Re: 2.4.13pre5aa1

[Robert Love]

On Fri, 2001-10-19 at 00:19, Andrea Arcangeli wrote:
> Only in 2.4.13pre3aa1: 00_files_struct_rcu-2.4.10-04-1
> Only in 2.4.13pre5aa1: 00_files_struct_rcu-2.4.10-04-2

I want to point out to preempt-kernel users that RCU is not
preempt-safe. The implicit locking assumed from per-CPU data structures
is defeated by preemptibility.

(Actually, FWIW, I think I can think of ways to make RCU preemptible but
it would involve changing the write-side quiescent code for the case
where the pointers were carried over the task switches.  Probably not
worth it.) 

This is not to say RCU is worthless with a preemptible kernel, but that
we need to make it safe (and then make sure it is still a performance
advantage, but I don't think this would add much overhead).  Note this
is clean, simply wrapping the read code in non-preemption statements.

I will hack up a patch when I get the time, but I would like to prevent
myself from maintaining the patch against a third tree ... where, oh
where, is 2.5? :)

	Robert Love