1.. SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
2
3=================================
4Network Filesystem Helper Library
5=================================
6
7.. Contents:
8
9 - Overview.
10 - Per-inode context.
11   - Inode context helper functions.
12 - Buffered read helpers.
13   - Read helper functions.
14   - Read helper structures.
15   - Read helper operations.
16   - Read helper procedure.
17   - Read helper cache API.
18
19
20Overview
21========
22
23The network filesystem helper library is a set of functions designed to aid a
24network filesystem in implementing VM/VFS operations.  For the moment, that
25just includes turning various VM buffered read operations into requests to read
26from the server.  The helper library, however, can also interpose other
27services, such as local caching or local data encryption.
28
29Note that the library module doesn't link against local caching directly, so
30access must be provided by the netfs.
31
32
33Per-Inode Context
34=================
35
36The network filesystem helper library needs a place to store a bit of state for
37its use on each netfs inode it is helping to manage.  To this end, a context
38structure is defined::
39
40	struct netfs_inode {
41		struct inode inode;
42		const struct netfs_request_ops *ops;
43		struct fscache_cookie *cache;
44	};
45
46A network filesystem that wants to use netfs lib must place one of these in its
47inode wrapper struct instead of the VFS ``struct inode``.  This can be done in
48a way similar to the following::
49
50	struct my_inode {
51		struct netfs_inode netfs; /* Netfslib context and vfs inode */
52		...
53	};
54
55This allows netfslib to find its state by using ``container_of()`` from the
56inode pointer, thereby allowing the netfslib helper functions to be pointed to
57directly by the VFS/VM operation tables.
58
59The structure contains the following fields:
60
61 * ``inode``
62
63   The VFS inode structure.
64
65 * ``ops``
66
67   The set of operations provided by the network filesystem to netfslib.
68
69 * ``cache``
70
71   Local caching cookie, or NULL if no caching is enabled.  This field does not
72   exist if fscache is disabled.
73
74
75Inode Context Helper Functions
76------------------------------
77
78To help deal with the per-inode context, a number helper functions are
79provided.  Firstly, a function to perform basic initialisation on a context and
80set the operations table pointer::
81
82	void netfs_inode_init(struct netfs_inode *ctx,
83			      const struct netfs_request_ops *ops);
84
85then a function to cast from the VFS inode structure to the netfs context::
86
87	struct netfs_inode *netfs_node(struct inode *inode);
88
89and finally, a function to get the cache cookie pointer from the context
90attached to an inode (or NULL if fscache is disabled)::
91
92	struct fscache_cookie *netfs_i_cookie(struct netfs_inode *ctx);
93
94
95Buffered Read Helpers
96=====================
97
98The library provides a set of read helpers that handle the ->read_folio(),
99->readahead() and much of the ->write_begin() VM operations and translate them
100into a common call framework.
101
102The following services are provided:
103
104 * Handle folios that span multiple pages.
105
106 * Insulate the netfs from VM interface changes.
107
108 * Allow the netfs to arbitrarily split reads up into pieces, even ones that
109   don't match folio sizes or folio alignments and that may cross folios.
110
111 * Allow the netfs to expand a readahead request in both directions to meet its
112   needs.
113
114 * Allow the netfs to partially fulfil a read, which will then be resubmitted.
115
116 * Handle local caching, allowing cached data and server-read data to be
117   interleaved for a single request.
118
119 * Handle clearing of bufferage that aren't on the server.
120
121 * Handle retrying of reads that failed, switching reads from the cache to the
122   server as necessary.
123
124 * In the future, this is a place that other services can be performed, such as
125   local encryption of data to be stored remotely or in the cache.
126
127From the network filesystem, the helpers require a table of operations.  This
128includes a mandatory method to issue a read operation along with a number of
129optional methods.
