| Message ID | 20210417143602.215059-2-peterx@redhat.com (mailing list archive) |
|---|---|
| State | New, archived |
| Headers | show |
| Series | KVM: selftests: fix races in dirty log test | expand |
On Sat, Apr 17, 2021 at 10:36:01AM -0400, Peter Xu wrote: > This fixes a bug that can trigger with e.g. "taskset -c 0 ./dirty_log_test" or > when the testing host is very busy. > > A similar previous attempt is done [1] but that is not enough, the reason is > stated in the reply [2]. > > As a summary (partly quotting from [2]): > > The problem is I think one guest memory write operation (of this specific test) > contains a few micro-steps when page is during kvm dirty tracking (here I'm > only considering write-protect rather than pml but pml should be similar at > least when the log buffer is full): > > (1) Guest read 'iteration' number into register, prepare to write, page fault > (2) Set dirty bit in either dirty bitmap or dirty ring > (3) Return to guest, data written > > When we verify the data, we assumed that all these steps are "atomic", say, > when (1) happened for this page, we assume (2) & (3) must have happened. We > had some trick to workaround "un-atomicity" of above three steps, as previous > version of this patch wanted to fix atomicity of step (2)+(3) by explicitly > letting the main thread wait for at least one vmenter of vcpu thread, which > should work. However what I overlooked is probably that we still have race > when (1) and (2) can be interrupted. > > One example calltrace when it could happen that we read an old interation, got > interrupted before even setting the dirty bit and flushing data: > > __schedule+1742 > __cond_resched+52 > __get_user_pages+530 > get_user_pages_unlocked+197 > hva_to_pfn+206 > try_async_pf+132 > direct_page_fault+320 > kvm_mmu_page_fault+103 > vmx_handle_exit+288 > vcpu_enter_guest+2460 > kvm_arch_vcpu_ioctl_run+325 > kvm_vcpu_ioctl+526 > __x64_sys_ioctl+131 > do_syscall_64+51 > entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+68 > > It means iteration number cached in vcpu register can be very old when dirty > bit set and data flushed. > > So far I don't see an easy way to guarantee all steps 1-3 atomicity but to sync > at the GUEST_SYNC() point of guest code when we do verification of the dirty > bits as what this patch does. > > [1] https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20210413213641.23742-1-peterx@redhat.com/ > [2] https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20210417140956.GV4440@xz-x1/ > > Cc: Paolo Bonzini <pbonzini@redhat.com> > Cc: Sean Christopherson <seanjc@google.com> > Cc: Andrew Jones <drjones@redhat.com> > Signed-off-by: Peter Xu <peterx@redhat.com> > --- > tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c | 60 ++++++++++++++++---- > 1 file changed, 50 insertions(+), 10 deletions(-) > > diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c b/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c > index bb2752d78fe3..510884f0eab8 100644 > --- a/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c > +++ b/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c > @@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ > #include <linux/bitmap.h> > #include <linux/bitops.h> > #include <asm/barrier.h> > +#include <linux/atomic.h> > > #include "kvm_util.h" > #include "test_util.h" > @@ -137,12 +138,20 @@ static uint64_t host_clear_count; > static uint64_t host_track_next_count; > > /* Whether dirty ring reset is requested, or finished */ > -static sem_t dirty_ring_vcpu_stop; > -static sem_t dirty_ring_vcpu_cont; > +static sem_t sem_vcpu_stop; > +static sem_t sem_vcpu_cont; > +/* > + * This is only set by main thread, and only cleared by vcpu thread. It is > + * used to request vcpu thread to stop at the next GUEST_SYNC, since GUEST_SYNC > + * is the only place that we'll guarantee both "dirty