Re: [PATCH] prctl: return timerslack through pointer

[Andrew Morton <akpm@linux-foundation.org>]

On Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:17:15 -0800
"Smith, GeoffX" <geoffx.smith@intel.com> wrote:

> This patch fixes the semantics of prctl() option PR_GET_TIMERSLACK
> to pass the return value through *arg2.
> 
> With this change, the option now follows the same conventions as the
> other "get" options added since 2.6.0, and also brings it into
> conformance with the advice in chapter 16 of Documentation/CodingStyle.
> 
> In addition, it effectively doubles the range of time slack to 4.29
> seconds (on a 32-bit architecture).
> 
> The timer slack feature was only added in Sep 2009 (new in 2.6.32.1), 
> so there are not any production applications to break.  I have also 
> repaired some unmatched signed/unsigned mismatches in timer slack
> calculations.
> 

If we're going to do this then we should backport the patch into
2.6.32.x as well.  And I agree that there is time to make this change.

> diff --git a/kernel/sys.c b/kernel/sys.c
> index 20ccfb5..e01da12 100644

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