mbox series

[v2,0/2] Initialize backend memory objects in parallel

Message ID 20240122153219.2885749-1-mark.kanda@oracle.com (mailing list archive)
Headers show
Series Initialize backend memory objects in parallel | expand

Message

Mark Kanda Jan. 22, 2024, 3:32 p.m. UTC
v2:
- require MADV_POPULATE_WRITE (simplify the implementation)
- require prealloc context threads to ensure optimal thread placement
- use machine phase 'initialized' to detremine when to allow parallel init

QEMU initializes preallocated backend memory when parsing the corresponding
objects from the command line. In certain scenarios, such as memory being
preallocated across multiple numa nodes, this approach is not optimal due to
the unnecessary serialization.

This series addresses this issue by initializing the backend memory objects in
parallel.

Mark Kanda (2):
  oslib-posix: refactor memory prealloc threads
  oslib-posix: initialize backend memory objects in parallel

 backends/hostmem.c     |   8 +++-
 hw/virtio/virtio-mem.c |   4 +-
 include/qemu/osdep.h   |  14 +++++-
 system/vl.c            |   6 +++
 util/oslib-posix.c     | 103 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-------------
 util/oslib-win32.c     |   8 +++-
 6 files changed, 103 insertions(+), 40 deletions(-)

Comments

Mark Kanda Jan. 29, 2024, 1:39 p.m. UTC | #1
Ping.

Any comments?

Thanks/regards,
-Mark

On 1/22/24 9:32 AM, Mark Kanda wrote:
> v2:
> - require MADV_POPULATE_WRITE (simplify the implementation)
> - require prealloc context threads to ensure optimal thread placement
> - use machine phase 'initialized' to detremine when to allow parallel init
>
> QEMU initializes preallocated backend memory when parsing the corresponding
> objects from the command line. In certain scenarios, such as memory being
> preallocated across multiple numa nodes, this approach is not optimal due to
> the unnecessary serialization.
>
> This series addresses this issue by initializing the backend memory objects in
> parallel.
>
> Mark Kanda (2):
>    oslib-posix: refactor memory prealloc threads
>    oslib-posix: initialize backend memory objects in parallel
>
>   backends/hostmem.c     |   8 +++-
>   hw/virtio/virtio-mem.c |   4 +-
>   include/qemu/osdep.h   |  14 +++++-
>   system/vl.c            |   6 +++
>   util/oslib-posix.c     | 103 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-------------
>   util/oslib-win32.c     |   8 +++-
>   6 files changed, 103 insertions(+), 40 deletions(-)
>
David Hildenbrand Jan. 29, 2024, 1:41 p.m. UTC | #2
On 29.01.24 14:39, Mark Kanda wrote:
> Ping.
> 
> Any comments?
> 

Sorry, fell through the cracks, will review this soonish.
David Hildenbrand Jan. 29, 2024, 7:11 p.m. UTC | #3
On 22.01.24 16:32, Mark Kanda wrote:
> v2:
> - require MADV_POPULATE_WRITE (simplify the implementation)
> - require prealloc context threads to ensure optimal thread placement
> - use machine phase 'initialized' to detremine when to allow parallel init
> 
> QEMU initializes preallocated backend memory when parsing the corresponding
> objects from the command line. In certain scenarios, such as memory being
> preallocated across multiple numa nodes, this approach is not optimal due to
> the unnecessary serialization.
> 
> This series addresses this issue by initializing the backend memory objects in
> parallel.

I just played with the code, some comments:

* I suggest squashing both patches. It doesn't make things clearer if we
   factor out unconditionally adding contexts to a global list.

* Keep the functions MT-capable, at least as long as async=false. That
   is, don't involve the global list if async=false. virtio-mem will
   perform preallocation from other threads at some point, where we could
   see concurrent preallocations for different devices. I made sure that
   qemu_mem_prealloc() can handle that.

