printk: Implement legacy printer kthread for PREEMPT_RT

The write() callback of legacy consoles usually makes use of
spinlocks. This is not permitted with PREEMPT_RT in atomic
contexts.

For PREEMPT_RT, create a new kthread to handle printing of all
the legacy consoles (and nbcon consoles if boot consoles are
registered). This allows legacy consoles to work on PREEMPT_RT
without requiring modification. (However they will not have
the reliability properties guaranteed by nbcon atomic
consoles.)

Use the existing printk_kthreads_check_locked() to start/stop
the legacy kthread as needed.

Introduce the macro force_legacy_kthread() to query if the
forced threading of legacy consoles is in effect. Although
currently only enabled for PREEMPT_RT, this acts as a simple
mechanism for the future to allow other preemption models to
easily take advantage of the non-interference property provided
by the legacy kthread.

When force_legacy_kthread() is true, the legacy kthread
fulfills the role of the console_flush_type @legacy_offload by
waking the legacy kthread instead of printing via the
console_lock in the irq_work. If the legacy kthread is not
yet available, no legacy printing takes place (unless in
panic).

If for some reason the legacy kthread fails to create, any
legacy consoles are unregistered. With force_legacy_kthread(),
the legacy kthread is a critical component for legacy consoles.

These changes only affect CONFIG_PREEMPT_RT.

Signed-off-by: John Ogness <john.ogness@linutronix.de>
Reviewed-by: Petr Mladek <pmladek@suse.com>
Link: https://lore.kernel.org/r/20240904120536.115780-16-john.ogness@linutronix.de
Signed-off-by: Petr Mladek <pmladek@suse.com>

1 files changed, 15 insertions, 1 deletions

diff --git a/kernel/printk/internal.h b/kernel/printk/internal.h
index c365d25b13c7..3fcb48502adb 100644
--- a/kernel/printk/internal.h
+++ b/kernel/printk/internal.h
@@ -21,6 +21,19 @@ int devkmsg_sysctl_set_loglvl(const struct ctl_table *table, int write,
 		(con->flags & CON_BOOT) ? "boot" : "",		\
 		con->name, con->index, ##__VA_ARGS__)
 
+/*
+ * Identify if legacy printing is forced in a dedicated kthread. If
+ * true, all printing via console lock occurs within a dedicated
+ * legacy printer thread. The only exception is on panic, after the
+ * nbcon consoles have had their chance to print the panic messages
+ * first.
+ */
+#ifdef CONFIG_PREEMPT_RT
+# define force_legacy_kthread()	(true)
+#else
+# define force_legacy_kthread()	(false)
+#endif
+
 #ifdef CONFIG_PRINTK
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_PRINTK_CALLER
@@ -173,6 +186,7 @@ static inline void nbcon_kthread_wake(struct console *con)
 #define printk_safe_exit_irqrestore(flags) local_irq_restore(flags)
 
 static inline bool printk_percpu_data_ready(void) { return false; }
+static inline void defer_console_output(void) { }
 static inline bool is_printk_legacy_deferred(void) { return false; }
 static inline u64 nbcon_seq_read(struct console *con) { return 0; }
 static inline void nbcon_seq_force(struct console *con, u64 seq) { }
@@ -200,7 +214,7 @@ extern bool legacy_allow_panic_sync;
  * @nbcon_atomic:	Flush directly using nbcon_atomic() callback
  * @nbcon_offload:	Offload flush to printer thread
  * @legacy_direct:	Call the legacy loop in this context
- * @legacy_offload:	Offload the legacy loop into IRQ
+ * @legacy_offload:	Offload the legacy loop into IRQ or legacy thread
  *
  * Note that the legacy loop also flushes the nbcon consoles.
  */