bit" and "dirty data" > + * will match. E.g., SIG_IPI won't guarantee that (e.g., when vcpu interrupted > + * after setting dirty bit but before data flushed). > + */ > +static atomic_t vcpu_sync_stop_requested; > /* > * This is updated by the vcpu thread to tell the host whether it's a > * ring-full event. It should only be read until a sem_wait() of > - * dirty_ring_vcpu_stop and before vcpu continues to run. > + * sem_vcpu_stop and before vcpu continues to run. > */ > static bool dirty_ring_vcpu_ring_full; > /* > @@ -234,6 +243,17 @@ static void clear_log_collect_dirty_pages(struct kvm_vm *vm, int slot, > kvm_vm_clear_dirty_log(vm, slot, bitmap, 0, num_pages); > } > > +/* Should only be called after a GUEST_SYNC */ > +static void vcpu_handle_sync_stop(void) > +{ > + if (atomic_read(&vcpu_sync_stop_requested)) { > + /* It means main thread is sleeping waiting */ > + atomic_set(&vcpu_sync_stop_requested, false); > + sem_post(&sem_vcpu_stop); > + sem_wait_until(&sem_vcpu_cont); > + } > +} > + > static void default_after_vcpu_run(struct kvm_vm *vm, int ret, int err) > { > struct kvm_run *run = vcpu_state(vm, VCPU_ID); > @@ -244,6 +264,8 @@ static void default_after_vcpu_run(struct kvm_vm *vm, int ret, int err) > TEST_ASSERT(get_ucall(vm, VCPU_ID, NULL) == UCALL_SYNC, > "Invalid guest sync status: exit_reason=%s\n", > exit_reason_str(run->exit_reason)); > + > + vcpu_handle_sync_stop(); > } > > static bool dirty_ring_supported(void) > @@ -301,13 +323,13 @@ static void dirty_ring_wait_vcpu(void) > { > /* This makes sure that hardware PML cache flushed */ > vcpu_kick(); > - sem_wait_until(&dirty_ring_vcpu_stop); > + sem_wait_until(&sem_vcpu_stop); > } > > static void dirty_ring_continue_vcpu(void) > { > pr_info("Notifying vcpu to continue\n"); > - sem_post(&dirty_ring_vcpu_cont); > + sem_post(&sem_vcpu_cont); > } > > static void dirty_ring_collect_dirty_pages(struct kvm_vm *vm, int slot, > @@ -361,11 +383,11 @@ static void dirty_ring_after_vcpu_run(struct kvm_vm *vm, int ret, int err) > /* Update the flag first before pause */ > WRITE_ONCE(dirty_ring_vcpu_ring_full, > run->exit_reason == KVM_EXIT_DIRTY_RING_FULL); > - sem_post(&dirty_ring_vcpu_stop); > + sem_post(&sem_vcpu_stop); > pr_info("vcpu stops because %s...\n", > dirty_ring_vcpu_ring_full ? > "dirty ring is full" : "vcpu is kicked out"); > - sem_wait_until(&dirty_ring_vcpu_cont); > + sem_wait_until(&sem_vcpu_cont); > pr_info("vcpu continues now.\n"); > } else { > TEST_ASSERT(false, "Invalid guest sync status: " > @@ -377,7 +399,7 @@ static void dirty_ring_after_vcpu_run(struct kvm_vm *vm, int ret, int err) > static void dirty_ring_before_vcpu_join(void) > { > /* Kick another round of vcpu just to make sure it will quit */ > - sem_post(&dirty_ring_vcpu_cont); > + sem_post(&sem_vcpu_cont); > } > > struct log_mode { > @@ -768,7 +790,25 @@ static void run_test(enum vm_guest_mode mode, void *arg) > usleep(p->interval * 1000); > log_mode_collect_dirty_pages(vm, TEST_MEM_SLOT_INDEX, > bmap, host_num_pages); > + > + /* > + * See vcpu_sync_stop_requested definition for details on why > + * we need to stop vcpu when verify data. > + */ > + atomic_set(&vcpu_sync_stop_requested, true); > + sem_wait_until(&sem_vcpu_stop); > + /* > + * NOTE: for dirty ring, it's possible that we didn't stop at > + * GUEST_SYNC but instead we stopped because ring is full; > + * that's okay too because ring full means we're only missing > + * the flush of the last page, and since we handle dirty ring > + * last page specifically, so verify will still pass. > + */ > + assert(host_log_mode == LOG_MODE_DIRTY_RING || > + atomic_read(&vcpu_sync_stop_requested) == false); > vm_dirty_log_verify(mode, bmap); > + sem_post(&sem_vcpu_cont); > + > iteration++; > sync_global_to_guest(vm, iteration); > } > @@ -819,8 +859,8 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) > }; > int