* Rename wait_mem_prealloc() to qemu_finish_async_mem_prealloc() and let
   it report the error / return true/false like qemu_prealloc_mem().
   Especially, don't change the existing
   "qemu_prealloc_mem: preallocating memory failed" error message.

* Do the conditional async=false fixup in touch_all_pages(). That means,
   in qemu_prealloc_mem(), only route the async parameter through.


One thing I don't quite like is what happens when multiple threads would try
issuing "async=true". It will currently not happen, but we should catch
whenever that happens and require that only one thread at a time can
perform async preallocs. Maybe we can assert in qemu_prealloc_mem()/
qemu_finish_async_mem_prealloc() that we hold the BQL. Hopefully, that
is the case when we start creating memory backends, before starting the
main loop. If not, maybe we should just document that async limitation.

Ideally, we'd have some async_start(), prealloc(), prealloc(),
async_finish() interface, where async_start() would block until
another thread called async_finish(), so we never have a mixture.
But that would currently be over-engineering.


I'll attach the untested, likely broken, code I played with to see
what it could look like. Observe how I only conditionally add the
context to the list at the end of touch_all_pages().


 From fe26cc5252f1284efa8e667310609a22c6166324 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Mark Kanda <mark.kanda@oracle.com>
Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2024 09:32:18 -0600
Subject: [PATCH] oslib-posix: initialize selected backend memory objects in
  parallel

QEMU initializes preallocated backend memory as the objects are parsed from
the command line. This is not optimal in some cases (e.g. memory spanning
multiple NUMA nodes) because the memory objects are initialized in series.

Allow the initialization to occur in parallel. In order to ensure optimal
thread placement, parallel initialization requires prealloc context threads
to be in use.

Signed-off-by: Mark Kanda <mark.kanda@oracle.com>
Signed-off-by: David Hildenbrand <david@redhat.com>
---
  backends/hostmem.c     |   8 ++-
  hw/virtio/virtio-mem.c |   4 +-
  include/qemu/osdep.h   |  19 +++++-
  system/vl.c            |   8 +++
  util/oslib-posix.c     | 130 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++----------
  util/oslib-win32.c     |   8 ++-
  6 files changed, 140 insertions(+), 37 deletions(-)

diff --git a/backends/hostmem.c b/backends/hostmem.c
index 30f69b2cb5..8f602dc86f 100644
--- a/backends/hostmem.c
+++ b/backends/hostmem.c
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
  #include "qom/object_interfaces.h"
  #include "qemu/mmap-alloc.h"
  #include "qemu/madvise.h"
+#include "hw/qdev-core.h"
  
  #ifdef CONFIG_NUMA
  #include <numaif.h>
@@ -235,9 +236,10 @@ static void host_memory_backend_set_prealloc(Object *obj, bool value,
          int fd = memory_region_get_fd(&backend->mr);
          void *ptr = memory_region_get_ram_ptr(&backend->mr);
          uint64_t sz = memory_region_size(&backend->mr);
+        bool async = !phase_check(PHASE_MACHINE_INITIALIZED);
  
          if (!qemu_prealloc_mem(fd, ptr, sz, backend->prealloc_threads,
-                               backend->prealloc_context, errp)) {
+                               backend->prealloc_context, async, errp)) {
              return;
          }
          backend->prealloc = true;
@@ -323,6 +325,7 @@ host_memory_backend_memory_complete(UserCreatable *uc, Error **errp)
      HostMemoryBackendClass *bc = MEMORY_BACKEND_GET_CLASS(uc);
      void *ptr;
      uint64_t sz;
+    bool async = !phase_check(PHASE_MACHINE_INITIALIZED);
  
      if (!bc->alloc) {
          return;
@@ -398,7 +401,8 @@ host_memory_backend_memory_complete(UserCreatable *uc, Error **errp)
      if (backend->prealloc && !qemu_prealloc_mem(memory_region_get_fd(&backend->mr),
                                                  ptr, sz,
                                                  backend->prealloc_threads,
-                                                backend->prealloc_context, errp)) {
+                                                backend->prealloc_context,
+                                                async, errp)) {
          return;
      }
  }
diff --git a/hw/virtio/virtio-mem.c b/hw/virtio/virtio-mem.c
index 99ab989852..ffd119ebac 100644
--- a/hw/virtio/virtio-mem.c
+++ b/hw/virtio/virtio-mem.c
@@ -605,7 +605,7 @@ static int virtio_mem_set_block_state(VirtIOMEM *vmem, uint64_t start_gpa,
          int fd = memory_region_get_fd(&vmem->memdev->mr);
          Error *local_err = NULL;
  
