2008-11-21 03:55:55

by Keika Kobayashi

[permalink] [raw]
Subject: [PATCH 1/3] softirq: Introduce statistics for softirq

Statistics for softirq doesn't exist.
It will be helpful like statistics for interrupts.
This patch introduces counting the number of softirq,
which will be exported in /proc/softirqs.

When softirq handler consumes much CPU time,
/proc/stat is like the following.

$ while :; do cat /proc/stat | head -n1 ; sleep 10 ; done
cpu 88 0 408 739665 583 28 2 0 0
cpu 450 0 1090 740970 594 28 1294 0 0
^^^^
softirq

In such a situation,
/proc/softirqs shows us which softirq handler is invoked.
We can see the increase rate of softirqs.

<before>
$ cat /proc/softirqs
CPU0 CPU1 CPU2 CPU3
HI 0 0 0 0
TIMER 462850 462805 462782 462718
NET_TX 0 0 0 365
NET_RX 2472 2 2 40
BLOCK 0 0 381 1164
TASKLET 0 0 0 224
SCHED 462654 462689 462698 462427
RCU 3046 2423 3367 3173

<after>
$ cat /proc/softirqs
CPU0 CPU1 CPU2 CPU3
HI 0 0 0 0
TIMER 463361 465077 465056 464991
NET_TX 53 0 1 365
NET_RX 3757 2 2 40
BLOCK 0 0 398 1170
TASKLET 0 0 0 224
SCHED 463074 464318 464612 463330
RCU 3505 2948 3947 3673

When CPU TIME of softirq is high,
the rates of increase is the following.
TIMER : 220/sec : CPU1-3
NET_TX : 5/sec : CPU0
NET_RX : 120/sec : CPU0
SCHED : 40-200/sec : all CPU
RCU : 45-58/sec : all CPU

The rates of increase in an idle mode is the following.
TIMER : 250/sec
SCHED : 250/sec
RCU : 2/sec

It seems many softirqs for receiving packets and rcu are invoked.
This gives us help for checking system.

Signed-off-by: Keika Kobayashi <[email protected]>
Reviewed-by: Hiroshi Shimamoto <[email protected]>
---
include/linux/kernel_stat.h | 12 ++++++++++++
kernel/softirq.c | 1 +
2 files changed, 13 insertions(+), 0 deletions(-)

diff --git a/include/linux/kernel_stat.h b/include/linux/kernel_stat.h
index 4a145ca..57c1643 100644
--- a/include/linux/kernel_stat.h
+++ b/include/linux/kernel_stat.h
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
#include <linux/threads.h>
#include <linux/percpu.h>
#include <linux/cpumask.h>
+#include <linux/interrupt.h>
#include <asm/irq.h>
#include <asm/cputime.h>

@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ struct cpu_usage_stat {
struct kernel_stat {
struct cpu_usage_stat cpustat;
unsigned int irqs[NR_IRQS];
+ unsigned int softirqs[NR_SOFTIRQS];
};

DECLARE_PER_CPU(struct kernel_stat, kstat);
@@ -52,6 +54,16 @@ static inline unsigned int kstat_irqs_cpu(unsigned int irq, int cpu)
return kstat_cpu(cpu).irqs[irq];
}

+static inline void kstat_incr_softirqs_this_cpu(unsigned int irq)
+{
+ kstat_this_cpu.softirqs[irq]++;
+}
+
+static inline unsigned int kstat_softirqs_cpu(unsigned int irq, int cpu)
+{
+ return kstat_cpu(cpu).softirqs[irq];
+}
+
/*
* Number of interrupts per specific IRQ source, since bootup
*/
diff --git a/kernel/softirq.c b/kernel/softirq.c
index e7c69a7..088e179 100644
--- a/kernel/softirq.c
+++ b/kernel/softirq.c
@@ -208,6 +208,7 @@ restart:
do {
if (pending & 1) {
int prev_count = preempt_count();
+ kstat_incr_softirqs_this_cpu(h - softirq_vec);

h->action(h);

--
1.5.0.6


2008-11-21 03:58:51

by Keika Kobayashi

[permalink] [raw]
Subject: [PATCH 2/3] proc: Export statistics for softirq to /proc

Export statistics for softirq in /proc/softirqs and /proc/stat.