130
131
132Read Helper Functions
133---------------------
134
135Three read helpers are provided::
136
137	void netfs_readahead(struct readahead_control *ractl);
138	int netfs_read_folio(struct file *file,
139			     struct folio *folio);
140	int netfs_write_begin(struct netfs_inode *ctx,
141			      struct file *file,
142			      struct address_space *mapping,
143			      loff_t pos,
144			      unsigned int len,
145			      struct folio **_folio,
146			      void **_fsdata);
147
148Each corresponds to a VM address space operation.  These operations use the
149state in the per-inode context.
150
151For ->readahead() and ->read_folio(), the network filesystem just point directly
152at the corresponding read helper; whereas for ->write_begin(), it may be a
153little more complicated as the network filesystem might want to flush
154conflicting writes or track dirty data and needs to put the acquired folio if
155an error occurs after calling the helper.
156
157The helpers manage the read request, calling back into the network filesystem
158through the suppplied table of operations.  Waits will be performed as
159necessary before returning for helpers that are meant to be synchronous.
160
161If an error occurs, the ->free_request() will be called to clean up the
162netfs_io_request struct allocated.  If some parts of the request are in
163progress when an error occurs, the request will get partially completed if
164sufficient data is read.
165
166Additionally, there is::
167
168  * void netfs_subreq_terminated(struct netfs_io_subrequest *subreq,
169				 ssize_t transferred_or_error,
170				 bool was_async);
171
172which should be called to complete a read subrequest.  This is given the number
173of bytes transferred or a negative error code, plus a flag indicating whether
174the operation was asynchronous (ie. whether the follow-on processing can be
175done in the current context, given this may involve sleeping).
176
177
178Read Helper Structures
179----------------------
180
181The read helpers make use of a couple of structures to maintain the state of
182the read.  The first is a structure that manages a read request as a whole::
183
184	struct netfs_io_request {
185		struct inode		*inode;
186		struct address_space	*mapping;
187		struct netfs_cache_resources cache_resources;
188		void			*netfs_priv;
189		loff_t			start;
190		size_t			len;
191		loff_t			i_size;
192		const struct netfs_request_ops *netfs_ops;
193		unsigned int		debug_id;
194		...
195	};
196
197The above fields are the ones the netfs can use.  They are:
198
199 * ``inode``
200 * ``mapping``
201
202   The inode and the address space of the file being read from.  The mapping
203   may or may not point to inode->i_data.
204
205 * ``cache_resources``
206
207   Resources for the local cache to use, if present.
208
209 * ``netfs_priv``
210
211   The network filesystem's private data.  The value for this can be passed in
212   to the helper functions or set during the request.
213
214 * ``start``
215 * ``len``
216
217   The file position of the start of the read request and the length.  These
218   may be altered by the ->expand_readahead() op.
219
220 * ``i_size``
221
222   The size of the file at the start of the request.
223
224 * ``netfs_ops``
225
226   A pointer to the operation table.  The value for this is passed into the
227   helper functions.
228
229 * ``debug_id``
230
231   A number allocated to this operation that can be displayed in trace lines
232   for reference.
233
234
235The second structure is used to manage individual slices of the overall read
236request::
237
238	struct netfs_io_subrequest {
239		struct netfs_io_request *rreq;
240		loff_t			start;
241		size_t			len;
242		size_t			transferred;
243		unsigned long		flags;
244		unsigned short		debug_index;
245		...
246	};
247
248Each subrequest is expected to access a single source, though the helpers will
249handle falling back from one source type to another.  The members are:
250
251 * ``rreq``
252
253   A pointer to the read request.
254
255 * ``start``
256 * ``len``
257
258   The file position of the start of this slice of the read request and the
259   length.
260
261 * ``transferred``
262
263   The amount of data transferred so far of the length of this slice.  The
264   network filesystem or cache should start the operation this far into the
265   slice.  If a short read occurs, the helpers will call again, having updated
266   this to reflect the amount read so far.
267
268 * ``flags``
269
270   Flags pertaining to the read.  There are two of interest to the filesystem
271   or cache:
272
273   * ``NETFS_SREQ_CLEAR_TAIL``
274
275     This can be set to indicate that the remainder of the slice, from
276     transferred to len, should be cleared.