opt, i; > > - sem_init(&dirty_ring_vcpu_stop, 0, 0); > - sem_init(&dirty_ring_vcpu_cont, 0, 0); > + sem_init(&sem_vcpu_stop, 0, 0); > + sem_init(&sem_vcpu_cont, 0, 0); > > guest_modes_append_default(); > > -- > 2.26.2 > We'd also squash below into this patch (which I forgot): ----8<----- diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c b/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c index 25230e799bc4..d3050d1c2cd0 100644 --- a/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c +++ b/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c @@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ static void dirty_ring_after_vcpu_run(struct kvm_vm *vm, int ret, int err) /* A ucall-sync or ring-full event is allowed */ if (get_ucall(vm, VCPU_ID, NULL) == UCALL_SYNC) { /* We should allow this to continue */ - ; + vcpu_handle_sync_stop(); } else if (run->exit_reason == KVM_EXIT_DIRTY_RING_FULL || (ret == -1 && err == EINTR)) { /* Update the flag first before pause */ ----8<----- That's my intention when I introduce vcpu_handle_sync_stop(), but forgot to add... This should not affect correctness of this patch as dirty ring test can always trigger ring full event which achieve similar goals, but it'll allow dirty ring test to quit even earlier before ring is full.
On 18/04/21 14:43, Peter Xu wrote: > ----8<----- > diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c b/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c > index 25230e799bc4..d3050d1c2cd0 100644 > --- a/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c > +++ b/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c > @@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ static void dirty_ring_after_vcpu_run(struct kvm_vm *vm, int ret, int err) > /* A ucall-sync or ring-full event is allowed */ > if (get_ucall(vm, VCPU_ID, NULL) == UCALL_SYNC) { > /* We should allow this to continue */ > - ; > + vcpu_handle_sync_stop(); > } else if (run->exit_reason == KVM_EXIT_DIRTY_RING_FULL || > (ret == -1 && err == EINTR)) { > /* Update the flag first before pause */ > ----8<----- > > That's my intention when I introduce vcpu_handle_sync_stop(), but forgot to > add... And possibly even this (untested though): diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c b/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c index ffa4e2791926..918954f01cef 100644 --- a/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c +++ b/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c @@ -383,6 +383,7 @@ static void dirty_ring_after_vcpu_run(struct kvm_vm *vm, int ret, int err) /* Update the flag first before pause */ WRITE_ONCE(dirty_ring_vcpu_ring_full, run->exit_reason == KVM_EXIT_DIRTY_RING_FULL); + atomic_set(&vcpu_sync_stop_requested, false); sem_post(&sem_vcpu_stop); pr_info("vcpu stops because %s...\n", dirty_ring_vcpu_ring_full ? @@ -804,8 +805,7 @@ static void run_test(enum vm_guest_mode mode, void *arg) * the flush of the last page, and since we handle the last * page specially verification will succeed anyway. */ - assert(host_log_mode == LOG_MODE_DIRTY_RING || - atomic_read(&vcpu_sync_stop_requested) == false); + assert(atomic_read(&vcpu_sync_stop_requested) == false); vm_dirty_log_verify(mode, bmap); sem_post(&sem_vcpu_cont); You can submit all these as a separate patch. Paolo