-        if (!qemu_prealloc_mem(fd, area, size, 1, NULL, &local_err)) {
+        if (!qemu_prealloc_mem(fd, area, size, 1, NULL, false, &local_err)) {
              static bool warned;
  
              /*
@@ -1248,7 +1248,7 @@ static int virtio_mem_prealloc_range_cb(VirtIOMEM *vmem, void *arg,
      int fd = memory_region_get_fd(&vmem->memdev->mr);
      Error *local_err = NULL;
  
-    if (!qemu_prealloc_mem(fd, area, size, 1, NULL, &local_err)) {
+    if (!qemu_prealloc_mem(fd, area, size, 1, NULL, false, &local_err)) {
          error_report_err(local_err);
          return -ENOMEM;
      }
diff --git a/include/qemu/osdep.h b/include/qemu/osdep.h
index c9692cc314..ed48f3d028 100644
--- a/include/qemu/osdep.h
+++ b/include/qemu/osdep.h
@@ -680,6 +680,8 @@ typedef struct ThreadContext ThreadContext;
   * @area: start address of the are to preallocate
   * @sz: the size of the area to preallocate
   * @max_threads: maximum number of threads to use
+ * @tc: prealloc context threads pointer, NULL if not in use
+ * @async: request asynchronous preallocation, requires @tc
   * @errp: returns an error if this function fails
   *
   * Preallocate memory (populate/prefault page tables writable) for the virtual
@@ -687,10 +689,25 @@ typedef struct ThreadContext ThreadContext;
   * each page in the area was faulted in writable at least once, for example,
   * after allocating file blocks for mapped files.
   *
+ * When setting @async, allocation might be performed asynchronously.
+ * qemu_finish_async_mem_prealloc() must be called to finish any asyncronous
+ * preallocation, reporting any preallocation error.
+ *
   * Return: true on success, else false setting @errp with error.
   */
  bool qemu_prealloc_mem(int fd, char *area, size_t sz, int max_threads,
-                       ThreadContext *tc, Error **errp);
+                       ThreadContext *tc, bool async, Error **errp);
+
+/**
+ * qemu_finish_async_mem_prealloc:
+ * @errp: returns an error if this function fails
+ *
+ * Finish any outstanding memory prealloc to complete, reporting any error
+ * like qemu_prealloc_mem() would.
+ *
+ * Return: true on success, else false setting @errp with error.
+ */
+bool qemu_finish_async_mem_prealloc(Error **errp);
  
  /**
   * qemu_get_pid_name:
diff --git a/system/vl.c b/system/vl.c
index 788d88ea03..290bb3232b 100644
--- a/system/vl.c
+++ b/system/vl.c
@@ -2009,6 +2009,14 @@ static void qemu_create_late_backends(void)
  
      object_option_foreach_add(object_create_late);
  
+    /*
+     * Wait for any outstanding memory prealloc from created memory
+     * backends to complete.
+     */
+    if (!qemu_finish_async_mem_prealloc(&error_fatal)) {
+        exit(1);
+    }
+
      if (tpm_init() < 0) {
          exit(1);
      }
diff --git a/util/oslib-posix.c b/util/oslib-posix.c
index 7c297003b9..c37548abdc 100644
--- a/util/oslib-posix.c
+++ b/util/oslib-posix.c
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
  #include "qemu/cutils.h"
  #include "qemu/units.h"
  #include "qemu/thread-context.h"
+#include "qemu/main-loop.h"
  