1. /proc/softirqs
Implement /proc/softirqs which shows the number of softirq
for each CPU like /proc/interrupts.

2. /proc/stat
Add the "softirq" line to /proc/stat.
This line shows the number of softirq for all cpu.
The first column is the total of all softirqs and
each subsequent column is the total for particular softirq.

Signed-off-by: Keika Kobayashi <[email protected]>
Reviewed-by: Hiroshi Shimamoto <[email protected]>
---
fs/proc/Makefile | 1 +
fs/proc/softirqs.c | 57 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
fs/proc/stat.c | 17 +++++++++++++
include/linux/interrupt.h | 3 ++
4 files changed, 78 insertions(+), 0 deletions(-)
create mode 100644 fs/proc/softirqs.c

diff --git a/fs/proc/Makefile b/fs/proc/Makefile
index 63d9651..11a7b5c 100644
--- a/fs/proc/Makefile
+++ b/fs/proc/Makefile
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ proc-y += meminfo.o
proc-y += stat.o
proc-y += uptime.o
proc-y += version.o
+proc-y += softirqs.o
proc-$(CONFIG_PROC_SYSCTL) += proc_sysctl.o
proc-$(CONFIG_NET) += proc_net.o
proc-$(CONFIG_PROC_KCORE) += kcore.o
diff --git a/fs/proc/softirqs.c b/fs/proc/softirqs.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..43d3bc0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fs/proc/softirqs.c
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+#include <linux/init.h>
+#include <linux/kernel_stat.h>
+#include <linux/proc_fs.h>
+#include <linux/seq_file.h>
+
+static const char *desc_array[] = {
+ "HI",
+ "TIMER",
+ "NET_TX",
+ "NET_RX",
+ "BLOCK",
+ "TASKLET",
+ "SCHED",
+#ifdef CONFIG_HIGH_RES_TIMERS
+ "HRTIMER",
+#endif
+ "RCU"};
+
+/*
+ * /proc/softirqs ... display the number of softirqs
+ */
+static int show_softirqs(struct seq_file *p, void *v)
+{
+ int i, j;
+
+ seq_printf(p, " ");
+ for_each_online_cpu(i)
+ seq_printf(p, "CPU%-8d", i);
+ seq_printf(p, "\n");
+
+ for_each_softirq_nr(i) {
+ seq_printf(p, "%-10s", desc_array[i]);
+ for_each_online_cpu(j)
+ seq_printf(p, "%10u ", kstat_softirqs_cpu(i, j));
+ seq_printf(p, "\n");
+ }
+ return 0;
+}
+
+static int softirqs_open(struct inode *inode, struct file *file)
+{
+ return single_open(file, show_softirqs, NULL);
+}
+
+static struct file_operations proc_softirqs_operations = {
+ .open = softirqs_open,
+ .read = seq_read,
+ .llseek = seq_lseek,
+ .release = single_release,
+};
+
+static int __init proc_softirqs_init(void)
+{
+ proc_create("softirqs", 0, NULL, &proc_softirqs_operations);
+ return 0;
+}
+module_init(proc_softirqs_init);
diff --git a/fs/proc/stat.c b/fs/proc/stat.c
index 81904f0..02d5bf8 100644
--- a/fs/proc/stat.c
+++ b/fs/proc/stat.c
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ static int show_stat(struct seq_file *p, void *v)
cputime64_t user, nice, system, idle, iowait, irq, softirq, steal;
cputime64_t guest;
u64 sum = 0;
+ u64 sum_softirq = 0;
struct timespec boottime;
unsigned int per_irq_sum;

@@ -49,6 +50,10 @@ static int show_stat(struct seq_file *p, void *v)
sum += kstat_irqs_cpu(j, i);

sum += arch_irq_stat_cpu(i);
+
+ for_each_softirq_nr(j)
+ sum_softirq += kstat_softirqs_cpu(j, i);
+
}
sum += arch_irq_stat();

@@ -111,6 +116,18 @@ static int show_stat(struct seq_file *p, void *v)
nr_running(),
nr_iowait());