On Tue, Apr 20, 2021 at 10:07:16AM +0200, Paolo Bonzini wrote: > On 18/04/21 14:43, Peter Xu wrote: > > ----8<----- > > diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c b/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c > > index 25230e799bc4..d3050d1c2cd0 100644 > > --- a/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c > > +++ b/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c > > @@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ static void dirty_ring_after_vcpu_run(struct kvm_vm *vm, int ret, int err) > > /* A ucall-sync or ring-full event is allowed */ > > if (get_ucall(vm, VCPU_ID, NULL) == UCALL_SYNC) { > > /* We should allow this to continue */ > > - ; > > + vcpu_handle_sync_stop(); > > } else if (run->exit_reason == KVM_EXIT_DIRTY_RING_FULL || > > (ret == -1 && err == EINTR)) { > > /* Update the flag first before pause */ > > ----8<----- > > > > That's my intention when I introduce vcpu_handle_sync_stop(), but forgot to > > add... > > And possibly even this (untested though): > > diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c b/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c > index ffa4e2791926..918954f01cef 100644 > --- a/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c > +++ b/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c > @@ -383,6 +383,7 @@ static void dirty_ring_after_vcpu_run(struct kvm_vm *vm, int ret, int err) > /* Update the flag first before pause */ > WRITE_ONCE(dirty_ring_vcpu_ring_full, > run->exit_reason == KVM_EXIT_DIRTY_RING_FULL); > + atomic_set(&vcpu_sync_stop_requested, false); > sem_post(&sem_vcpu_stop); > pr_info("vcpu stops because %s...\n", > dirty_ring_vcpu_ring_full ? > @@ -804,8 +805,7 @@ static void run_test(enum vm_guest_mode mode, void *arg) > * the flush of the last page, and since we handle the last > * page specially verification will succeed anyway. > */ > - assert(host_log_mode == LOG_MODE_DIRTY_RING || > - atomic_read(&vcpu_sync_stop_requested) == false); > + assert(atomic_read(&vcpu_sync_stop_requested) == false); > vm_dirty_log_verify(mode, bmap); > sem_post(&sem_vcpu_cont); > > You can submit all these as a separate patch. But it could race, then? main thread vcpu thread ----------- ----------- ring full vcpu_sync_stop_requested=0 sem_post(&sem_vcpu_stop) vcpu_sync_stop_requested=1 sem_wait(&sem_vcpu_stop) assert(vcpu_sync_stop_requested==0) <---- Thanks,
On 20/04/21 15:10, Peter Xu wrote: > On Tue, Apr 20, 2021 at 10:07:16AM +0200, Paolo Bonzini wrote: >> On 18/04/21 14:43, Peter Xu wrote: >>> ----8<----- >>> diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c b/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c >>> index 25230e799bc4..d3050d1c2cd0 100644 >>> --- a/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c >>> +++ b/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c >>> @@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ static void dirty_ring_after_vcpu_run(struct kvm_vm *vm, int ret, int err) >>> /* A ucall-sync or ring-full event is allowed */ >>> if (get_ucall(vm, VCPU_ID, NULL) == UCALL_SYNC) { >>> /* We should allow this to continue */ >>> - ; >>> + vcpu_handle_sync_stop(); >>> } else if (run->exit_reason == KVM_EXIT_DIRTY_RING_FULL || >>> (ret == -1 && err == EINTR)) { >>> /* Update the flag first before pause */ >>> ----8<----- >>> >>> That's my intention when I introduce vcpu_handle_sync_stop(), but forgot to >>> add... >> >> And possibly even this (untested though): >> >> diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c b/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c >> index ffa4e2791926..918954f01cef 100644 >> --- a/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c >> +++ b/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c >> @@ -383,6 +383,7 @@ static void dirty_ring_after_vcpu_run(struct kvm_vm *vm, int ret, int err) >> /* Update the flag first before pause */ >> WRITE_ONCE(dirty_ring_vcpu_ring_full, >> run->exit_reason == KVM_EXIT_DIRTY_RING_FULL); >> + atomic_set(&vcpu_sync_stop_requested, false); >> sem_post(&sem_vcpu_stop); >> pr_info("vcpu stops because %s...\n", >> dirty_ring_vcpu_ring_full ? >> @@ -804,8 +805,7 @@ static void run_test(enum vm_guest_mode mode, void *arg) >> * the flush of the last page, and since we handle the last >> * page specially verification will succeed anyway. >> */ >> - assert(host_log_mode == LOG_MODE_DIRTY_RING || >> - atomic_read(&vcpu_sync_stop_requested) == false); >> + assert(atomic_read(&vcpu_sync_stop_requested) == false); >> vm_dirty_log_verify(mode, bmap); >> sem_post(&sem_vcpu_cont); >> >> You can submit all these as a separate patch. > > But it could race, then? > > main thread vcpu thread > ----------- ----------- > ring full > vcpu_sync_stop_requested=0 > sem_post(&sem_vcpu_stop) > vcpu_sync_stop_requested=1 > sem_wait(&sem_vcpu_stop) > assert(vcpu_sync_stop_requested==0) <---- Yes, it could indeed. Thanks, Paolo