  #ifdef CONFIG_LINUX
  #include <sys/syscall.h>
@@ -63,11 +64,15 @@
  
  struct MemsetThread;
  
+static QLIST_HEAD(, MemsetContext) memset_contexts =
+    QLIST_HEAD_INITIALIZER(memset_contexts);
+
  typedef struct MemsetContext {
      bool all_threads_created;
      bool any_thread_failed;
      struct MemsetThread *threads;
      int num_threads;
+    QLIST_ENTRY(MemsetContext) next;
  } MemsetContext;
  
  struct MemsetThread {
@@ -412,19 +417,44 @@ static inline int get_memset_num_threads(size_t hpagesize, size_t numpages,
      return ret;
  }
  
+static int wait_and_free_mem_prealloc_context(MemsetContext *context)
+{
+    int i, ret = 0, tmp;
+
+    for (i = 0; i < context->num_threads; i++) {
+        tmp = (uintptr_t)qemu_thread_join(&context->threads[i].pgthread);
+
+        if (tmp) {
+            ret = tmp;
+        }
+    }
+    g_free(context->threads);
+    g_free(context);
+    return ret;
+}
+
  static int touch_all_pages(char *area, size_t hpagesize, size_t numpages,
-                           int max_threads, ThreadContext *tc,
+                           int max_threads, ThreadContext *tc, bool async,
                             bool use_madv_populate_write)
  {
      static gsize initialized = 0;
-    MemsetContext context = {
-        .num_threads = get_memset_num_threads(hpagesize, numpages, max_threads),
-    };
+    MemsetContext *context = g_new0(MemsetContext, 1);
      size_t numpages_per_thread, leftover;
      void *(*touch_fn)(void *);
-    int ret = 0, i = 0;
+    int ret, i = 0;
      char *addr = area;
  
+    /*
+     * Async prealloc is only allowed when using MADV_POPULATE_WRITE and
+     * prealloc context (to ensure optimal thread placement).
+     */
+    if (!use_madv_populate_write || !tc) {
+        async = false;
+    }
+
+    context->num_threads = get_memset_num_threads(hpagesize, numpages,
+                                                  max_threads);
+
      if (g_once_init_enter(&initialized)) {
          qemu_mutex_init(&page_mutex);
          qemu_cond_init(&page_cond);
@@ -432,8 +462,11 @@ static int touch_all_pages(char *area, size_t hpagesize, size_t numpages,
      }
  
      if (use_madv_populate_write) {
-        /* Avoid creating a single thread for MADV_POPULATE_WRITE */
-        if (context.num_threads == 1) {
+        /*
+         * Avoid creating a single thread for MADV_POPULATE_WRITE when
+         * preallocating synchronously.
+         */
+        if (context->num_threads == 1 && !async) {
              if (qemu_madvise(area, hpagesize * numpages,
                               QEMU_MADV_POPULATE_WRITE)) {
                  return -errno;
@@ -445,50 +478,85 @@ static int touch_all_pages(char *area, size_t hpagesize, size_t numpages,
          touch_fn = do_touch_pages;
      }
  
