Solving "Self-Detected CPU Stall" Issues with RCU_SCHED

Introduction

Solving self-detected CPU stalls can be difficult as these stalls can be caused by many different factors. RCU stands for Read Copy Update, and RCU_SCHED protocol is a set of procedures used by CPU cores to detect and respond to CPU stalls by synchronizing cache lines between cores, flush the micro-architecture's cache and perform sanity checks on the CPU's internal structures.

How to Solve CPU Stall Issues with RCU_SCHED

Monitor the performance of your CPU core. Analyze the main causes of a CPU stall, such as branch misprediction, memory latency, or instruction pipeline stalls.

Once the cause of the stall has been identified, use the RCU_SCHED protocol to eliminate the stall. This can be done by initiating an RCU synchronization, which will flush out the stalled cores and synchronize the core caches.

After the synchronization has been completed, execute a sanity check on all CPU internal structures to ensure that all cores are functioning correctly.

  1. When the completed operation is complete, the CPU should be free from stalls.

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the different causes of CPU stalling?

CPU stalling is caused by various factors such as branch misprediction, memory latency, or instruction pipeline stalls.

How can I monitor the performance of my CPU core?

You can use tools such as Intel's Core Processor Identification CD or other diagnostic tools to monitor the performance of your CPU core.

How do I use the RCU_SCHED protocol to solve CPU stalling issues?

The RCU_SCHED protocol consists of three steps: an RCU synchronization to flush stalled cores and synchronize the core caches; a sanity check on all CPU internal structures; and finally, the completion of the operation.

Is RCU_SCHED protocol the only way to solve CPU stalling issues?

No, there are other ways to solve CPU stalling issues such as disabling specific cores or CPU states, rebooting the PC, or changing the power settings. However, RCU_SCHED is the most efficient and recommended way to solve these CPU stalling issues.

What is an RCU synchronization?

RCU synchronization is a procedure initiated by the CPU cores to flush out cache lines and reset micro-architectures, allowing the CPU to recover from any stalling issue.

rcu_sched detected stall on CPU
Seen multiple rcu_sched stall messages in a customer device and it gets crashed/hung. Under this condition, the device is not accessible via SSH or 3G.Kernel version is 3.2.54. “rcu_sched detected...

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