2020-08-01 12:57:17

by Borislav Petkov

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Subject: Re: [RFC PATCH 00/17] Drop uses of pci_read_config_*() return value

On Sat, Aug 01, 2020 at 01:24:29PM +0200, Saheed O. Bolarinwa wrote:
> The return value of pci_read_config_*() may not indicate a device error.
> However, the value read by these functions is more likely to indicate
> this kind of error. This presents two overlapping ways of reporting
> errors and complicates error checking.

So why isn't the *value check done in the pci_read_config_* functions
instead of touching gazillion callers?

For example, pci_conf{1,2}_read() could check whether the u32 *value it
just read depending on the access method, whether that value is ~0 and
return proper PCIBIOS_ error in that case.

The check you're replicating

if (val32 == (u32)~0)

everywhere, instead, is just ugly and tests a naked value ~0 which
doesn't mean anything...

--
Regards/Gruss,
Boris.

https://people.kernel.org/tglx/notes-about-netiquette


2020-08-02 14:55:28

by Tom Rix

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Subject: Re: [RFC PATCH 00/17] Drop uses of pci_read_config_*() return value


On 8/1/20 5:56 AM, Borislav Petkov wrote:
> On Sat, Aug 01, 2020 at 01:24:29PM +0200, Saheed O. Bolarinwa wrote:
>> The return value of pci_read_config_*() may not indicate a device error.
>> However, the value read by these functions is more likely to indicate
>> this kind of error. This presents two overlapping ways of reporting
>> errors and complicates error checking.
> So why isn't the *value check done in the pci_read_config_* functions
> instead of touching gazillion callers?
>
> For example, pci_conf{1,2}_read() could check whether the u32 *value it
> just read depending on the access method, whether that value is ~0 and
> return proper PCIBIOS_ error in that case.
>
> The check you're replicating
>
> if (val32 == (u32)~0)
>
> everywhere, instead, is just ugly and tests a naked value ~0 which
> doesn't mean anything...
>
I agree, if there is a change, it should be in the pci_read_* functions.

Anything returning void should not fail and likely future users of the proposed change will not do the extra checks.

Tom

2020-08-02 18:29:10

by Saheed O. Bolarinwa

[permalink] [raw]
Subject: Re: [RFC PATCH 00/17] Drop uses of pci_read_config_*() return value


On 8/1/20 2:56 PM, Borislav Petkov wrote:
> On Sat, Aug 01, 2020 at 01:24:29PM +0200, Saheed O. Bolarinwa wrote:
>> The return value of pci_read_config_*() may not indicate a device error.
>> However, the value read by these functions is more likely to indicate
>> this kind of error. This presents two overlapping ways of reporting
>> errors and complicates error checking.
> So why isn't the *value check done in the pci_read_config_* functions
> instead of touching gazillion callers?
Because the value ~0 has a meaning to some drivers and only
drivers have this knowledge. For those cases more checks will
be needed to ensure that it is an error that has actually
happened.
> For example, pci_conf{1,2}_read() could check whether the u32 *value it
> just read depending on the access method, whether that value is ~0 and
> return proper PCIBIOS_ error in that case.

The primary goal is to make pci_config_read*() return void, so
that there is *only* one way to check for error i.e. through the
obtained value.
Again, only the drivers can determine if ~0 is a valid value. This
information is not available inside pci_config_read*().

- Saheed