Date:   Tue, 21 Mar 2023 09:59:53 +0100
From:   Peter Zijlstra <peterz@infradead.org>
To:     "Li, Xin3" <xin3.li@intel.com>
Cc:     "linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org" <linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org>,
        "x86@kernel.org" <x86@kernel.org>,
        "kvm@vger.kernel.org" <kvm@vger.kernel.org>,
        "tglx@linutronix.de" <tglx@linutronix.de>,
        "mingo@redhat.com" <mingo@redhat.com>,
        "bp@alien8.de" <bp@alien8.de>,
        "dave.hansen@linux.intel.com" <dave.hansen@linux.intel.com>,
        "hpa@zytor.com" <hpa@zytor.com>,
        "andrew.cooper3@citrix.com" <andrew.cooper3@citrix.com>,
        "Christopherson,, Sean" <seanjc@google.com>,
        "pbonzini@redhat.com" <pbonzini@redhat.com>,
        "Shankar, Ravi V" <ravi.v.shankar@intel.com>
Subject: Re: [PATCH v5 20/34] x86/fred: add a machine check entry stub for
 FRED
Message-ID: <20230321085953.GA2234901@hirez.programming.kicks-ass.net>
References: <20230307023946.14516-1-xin3.li@intel.com>
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 <20230320160021.GP2194297@hirez.programming.kicks-ass.net>
 <SA1PR11MB67349805EA11F4BAD07D62F9A8819@SA1PR11MB6734.namprd11.prod.outlook.com>
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On Tue, Mar 21, 2023 at 12:04:47AM +0000, Li, Xin3 wrote:
> > > Unlike IDT, no need to save/restore dr7 in FRED machine check handler.
> > 
> > Given how fragile MCE is, the question should be, do we ever want hw
> > breakpoints to happen while it is running?
> 
> HW breakpoints still work if they are properly configured.
> 
> > If the hw-breakpoint handler trips on the same memory fail that got us into the
> > mce the first time, we're dead.
> 
> Right.
> 
> Unless the MCIP bit is turned off any subsequent #MC goes to shutdown
> ("machine is screwed").
> 
> It's the kernel debugger's responsibility to decide how to proceed in such
> cases. But if the kernel debugger itself is in a screwed memory region, we
> are soooooo dead.

Yeah, so I would much prefer, for robustness sake, to start out with not
allowing #DB in MCE -- much like today.