3 ======================================
5 This document describes SCSI midlayer error handling infrastructure.
6 Please refer to Documentation/scsi/scsi_mid_low_api.txt for more
7 information regarding SCSI midlayer.
11 [1] How SCSI commands travel through the midlayer and to EH
12 [1-1] struct scsi_cmnd
13 [1-2] How do scmd's get completed?
14 [1-2-1] Completing a scmd w/ scsi_done
15 [1-2-2] Completing a scmd w/ timeout
16 [1-3] How EH takes over
18 [2-1] EH through fine-grained callbacks
20 [2-1-2] Flow of scmds through EH
21 [2-1-3] Flow of control
22 [2-2] EH through transportt->eh_strategy_handler()
23 [2-2-1] Pre transportt->eh_strategy_handler() SCSI midlayer conditions
24 [2-2-2] Post transportt->eh_strategy_handler() SCSI midlayer conditions
25 [2-2-3] Things to consider
28 [1] How SCSI commands travel through the midlayer and to EH
30 [1-1] struct scsi_cmnd
32 Each SCSI command is represented with struct scsi_cmnd (== scmd). A
33 scmd has two list_head's to link itself into lists. The two are
34 scmd->list and scmd->eh_entry. The former is used for free list or
35 per-device allocated scmd list and not of much interest to this EH
36 discussion. The latter is used for completion and EH lists and unless
37 otherwise stated scmds are always linked using scmd->eh_entry in this
41 [1-2] How do scmd's get completed?
43 Once LLDD gets hold of a scmd, either the LLDD will complete the
44 command by calling scsi_done callback passed from midlayer when
45 invoking hostt->queuecommand() or the block layer will time it out.
48 [1-2-1] Completing a scmd w/ scsi_done
50 For all non-EH commands, scsi_done() is the completion callback. It
51 just calls blk_complete_request() to delete the block layer timer and
54 SCSI_SOFTIRQ handler scsi_softirq calls scsi_decide_disposition() to
55 determine what to do with the command. scsi_decide_disposition()
56 looks at the scmd->result value and sense data to determine what to do
60 scsi_finish_command() is invoked for the command. The
61 function does some maintenance chores and then calls
62 scsi_io_completion() to finish the I/O.
63 scsi_io_completion() then notifies the block layer on
64 the completed request by calling blk_end_request and
65 friends or figures out what to do with the remainder
66 of the data in case of an error.
70 scmd is requeued to blk queue.
73 scsi_eh_scmd_add(scmd, 0) is invoked for the command. See
74 [1-3] for details of this function.
77 [1-2-2] Completing a scmd w/ timeout
79 The timeout handler is scsi_times_out(). When a timeout occurs, this
82 1. invokes optional hostt->eh_timed_out() callback. Return value can
86 This indicates that eh_timed_out() dealt with the timeout.
87 The command is passed back to the block layer and completed
88 via __blk_complete_requests().
90 *NOTE* After returning BLK_EH_HANDLED the SCSI layer is
91 assumed to be finished with the command, and no other
92 functions from the SCSI layer will be called. So this
93 should typically only be returned if the eh_timed_out()
94 handler raced with normal completion.
97 This indicates that more time is required to finish the
98 command. Timer is restarted. This action is counted as a
99 retry and only allowed scmd->allowed + 1(!) times. Once the
100 limit is reached, action for BLK_EH_NOT_HANDLED is taken instead.
103 eh_timed_out() callback did not handle the command.
106 2. If the host supports asynchronous completion (as indicated by the
107 no_async_abort setting in the host template) scsi_abort_command()
108 is invoked to schedule an asynchrous abort. If that fails
111 2. scsi_eh_scmd_add(scmd, SCSI_EH_CANCEL_CMD) is invoked for the
112 command. See [1-3] for more information.
114 [1-3] Asynchronous command aborts
116 After a timeout occurs a command abort is scheduled from
117 scsi_abort_command(). If the abort is successful the command
118 will either be retried (if the number of retries is not exhausted)
119 or terminated with DID_TIME_OUT.
120 Otherwise scsi_eh_scmd_add() is invoked for the command.
121 See [1-4] for more information.
123 [1-4] How EH takes over
125 scmds enter EH via scsi_eh_scmd_add(), which does the following.
127 1. Turns on scmd->eh_eflags as requested. It's 0 for error
128 completions and SCSI_EH_CANCEL_CMD for timeouts.
