Re: [PATCH 02/15] mm: add documentation for the mmap_prepare file operation callback

Suren Baghdasaryan
2026-03-16T22:59:42Z

On Mon, Mar 16, 2026 at 12:17 PM Lorenzo Stoakes (Oracle)
<ljs@kernel.org> wrote:
>
> On Sun, Mar 15, 2026 at 04:23:14PM -0700, Suren Baghdasaryan wrote:
> > On Thu, Mar 12, 2026 at 1:27 PM Lorenzo Stoakes (Oracle) <ljs@kernel.org> wrote:
> > >
> > > This documentation makes it easier for a driver/file system implementer to
> > > correctly use this callback.
> > >
> > > It covers the fundamentals, whilst intentionally leaving the less lovely
> > > possible actions one might take undocumented (for instance - the
> > > success_hook, error_hook fields in mmap_action).
> > >
> > > The document also covers the new VMA flags implementation which is the only
> > > one which will work correctly with mmap_prepare.
> > >
> > > Signed-off-by: Lorenzo Stoakes (Oracle) <ljs@kernel.org>
> > > ---
> > > Documentation/filesystems/mmap_prepare.rst | 131 +++++++++++++++++++++
> > > 1 file changed, 131 insertions(+)
> > > create mode 100644 Documentation/filesystems/mmap_prepare.rst
> > >
> > > diff --git a/Documentation/filesystems/mmap_prepare.rst b/Documentation/filesystems/mmap_prepare.rst
> > > new file mode 100644
> > > index 000000000000..76908200f3a1
> > > --- /dev/null
> > > +++ b/Documentation/filesystems/mmap_prepare.rst
> > > @@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
> > > +.. SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
> > > +
> > > +===========================
> > > +mmap_prepare callback HOWTO
> > > +===========================
> > > +
> > > +Introduction
> > > +############
> > > +
> > > +The `struct file->f_op->mmap()` callback has been deprecated as it is both a
> > > +stability and security risk, and doesn't always permit the merging of adjacent
> > > +mappings resulting in unnecessary memory fragmentation.
> > > +
> > > +It has been replaced with the `file->f_op->mmap_prepare()` callback which solves
> > > +these problems.
> > > +
> > > +## How To Use
> > > +
> > > +In your driver's `struct file_operations` struct, specify an `mmap_prepare`
> > > +callback rather than an `mmap` one, e.g. for ext4:
> > > +
> > > +
> > > +.. code-block:: C
> > > +
> > > + const struct file_operations ext4_file_operations = {
> > > + ...
> > > + .mmap_prepare = ext4_file_mmap_prepare,
> > > + };
> > > +
> > > +This has a signature of `int (*mmap_prepare)(struct vm_area_desc *)`.
> > > +
> > > +Examining the `struct vm_area_desc` type:
> > > +
> > > +.. code-block:: C
> > > +
> > > + struct vm_area_desc {
> > > + /* Immutable state. */
> > > + const struct mm_struct *const mm;
> > > + struct file *const file; /* May vary from vm_file in stacked callers. */
> > > + unsigned long start;
> > > + unsigned long end;
> > > +
> > > + /* Mutable fields. Populated with initial state. */
> > > + pgoff_t pgoff;
> > > + struct file *vm_file;
> > > + vma_flags_t vma_flags;
> > > + pgprot_t page_prot;
> > > +
> > > + /* Write-only fields. */
> > > + const struct vm_operations_struct *vm_ops;
> > > + void *private_data;
> > > +
> > > + /* Take further action? */
> > > + struct mmap_action action;
> >
> > So, action still belongs to /* Write-only fields. */ section? This is
> > nitpicky, but it might be better to have this as:
> >
> > /* Write-only fields. */
> > const struct vm_operations_struct *vm_ops;
> > void *private_data;
> > struct mmap_action action; /* Take further action? */
>
> Absolutely not. This field is not to be written to by the user.
>
> We sadly have to allow hugetlb to do some hacks, but these are things we don't
> want to point out.

Ack.

