1.. SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
2
3===============================================
4How to Implement a new CPUFreq Processor Driver
5===============================================
6
7Authors:
8
9
10	- Dominik Brodowski  <linux@brodo.de>
11	- Rafael J. Wysocki <rafael.j.wysocki@intel.com>
12	- Viresh Kumar <viresh.kumar@linaro.org>
13
14.. Contents
15
16   1.   What To Do?
17   1.1  Initialization
18   1.2  Per-CPU Initialization
19   1.3  verify
20   1.4  target/target_index or setpolicy?
21   1.5  target/target_index
22   1.6  setpolicy
23   1.7  get_intermediate and target_intermediate
24   2.   Frequency Table Helpers
25
26
27
281. What To Do?
29==============
30
31So, you just got a brand-new CPU / chipset with datasheets and want to
32add cpufreq support for this CPU / chipset? Great. Here are some hints
33on what is necessary:
34
35
361.1 Initialization
37------------------
38
39First of all, in an __initcall level 7 (module_init()) or later
40function check whether this kernel runs on the right CPU and the right
41chipset. If so, register a struct cpufreq_driver with the CPUfreq core
42using cpufreq_register_driver()
43
44What shall this struct cpufreq_driver contain?
45
46 .name - The name of this driver.
47
48 .init - A pointer to the per-policy initialization function.
49
50 .verify - A pointer to a "verification" function.
51
52 .setpolicy _or_ .fast_switch _or_ .target _or_ .target_index - See
53 below on the differences.
54
55And optionally
56
57 .flags - Hints for the cpufreq core.
58
59 .driver_data - cpufreq driver specific data.
60
61 .resolve_freq - Returns the most appropriate frequency for a target
62 frequency. Doesn't change the frequency though.
63
64 .get_intermediate and target_intermediate - Used to switch to stable
65 frequency while changing CPU frequency.
66
67 .get - Returns current frequency of the CPU.
68
69 .bios_limit - Returns HW/BIOS max frequency limitations for the CPU.
70
71 .exit - A pointer to a per-policy cleanup function called during
72 CPU_POST_DEAD phase of cpu hotplug process.
73
74 .stop_cpu - A pointer to a per-policy stop function called during
75 CPU_DOWN_PREPARE phase of cpu hotplug process.
76
77 .suspend - A pointer to a per-policy suspend function which is called
78 with interrupts disabled and _after_ the governor is stopped for the
79 policy.
80
81 .resume - A pointer to a per-policy resume function which is called
82 with interrupts disabled and _before_ the governor is started again.
83
84 .ready - A pointer to a per-policy ready function which is called after
85 the policy is fully initialized.
86
87 .attr - A pointer to a NULL-terminated list of "struct freq_attr" which
88 allow to export values to sysfs.
89
90 .boost_enabled - If set, boost frequencies are enabled.
91
92 .set_boost - A pointer to a per-policy function to enable/disable boost
93 frequencies.
94
95
961.2 Per-CPU Initialization
97--------------------------
98
99Whenever a new CPU is registered with the device model, or after the
100cpufreq driver registers itself, the per-policy initialization function
101cpufreq_driver.init is called if no cpufreq policy existed for the CPU.
102Note that the .init() and .exit() routines are called only once for the
103policy and not for each CPU managed by the policy. It takes a ``struct
104cpufreq_policy *policy`` as argument. What to do now?
105
106If necessary, activate the CPUfreq support on your CPU.
107
108Then, the driver must fill in the following values:
109
110+-----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
111|policy->cpuinfo.min_freq _and_	    |					   |
112|policy->cpuinfo.max_freq	    | the minimum and maximum frequency	   |
113|				    | (in kHz) which is supported by	   |
114|				    | this CPU				   |
115+-----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
116|policy->cpuinfo.transition_latency | the time it takes on this CPU to	   |
117|				    | switch between two frequencies in	   |
118|				    | nanoseconds (if appropriate, else	   |
119|				    | specify CPUFREQ_ETERNAL)		   |
120+-----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
121|policy->cur			    | The current operating frequency of   |
122|				    | this CPU (if appropriate)		   |
123+-----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
124|policy->min,			    |					   |
125|policy->max,			    |					   |
126|policy->policy and, if necessary,  |					   |
127|policy->governor		    | must contain the "default policy" for|
128|				    | this CPU. A few moments later,       |
129|				    | cpufreq_driver.verify and either     |
130|				    | cpufreq_driver.setpolicy or          |
131|				    | cpufreq_driver.target/target_index is|
132|				    | called with these values.		   |
133+-----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
134|policy->cpus			    | Update this with the masks of the	   |
135|				    | (online + offline) CPUs that do DVFS |
136|				    | along with this CPU (i.e.  that share|
137|				    | clock/voltage rails with it).	   |
138+-----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
139
140For setting some of these values (cpuinfo.min[max]_freq, policy->min[max]), the
141frequency table helpers might be helpful. See the section 2 for more information
142on them.
143
144
1451.3 verify
146----------
147
148When the user decides a new policy (consisting of
149"policy,governor,min,max") shall be set, this policy must be validated
150so that incompatible values can be corrected. For verifying these
151values cpufreq_verify_within_limits(``struct cpufreq_policy *policy``,
152``unsigned int min_freq``, ``unsigned int max_freq``) function might be helpful.
153See section 2 for details on frequency table helpers.
154
155You need to make sure that at least one valid frequency (or operating
156range) is within policy->min and policy->max. If necessary, increase
157policy->max first, and only if this is no solution, decrease policy->min.