130 2. Links scmd->eh_entry to shost->eh_cmd_q
132 3. Sets SHOST_RECOVERY bit in shost->shost_state
134 4. Increments shost->host_failed
136 5. Wakes up SCSI EH thread if shost->host_busy == shost->host_failed
138 As can be seen above, once any scmd is added to shost->eh_cmd_q,
139 SHOST_RECOVERY shost_state bit is turned on. This prevents any new
140 scmd to be issued from blk queue to the host; eventually, all scmds on
141 the host either complete normally, fail and get added to eh_cmd_q, or
142 time out and get added to shost->eh_cmd_q.
144 If all scmds either complete or fail, the number of in-flight scmds
145 becomes equal to the number of failed scmds - i.e. shost->host_busy ==
146 shost->host_failed. This wakes up SCSI EH thread. So, once woken up,
147 SCSI EH thread can expect that all in-flight commands have failed and
148 are linked on shost->eh_cmd_q.
150 Note that this does not mean lower layers are quiescent. If a LLDD
151 completed a scmd with error status, the LLDD and lower layers are
152 assumed to forget about the scmd at that point. However, if a scmd
153 has timed out, unless hostt->eh_timed_out() made lower layers forget
154 about the scmd, which currently no LLDD does, the command is still
155 active as long as lower layers are concerned and completion could
156 occur at any time. Of course, all such completions are ignored as the
157 timer has already expired.
159 We'll talk about how SCSI EH takes actions to abort - make LLDD
160 forget about - timed out scmds later.
163 [2] How SCSI EH works
165 LLDD's can implement SCSI EH actions in one of the following two
168 - Fine-grained EH callbacks
169 LLDD can implement fine-grained EH callbacks and let SCSI
170 midlayer drive error handling and call appropriate callbacks.
171 This will be discussed further in [2-1].
173 - eh_strategy_handler() callback
174 This is one big callback which should perform whole error
175 handling. As such, it should do all chores the SCSI midlayer
176 performs during recovery. This will be discussed in [2-2].
178 Once recovery is complete, SCSI EH resumes normal operation by
179 calling scsi_restart_operations(), which
181 1. Checks if door locking is needed and locks door.
183 2. Clears SHOST_RECOVERY shost_state bit
185 3. Wakes up waiters on shost->host_wait. This occurs if someone
186 calls scsi_block_when_processing_errors() on the host.
187 (*QUESTION* why is it needed? All operations will be blocked
188 anyway after it reaches blk queue.)
190 4. Kicks queues in all devices on the host in the asses
193 [2-1] EH through fine-grained callbacks
197 If eh_strategy_handler() is not present, SCSI midlayer takes charge
198 of driving error handling. EH's goals are two - make LLDD, host and
199 device forget about timed out scmds and make them ready for new
200 commands. A scmd is said to be recovered if the scmd is forgotten by
201 lower layers and lower layers are ready to process or fail the scmd
204 To achieve these goals, EH performs recovery actions with increasing
205 severity. Some actions are performed by issuing SCSI commands and
206 others are performed by invoking one of the following fine-grained
207 hostt EH callbacks. Callbacks may be omitted and omitted ones are
208 considered to fail always.
210 int (* eh_abort_handler)(struct scsi_cmnd *);
211 int (* eh_device_reset_handler)(struct scsi_cmnd *);
212 int (* eh_bus_reset_handler)(struct scsi_cmnd *);
213 int (* eh_host_reset_handler)(struct scsi_cmnd *);
215 Higher-severity actions are taken only when lower-severity actions
216 cannot recover some of failed scmds. Also, note that failure of the
217 highest-severity action means EH failure and results in offlining of
218 all unrecovered devices.
220 During recovery, the following rules are followed
222 - Recovery actions are performed on failed scmds on the to do list,
223 eh_work_q. If a recovery action succeeds for a scmd, recovered
224 scmds are removed from eh_work_q.
226 Note that single recovery action on a scmd can recover multiple
227 scmds. e.g. resetting a device recovers all failed scmds on the
230 - Higher severity actions are taken iff eh_work_q is not empty after
231 lower severity actions are complete.
233 - EH reuses failed scmds to issue commands for recovery. For
234 timed-out scmds, SCSI EH ensures that LLDD forgets about a scmd
235 before reusing it for EH commands.