277
278   * ``NETFS_SREQ_SEEK_DATA_READ``
279
280     This is a hint to the cache that it might want to try skipping ahead to
281     the next data (ie. using SEEK_DATA).
282
283 * ``debug_index``
284
285   A number allocated to this slice that can be displayed in trace lines for
286   reference.
287
288
289Read Helper Operations
290----------------------
291
292The network filesystem must provide the read helpers with a table of operations
293through which it can issue requests and negotiate::
294
295	struct netfs_request_ops {
296		void (*init_request)(struct netfs_io_request *rreq, struct file *file);
297		void (*free_request)(struct netfs_io_request *rreq);
298		int (*begin_cache_operation)(struct netfs_io_request *rreq);
299		void (*expand_readahead)(struct netfs_io_request *rreq);
300		bool (*clamp_length)(struct netfs_io_subrequest *subreq);
301		void (*issue_read)(struct netfs_io_subrequest *subreq);
302		bool (*is_still_valid)(struct netfs_io_request *rreq);
303		int (*check_write_begin)(struct file *file, loff_t pos, unsigned len,
304					 struct folio *folio, void **_fsdata);
305		void (*done)(struct netfs_io_request *rreq);
306	};
307
308The operations are as follows:
309
310 * ``init_request()``
311
312   [Optional] This is called to initialise the request structure.  It is given
313   the file for reference.
314
315 * ``free_request()``
316
317   [Optional] This is called as the request is being deallocated so that the
318   filesystem can clean up any state it has attached there.
319
320 * ``begin_cache_operation()``
321
322   [Optional] This is called to ask the network filesystem to call into the
323   cache (if present) to initialise the caching state for this read.  The netfs
324   library module cannot access the cache directly, so the cache should call
325   something like fscache_begin_read_operation() to do this.
326
327   The cache gets to store its state in ->cache_resources and must set a table
328   of operations of its own there (though of a different type).
329
330   This should return 0 on success and an error code otherwise.  If an error is
331   reported, the operation may proceed anyway, just without local caching (only
332   out of memory and interruption errors cause failure here).
333
334 * ``expand_readahead()``
335
336   [Optional] This is called to allow the filesystem to expand the size of a
337   readahead read request.  The filesystem gets to expand the request in both
338   directions, though it's not permitted to reduce it as the numbers may
339   represent an allocation already made.  If local caching is enabled, it gets
340   to expand the request first.
341
342   Expansion is communicated by changing ->start and ->len in the request
343   structure.  Note that if any change is made, ->len must be increased by at
344   least as much as ->start is reduced.
345
346 * ``clamp_length()``
347
348   [Optional] This is called to allow the filesystem to reduce the size of a
349   subrequest.  The filesystem can use this, for example, to chop up a request
350   that has to be split across multiple servers or to put multiple reads in
351   flight.
352
353   This should return 0 on success and an error code on error.
354
355 * ``issue_read()``
356
357   [Required] The helpers use this to dispatch a subrequest to the server for
358   reading.  In the subrequest, ->start, ->len and ->transferred indicate what
359   data should be read from the server.
360
361   There is no return value; the netfs_subreq_terminated() function should be
362   called to indicate whether or not the operation succeeded and how much data
363   it transferred.  The filesystem also should not deal with setting folios
364   uptodate, unlocking them or dropping their refs - the helpers need to deal
365   with this as they have to coordinate with copying to the local cache.
366
367   Note that the helpers have the folios locked, but not pinned.  It is
368   possible to use the ITER_XARRAY iov iterator to refer to the range of the
369   inode that is being operated upon without the need to allocate large bvec
370   tables.
371
372 * ``is_still_valid()``
373
374   [Optional] This is called to find out if the data just read from the local
375   cache is still valid.  It should return true if it is still valid and false
376   if not.  If it's not still valid, it will be reread from the server.
377
378 * ``check_write_begin()``
379
380   [Optional] This is called from the netfs_write_begin() helper once it has
381   allocated/grabbed the folio to be modified to allow the filesystem to flush
382   conflicting state before allowing it to be modified.