-    context.threads = g_new0(MemsetThread, context.num_threads);
-    numpages_per_thread = numpages / context.num_threads;
-    leftover = numpages % context.num_threads;
-    for (i = 0; i < context.num_threads; i++) {
-        context.threads[i].addr = addr;
-        context.threads[i].numpages = numpages_per_thread + (i < leftover);
-        context.threads[i].hpagesize = hpagesize;
-        context.threads[i].context = &context;
+    context->threads = g_new0(MemsetThread, context->num_threads);
+    numpages_per_thread = numpages / context->num_threads;
+    leftover = numpages % context->num_threads;
+    for (i = 0; i < context->num_threads; i++) {
+        context->threads[i].addr = addr;
+        context->threads[i].numpages = numpages_per_thread + (i < leftover);
+        context->threads[i].hpagesize = hpagesize;
+        context->threads[i].context = context;
          if (tc) {
-            thread_context_create_thread(tc, &context.threads[i].pgthread,
+            thread_context_create_thread(tc, &context->threads[i].pgthread,
                                           "touch_pages",
-                                         touch_fn, &context.threads[i],
+                                         touch_fn, &context->threads[i],
                                           QEMU_THREAD_JOINABLE);
          } else {
-            qemu_thread_create(&context.threads[i].pgthread, "touch_pages",
-                               touch_fn, &context.threads[i],
+            qemu_thread_create(&context->threads[i].pgthread, "touch_pages",
+                               touch_fn, &context->threads[i],
                                 QEMU_THREAD_JOINABLE);
          }
-        addr += context.threads[i].numpages * hpagesize;
+        addr += context->threads[i].numpages * hpagesize;
+    }
+
+    if (async) {
+        /*
+         * async requests currently require the BQL. Add it to the list and kick
+         * preallocation off during qemu_finish_async_mem_prealloc().
+         */
+        assert(bql_locked());
+        QLIST_INSERT_HEAD(&memset_contexts, context, next);
+        return 0;
      }
  
      if (!use_madv_populate_write) {
-        sigbus_memset_context = &context;
+        sigbus_memset_context = context;
      }
  
      qemu_mutex_lock(&page_mutex);
-    context.all_threads_created = true;
+    context->all_threads_created = true;
      qemu_cond_broadcast(&page_cond);
      qemu_mutex_unlock(&page_mutex);
+    ret = wait_and_free_mem_prealloc_context(context);
  
-    for (i = 0; i < context.num_threads; i++) {
-        int tmp = (uintptr_t)qemu_thread_join(&context.threads[i].pgthread);
+    if (!use_madv_populate_write) {
+        sigbus_memset_context = NULL;
+    }
+    return ret;
+}
+
+bool qemu_finish_async_mem_prealloc(Error **errp)
+{
+    int ret, tmp;
+    MemsetContext *context, *next_context;
+
+    /* Waiting for preallocation requires the BQL. */
+    assert(bql_locked());
+    if (QLIST_EMPTY(&memset_contexts)) {
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    qemu_mutex_lock(&page_mutex);
+    QLIST_FOREACH(context, &memset_contexts, next) {
+        context->all_threads_created = true;
+    }
+    qemu_cond_broadcast(&page_cond);
+    qemu_mutex_unlock(&page_mutex);
  
+    QLIST_FOREACH_SAFE(context, &memset_contexts, next, next_context) {
+        QLIST_REMOVE(context, next);
+        tmp = wait_and_free_mem_prealloc_context(context);
          if (tmp) {
              ret = tmp;
          }
      }
  
-    if (!use_madv_populate_write) {
-        sigbus_memset_context = NULL;
+    if (ret) {
+        error_setg_errno(errp, -ret,
+                         "qemu_prealloc_mem: preallocating memory failed");
+        return false;
      }
-    g_free(context.threads);
-
-    return ret;
+    return true;
  }
  
  static bool madv_populate_write_possible(char *area, size_t pagesize)
@@ -498,7 +566,7 @@ static bool madv_populate_write_possible(char *area, size_t pagesize)
  }
  
  bool qemu_prealloc_mem(int fd, char *area, size_t sz, int max_threads,
-                       ThreadContext *tc, Error **errp)
+                       ThreadContext *tc, bool async, Error **errp)
  {
      static gsize initialized;
      int ret;
@@ -540,7 +608,7 @@ bool qemu_prealloc_mem(int fd, char *area, size_t sz, int max_threads,
      }
  