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c b/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c index bb2752d78fe3..510884f0eab8 100644 --- a/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c +++ b/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c @@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ #include <linux/bitmap.h> #include <linux/bitops.h> #include <asm/barrier.h> +#include <linux/atomic.h> #include "kvm_util.h" #include "test_util.h" @@ -137,12 +138,20 @@ static uint64_t host_clear_count; static uint64_t host_track_next_count; /* Whether dirty ring reset is requested, or finished */ -static sem_t dirty_ring_vcpu_stop; -static sem_t dirty_ring_vcpu_cont; +static sem_t sem_vcpu_stop; +static sem_t sem_vcpu_cont; +/* + * This is only set by main thread, and only cleared by vcpu thread. It is + * used to request vcpu thread to stop at the next GUEST_SYNC, since GUEST_SYNC + * is the only place that we'll guarantee both "dirty bit" and "dirty data" + * will match. E.g., SIG_IPI won't guarantee that (e.g., when vcpu interrupted + * after setting dirty bit but before data flushed). + */ +static atomic_t vcpu_sync_stop_requested; /* * This is updated by the vcpu thread to tell the host whether it's a * ring-full event. It should only be read until a sem_wait() of - * dirty_ring_vcpu_stop and before vcpu continues to run. + * sem_vcpu_stop and before vcpu continues to run. */ static bool dirty_ring_vcpu_ring_full; /* @@ -234,6 +243,17 @@ static void clear_log_collect_dirty_pages(struct kvm_vm *vm, int slot, kvm_vm_clear_dirty_log(vm, slot, bitmap, 0, num_pages); } +/* Should only be called after a GUEST_SYNC */ +static void vcpu_handle_sync_stop(void) +{ + if (atomic_read(&vcpu_sync_stop_requested)) { + /* It means main thread is sleeping waiting */ + atomic_set(&vcpu_sync_stop_requested, false); + sem_post(&sem_vcpu_stop); + sem_wait_until(&sem_vcpu_cont); + } +} + static void default_after_vcpu_run(struct kvm_vm *vm, int ret, int err) { struct kvm_run *run = vcpu_state(vm, VCPU_ID); @@ -244,6 +264,8 @@ static void default_after_vcpu_run(struct kvm_vm *vm, int ret, int err) TEST_ASSERT(get_ucall(vm, VCPU_ID, NULL) == UCALL_SYNC, "Invalid guest sync status: exit_reason=%s\n", exit_reason_str(run->exit_reason)); + + vcpu_handle_sync_stop(); } static bool dirty_ring_supported(void) @@ -301,13 +323,13 @@ static void dirty_ring_wait_vcpu(void) { /* This makes sure that hardware PML cache flushed */ vcpu_kick(); - sem_wait_until(&dirty_ring_vcpu_stop); + sem_wait_until(&sem_vcpu_stop); } static void dirty_ring_continue_vcpu(void) { pr_info("Notifying vcpu to continue\n"); - sem_post(&dirty_ring_vcpu_cont); + sem_post(&sem_vcpu_cont); } static void dirty_ring_collect_dirty_pages(struct kvm_vm *vm, int slot, @@ -361,11 +383,11 @@ static void dirty_ring_after_vcpu_run(struct kvm_vm *vm, int ret, int err) /* Update the flag first before pause */ WRITE_ONCE(dirty_ring_vcpu_ring_full, run->exit_reason == KVM_EXIT_DIRTY_RING_FULL); - sem_post(&dirty_ring_vcpu_stop); + sem_post(&sem_vcpu_stop); pr_info("vcpu stops because %s...\n", dirty_ring_vcpu_ring_full ? "dirty ring is full" : "vcpu is kicked out"); - sem_wait_until(&dirty_ring_vcpu_cont); + sem_wait_until(&sem_vcpu_cont); pr_info("vcpu continues now.