From: Koichiro Den <den@valinux.co.jp>
To: "Jon Mason" <jdmason@kudzu.us>,
"Dave Jiang" <dave.jiang@intel.com>,
"Allen Hubbe" <allenbh@gmail.com>,
"Manivannan Sadhasivam" <mani@kernel.org>,
"Krzysztof Wilczyński" <kwilczynski@kernel.org>,
"Kishon Vijay Abraham I" <kishon@kernel.org>,
"Bjorn Helgaas" <bhelgaas@google.com>,
"Frank Li" <Frank.Li@nxp.com>,
"Jerome Brunet" <jbrunet@baylibre.com>,
"Lorenzo Pieralisi" <lpieralisi@kernel.org>,
"Niklas Cassel" <cassel@kernel.org>
Cc: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org, linux-pci@vger.kernel.org,
ntb@lists.linux.dev
Subject: Re: [PATCH v3 00/10] PCI: endpoint: pci-epf-vntb / NTB: epf: Enable per-doorbell bit handling
Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2026 00:43:53 +0900 [thread overview]
Message-ID: <7jkibbdz3m3vuq2kq2xxnkt2rjdt5v7itgowc7qormtwgnf6tv@krl5brfjul5y> (raw)
In-Reply-To: <20260323031544.2598111-1-den@valinux.co.jp>
On Mon, Mar 23, 2026 at 12:15:34PM +0900, Koichiro Den wrote:
> This series fixes doorbell bit/vector handling for the EPF-based NTB
> pair (ntb_hw_epf <-> pci-epf-*ntb). Its primary goal is to enable safe
> per-db-vector handling in the NTB core and clients (e.g. ntb_transport),
> without changing the on-the-wire doorbell mapping.
>
>
> Background / problem
> ====================
>
> ntb_hw_epf historically applies an extra offset when ringing peer
> doorbells: the link event uses the first interrupt slot, and doorbells
> start from the third slot (i.e. a second slot is effectively unused).
> pci-epf-vntb carries the matching offset on the EP side as well.
>
> As long as db_vector_count()/db_vector_mask() are not implemented, this
> mismatch is mostly masked. Doorbell events are effectively treated as
> "can hit any QP" and the off-by-one vector numbering does not surface
> clearly.
>
> However, once per-vector handling is enabled, the current state becomes
> problematic:
>
> - db_valid_mask exposes bits that do not correspond to real doorbells
> (link/unused slots leak into the mask).
> - ntb_db_event() is fed with 1-based/shifted vectors, while NTB core
> expects a 0-based db_vector for doorbells.
> - On pci-epf-vntb, .peer_db_set() may be called in atomic context, but
> it directly calls pci_epc_raise_irq(), which can sleep.
>
>
> Why NOT fix the root offset?
> ============================
>
> The natural "root" fix would be to remove the historical extra offset in
> the peer_db_set() doorbell paths for ntb_hw_epf and pci-epf-vntb.
> Unfortunately this would lead to interoperability issues when mixing old
> and new kernel versions (old/new peers). A new side would ring a
> different interrupt slot than what an old peer expects, leading to
> missed or misrouted doorbells, once db_vector_count()/db_vector_mask()
> are implemented.
>
> Therefore this series intentionally keeps the legacy offset, and instead
> fixes the surrounding pieces so the mapping is documented and handled
> consistently in masks, vector numbering, and per-vector reporting.
>
>
> What this series does
> =====================
>
> - pci-epf-vntb:
>
> - Document the legacy offset.
> - Defer MSI doorbell raises to process context to avoid sleeping in
> atomic context. This becomes relevant once multiple doorbells are
> raised concurrently at a high rate.
> - Report doorbell vectors as 0-based to ntb_db_event().
> - Fix db_valid_mask and implement db_vector_count()/db_vector_mask().
>
> - ntb_hw_epf:
>
> - Document the legacy offset in ntb_epf_peer_db_set().
> - Fix db_valid_mask to cover only real doorbell bits.
> - Report 0-based db_vector to ntb_db_event() (accounting for the
> unused slot).
> - Keep db_val as a bitmask and fix db_read/db_clear semantics
> accordingly.
> - Implement db_vector_count()/db_vector_mask().
>
>
> Compatibility
> =============
>
> By keeping the legacy offset intact, this series aims to remain
> compatible across mixed kernel versions. The observable changes are
> limited to correct mask/vector reporting and safer execution context
> handling.
>
> Patches 1-5 (PCI Endpoint) and 6-10 (NTB) are independent and can be
> applied separately through the respective trees. They are sent together
> in this v3 for convenience.
>
> Once the remaining acks from NTB maintainers are collected, the plan is
Hi Dave,
When you have a chance, I'd appreciate another look at patches 6-10 (which are
unchanged since v2). If you do not see any blockers, Acked-by would be
greatly appreciated.
P.S. Regarding Sashiko's feedback [1], my understanding is that there are no
blockers, but there are a few points that would be better addressed separately
as orthogonal follow-ups:
- configfs knobs mutability and bounds checking, including (but not limited to)
db_count.
In my opinion, allowing updates after .bind() looks questionable, and
returning -EBUSY once bound seems more appropriate. I'm leaning toward
handling this as a separate hardening series.
- ntb_hw_epf IRQ unwind concern.
This is what I was trying to address in [2], which I hope will land soon.
- Other lifecycle concerns.
These are largely tied to the current vNTB implementation and were part of
[3], for which I still plan to post a follow-up series that adds .remove()
implementation to vntb_pci_driver.