      /* touch pages simultaneously */
-    ret = touch_all_pages(area, hpagesize, numpages, max_threads, tc,
+    ret = touch_all_pages(area, hpagesize, numpages, max_threads, tc, async,
                            use_madv_populate_write);
      if (ret) {
          error_setg_errno(errp, -ret,
diff --git a/util/oslib-win32.c b/util/oslib-win32.c
index c4a5f05a49..107f0efe37 100644
--- a/util/oslib-win32.c
+++ b/util/oslib-win32.c
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ int getpagesize(void)
  }
  
  bool qemu_prealloc_mem(int fd, char *area, size_t sz, int max_threads,
-                       ThreadContext *tc, Error **errp)
+                       ThreadContext *tc, bool async, Error **errp)
  {
      int i;
      size_t pagesize = qemu_real_host_page_size();
@@ -278,6 +278,12 @@ bool qemu_prealloc_mem(int fd, char *area, size_t sz, int max_threads,
      return true;
  }
  
+bool qemu_finish_async_mem_prealloc(Error **errp)
+{
+    /* async prealloc not supported, there is nothing to finish */
+    return true;
+}
+
  char *qemu_get_pid_name(pid_t pid)
  {
      /* XXX Implement me */
Mark Kanda Jan. 29, 2024, 10:59 p.m. UTC | #4
On 1/29/24 1:11 PM, David Hildenbrand wrote:
> On 22.01.24 16:32, Mark Kanda wrote:
>> v2:
>> - require MADV_POPULATE_WRITE (simplify the implementation)
>> - require prealloc context threads to ensure optimal thread placement
>> - use machine phase 'initialized' to detremine when to allow parallel 
>> init
>>
>> QEMU initializes preallocated backend memory when parsing the 
>> corresponding
>> objects from the command line. In certain scenarios, such as memory 
>> being
>> preallocated across multiple numa nodes, this approach is not optimal 
>> due to
>> the unnecessary serialization.
>>
>> This series addresses this issue by initializing the backend memory 
>> objects in
>> parallel.
>
> I just played with the code, some comments:
>
> * I suggest squashing both patches. It doesn't make things clearer if we
>   factor out unconditionally adding contexts to a global list.
>
> * Keep the functions MT-capable, at least as long as async=false. That
>   is, don't involve the global list if async=false. virtio-mem will
>   perform preallocation from other threads at some point, where we could
>   see concurrent preallocations for different devices. I made sure that
>   qemu_mem_prealloc() can handle that.
>
> * Rename wait_mem_prealloc() to qemu_finish_async_mem_prealloc() and let
>   it report the error / return true/false like qemu_prealloc_mem().
>   Especially, don't change the existing
>   "qemu_prealloc_mem: preallocating memory failed" error message.
>
> * Do the conditional async=false fixup in touch_all_pages(). That means,
>   in qemu_prealloc_mem(), only route the async parameter through.
>
>
> One thing I don't quite like is what happens when multiple threads 
> would try
> issuing "async=true". It will currently not happen, but we should catch
> whenever that happens and require that only one thread at a time can
> perform async preallocs. Maybe we can assert in qemu_prealloc_mem()/
> qemu_finish_async_mem_prealloc() that we hold the BQL. Hopefully, that
> is the case when we start creating memory backends, before starting the
> main loop. If not, maybe we should just document that async limitation.
>
> Ideally, we'd have some async_start(), prealloc(), prealloc(),
> async_finish() interface, where async_start() would block until
> another thread called async_finish(), so we never have a mixture.
> But that would currently be over-engineering.
>
>
> I'll attach the untested, likely broken, code I played with to see
> what it could look like. Observe how I only conditionally add the
> context to the list at the end of touch_all_pages().
>

Thank you very much for the feedback David. I'll take a close look at 
this for v3.

