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+======================================
+Sequence counters and sequential locks
+======================================
+
+Introduction
+============
+
+Sequence counters are a reader-writer consistency mechanism with
+lockless readers (read-only retry loops), and no writer starvation. They
+are used for data that's rarely written to (e.g. system time), where the
+reader wants a consistent set of information and is willing to retry if
+that information changes.
+
+A data set is consistent when the sequence count at the beginning of the
+read side critical section is even and the same sequence count value is
+read again at the end of the critical section. The data in the set must
+be copied out inside the read side critical section. If the sequence
+count has changed between the start and the end of the critical section,
+the reader must retry.
+
+Writers increment the sequence count at the start and the end of their
+critical section. After starting the critical section the sequence count
+is odd and indicates to the readers that an update is in progress. At
+the end of the write side critical section the sequence count becomes
+even again which lets readers make progress.
+
+A sequence counter write side critical section must never be preempted
+or interrupted by read side sections. Otherwise the reader will spin for
+the entire scheduler tick due to the odd sequence count value and the
+interrupted writer. If that reader belongs to a real-time scheduling
+class, it can spin forever and the kernel will livelock.
+
+This mechanism cannot be used if the protected data contains pointers,
+as the writer can invalidate a pointer that the reader is following.
+
+
+.. _seqcount_t:
+
+Sequence counters (``seqcount_t``)
+==================================
+
+This is the the raw counting mechanism, which does not protect against
+multiple writers.  Write side critical sections must thus be serialized
+by an external lock.
+
+If the write serialization primitive is not implicitly disabling
+preemption, preemption must be explicitly disabled before entering the
+write side section. If the read section can be invoked from hardirq or
+softirq contexts, interrupts or bottom halves must also be respectively
+disabled before entering the write section.
+
+If it's desired to automatically handle the sequence counter
+requirements of writer serialization and non-preemptibility, use
+:ref:`seqlock_t` instead.
+
+Initialization::
+
+	/* dynamic */
+	seqcount_t foo_seqcount;
+	seqcount_init(&foo_seqcount);
+
+	/* static */
+	static seqcount_t foo_seqcount = SEQCNT_ZERO(foo_seqcount);
+
+	/* C99 struct init */
+	struct {
+		.seq   = SEQCNT_ZERO(foo.seq),
+	} foo;
+
+Write path::
+
+	/* Serialized context with disabled preemption */
+
+	write_seqcount_begin(&foo_seqcount);
+
+	/* ... [[write-side critical section]] ... */
+
+	write_seqcount_end(&foo_seqcount);
+
+Read path::
+
+	do {
+		seq = read_seqcount_begin(&foo_seqcount);
+
+		/* ... [[read-side critical section]] ... */
+
+	} while (read_seqcount_retry(&foo_seqcount, seq));
+
+
+.. _seqcount_locktype_t:
+
+Sequence counters with associated locks (``seqcount_LOCKNAME_t``)
+-----------------------------------------------------------------
+
+As discussed at :ref:`seqcount_t`, sequence count write side critical
+sections must be serialized and non-preemptible. This variant of
+sequence counters associate the lock used for writer serialization at
+initialization time, which enables lockdep to validate that the write
+side critical sections are properly serialized.
+
+This lock association is a NOOP if lockdep is disabled and has neither
+storage nor runtime overhead. If lockdep is enabled, the lock pointer is
+stored in struct seqcount and lockdep's "lock is held" assertions are
+injected at the beginning of the write side critical section to validate
+that it is properly protected.
+
+For lock types which do not implicitly disable preemption, preemption
+protection is enforced in the write side function.
+
+The following sequence counters with associated locks are defined:
+
+  - ``seqcount_spinlock_t``
+  - ``seqcount_raw_spinlock_t``
+  - ``seqcount_rwlock_t``
+  - ``seqcount_mutex_t``
+  - ``seqcount_ww_mutex_t``
+
+The sequence counter read and write APIs can take either a plain
+seqcount_t or any of the seqcount_LOCKNAME_t variants above.
