On 2025/11/13 23:02, Suzuki K Poulose wrote:
Hi Junhao,

While your patch fixes the problem it introduces imbalance in the
way perf vs sysfs modes are handled.


Hi Suzuki,

Thank you for your comments.

What you mean is that, as long as tmc_etr_enable_hw() has not yet been
called (i.e., ETR hasn't been fully enabled), both the perf and sysfs sessions
have the opportunity to take ownership of ETR device?

Based on the following sysfs-based ETR enablement sequence, the spinlock is
released at two points (denoted as points a and b).
At either of these points, perf may acquire the lock and invoke
tmc_etr_enable_hw() to complete the ETR initialization, resulting in
ETR_mode == PERF. This would interrupt the ongoing sysfs enablement
flow and effectively give precedence to perf over sysfs.

mode:
  [sysfs mode]
  tmc_enable_etr_sink_sysfs()
    tmc_etr_get_sysfs_buffer()
      spin_lock(&drvdata->spinlock)
      sysfs_buf = READ_ONCE(drvdata->sysfs_buf);
      if (!sysfs_buf || (sysfs_buf->size != drvdata->size))
        spin_unlock(&drvdata->spinlock)  <-- point a
        [sysfs buffer allocation]
        spin_lock(&drvdata->spinlock)
      drvdata->sysfs_buf = new_buf;
      spin_unlock(&drvdata->spinlock)  <-- point b
    spin_lock(&drvdata->spinlock)
    tmc_etr_enable_hw()
    spin_unlock(&drvdata->spinlock)

  [perf mode]
  tmc_enable_etr_sink_perf()
    spin_lock(&drvdata->spinlock)
    tmc_etr_enable_hw()
    spin_unlock(&drvdata->spinlock)

After the patch, both the perf and sysfs sessions contend fairly for the lock at
the entry point of tmc_enable_etr_sink(). The first to acquire the lock gains
exclusive control over the ETR sink for the remainder of the session.

On 11/11/2025 12:21, Junhao He wrote:
From: Junhao He <hejunhao3@huawei.com>

When trying to run perf and sysfs mode simultaneously, the WARN_ON()
in tmc_etr_enable_hw() is triggered sometimes:

  WARNING: CPU: 42 PID: 3911571 at drivers/hwtracing/coresight/coresight-tmc-etr.c:1060 tmc_etr_enable_hw+0xc0/0xd8 [coresight_tmc]
  [..snip..]
  Call trace:
   tmc_etr_enable_hw+0xc0/0xd8 [coresight_tmc] (P)
   tmc_enable_etr_sink+0x11c/0x250 [coresight_tmc] (L)
   tmc_enable_etr_sink+0x11c/0x250 [coresight_tmc]
   coresight_enable_path+0x1c8/0x218 [coresight]
   coresight_enable_sysfs+0xa4/0x228 [coresight]
   enable_source_store+0x58/0xa8 [coresight]
   dev_attr_store+0x20/0x40
   sysfs_kf_write+0x4c/0x68
   kernfs_fop_write_iter+0x120/0x1b8
   vfs_write+0x2c8/0x388
   ksys_write+0x74/0x108
   __arm64_sys_write+0x24/0x38
   el0_svc_common.constprop.0+0x64/0x148
   do_el0_svc+0x24/0x38
   el0_svc+0x3c/0x130
   el0t_64_sync_handler+0xc8/0xd0
   el0t_64_sync+0x1ac/0x1b0
  ---[ end trace 0000000000000000 ]---

Since the sysfs buffer allocation and the hardware enablement is not
in the same critical region, it's possible to race with the perf

mode:
   [sysfs mode]                   [perf mode]
   tmc_etr_get_sysfs_buffer()
     spin_lock(&drvdata->spinlock)
     [sysfs buffer allocation]
     spin_unlock(&drvdata->spinlock)
                                  spin_lock(&drvdata->spinlock)
                                  tmc_etr_enable_hw()
                                    drvdata->etr_buf = etr_perf->etr_buf
                                  spin_unlock(&drvdata->spinlock)
  spin_lock(&drvdata->spinlock)

^^ Could we not double check the mode here and break out ?