Best regards,
-Mark

>
> From fe26cc5252f1284efa8e667310609a22c6166324 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
> From: Mark Kanda <mark.kanda@oracle.com>
> Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2024 09:32:18 -0600
> Subject: [PATCH] oslib-posix: initialize selected backend memory 
> objects in
>  parallel
>
> QEMU initializes preallocated backend memory as the objects are parsed 
> from
> the command line. This is not optimal in some cases (e.g. memory spanning
> multiple NUMA nodes) because the memory objects are initialized in 
> series.
>
> Allow the initialization to occur in parallel. In order to ensure optimal
> thread placement, parallel initialization requires prealloc context 
> threads
> to be in use.
>
> Signed-off-by: Mark Kanda <mark.kanda@oracle.com>
> Signed-off-by: David Hildenbrand <david@redhat.com>
> ---
>  backends/hostmem.c     |   8 ++-
>  hw/virtio/virtio-mem.c |   4 +-
>  include/qemu/osdep.h   |  19 +++++-
>  system/vl.c            |   8 +++
>  util/oslib-posix.c     | 130 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++----------
>  util/oslib-win32.c     |   8 ++-
>  6 files changed, 140 insertions(+), 37 deletions(-)
>
> diff --git a/backends/hostmem.c b/backends/hostmem.c
> index 30f69b2cb5..8f602dc86f 100644
> --- a/backends/hostmem.c
> +++ b/backends/hostmem.c
> @@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
>  #include "qom/object_interfaces.h"
>  #include "qemu/mmap-alloc.h"
>  #include "qemu/madvise.h"
> +#include "hw/qdev-core.h"
>
>  #ifdef CONFIG_NUMA
>  #include <numaif.h>
> @@ -235,9 +236,10 @@ static void 
> host_memory_backend_set_prealloc(Object *obj, bool value,
>          int fd = memory_region_get_fd(&backend->mr);
>          void *ptr = memory_region_get_ram_ptr(&backend->mr);
>          uint64_t sz = memory_region_size(&backend->mr);
> +        bool async = !phase_check(PHASE_MACHINE_INITIALIZED);
>
>          if (!qemu_prealloc_mem(fd, ptr, sz, backend->prealloc_threads,
> -                               backend->prealloc_context, errp)) {
> +                               backend->prealloc_context, async, 
> errp)) {
>              return;
>          }
>          backend->prealloc = true;
> @@ -323,6 +325,7 @@ host_memory_backend_memory_complete(UserCreatable 
> *uc, Error **errp)
>      HostMemoryBackendClass *bc = MEMORY_BACKEND_GET_CLASS(uc);
>      void *ptr;
>      uint64_t sz;
> +    bool async = !phase_check(PHASE_MACHINE_INITIALIZED);
>
>      if (!bc->alloc) {
>          return;
> @@ -398,7 +401,8 @@ host_memory_backend_memory_complete(UserCreatable 
> *uc, Error **errp)
>      if (backend->prealloc && 
> !qemu_prealloc_mem(memory_region_get_fd(&backend->mr),
>                                                  ptr, sz,
> backend->prealloc_threads,
> - backend->prealloc_context, errp)) {
> + backend->prealloc_context,
> +                                                async, errp)) {
>          return;
>      }
>  }
> diff --git a/hw/virtio/virtio-mem.c b/hw/virtio/virtio-mem.c
> index 99ab989852..ffd119ebac 100644
> --- a/hw/virtio/virtio-mem.c
> +++ b/hw/virtio/virtio-mem.c
> @@ -605,7 +605,7 @@ static int virtio_mem_set_block_state(VirtIOMEM 
> *vmem, uint64_t start_gpa,
>          int fd = memory_region_get_fd(&vmem->memdev->mr);
>          Error *local_err = NULL;
>
> -        if (!qemu_prealloc_mem(fd, area, size, 1, NULL, &local_err)) {
> +        if (!qemu_prealloc_mem(fd, area, size, 1, NULL, false, 
> &local_err)) {
>              static bool warned;
>
>              /*
> @@ -1248,7 +1248,7 @@ static int 
> virtio_mem_prealloc_range_cb(VirtIOMEM *vmem, void *arg,
>      int fd = memory_region_get_fd(&vmem->memdev->mr);
>      Error *local_err = NULL;
>