>
> Users should use mmap_action_xxx() functions.
>
> >
> > > + };
> > > +
> > > +This is straightforward - you have all the fields you need to set up the
> > > +mapping, and you can update the mutable and writable fields, for instance:
> > > +
> > > +.. code-block:: Cw
> > > +
> > > + static int ext4_file_mmap_prepare(struct vm_area_desc *desc)
> > > + {
> > > + int ret;
> > > + struct file *file = desc->file;
> > > + struct inode *inode = file->f_mapping->host;
> > > +
> > > + ...
> > > +
> > > + file_accessed(file);
> > > + if (IS_DAX(file_inode(file))) {
> > > + desc->vm_ops = &ext4_dax_vm_ops;
> > > + vma_desc_set_flags(desc, VMA_HUGEPAGE_BIT);
> > > + } else {
> > > + desc->vm_ops = &ext4_file_vm_ops;
> > > + }
> > > + return 0;
> > > + }
> > > +
> > > +Importantly, you no longer have to dance around with reference counts or locks
> > > +when updating these fields - __you can simply go ahead and change them__.
> > > +
> > > +Everything is taken care of by the mapping code.
> > > +
> > > +VMA Flags
> > > +=========
> > > +
> > > +Along with `mmap_prepare`, VMA flags have undergone an overhaul. Where before
> > > +you would invoke one of `vm_flags_init()`, `vm_flags_reset()`, `vm_flags_set()`,
> > > +`vm_flags_clear()`, and `vm_flags_mod()` to modify flags (and to have the
> > > +locking done correctly for you, this is no longer necessary.
> > > +
> > > +Also, the legacy approach of specifying VMA flags via `VM_READ`, `VM_WRITE`,
> > > +etc. - i.e. using a `VM_xxx` macro has changed too.
> > > +
> > > +When implementing `mmap_prepare()`, reference flags by their bit number, defined
> > > +as a `VMA_xxx_BIT` macro, e.g. `VMA_READ_BIT`, `VMA_WRITE_BIT` etc., and use one
> > > +of (where `desc` is a pointer to `struct vma_area_desc`):
> > > +
> > > +* `vma_desc_test_flags(desc, ...)` - Specify a comma-separated list of flags you
> > > + wish to test for (whether _any_ are set), e.g. - `vma_desc_test_flags(desc,
> > > + VMA_WRITE_BIT, VMA_MAYWRITE_BIT)` - returns `true` if either are set,
> > > + otherwise `false`.
> > > +* `vma_desc_set_flags(desc, ...)` - Update the VMA descriptor flags to set
> > > + additional flags specified by a comma-separated list,
> > > + e.g. - `vma_desc_set_flags(desc, VMA_PFNMAP_BIT, VMA_IO_BIT)`.
> > > +* `vma_desc_clear_flags(desc, ...)` - Update the VMA descriptor flags to clear
> > > + flags specified by a comma-separated list, e.g. - `vma_desc_clear_flags(desc,
> > > + VMA_WRITE_BIT, VMA_MAYWRITE_BIT)`.
> > > +
> > > +Actions
> > > +=======
> > > +
> > > +You can now very easily have actions be performed upon a mapping once set up by
> > > +utilising simple helper functions invoked upon the `struct vm_area_desc`
> > > +pointer. These are:
> > > +
> > > +* `mmap_action_remap()` - Remaps a range consisting only of PFNs for a specific
> > > + range starting a virtual address and PFN number of a set size.
> > > +
> > > +* `mmap_action_remap_full()` - Same as `mmap_action_remap()`, only remaps the
> > > + entire mapping from `start_pfn` onward.
> > > +
> > > +* `mmap_action_ioremap()` - Same as `mmap_action_remap()`, only performs an I/O
> > > + remap.
> > > +
> > > +* `mmap_action_ioremap_full()` - Same as `mmap_action_ioremap()`, only remaps
> > > + the entire mapping from `start_pfn` onward.
> > > +
> > > +**NOTE:** The 'action' field should never normally be manipulated directly,
> > > +rather you ought to use one of these helpers.
> >
> > I'm guessing the start and size parameters passed to
> > mmap_action_remap() and such are restricted by vm_area_desc.start
> > vm_area_desc.end. If so, should we document those restrictions and
> > enforce them in the code?
>
> I mean it's the same restrictions as all of the functions already apply if you
> were to use them with a VMA descriptor.
>
> I think implicitly a remap will fail if you try it out of the VMA range at the
> point of applying the change.
>
> But it might be worth adding range_in_vma_desc() checks at prepare time, will
> see if I can do that for the respin.
>
> I think it's pretty obvious that you shouldn't be trying to remap totally
> unrelated memory, so I'm not sure that's at a level of granularity that's suited
> to this document though.

I just saw you already have WARN_ON_ONCE() inside mmap_action_remap()
to check for these limits, so codewise I think we are already good.

For documentation I'll rely on your judgement whether to mention this or not.

>
> >
> > > + struct vm_area_desc {
> > > + /* Immutable state. */
> > > + const struct mm_struct *const mm;
> > > + struct file *const file; /* May vary from vm_file in stacked callers. */
> > > + unsigned long start;
> > > + unsigned long end;
> >
> >
> > > --
> > > 2.53.0
> > >