[1] https://sashiko.dev/#/patchset/20260323031544.2598111-1-den%40valinux.co.jp
[2] https://lore.kernel.org/ntb/20260304083028.1391068-1-den@valinux.co.jp/
[3] https://lore.kernel.org/all/20260226084142.2226875-1-den@valinux.co.jp/
Best regards,
Koichiro
> to take the whole series through the PCI EP tree. See:
> https://lore.kernel.org/linux-pci/rnzsnp5de4qf5w7smebkmqekpuaqckltx73rj6ha3q2nrby5yp@7hsgvdzvjkp6/
>
> ---
> Changelog
> =========
>
> Changes since v2:
> - No functional changes.
> - Rebased onto current pci/endpoint
> e022f0c72c7f ("selftests: pci_endpoint: Skip reserved BARs").
> * Patch 2 needed a trivial context-only adjustment while rebasing, due
> to commit d799984233a5 ("PCI: endpoint: pci-epf-vntb: Stop
> cmd_handler work in epf_ntb_epc_cleanup").
> - Picked up additional Reviewed-by tags from Frank.
> - Fixed the incorrect v2 series title.
>
> Changes since v1:
> - Addressed feedback from Dave (add a source code comment, introduce
> enum to eliminate magic numbers)
> - Updated source code comment in Patch 2.
> - No functional changes, so retained Reviewed-by tags by Frank and Dave.
> Thank you both for the review.
>
> v2: https://lore.kernel.org/linux-pci/20260227084955.3184017-1-den@valinux.co.jp/
> v1: https://lore.kernel.org/linux-pci/20260224133459.1741537-1-den@valinux.co.jp/
>
>
> Best regards,
> Koichiro
>
>
> Koichiro Den (10):
> PCI: endpoint: pci-epf-vntb: Document legacy MSI doorbell offset
> PCI: endpoint: pci-epf-vntb: Defer pci_epc_raise_irq() out of atomic
> context
> PCI: endpoint: pci-epf-vntb: Report 0-based doorbell vector via
> ntb_db_event()
> PCI: endpoint: pci-epf-vntb: Exclude reserved slots from db_valid_mask
> PCI: endpoint: pci-epf-vntb: Implement db_vector_count/mask for
> doorbells
> NTB: epf: Document legacy doorbell slot offset in
> ntb_epf_peer_db_set()
> NTB: epf: Make db_valid_mask cover only real doorbell bits
> NTB: epf: Report 0-based doorbell vector via ntb_db_event()
> NTB: epf: Fix doorbell bitmask handling in db_read/db_clear
> NTB: epf: Implement db_vector_count/mask for doorbells
>
> drivers/ntb/hw/epf/ntb_hw_epf.c | 89 ++++++++++-
> drivers/pci/endpoint/functions/pci-epf-vntb.c | 147 +++++++++++++++---
> 2 files changed, 210 insertions(+), 26 deletions(-)
>
> --
> 2.51.0
>
>
next prev parent reply other threads:[~2026-03-23 15:43 UTC|newest]
Thread overview: 20+ messages / expand[flat|nested] mbox.gz Atom feed top
2026-03-23 3:15 [PATCH v3 00/10] PCI: endpoint: pci-epf-vntb / NTB: epf: Enable per-doorbell bit handling Koichiro Den
2026-03-23 3:15 ` [PATCH v3 01/10] PCI: endpoint: pci-epf-vntb: Document legacy MSI doorbell offset Koichiro Den
2026-03-23 3:15 ` [PATCH v3 02/10] PCI: endpoint: pci-epf-vntb: Defer pci_epc_raise_irq() out of atomic context Koichiro Den
2026-03-23 18:27 ` Frank Li
2026-05-01 16:26 ` Manivannan Sadhasivam
2026-05-11 7:54 ` Koichiro Den
2026-03-23 3:15 ` [PATCH v3 03/10] PCI: endpoint: pci-epf-vntb: Report 0-based doorbell vector via ntb_db_event() Koichiro Den
2026-03-23 3:15 ` [PATCH v3 04/10] PCI: endpoint: pci-epf-vntb: Exclude reserved slots from db_valid_mask Koichiro Den
2026-03-23 3:15 ` [PATCH v3 05/10] PCI: endpoint: pci-epf-vntb: Implement db_vector_count/mask for doorbells Koichiro Den
2026-03-23 3:15 ` [PATCH v3 06/10] NTB: epf: Document legacy doorbell slot offset in ntb_epf_peer_db_set() Koichiro Den
2026-03-23 3:15 ` [PATCH v3 07/10] NTB: epf: Make db_valid_mask cover only real doorbell bits Koichiro Den
2026-03-23 3:15 ` [PATCH v3 08/10] NTB: epf: Report 0-based doorbell vector via ntb_db_event() Koichiro Den
2026-03-23 3:15 ` [PATCH v3 09/10] NTB: epf: Fix doorbell bitmask handling in db_read/db_clear Koichiro Den
2026-05-01 16:29 ` Manivannan Sadhasivam
2026-05-11 9:15 ` Koichiro Den
2026-03-23 3:15 ` [PATCH v3 10/10] NTB: epf: Implement db_vector_count/mask for doorbells Koichiro Den
2026-03-23 15:43 ` Koichiro Den [this message]
2026-03-25 6:23 ` [PATCH v3 00/10] PCI: endpoint: pci-epf-vntb / NTB: epf: Enable per-doorbell bit handling Niklas Cassel
2026-03-25 8:44 ` Koichiro Den
2026-04-07 15:21 ` Koichiro Den
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