\n"); } else { TEST_ASSERT(false, "Invalid guest sync status: " @@ -377,7 +399,7 @@ static void dirty_ring_after_vcpu_run(struct kvm_vm *vm, int ret, int err) static void dirty_ring_before_vcpu_join(void) { /* Kick another round of vcpu just to make sure it will quit */ - sem_post(&dirty_ring_vcpu_cont); + sem_post(&sem_vcpu_cont); } struct log_mode { @@ -768,7 +790,25 @@ static void run_test(enum vm_guest_mode mode, void *arg) usleep(p->interval * 1000); log_mode_collect_dirty_pages(vm, TEST_MEM_SLOT_INDEX, bmap, host_num_pages); + + /* + * See vcpu_sync_stop_requested definition for details on why + * we need to stop vcpu when verify data. + */ + atomic_set(&vcpu_sync_stop_requested, true); + sem_wait_until(&sem_vcpu_stop); + /* + * NOTE: for dirty ring, it's possible that we didn't stop at + * GUEST_SYNC but instead we stopped because ring is full; + * that's okay too because ring full means we're only missing + * the flush of the last page, and since we handle dirty ring + * last page specifically, so verify will still pass. + */ + assert(host_log_mode == LOG_MODE_DIRTY_RING || + atomic_read(&vcpu_sync_stop_requested) == false); vm_dirty_log_verify(mode, bmap); + sem_post(&sem_vcpu_cont); + iteration++; sync_global_to_guest(vm, iteration); } @@ -819,8 +859,8 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) }; int opt, i; - sem_init(&dirty_ring_vcpu_stop, 0, 0); - sem_init(&dirty_ring_vcpu_cont, 0, 0); + sem_init(&sem_vcpu_stop, 0, 0); + sem_init(&sem_vcpu_cont, 0, 0); guest_modes_append_default();
This fixes a bug that can trigger with e.g. "taskset -c 0 ./dirty_log_test" or when the testing host is very busy. A similar previous attempt is done [1] but that is not enough, the reason is stated in the reply [2]. As a summary (partly quotting from [2]): The problem is I think one guest memory write operation (of this specific test) contains a few micro-steps when page is during kvm dirty tracking (here I'm only considering write-protect rather than pml but pml should be similar at least when the log buffer is full): (1) Guest read 'iteration' number into register, prepare to write, page fault (2) Set dirty bit in either dirty bitmap or dirty ring (3) Return to guest, data written When we verify the data, we assumed that all these steps are "atomic", say, when (1) happened for this page, we assume (2) & (3) must have happened. We had some trick to workaround "un-atomicity" of above three steps, as previous version of this patch wanted to fix atomicity of step (2)+(3) by explicitly letting the main thread wait for at least one vmenter of vcpu thread, which should work. However what I overlooked is probably that we still have race when (1) and (2) can be interrupted. One example calltrace when it could happen that we read an old interation, got interrupted before even setting the dirty bit and flushing data: __schedule+1742 __cond_resched+52 __get_user_pages+530 get_user_pages_unlocked+197 hva_to_pfn+206 try_async_pf+132 direct_page_fault+320 kvm_mmu_page_fault+103 vmx_handle_exit+288 vcpu_enter_guest+2460 kvm_arch_vcpu_ioctl_run+325 kvm_vcpu_ioctl+526 __x64_sys_ioctl+131 do_syscall_64+51 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+68 It means iteration number cached in vcpu register can be very old when dirty bit set and data flushed. So far I don't see an easy way to guarantee all steps 1-3 atomicity but to sync at the GUEST_SYNC() point of guest code when we do verification of the dirty bits as what this patch does. [1] https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20210413213641.23742-1-peterx@redhat.com/ [2] https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20210417140956.GV4440@xz-x1/ Cc: Paolo Bonzini <pbonzini@redhat.com> Cc: Sean Christopherson <seanjc@google.com> Cc: Andrew Jones <drjones@redhat.com> Signed-off-by: Peter Xu <peterx@redhat.com> --- tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_test.c | 60 ++++++++++++++++---- 1 file changed, 50 insertions(+), 10 deletions(-)