+ seq_printf(p, "softirq %llu", (unsigned long long)sum_softirq);
+
+ for_each_softirq_nr(i) {
+ per_irq_sum = 0;
+
+ for_each_possible_cpu(j)
+ per_irq_sum += kstat_softirqs_cpu(i, j);
+
+ seq_printf(p, " %u", per_irq_sum);
+ }
+ seq_printf(p, "\n");
+
return 0;
}

diff --git a/include/linux/interrupt.h b/include/linux/interrupt.h
index f58a0cf..9a12ba0 100644
--- a/include/linux/interrupt.h
+++ b/include/linux/interrupt.h
@@ -259,6 +259,9 @@ enum
NR_SOFTIRQS
};

+#define for_each_softirq_nr(irq) \
+ for (irq = 0; irq < NR_SOFTIRQS; irq++)
+
/* softirq mask and active fields moved to irq_cpustat_t in
* asm/hardirq.h to get better cache usage. KAO
*/
--
1.5.0.6

2008-11-21 04:01:38

by Keika Kobayashi

[permalink] [raw]
Subject: [PATCH 3/3] proc: Update document for /proc/softirqs and /proc/stat

/proc/softirqs and /proc/stat have been changed.
This patch updates proc.txt for these usage.

Signed-off-by: Keika Kobayashi <[email protected]>
Reviewed-by: Hiroshi Shimamoto <[email protected]>
---
Documentation/filesystems/proc.txt | 25 +++++++++++++++++++++++++
1 files changed, 25 insertions(+), 0 deletions(-)

diff --git a/Documentation/filesystems/proc.txt b/Documentation/filesystems/proc.txt
index bcceb99..ef1eeae 100644
--- a/Documentation/filesystems/proc.txt
+++ b/Documentation/filesystems/proc.txt
@@ -288,6 +288,7 @@ Table 1-4: Kernel info in /proc
rtc Real time clock
scsi SCSI info (see text)
slabinfo Slab pool info
+ softirqs softirq usage
stat Overall statistics
swaps Swap space utilization
sys See chapter 2
@@ -602,6 +603,24 @@ on the kind of area :
0xffffffffa0017000-0xffffffffa0022000 45056 sys_init_module+0xc27/0x1d00 ...
pages=10 vmalloc N0=10

+..............................................................................
+
+softirqs:
+
+Provides counts of softirq handlers serviced since boot time, for each cpu.
+
+> cat /proc/softirqs
+ CPU0 CPU1 CPU2 CPU3
+HI 0 0 0 0
+TIMER 27166 27120 27097 27034
+NET_TX 0 0 0 17
+NET_RX 42 0 0 39
+BLOCK 0 0 107 1121
+TASKLET 0 0 0 290
+SCHED 27035 26983 26971 26746
+RCU 1678 1769 2178 2250
+
+
1.3 IDE devices in /proc/ide
----------------------------

@@ -888,6 +907,7 @@ since the system first booted. For a quick look, simply cat the file:
processes 2915
procs_running 1
procs_blocked 0
+ softirq 183433 0 21755 12 39 1137 231 21459 2263

The very first "cpu" line aggregates the numbers in all of the other "cpuN"
lines. These numbers identify the amount of time the CPU has spent performing
@@ -923,6 +943,11 @@ CPUs.
The "procs_blocked" line gives the number of processes currently blocked,
waiting for I/O to complete.

+The "softirq" line gives counts of softirqs serviced since boot time, for each
+of the possible system softirqs. The first column is the total of all
+softirqs serviced; each subsequent column is the total for that particular
+softirq.
+

1.9 Ext4 file system parameters
------------------------------
--
1.5.0.6

2008-11-21 04:13:22

by Alexey Dobriyan

[permalink] [raw]
Subject: Re: [PATCH 2/3] proc: Export statistics for softirq to /proc

On Thu, Nov 20, 2008 at 07:58:43PM -0800, Keika Kobayashi wrote:
> Export statistics for softirq in /proc/softirqs and /proc/stat.

I thought we added debugfs to stop adding these and similar stuff to /proc.

2008-11-21 04:22:12

by Randy Dunlap

[permalink] [raw]
Subject: Re: [PATCH 2/3] proc: Export statistics for softirq to /proc

Alexey Dobriyan wrote:
> On Thu, Nov 20, 2008 at 07:58:43PM -0800, Keika Kobayashi wrote:
>> Export statistics for softirq in /proc/softirqs and /proc/stat.
>
> I thought we added debugfs to stop adding these and similar stuff to /proc.