237 When a scmd is recovered, the scmd is moved from eh_work_q to EH
238 local eh_done_q using scsi_eh_finish_cmd(). After all scmds are
239 recovered (eh_work_q is empty), scsi_eh_flush_done_q() is invoked to
240 either retry or error-finish (notify upper layer of failure) recovered
243 scmds are retried iff its sdev is still online (not offlined during
244 EH), REQ_FAILFAST is not set and ++scmd->retries is less than
248 [2-1-2] Flow of scmds through EH
250 1. Error completion / time out
251 ACTION: scsi_eh_scmd_add() is invoked for scmd
252 - set scmd->eh_eflags
253 - add scmd to shost->eh_cmd_q
255 - shost->host_failed++
256 LOCKING: shost->host_lock
259 ACTION: move all scmds to EH's local eh_work_q. shost->eh_cmd_q
261 LOCKING: shost->host_lock (not strictly necessary, just for
265 ACTION: scsi_eh_finish_cmd() is invoked to EH-finish scmd
266 - shost->host_failed--
267 - clear scmd->eh_eflags
268 - scsi_setup_cmd_retry()
269 - move from local eh_work_q to local eh_done_q
273 ACTION: scsi_eh_flush_done_q() retries scmds or notifies upper
275 - scmd is removed from eh_done_q and scmd->eh_entry is cleared
276 - if retry is necessary, scmd is requeued using
278 - otherwise, scsi_finish_command() is invoked for scmd
279 LOCKING: queue or finish function performs appropriate locking
282 [2-1-3] Flow of control
284 EH through fine-grained callbacks start from scsi_unjam_host().
288 1. Lock shost->host_lock, splice_init shost->eh_cmd_q into local
289 eh_work_q and unlock host_lock. Note that shost->eh_cmd_q is
290 cleared by this action.
292 2. Invoke scsi_eh_get_sense.
294 <<scsi_eh_get_sense>>
296 This action is taken for each error-completed
297 (!SCSI_EH_CANCEL_CMD) commands without valid sense data. Most
298 SCSI transports/LLDDs automatically acquire sense data on
299 command failures (autosense). Autosense is recommended for
300 performance reasons and as sense information could get out of
301 sync between occurrence of CHECK CONDITION and this action.
303 Note that if autosense is not supported, scmd->sense_buffer
304 contains invalid sense data when error-completing the scmd
305 with scsi_done(). scsi_decide_disposition() always returns
306 FAILED in such cases thus invoking SCSI EH. When the scmd
307 reaches here, sense data is acquired and
308 scsi_decide_disposition() is called again.
310 1. Invoke scsi_request_sense() which issues REQUEST_SENSE
311 command. If fails, no action. Note that taking no action
312 causes higher-severity recovery to be taken for the scmd.
314 2. Invoke scsi_decide_disposition() on the scmd
317 scmd->retries is set to scmd->allowed preventing
318 scsi_eh_flush_done_q() from retrying the scmd and
319 scsi_eh_finish_cmd() is invoked.
322 scsi_eh_finish_cmd() invoked
327 3. If !list_empty(&eh_work_q), invoke scsi_eh_abort_cmds().
329 <<scsi_eh_abort_cmds>>
331 This action is taken for each timed out command when
332 no_async_abort is enabled in the host template.
333 hostt->eh_abort_handler() is invoked for each scmd. The
334 handler returns SUCCESS if it has succeeded to make LLDD and
335 all related hardware forget about the scmd.
337 If a timedout scmd is successfully aborted and the sdev is
338 either offline or ready, scsi_eh_finish_cmd() is invoked for
339 the scmd. Otherwise, the scmd is left in eh_work_q for
340 higher-severity actions.
342 Note that both offline and ready status mean that the sdev is
343 ready to process new scmds, where processing also implies
344 immediate failing; thus, if a sdev is in one of the two
345 states, no further recovery action is needed.
347 Device readiness is tested using scsi_eh_tur() which issues
348 TEST_UNIT_READY command. Note that the scmd must have been
349 aborted successfully before reusing it for TEST_UNIT_READY.
351 4. If !list_empty(&eh_work_q), invoke scsi_eh_ready_devs()
353 <<scsi_eh_ready_devs>>
355 This function takes four increasingly more severe measures to
356 make failed sdevs ready for new commands.
