct kfree_rcu_cpu_work - single batch of kfree_rcu() requests
> > >   * @rcu_work: Let queue_rcu_work() invoke workqueue handler after grace period
> > >   * @head_free: List of kfree_rcu() objects waiting for a grace period
> > > + * @head_free_gp_snap: Snapshot of RCU state for objects placed to "@head_free"
> > >   * @bulk_head_free: Bulk-List of kvfree_rcu() objects waiting for a grace period
> > >   * @krcp: Pointer to @kfree_rcu_cpu structure
> > >   */
> > >  
> > >  struct kfree_rcu_cpu_work {
> > > -	struct rcu_work rcu_work;
> > > +	struct work_struct rcu_work;
> > >  	struct rcu_head *head_free;
> > > +	unsigned long head_free_gp_snap;
> > >  	struct list_head bulk_head_free[FREE_N_CHANNELS];
> > >  	struct kfree_rcu_cpu *krcp;
> > >  };
> > > @@ -2964,10 +2968,11 @@ static void kfree_rcu_work(struct work_struct *work)
> > >  	struct rcu_head *head;
> > >  	struct kfree_rcu_cpu *krcp;
> > >  	struct kfree_rcu_cpu_work *krwp;
> > > +	unsigned long head_free_gp_snap;
> > >  	int i;
> > >  
> > > -	krwp = container_of(to_rcu_work(work),
> > > -			    struct kfree_rcu_cpu_work, rcu_work);
> > > +	krwp = container_of(work,
> > > +		struct kfree_rcu_cpu_work, rcu_work);
> > >  	krcp = krwp->krcp;
> > >  
> > >  	raw_spin_lock_irqsave(&krcp->lock, flags);
> > > @@ -2978,12 +2983,29 @@ static void kfree_rcu_work(struct work_struct *work)
> > >  	// Channel 3.
> > >  	head = krwp->head_free;
> > >  	krwp->head_free = NULL;
> > > +	head_free_gp_snap = krwp->head_free_gp_snap;
> > >  	raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore(&krcp->lock, flags);
> > >  
> > >  	// Handle the first two channels.
> > > -	for (i = 0; i < FREE_N_CHANNELS; i++)
> > > +	for (i = 0; i < FREE_N_CHANNELS; i++) {
> > > +		// Start from the tail page, so a GP is likely passed for it.
> > > +		list_for_each_entry_safe_reverse(bnode, n, &bulk_head[i], list) {
> > > +			// Not yet ready? Bail out since we need one more GP.
> > > +			if (!poll_state_synchronize_rcu(bnode->gp_snap))
> > > +				break;
> > > +
> > > +			list_del_init(&bnode->list);
> > > +			kvfree_rcu_bulk(krcp, bnode, i);
> > > +		}
> > > +
> > > +		// Please note a request for one more extra GP can
> > > +		// occur only once for all objects in this batch.
> > > +		if (!list_empty(&bulk_head[i]))
> > > +			synchronize_rcu();
> > 
> > Does directly invoking synchronize_rcu() instead of using queue_rcu_work()
> > provide benefits, for example, reduced memory footprint?
> >
> queue_rcu_work() will delay freeing of all objects in a batch. We can
> make use of it but it should be only for the ones which still require
> a grace period. A memory footprint and a time depends on when our
> callback is invoked by the RCU-core to queue the reclaim work.
> 
> Such time can be long, because it depends on many factors:
> 
> - scheduling delays in waking gp;
> - scheduling delays in kicking nocb;
> - delays in waiting in a "cblist":
>     - dequeuing and invoking f(rhp);
> - delay in waking our final reclaim work and giving it a CPU time.
> 
> This patch combines a possibility to reclaim asap for objects which
> passed a grace period and requesting one more GP for the ones which
> have not passed it yet.

Understood.  It would be necessary to split the list in order to
immediately reclaim those whose grace periods have completed.
Then the remaining objects (only those whose grace periods have
not completed) would be passed to queue_rcu_work().

> > If not, it would be good to instead use queue_rcu_work() in order
> > to avoid an unnecessary context switch in this workqueue handler.
> >
> I went by the most easiest way from code perspective since i do not
> see problems with a current approach from testing and personal point
> of views.

I am worried about corner cases where memory is low and RCU grace periods
are being delayed and workqueues is running short of ktheads.

> If we are about to do that i need to add extra logic to split ready
> and not ready pointers for direct reclaim and the rest over the
> queu_rcu_work().

Agreed.

> I can check how it goes.

Please!

> > My concern is that an RCU CPU stall might otherwise end up tying up more
> > workqueue kthreads as well as more memory.
> > 
> There is a limit. We have two batches, one work for each. Suppose the
> reclaim kthread is stuck in synchronize_rcu() so it does not do any
> progress. In this case same work can be only in pending state and
> nothing more no matter how many times the queue_work() is invoked:
> 
> 2 * num_possible_cpus();
> 
> If we end up in RCU stall we will not be able to reclaim anyway.

Understood.

The goal is not to make progress because as you say, we cannot make any
progress until the RCU grace period completes.  The goal is instead to
avoid tying up workqueue kthreads while in that sad state.