383
384   It should return 0 if everything is now fine, -EAGAIN if the folio should be
385   regrabbed and any other error code to abort the operation.
386
387 * ``done``
388
389   [Optional] This is called after the folios in the request have all been
390   unlocked (and marked uptodate if applicable).
391
392
393
394Read Helper Procedure
395---------------------
396
397The read helpers work by the following general procedure:
398
399 * Set up the request.
400
401 * For readahead, allow the local cache and then the network filesystem to
402   propose expansions to the read request.  This is then proposed to the VM.
403   If the VM cannot fully perform the expansion, a partially expanded read will
404   be performed, though this may not get written to the cache in its entirety.
405
406 * Loop around slicing chunks off of the request to form subrequests:
407
408   * If a local cache is present, it gets to do the slicing, otherwise the
409     helpers just try to generate maximal slices.
410
411   * The network filesystem gets to clamp the size of each slice if it is to be
412     the source.  This allows rsize and chunking to be implemented.
413
414   * The helpers issue a read from the cache or a read from the server or just
415     clears the slice as appropriate.
416
417   * The next slice begins at the end of the last one.
418
419   * As slices finish being read, they terminate.
420
421 * When all the subrequests have terminated, the subrequests are assessed and
422   any that are short or have failed are reissued:
423
424   * Failed cache requests are issued against the server instead.
425
426   * Failed server requests just fail.
427
428   * Short reads against either source will be reissued against that source
429     provided they have transferred some more data:
430
431     * The cache may need to skip holes that it can't do DIO from.
432
433     * If NETFS_SREQ_CLEAR_TAIL was set, a short read will be cleared to the
434       end of the slice instead of reissuing.
435
436 * Once the data is read, the folios that have been fully read/cleared:
437
438   * Will be marked uptodate.
439
440   * If a cache is present, will be marked with PG_fscache.
441
442   * Unlocked
443
444 * Any folios that need writing to the cache will then have DIO writes issued.
445
446 * Synchronous operations will wait for reading to be complete.
447
448 * Writes to the cache will proceed asynchronously and the folios will have the
449   PG_fscache mark removed when that completes.
450
451 * The request structures will be cleaned up when everything has completed.
452
453
454Read Helper Cache API
455---------------------
456
457When implementing a local cache to be used by the read helpers, two things are
458required: some way for the network filesystem to initialise the caching for a
459read request and a table of operations for the helpers to call.
460
461The network filesystem's ->begin_cache_operation() method is called to set up a
462cache and this must call into the cache to do the work.  If using fscache, for
463example, the cache would call::
464
465	int fscache_begin_read_operation(struct netfs_io_request *rreq,
466					 struct fscache_cookie *cookie);
467
468passing in the request pointer and the cookie corresponding to the file.
469
470The netfs_io_request object contains a place for the cache to hang its
471state::
472
473	struct netfs_cache_resources {
474		const struct netfs_cache_ops	*ops;
475		void				*cache_priv;
476		void				*cache_priv2;
477	};
478
479This contains an operations table pointer and two private pointers.  The
480operation table looks like the following::
481
482	struct netfs_cache_ops {
483		void (*end_operation)(struct netfs_cache_resources *cres);
484
485		void (*expand_readahead)(struct netfs_cache_resources *cres,
486					 loff_t *_start, size_t *_len, loff_t i_size);
487
488		enum netfs_io_source (*prepare_read)(struct netfs_io_subrequest *subreq,
489						       loff_t i_size);
490
491		int (*read)(struct netfs_cache_resources *cres,
492			    loff_t start_pos,
493			    struct iov_iter *iter,
494			    bool seek_data,
495			    netfs_io_terminated_t term_func,
496			    void *term_func_priv);
497
498		int (*prepare_write)(struct netfs_cache_resources *cres,
499				     loff_t *_start, size_t *_len, loff_t i_size,
500				     bool no_space_allocated_yet);
501
502		int (*write)(struct netfs_cache_resources *cres,
503			     loff_t start_pos,
504			     struct iov_iter *iter,
505			     netfs_io_terminated_t term_func,
506			     void *term_func_priv);
507
508		int (*query_occupancy)(struct netfs_cache_resources *cres,
509				       loff_t start, size_t len, size_t granularity,
510				       loff_t *_data_start, size_t *_data_len);
511	};
512
513With a termination handler function pointer::
514
515	typedef void (*netfs_io_terminated_t)(void *priv,
516					      ssize_t transferred_or_error,
517					      bool was_async);
518
519The methods defined in the table are:
520
521 * ``end_operation()``
522
523   [Required] Called to clean up the resources at the end of the read request.