This doesn't look like debugfs material to me.
It's just another component of /proc/stat or /proc/interrupts or wherever.

--
~Randy

2008-11-21 05:09:40

by Andrew Morton

[permalink] [raw]
Subject: Re: [PATCH 2/3] proc: Export statistics for softirq to /proc

On Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:58:43 -0800 Keika Kobayashi <[email protected]> wrote:

> Export statistics for softirq in /proc/softirqs and /proc/stat.
>
> 1. /proc/softirqs
> Implement /proc/softirqs which shows the number of softirq
> for each CPU like /proc/interrupts.
>
> 2. /proc/stat
> Add the "softirq" line to /proc/stat.
> This line shows the number of softirq for all cpu.
> The first column is the total of all softirqs and
> each subsequent column is the total for particular softirq.
>
> Signed-off-by: Keika Kobayashi <[email protected]>
> Reviewed-by: Hiroshi Shimamoto <[email protected]>

This all looks reasonable to me.

> fs/proc/Makefile | 1 +
> fs/proc/softirqs.c | 57 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> fs/proc/stat.c | 17 +++++++++++++
> include/linux/interrupt.h | 3 ++
> 4 files changed, 78 insertions(+), 0 deletions(-)
> create mode 100644 fs/proc/softirqs.c
>
> diff --git a/fs/proc/Makefile b/fs/proc/Makefile
> index 63d9651..11a7b5c 100644
> --- a/fs/proc/Makefile
> +++ b/fs/proc/Makefile
> @@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ proc-y += meminfo.o
> proc-y += stat.o
> proc-y += uptime.o
> proc-y += version.o
> +proc-y += softirqs.o
> proc-$(CONFIG_PROC_SYSCTL) += proc_sysctl.o
> proc-$(CONFIG_NET) += proc_net.o
> proc-$(CONFIG_PROC_KCORE) += kcore.o
> diff --git a/fs/proc/softirqs.c b/fs/proc/softirqs.c
> new file mode 100644
> index 0000000..43d3bc0
> --- /dev/null
> +++ b/fs/proc/softirqs.c
> @@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
> +#include <linux/init.h>
> +#include <linux/kernel_stat.h>
> +#include <linux/proc_fs.h>
> +#include <linux/seq_file.h>
> +
> +static const char *desc_array[] = {
> + "HI",
> + "TIMER",
> + "NET_TX",
> + "NET_RX",
> + "BLOCK",
> + "TASKLET",
> + "SCHED",
> +#ifdef CONFIG_HIGH_RES_TIMERS
> + "HRTIMER",
> +#endif
> + "RCU"};
> +
> +/*
> + * /proc/softirqs ... display the number of softirqs
> + */
> +static int show_softirqs(struct seq_file *p, void *v)
> +{
> + int i, j;
> +
> + seq_printf(p, " ");
> + for_each_online_cpu(i)
> + seq_printf(p, "CPU%-8d", i);
> + seq_printf(p, "\n");
> +
> + for_each_softirq_nr(i) {
> + seq_printf(p, "%-10s", desc_array[i]);
> + for_each_online_cpu(j)
> + seq_printf(p, "%10u ", kstat_softirqs_cpu(i, j));
> + seq_printf(p, "\n");
> + }
> + return 0;
> +}

This uses for_each_online_cpu(), but below we use for_each_possible_cpu().

Shouldn't we be consistent here so that at least the numbers will add
up to the same thing?

Probably for_each_possible_cpu() is best - people might want to see how
many softirqs happened on a CPU which was recently offlined.

> +
> +static int softirqs_open(struct inode *inode, struct file *file)
> +{
> + return single_open(file, show_softirqs, NULL);
> +}
> +
> +static struct file_operations proc_softirqs_operations = {

Make this const, please.