358 1. Invoke scsi_eh_stu()
362 For each sdev which has failed scmds with valid sense data
363 of which scsi_check_sense()'s verdict is FAILED,
364 START_STOP_UNIT command is issued w/ start=1. Note that
365 as we explicitly choose error-completed scmds, it is known
366 that lower layers have forgotten about the scmd and we can
369 If STU succeeds and the sdev is either offline or ready,
370 all failed scmds on the sdev are EH-finished with
371 scsi_eh_finish_cmd().
373 *NOTE* If hostt->eh_abort_handler() isn't implemented or
374 failed, we may still have timed out scmds at this point
375 and STU doesn't make lower layers forget about those
376 scmds. Yet, this function EH-finish all scmds on the sdev
377 if STU succeeds leaving lower layers in an inconsistent
378 state. It seems that STU action should be taken only when
379 a sdev has no timed out scmd.
381 2. If !list_empty(&eh_work_q), invoke scsi_eh_bus_device_reset().
383 <<scsi_eh_bus_device_reset>>
385 This action is very similar to scsi_eh_stu() except that,
386 instead of issuing STU, hostt->eh_device_reset_handler()
387 is used. Also, as we're not issuing SCSI commands and
388 resetting clears all scmds on the sdev, there is no need
389 to choose error-completed scmds.
391 3. If !list_empty(&eh_work_q), invoke scsi_eh_bus_reset()
393 <<scsi_eh_bus_reset>>
395 hostt->eh_bus_reset_handler() is invoked for each channel
396 with failed scmds. If bus reset succeeds, all failed
397 scmds on all ready or offline sdevs on the channel are
400 4. If !list_empty(&eh_work_q), invoke scsi_eh_host_reset()
402 <<scsi_eh_host_reset>>
404 This is the last resort. hostt->eh_host_reset_handler()
405 is invoked. If host reset succeeds, all failed scmds on
406 all ready or offline sdevs on the host are EH-finished.
408 5. If !list_empty(&eh_work_q), invoke scsi_eh_offline_sdevs()
410 <<scsi_eh_offline_sdevs>>
412 Take all sdevs which still have unrecovered scmds offline
413 and EH-finish the scmds.
415 5. Invoke scsi_eh_flush_done_q().
417 <<scsi_eh_flush_done_q>>
419 At this point all scmds are recovered (or given up) and
420 put on eh_done_q by scsi_eh_finish_cmd(). This function
421 flushes eh_done_q by either retrying or notifying upper
422 layer of failure of the scmds.
425 [2-2] EH through transportt->eh_strategy_handler()
427 transportt->eh_strategy_handler() is invoked in the place of
428 scsi_unjam_host() and it is responsible for whole recovery process.
429 On completion, the handler should have made lower layers forget about
430 all failed scmds and either ready for new commands or offline. Also,
431 it should perform SCSI EH maintenance chores to maintain integrity of
432 SCSI midlayer. IOW, of the steps described in [2-1-2], all steps
433 except for #1 must be implemented by eh_strategy_handler().
436 [2-2-1] Pre transportt->eh_strategy_handler() SCSI midlayer conditions
438 The following conditions are true on entry to the handler.
440 - Each failed scmd's eh_flags field is set appropriately.
442 - Each failed scmd is linked on scmd->eh_cmd_q by scmd->eh_entry.
444 - SHOST_RECOVERY is set.
446 - shost->host_failed == shost->host_busy
449 [2-2-2] Post transportt->eh_strategy_handler() SCSI midlayer conditions
451 The following conditions must be true on exit from the handler.
453 - shost->host_failed is zero.
455 - Each scmd's eh_eflags field is cleared.
457 - Each scmd is in such a state that scsi_setup_cmd_retry() on the
458 scmd doesn't make any difference.
460 - shost->eh_cmd_q is cleared.
462 - Each scmd->eh_entry is cleared.
464 - Either scsi_queue_insert() or scsi_finish_command() is called on
465 each scmd. Note that the handler is free to use scmd->retries and
466 ->allowed to limit the number of retries.
469 [2-2-3] Things to consider
471 - Know that timed out scmds are still active on lower layers. Make
472 lower layers forget about them before doing anything else with
475 - For consistency, when accessing/modifying shost data structure,
476 grab shost->host_lock.
478 - On completion, each failed sdev must have forgotten about all
481 - On completion, each failed sdev must be ready for new commands or