158
159
1601.4 target or target_index or setpolicy or fast_switch?
161-------------------------------------------------------
162
163Most cpufreq drivers or even most cpu frequency scaling algorithms
164only allow the CPU frequency to be set to predefined fixed values. For
165these, you use the ->target(), ->target_index() or ->fast_switch()
166callbacks.
167
168Some cpufreq capable processors switch the frequency between certain
169limits on their own. These shall use the ->setpolicy() callback.
170
171
1721.5. target/target_index
173------------------------
174
175The target_index call has two arguments: ``struct cpufreq_policy *policy``,
176and ``unsigned int`` index (into the exposed frequency table).
177
178The CPUfreq driver must set the new frequency when called here. The
179actual frequency must be determined by freq_table[index].frequency.
180
181It should always restore to earlier frequency (i.e. policy->restore_freq) in
182case of errors, even if we switched to intermediate frequency earlier.
183
184Deprecated
185----------
186The target call has three arguments: ``struct cpufreq_policy *policy``,
187unsigned int target_frequency, unsigned int relation.
188
189The CPUfreq driver must set the new frequency when called here. The
190actual frequency must be determined using the following rules:
191
192- keep close to "target_freq"
193- policy->min <= new_freq <= policy->max (THIS MUST BE VALID!!!)
194- if relation==CPUFREQ_REL_L, try to select a new_freq higher than or equal
195  target_freq. ("L for lowest, but no lower than")
196- if relation==CPUFREQ_REL_H, try to select a new_freq lower than or equal
197  target_freq. ("H for highest, but no higher than")
198
199Here again the frequency table helper might assist you - see section 2
200for details.
201
2021.6. fast_switch
203----------------
204
205This function is used for frequency switching from scheduler's context.
206Not all drivers are expected to implement it, as sleeping from within
207this callback isn't allowed. This callback must be highly optimized to
208do switching as fast as possible.
209
210This function has two arguments: ``struct cpufreq_policy *policy`` and
211``unsigned int target_frequency``.
212
213
2141.7 setpolicy
215-------------
216
217The setpolicy call only takes a ``struct cpufreq_policy *policy`` as
218argument. You need to set the lower limit of the in-processor or
219in-chipset dynamic frequency switching to policy->min, the upper limit
220to policy->max, and -if supported- select a performance-oriented
221setting when policy->policy is CPUFREQ_POLICY_PERFORMANCE, and a
222powersaving-oriented setting when CPUFREQ_POLICY_POWERSAVE. Also check
223the reference implementation in drivers/cpufreq/longrun.c
224
2251.8 get_intermediate and target_intermediate
226--------------------------------------------
227
228Only for drivers with target_index() and CPUFREQ_ASYNC_NOTIFICATION unset.
229
230get_intermediate should return a stable intermediate frequency platform wants to
231switch to, and target_intermediate() should set CPU to that frequency, before
232jumping to the frequency corresponding to 'index'. Core will take care of
233sending notifications and driver doesn't have to handle them in
234target_intermediate() or target_index().
235
236Drivers can return '0' from get_intermediate() in case they don't wish to switch
237to intermediate frequency for some target frequency. In that case core will
238directly call ->target_index().
239
240NOTE: ->target_index() should restore to policy->restore_freq in case of
241failures as core would send notifications for that.
242
243
2442. Frequency Table Helpers
245==========================
246
247As most cpufreq processors only allow for being set to a few specific
248frequencies, a "frequency table" with some functions might assist in
249some work of the processor driver. Such a "frequency table" consists of
250an array of struct cpufreq_frequency_table entries, with driver specific
251values in "driver_data", the corresponding frequency in "frequency" and
252flags set. At the end of the table, you need to add a
253cpufreq_frequency_table entry with frequency set to CPUFREQ_TABLE_END.
254And if you want to skip one entry in the table, set the frequency to
255CPUFREQ_ENTRY_INVALID. The entries don't need to be in sorted in any
256particular order, but if they are cpufreq core will do DVFS a bit
257quickly for them as search for best match is faster.
258
259The cpufreq table is verified automatically by the core if the policy contains a
260valid pointer in its policy->freq_table field.
261
262cpufreq_frequency_table_verify() assures that at least one valid
263frequency is within policy->min and policy->max, and all other criteria
264are met. This is helpful for the ->verify call.
265
266cpufreq_frequency_table_target() is the corresponding frequency table
267helper for the ->target stage. Just pass the values to this function,
268and this function returns the of the frequency table entry which
269contains the frequency the CPU shall be set to.
270
271The following macros can be used as iterators over cpufreq_frequency_table:
272
273cpufreq_for_each_entry(pos, table) - iterates over all entries of frequency
274table.
275
276cpufreq_for_each_valid_entry(pos, table) - iterates over all entries,
277excluding CPUFREQ_ENTRY_INVALID frequencies.
278Use arguments "pos" - a ``cpufreq_frequency_table *`` as a loop cursor and
279"table" - the ``cpufreq_frequency_table *`` you want to iterate over.
280
281For example::
282
283	struct cpufreq_frequency_table *pos, *driver_freq_table;
284
285	cpufreq_for_each_entry(pos, driver_freq_table) {
286		/* Do something with pos */
287		pos->frequency = ...
288	}
289
290If you need to work with the position of pos within driver_freq_table,
291do not subtract the pointers, as it is quite costly. Instead, use the
292macros cpufreq_for_each_entry_idx() and cpufreq_for_each_valid_entry_idx().
293