> + .open = softirqs_open,
> + .read = seq_read,
> + .llseek = seq_lseek,
> + .release = single_release,
> +};
> +
> +static int __init proc_softirqs_init(void)
> +{
> + proc_create("softirqs", 0, NULL, &proc_softirqs_operations);
> + return 0;
> +}
> +module_init(proc_softirqs_init);
> diff --git a/fs/proc/stat.c b/fs/proc/stat.c
> index 81904f0..02d5bf8 100644
> --- a/fs/proc/stat.c
> +++ b/fs/proc/stat.c
> @@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ static int show_stat(struct seq_file *p, void *v)
> cputime64_t user, nice, system, idle, iowait, irq, softirq, steal;
> cputime64_t guest;
> u64 sum = 0;
> + u64 sum_softirq = 0;
> struct timespec boottime;
> unsigned int per_irq_sum;
>
> @@ -49,6 +50,10 @@ static int show_stat(struct seq_file *p, void *v)
> sum += kstat_irqs_cpu(j, i);
>
> sum += arch_irq_stat_cpu(i);
> +
> + for_each_softirq_nr(j)
> + sum_softirq += kstat_softirqs_cpu(j, i);
> +
> }
> sum += arch_irq_stat();
>
> @@ -111,6 +116,18 @@ static int show_stat(struct seq_file *p, void *v)
> nr_running(),
> nr_iowait());
>
> + seq_printf(p, "softirq %llu", (unsigned long long)sum_softirq);
> +
> + for_each_softirq_nr(i) {
> + per_irq_sum = 0;
> +
> + for_each_possible_cpu(j)
> + per_irq_sum += kstat_softirqs_cpu(i, j);
> +
> + seq_printf(p, " %u", per_irq_sum);
> + }
> + seq_printf(p, "\n");
> +
> return 0;
> }
>
> diff --git a/include/linux/interrupt.h b/include/linux/interrupt.h
> index f58a0cf..9a12ba0 100644
> --- a/include/linux/interrupt.h
> +++ b/include/linux/interrupt.h
> @@ -259,6 +259,9 @@ enum
> NR_SOFTIRQS
> };
>
> +#define for_each_softirq_nr(irq) \
> + for (irq = 0; irq < NR_SOFTIRQS; irq++)

Can we remove this please? It doesn't make the code any more readable.
Just open-code the loop at each site.

(And strictly speaking the `irq' macro arg should be parenthesised)

2008-11-21 18:06:43

by Keika Kobayashi

[permalink] [raw]
Subject: Re: [PATCH 2/3] proc: Export statistics for softirq to /proc

Thank you for your comments.

> > +
> > +/*
> > + * /proc/softirqs ... display the number of softirqs
> > + */
> > +static int show_softirqs(struct seq_file *p, void *v)
> > +{
> > + int i, j;
> > +
> > + seq_printf(p, " ");
> > + for_each_online_cpu(i)
> > + seq_printf(p, "CPU%-8d", i);
> > + seq_printf(p, "\n");
> > +
> > + for_each_softirq_nr(i) {
> > + seq_printf(p, "%-10s", desc_array[i]);
> > + for_each_online_cpu(j)
> > + seq_printf(p, "%10u ", kstat_softirqs_cpu(i, j));
> > + seq_printf(p, "\n");
> > + }
> > + return 0;
> > +}
>
> This uses for_each_online_cpu(), but below we use for_each_possible_cpu().
>
> Shouldn't we be consistent here so that at least the numbers will add
> up to the same thing?
>
> Probably for_each_possible_cpu() is best - people might want to see how
> many softirqs happened on a CPU which was recently offlined.

OK. I'll look into this point.

