seqlock: Introduce seqcount_latch_t

Latch sequence counters are a multiversion concurrency control mechanism
where the seqcount_t counter even/odd value is used to switch between
two copies of protected data. This allows the seqcount_t read path to
safely interrupt its write side critical section (e.g. from NMIs).

Initially, latch sequence counters were implemented as a single write
function above plain seqcount_t: raw_write_seqcount_latch(). The read
side was expected to use plain seqcount_t raw_read_seqcount().

A specialized latch read function, raw_read_seqcount_latch(), was later
added. It became the standardized way for latch read paths.  Due to the
dependent load, it has one read memory barrier less than the plain
seqcount_t raw_read_seqcount() API.

Only raw_write_seqcount_latch() and raw_read_seqcount_latch() should be
used with latch sequence counters. Having *unique* read and write path
APIs means that latch sequence counters are actually a data type of
their own -- just inappropriately overloading plain seqcount_t.

Introduce seqcount_latch_t. This adds type-safety and ensures that only
the correct latch-safe APIs are to be used.

Not to break bisection, let the latch APIs also accept plain seqcount_t
or seqcount_raw_spinlock_t. After converting all call sites to
seqcount_latch_t, only that new data type will be allowed.

References: 9b0fd802e8c0 ("seqcount: Add raw_write_seqcount_latch()")
References: 7fc26327b756 ("seqlock: Introduce raw_read_seqcount_latch()")
References: aadd6e5caaac ("time/sched_clock: Use raw_read_seqcount_latch()")
Signed-off-by: Ahmed S. Darwish <a.darwish@linutronix.de>
Signed-off-by: Peter Zijlstra (Intel) <peterz@infradead.org>
Link: https://lkml.kernel.org/r/20200827114044.11173-4-a.darwish@linutronix.de

1 files changed, 18 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/Documentation/locking/seqlock.rst b/Documentation/locking/seqlock.rst
index 62c5ad98c11c..a334b584f2b3 100644
--- a/Documentation/locking/seqlock.rst
+++ b/Documentation/locking/seqlock.rst
@@ -139,6 +139,24 @@ with the associated LOCKTYPE lock acquired.
 
 Read path: same as in :ref:`seqcount_t`.
 
+
+.. _seqcount_latch_t:
+
+Latch sequence counters (``seqcount_latch_t``)
+----------------------------------------------
+
+Latch sequence counters are a multiversion concurrency control mechanism
+where the embedded seqcount_t counter even/odd value is used to switch
+between two copies of protected data. This allows the sequence counter
+read path to safely interrupt its own write side critical section.
+
+Use seqcount_latch_t when the write side sections cannot be protected
+from interruption by readers. This is typically the case when the read
+side can be invoked from NMI handlers.
+
+Check `raw_write_seqcount_latch()` for more information.
+
+
 .. _seqlock_t:
 
 Sequential locks (``seqlock_t``)