524
525 * ``expand_readahead()``
526
527   [Optional] Called at the beginning of a netfs_readahead() operation to allow
528   the cache to expand a request in either direction.  This allows the cache to
529   size the request appropriately for the cache granularity.
530
531   The function is passed poiners to the start and length in its parameters,
532   plus the size of the file for reference, and adjusts the start and length
533   appropriately.  It should return one of:
534
535   * ``NETFS_FILL_WITH_ZEROES``
536   * ``NETFS_DOWNLOAD_FROM_SERVER``
537   * ``NETFS_READ_FROM_CACHE``
538   * ``NETFS_INVALID_READ``
539
540   to indicate whether the slice should just be cleared or whether it should be
541   downloaded from the server or read from the cache - or whether slicing
542   should be given up at the current point.
543
544 * ``prepare_read()``
545
546   [Required] Called to configure the next slice of a request.  ->start and
547   ->len in the subrequest indicate where and how big the next slice can be;
548   the cache gets to reduce the length to match its granularity requirements.
549
550 * ``read()``
551
552   [Required] Called to read from the cache.  The start file offset is given
553   along with an iterator to read to, which gives the length also.  It can be
554   given a hint requesting that it seek forward from that start position for
555   data.
556
557   Also provided is a pointer to a termination handler function and private
558   data to pass to that function.  The termination function should be called
559   with the number of bytes transferred or an error code, plus a flag
560   indicating whether the termination is definitely happening in the caller's
561   context.
562
563 * ``prepare_write()``
564
565   [Required] Called to prepare a write to the cache to take place.  This
566   involves checking to see whether the cache has sufficient space to honour
567   the write.  ``*_start`` and ``*_len`` indicate the region to be written; the
568   region can be shrunk or it can be expanded to a page boundary either way as
569   necessary to align for direct I/O.  i_size holds the size of the object and
570   is provided for reference.  no_space_allocated_yet is set to true if the
571   caller is certain that no data has been written to that region - for example
572   if it tried to do a read from there already.
573
574 * ``write()``
575
576   [Required] Called to write to the cache.  The start file offset is given
577   along with an iterator to write from, which gives the length also.
578
579   Also provided is a pointer to a termination handler function and private
580   data to pass to that function.  The termination function should be called
581   with the number of bytes transferred or an error code, plus a flag
582   indicating whether the termination is definitely happening in the caller's
583   context.
584
585 * ``query_occupancy()``
586
587   [Required] Called to find out where the next piece of data is within a
588   particular region of the cache.  The start and length of the region to be
589   queried are passed in, along with the granularity to which the answer needs
590   to be aligned.  The function passes back the start and length of the data,
591   if any, available within that region.  Note that there may be a hole at the
592   front.
593
594   It returns 0 if some data was found, -ENODATA if there was no usable data
595   within the region or -ENOBUFS if there is no caching on this file.
596
597Note that these methods are passed a pointer to the cache resource structure,
598not the read request structure as they could be used in other situations where
599there isn't a read request structure as well, such as writing dirty data to the
600cache.
601
602
603API Function Reference
604======================
605
606.. kernel-doc:: include/linux/netfs.h
607.. kernel-doc:: fs/netfs/buffered_read.c
608.. kernel-doc:: fs/netfs/io.c
609