> > +
> > +static int softirqs_open(struct inode *inode, struct file *file)
> > +{
> > + return single_open(file, show_softirqs, NULL);
> > +}
> > +
> > +static struct file_operations proc_softirqs_operations = {
>
> Make this const, please.
>
> > + .open = softirqs_open,
> > + .read = seq_read,
> > + .llseek = seq_lseek,
> > + .release = single_release,
> > +};
> > +
> > +static int __init proc_softirqs_init(void)
> > +{
> > + proc_create("softirqs", 0, NULL, &proc_softirqs_operations);
> > + return 0;
> > +}
> > +module_init(proc_softirqs_init);
> > diff --git a/fs/proc/stat.c b/fs/proc/stat.c
> > index 81904f0..02d5bf8 100644
> > --- a/fs/proc/stat.c
> > +++ b/fs/proc/stat.c
> > @@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ static int show_stat(struct seq_file *p, void *v)
> > cputime64_t user, nice, system, idle, iowait, irq, softirq, steal;
> > cputime64_t guest;
> > u64 sum = 0;
> > + u64 sum_softirq = 0;
> > struct timespec boottime;
> > unsigned int per_irq_sum;
> >
> > @@ -49,6 +50,10 @@ static int show_stat(struct seq_file *p, void *v)
> > sum += kstat_irqs_cpu(j, i);
> >
> > sum += arch_irq_stat_cpu(i);
> > +
> > + for_each_softirq_nr(j)
> > + sum_softirq += kstat_softirqs_cpu(j, i);
> > +
> > }
> > sum += arch_irq_stat();
> >
> > @@ -111,6 +116,18 @@ static int show_stat(struct seq_file *p, void *v)
> > nr_running(),
> > nr_iowait());
> >
> > + seq_printf(p, "softirq %llu", (unsigned long long)sum_softirq);
> > +
> > + for_each_softirq_nr(i) {
> > + per_irq_sum = 0;
> > +
> > + for_each_possible_cpu(j)
> > + per_irq_sum += kstat_softirqs_cpu(i, j);
> > +
> > + seq_printf(p, " %u", per_irq_sum);
> > + }
> > + seq_printf(p, "\n");
> > +
> > return 0;
> > }
> >
> > diff --git a/include/linux/interrupt.h b/include/linux/interrupt.h
> > index f58a0cf..9a12ba0 100644
> > --- a/include/linux/interrupt.h
> > +++ b/include/linux/interrupt.h
> > @@ -259,6 +259,9 @@ enum
> > NR_SOFTIRQS
> > };
> >
> > +#define for_each_softirq_nr(irq) \
> > + for (irq = 0; irq < NR_SOFTIRQS; irq++)
>
> Can we remove this please? It doesn't make the code any more readable.
> Just open-code the loop at each site.
>
> (And strictly speaking the `irq' macro arg should be parenthesised)

I agree with you.
I'll remove this definition.

Later, I'll post v2.

2008-11-22 01:07:53

by Keika Kobayashi

[permalink] [raw]
Subject: Re: [PATCH 2/3] proc: Export statistics for softirq to /proc

> > +/*
> > + * /proc/softirqs ... display the number of softirqs
> > + */
> > +static int show_softirqs(struct seq_file *p, void *v)
> > +{
> > + int i, j;
> > +
> > + seq_printf(p, " ");
> > + for_each_online_cpu(i)
> > + seq_printf(p, "CPU%-8d", i);
> > + seq_printf(p, "\n");
> > +
> > + for_each_softirq_nr(i) {
> > + seq_printf(p, "%-10s", desc_array[i]);
> > + for_each_online_cpu(j)
> > + seq_printf(p, "%10u ", kstat_softirqs_cpu(i, j));
> > + seq_printf(p, "\n");
> > + }
> > + return 0;
> > +}
>
> This uses for_each_online_cpu(), but below we use for_each_possible_cpu().
>
> Shouldn't we be consistent here so that at least the numbers will add
> up to the same thing?
>
> Probably for_each_possible_cpu() is best - people might want to see how
> many softirqs happened on a CPU which was recently offlined.

I understand this point. I'll fix it later.

There is same problem regarding /proc/interrupts.
Should we change from for_each_online_cpu() to for_each_possible_cpu(),
or is it too late?

2008-11-22 01:35:35

by Andrew Morton

[permalink] [raw]
Subject: Re: [PATCH 2/3] proc: Export statistics for softirq to /proc

On Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:07:43 -0800 Keika Kobayashi <[email protected]> wrote:

> > This uses for_each_online_cpu(), but below we use for_each_possible_cpu().
> >
> > Shouldn't we be consistent here so that at least the numbers will add
> > up to the same thing?
> >
> > Probably for_each_possible_cpu() is best - people might want to see how
> > many softirqs happened on a CPU which was recently offlined.
>
> I understand this point. I'll fix it later.
>
> There is same problem regarding /proc/interrupts.
> Should we change from for_each_online_cpu() to for_each_possible_cpu(),
> or is it too late?

I assume that /proc/interrupts has been that way for a very long time,
and nobody has noticed&complained. If we can find anyone who actually
uses cpu hotplug then perhaps they could help us out here. But such
people seem to be rare.

I dunno. I guess we can leave /proc/interrupts alone.