+
+Initialization (replace "LOCKNAME" with one of the supported locks)::
+
+	/* dynamic */
+	seqcount_LOCKNAME_t foo_seqcount;
+	seqcount_LOCKNAME_init(&foo_seqcount, &lock);
+
+	/* static */
+	static seqcount_LOCKNAME_t foo_seqcount =
+		SEQCNT_LOCKNAME_ZERO(foo_seqcount, &lock);
+
+	/* C99 struct init */
+	struct {
+		.seq   = SEQCNT_LOCKNAME_ZERO(foo.seq, &lock),
+	} foo;
+
+Write path: same as in :ref:`seqcount_t`, while running from a context
+with the associated write serialization lock acquired.
+
+Read path: same as in :ref:`seqcount_t`.
+
+
+.. _seqcount_latch_t:
+
+Latch sequence counters (``seqcount_latch_t``)
+----------------------------------------------
+
+Latch sequence counters are a multiversion concurrency control mechanism
+where the embedded seqcount_t counter even/odd value is used to switch
+between two copies of protected data. This allows the sequence counter
+read path to safely interrupt its own write side critical section.
+
+Use seqcount_latch_t when the write side sections cannot be protected
+from interruption by readers. This is typically the case when the read
+side can be invoked from NMI handlers.
+
+Check `raw_write_seqcount_latch()` for more information.
+
+
+.. _seqlock_t:
+
+Sequential locks (``seqlock_t``)
+================================
+
+This contains the :ref:`seqcount_t` mechanism earlier discussed, plus an
+embedded spinlock for writer serialization and non-preemptibility.
+
+If the read side section can be invoked from hardirq or softirq context,
+use the write side function variants which disable interrupts or bottom
+halves respectively.
+
+Initialization::
+
+	/* dynamic */
+	seqlock_t foo_seqlock;
+	seqlock_init(&foo_seqlock);
+
+	/* static */
+	static DEFINE_SEQLOCK(foo_seqlock);
+
+	/* C99 struct init */
+	struct {
+		.seql   = __SEQLOCK_UNLOCKED(foo.seql)
+	} foo;
+
+Write path::
+
+	write_seqlock(&foo_seqlock);
+
+	/* ... [[write-side critical section]] ... */
+
+	write_sequnlock(&foo_seqlock);
+
+Read path, three categories:
+
+1. Normal Sequence readers which never block a writer but they must
+   retry if a writer is in progress by detecting change in the sequence
+   number.  Writers do not wait for a sequence reader::
+
+	do {
+		seq = read_seqbegin(&foo_seqlock);
+
+		/* ... [[read-side critical section]] ... */
+
+	} while (read_seqretry(&foo_seqlock, seq));
+
+2. Locking readers which will wait if a writer or another locking reader
+   is in progress. A locking reader in progress will also block a writer
+   from entering its critical section. This read lock is
+   exclusive. Unlike rwlock_t, only one locking reader can acquire it::
+
+	read_seqlock_excl(&foo_seqlock);
+
+	/* ... [[read-side critical section]] ... */
+
+	read_sequnlock_excl(&foo_seqlock);
+
+3. Conditional lockless reader (as in 1), or locking reader (as in 2),
+   according to a passed marker. This is used to avoid lockless readers
+   starvation (too much retry loops) in case of a sharp spike in write
+   activity. First, a lockless read is tried (even marker passed). If
+   that trial fails (odd sequence counter is returned, which is used as
+   the next iteration marker), the lockless read is transformed to a
+   full locking read and no retry loop is necessary::
+
+	/* marker; even initialization */
+	int seq = 0;
+	do {
+		read_seqbegin_or_lock(&foo_seqlock, &seq);
+
+		/* ... [[read-side critical section]] ... */
+
+	} while (need_seqretry(&foo_seqlock, seq));
+	done_seqretry(&foo_seqlock, seq);
+
+
+API documentation
+=================
+
+.. kernel-doc:: include/linux/seqlock.h