Something like this :


diff --git a/drivers/hwtracing/coresight/coresight-tmc-etr.c b/drivers/hwtracing/coresight/coresight-tmc-etr.c
index e0d83ee01b77..2097c57d19d0 100644
--- a/drivers/hwtracing/coresight/coresight-tmc-etr.c
+++ b/drivers/hwtracing/coresight/coresight-tmc-etr.c
@@ -1314,6 +1314,9 @@ static int tmc_enable_etr_sink_sysfs(struct coresight_device *csdev)
        if (coresight_get_mode(csdev) == CS_MODE_SYSFS) {
                csdev->refcnt++;
                goto out;
+       } else if (coresight_get_mode(csdev) != CS_MODE_DISABLED) {
+               ret = -EBUSY;
+               goto out;
        }

        ret = tmc_etr_enable_hw(drvdata, sysfs_buf);


Suzuki

Indeed, this approach addresses only the race condition between the perf and sysfs
components. It represents the simplest viable solution.

This patch also resolves the potential null pointer dereference of drvdata->sysfs_buf,
which could occur when the buffer size is modified after ETR has already been
enabled, followed by enabling a second source device [1].

If the refactored patch introduces additional issues, the implementation may be
reworked based on Yicong's original patches [2] ?

[1]https://lore.kernel.org/linux-arm-kernel/20241202092419.11777-2-yangyicong@huawei.com/
[2]https://lore.kernel.org/linux-arm-kernel/20241202092419.11777-4-yangyicong@huawei.com/

Best regards,
Junhao.



  tmc_etr_enable_hw()
    WARN_ON(drvdata->etr_buf) // WARN sicne etr_buf initialized at
                                 the perf side
   spin_unlock(&drvdata->spinlock)

A race condition is introduced here, perf always prioritizes execution, and
warnings can lead to concerns about potential hidden bugs, such as getting
out of sync.

To fix this, configure the tmc-etr mode before invoking enable_etr_perf()
or enable_etr_sysfs(), explicitly check if the tmc-etr sink is already
enabled in a different mode, and simplily the setup and checks for "mode".
To prevent race conditions between mode transitions.

Fixes: 296b01fd106e ("coresight: Refactor out buffer allocation function for ETR")
Reported-by: Yicong Yang <yangyicong@hisilicon.com>
Closes: https://lore.kernel.org/linux-arm-kernel/20241202092419.11777-2-yangyicong@huawei.com/
Signed-off-by: Junhao He <hejunhao3@huawei.com>
Tested-by: Yicong Yang <yangyicong@hisilicon.com>
Signed-off-by: Junhao He <hejunhao3@h-partners.com>
---
  .../hwtracing/coresight/coresight-tmc-etr.c   | 106 +++++++++---------
  1 file changed, 55 insertions(+), 51 deletions(-)