							Thanx, Paul
  

Patch

diff --git a/kernel/rcu/tree.c b/kernel/rcu/tree.c
index c94c17194299..44279ca488ef 100644
--- a/kernel/rcu/tree.c
+++ b/kernel/rcu/tree.c
@@ -2741,11 +2741,13 @@  EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(call_rcu);
 /**
  * struct kvfree_rcu_bulk_data - single block to store kvfree_rcu() pointers
  * @list: List node. All blocks are linked between each other
+ * @gp_snap: Snapshot of RCU state for objects placed to this bulk
  * @nr_records: Number of active pointers in the array
  * @records: Array of the kvfree_rcu() pointers
  */
 struct kvfree_rcu_bulk_data {
 	struct list_head list;
+	unsigned long gp_snap;
 	unsigned long nr_records;
 	void *records[];
 };
@@ -2762,13 +2764,15 @@  struct kvfree_rcu_bulk_data {
  * struct kfree_rcu_cpu_work - single batch of kfree_rcu() requests
  * @rcu_work: Let queue_rcu_work() invoke workqueue handler after grace period
  * @head_free: List of kfree_rcu() objects waiting for a grace period
+ * @head_free_gp_snap: Snapshot of RCU state for objects placed to "@head_free"
  * @bulk_head_free: Bulk-List of kvfree_rcu() objects waiting for a grace period
  * @krcp: Pointer to @kfree_rcu_cpu structure
  */
 
 struct kfree_rcu_cpu_work {
-	struct rcu_work rcu_work;
+	struct work_struct rcu_work;
 	struct rcu_head *head_free;
+	unsigned long head_free_gp_snap;
 	struct list_head bulk_head_free[FREE_N_CHANNELS];
 	struct kfree_rcu_cpu *krcp;
 };
@@ -2964,10 +2968,11 @@  static void kfree_rcu_work(struct work_struct *work)
 	struct rcu_head *head;
 	struct kfree_rcu_cpu *krcp;
 	struct kfree_rcu_cpu_work *krwp;
+	unsigned long head_free_gp_snap;
 	int i;
 
-	krwp = container_of(to_rcu_work(work),
-			    struct kfree_rcu_cpu_work, rcu_work);
+	krwp = container_of(work,
+		struct kfree_rcu_cpu_work, rcu_work);
 	krcp = krwp->krcp;
 
 	raw_spin_lock_irqsave(&krcp->lock, flags);
@@ -2978,12 +2983,29 @@  static void kfree_rcu_work(struct work_struct *work)
 	// Channel 3.
 	head = krwp->head_free;
 	krwp->head_free = NULL;
+	head_free_gp_snap = krwp->head_free_gp_snap;
 	raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore(&krcp->lock, flags);
 
 	// Handle the first two channels.
-	for (i = 0; i < FREE_N_CHANNELS; i++)
+	for (i = 0; i < FREE_N_CHANNELS; i++) {
+		// Start from the tail page, so a GP is likely passed for it.
+		list_for_each_entry_safe_reverse(bnode, n, &bulk_head[i], list) {
+			// Not yet ready? Bail out since we need one more GP.
+			if (!poll_state_synchronize_rcu(bnode->gp_snap))
+				break;
+
+			list_del_init(&bnode->list);
+			kvfree_rcu_bulk(krcp, bnode, i);
+		}
+
+		// Please note a request for one more extra GP can
+		// occur only once for all objects in this batch.
+		if (!list_empty(&bulk_head[i]))
+			synchronize_rcu();
+
 		list_for_each_entry_safe(bnode, n, &bulk_head[i], list)
 			kvfree_rcu_bulk(krcp, bnode, i);
+	}
 
 	/*
 	 * This is used when the "bulk" path can not be used for the
@@ -2992,7 +3014,10 @@  static void kfree_rcu_work(struct work_struct *work)
 	 * queued on a linked list through their rcu_head structures.
 	 * This list is named "Channel 3".
 	 */
-	kvfree_rcu_list(head);
+	if (head) {
+		cond_synchronize_rcu(head_free_gp_snap);
+		kvfree_rcu_list(head);
+	}
 }
 
 static bool
@@ -3059,6 +3084,11 @@  static void kfree_rcu_monitor(struct work_struct *work)
 			if (!krwp->head_free) {
 				krwp->head_free = krcp->head;
 				WRITE_ONCE(krcp->head, NULL);
+
+				// Take a snapshot for this krwp. Please note no more
+				// any objects can be added to attached head_free channel
+				// therefore fixate a GP for it here.
+				krwp->head_free_gp_snap = get_state_synchronize_rcu();
 			}
 
 			WRITE_ONCE(krcp->count, 0);
@@ -3068,7 +3098,7 @@  static void kfree_rcu_monitor(struct work_struct *work)
 			// be that the work is in the pending state when
 			// channels have been detached following by each
 			// other.
-			queue_rcu_work(system_wq, &krwp->rcu_work);
+			queue_work(system_wq, &krwp->rcu_work);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -3196,8 +3226,9 @@  add_ptr_to_bulk_krc_lock(struct kfree_rcu_cpu **krcp,
 		list_add(&bnode->list, &(*krcp)->bulk_head[idx]);
 	}
 
-	/* Finally insert. */
+	// Finally insert and update the GP for this page.
 	bnode->records[bnode->nr_records++] = ptr;
+	bnode->gp_snap = get_state_synchronize_rcu();
 	return true;
 }
 
@@ -4801,7 +4832,7 @@  static void __init kfree_rcu_batch_init(void)
 		struct kfree_rcu_cpu *krcp = per_cpu_ptr(&krc, cpu);
 
 		for (i = 0; i < KFREE_N_BATCHES; i++) {
-			INIT_RCU_WORK(&krcp->krw_arr[i].rcu_work, kfree_rcu_work);
+			INIT_WORK(&krcp->krw_arr[i].rcu_work, kfree_rcu_work);
 			krcp->krw_arr[i].krcp = krcp;
 
 			for (j = 0; j < FREE_N_CHANNELS; j++)