diff --git a/drivers/hwtracing/coresight/coresight-tmc-etr.c b/drivers/hwtracing/coresight/coresight-tmc-etr.c
index b07fcdb3fe1a..fe1d5e8a0d2b 100644
--- a/drivers/hwtracing/coresight/coresight-tmc-etr.c
+++ b/drivers/hwtracing/coresight/coresight-tmc-etr.c
@@ -1263,11 +1263,6 @@ static struct etr_buf *tmc_etr_get_sysfs_buffer(struct coresight_device *csdev)
          raw_spin_lock_irqsave(&drvdata->spinlock, flags);
      }
  -    if (drvdata->reading || coresight_get_mode(csdev) == CS_MODE_PERF) {
-        ret = -EBUSY;
-        goto out;
-    }
-
      /*
       * If we don't have a buffer or it doesn't match the requested size,
       * use the buffer allocated above. Otherwise reuse the existing buffer.
@@ -1278,7 +1273,6 @@ static struct etr_buf *tmc_etr_get_sysfs_buffer(struct coresight_device *csdev)
          drvdata->sysfs_buf = new_buf;
      }
  -out:
      raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore(&drvdata->spinlock, flags);
        /* Free memory outside the spinlock if need be */
@@ -1289,7 +1283,7 @@ static struct etr_buf *tmc_etr_get_sysfs_buffer(struct coresight_device *csdev)
    static int tmc_enable_etr_sink_sysfs(struct coresight_device *csdev)
  {
-    int ret = 0;
+    int ret;
      unsigned long flags;
      struct tmc_drvdata *drvdata = dev_get_drvdata(csdev->dev.parent);
      struct etr_buf *sysfs_buf = tmc_etr_get_sysfs_buffer(csdev);
@@ -1299,23 +1293,10 @@ static int tmc_enable_etr_sink_sysfs(struct coresight_device *csdev)
        raw_spin_lock_irqsave(&drvdata->spinlock, flags);
  -    /*
-     * In sysFS mode we can have multiple writers per sink.  Since this
-     * sink is already enabled no memory is needed and the HW need not be
-     * touched, even if the buffer size has changed.
-     */
-    if (coresight_get_mode(csdev) == CS_MODE_SYSFS) {
-        csdev->refcnt++;
-        goto out;
-    }
-
      ret = tmc_etr_enable_hw(drvdata, sysfs_buf);
-    if (!ret) {
-        coresight_set_mode(csdev, CS_MODE_SYSFS);
+    if (!ret)
          csdev->refcnt++;
-    }
  -out:
      raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore(&drvdata->spinlock, flags);
        if (!ret)
@@ -1729,39 +1710,24 @@ static int tmc_enable_etr_sink_perf(struct coresight_device *csdev, void *data)
  {
      int rc = 0;
      pid_t pid;
-    unsigned long flags;
      struct tmc_drvdata *drvdata = dev_get_drvdata(csdev->dev.parent);
      struct perf_output_handle *handle = data;
      struct etr_perf_buffer *etr_perf = etm_perf_sink_config(handle);
  -    raw_spin_lock_irqsave(&drvdata->spinlock, flags);
-     /* Don't use this sink if it is already claimed by sysFS */
-    if (coresight_get_mode(csdev) == CS_MODE_SYSFS) {
-        rc = -EBUSY;
-        goto unlock_out;
-    }
-
-    if (WARN_ON(!etr_perf || !etr_perf->etr_buf)) {
-        rc = -EINVAL;
-        goto unlock_out;
-    }
+    if (WARN_ON(!etr_perf || !etr_perf->etr_buf))
+        return -EINVAL;
        /* Get a handle on the pid of the session owner */
      pid = etr_perf->pid;
        /* Do not proceed if this device is associated with another session */
-    if (drvdata->pid != -1 && drvdata->pid != pid) {
-        rc = -EBUSY;
-        goto unlock_out;
-    }
+    if (drvdata->pid != -1 && drvdata->pid != pid)
+        return -EBUSY;
  -    /*
-     * No HW configuration is needed if the sink is already in
-     * use for this session.
-     */
+    /* The sink is already in use for this session */
      if (drvdata->pid == pid) {
          csdev->refcnt++;
-        goto unlock_out;
+        return rc;
      }
        rc = tmc_etr_enable_hw(drvdata, etr_perf->etr_buf);
@@ -1773,22 +1739,60 @@ static int tmc_enable_etr_sink_perf(struct coresight_device *csdev, void *data)
          csdev->refcnt++;
      }
  -unlock_out:
-    raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore(&drvdata->spinlock, flags);
      return rc;
  }
    static int tmc_enable_etr_sink(struct coresight_device *csdev,
                     enum cs_mode mode, void *data)
  {
-    switch (mode) {
-    case CS_MODE_SYSFS:
-        return tmc_enable_etr_sink_sysfs(csdev);
-    case CS_MODE_PERF:
-        return tmc_enable_etr_sink_perf(csdev, data);
-    default:
-        return -EINVAL;
+    struct tmc_drvdata *drvdata = dev_get_drvdata(csdev->dev.parent);
+    int rc;
+
+retry:
+    scoped_guard(raw_spinlock_irqsave, &drvdata->spinlock) {
+        if (coresight_get_mode(csdev) != CS_MODE_DISABLED &&
+            coresight_get_mode(csdev) != mode)
+            return -EBUSY;
+
+        switch (mode) {
+        case CS_MODE_SYSFS:
+            if (drvdata->reading)
+                return -EBUSY;
+
+            if (csdev->refcnt) {
+                /* The sink is already enabled via sysfs */
+                csdev->refcnt++;
+                return 0;
+            }
+
+            /*
+             * A sysfs session is currently enabling ETR, preventing
+             * a second sysfs process from repeatedly triggering the
+             * enable procedure.
+             */
+            if (coresight_get_mode(csdev) == CS_MODE_SYSFS && !csdev->refcnt)
+                goto retry;
+
+            /*
+             * Set ETR to sysfs mode before it is fully enabled, to
+             * prevent race conditions during mode transitions.
+             */
+            coresight_set_mode(csdev, mode);
+            break;
+        case CS_MODE_PERF:
+            return tmc_enable_etr_sink_perf(csdev, data);
+        default:
+            return -EINVAL;
+        }
+    }
+
+    rc = tmc_enable_etr_sink_sysfs(csdev);
+    if (rc) {
+        guard(raw_spinlock_irqsave)(&drvdata->spinlock);
+        coresight_set_mode(csdev, CS_MODE_DISABLED);
      }
+
+    return rc;
  }
    static int tmc_disable_etr_sink(struct coresight_device *csdev)


.