> -    if (!qemu_prealloc_mem(fd, area, size, 1, NULL, &local_err)) {
> +    if (!qemu_prealloc_mem(fd, area, size, 1, NULL, false, 
> &local_err)) {
>          error_report_err(local_err);
>          return -ENOMEM;
>      }
> diff --git a/include/qemu/osdep.h b/include/qemu/osdep.h
> index c9692cc314..ed48f3d028 100644
> --- a/include/qemu/osdep.h
> +++ b/include/qemu/osdep.h
> @@ -680,6 +680,8 @@ typedef struct ThreadContext ThreadContext;
>   * @area: start address of the are to preallocate
>   * @sz: the size of the area to preallocate
>   * @max_threads: maximum number of threads to use
> + * @tc: prealloc context threads pointer, NULL if not in use
> + * @async: request asynchronous preallocation, requires @tc
>   * @errp: returns an error if this function fails
>   *
>   * Preallocate memory (populate/prefault page tables writable) for 
> the virtual
> @@ -687,10 +689,25 @@ typedef struct ThreadContext ThreadContext;
>   * each page in the area was faulted in writable at least once, for 
> example,
>   * after allocating file blocks for mapped files.
>   *
> + * When setting @async, allocation might be performed asynchronously.
> + * qemu_finish_async_mem_prealloc() must be called to finish any 
> asyncronous
> + * preallocation, reporting any preallocation error.
> + *
>   * Return: true on success, else false setting @errp with error.
>   */
>  bool qemu_prealloc_mem(int fd, char *area, size_t sz, int max_threads,
> -                       ThreadContext *tc, Error **errp);
> +                       ThreadContext *tc, bool async, Error **errp);
> +
> +/**
> + * qemu_finish_async_mem_prealloc:
> + * @errp: returns an error if this function fails
> + *
> + * Finish any outstanding memory prealloc to complete, reporting any 
> error
> + * like qemu_prealloc_mem() would.
> + *
> + * Return: true on success, else false setting @errp with error.
> + */
> +bool qemu_finish_async_mem_prealloc(Error **errp);
>
>  /**
>   * qemu_get_pid_name:
> diff --git a/system/vl.c b/system/vl.c
> index 788d88ea03..290bb3232b 100644
> --- a/system/vl.c
> +++ b/system/vl.c
> @@ -2009,6 +2009,14 @@ static void qemu_create_late_backends(void)
>
>      object_option_foreach_add(object_create_late);
>
> +    /*
> +     * Wait for any outstanding memory prealloc from created memory
> +     * backends to complete.
> +     */
> +    if (!qemu_finish_async_mem_prealloc(&error_fatal)) {
> +        exit(1);
> +    }
> +
>      if (tpm_init() < 0) {
>          exit(1);
>      }
> diff --git a/util/oslib-posix.c b/util/oslib-posix.c
> index 7c297003b9..c37548abdc 100644
> --- a/util/oslib-posix.c
> +++ b/util/oslib-posix.c
> @@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
>  #include "qemu/cutils.h"
>  #include "qemu/units.h"
>  #include "qemu/thread-context.h"
> +#include "qemu/main-loop.h"
>
>  #ifdef CONFIG_LINUX
>  #include <sys/syscall.h>
> @@ -63,11 +64,15 @@
>
>  struct MemsetThread;
>
> +static QLIST_HEAD(, MemsetContext) memset_contexts =
> +    QLIST_HEAD_INITIALIZER(memset_contexts);
> +
>  typedef struct MemsetContext {
>      bool all_threads_created;
>      bool any_thread_failed;
>      struct MemsetThread *threads;
>      int num_threads;
> +    QLIST_ENTRY(MemsetContext) next;
>  } MemsetContext;
>
>  struct MemsetThread {
> @@ -412,19 +417,44 @@ static inline int get_memset_num_threads(size_t 
> hpagesize, size_t numpages,
>      return ret;
>  }
>
> +static int wait_and_free_mem_prealloc_context(MemsetContext *context)
> +{
> +    int i, ret = 0, tmp;
> +
> +    for (i = 0; i < context->num_threads; i++) {
> +        tmp = 
> (uintptr_t)qemu_thread_join(&context->threads[i].pgthread);
> +
> +        if (tmp) {
> +            ret = tmp;
> +        }
> +    }
> +    g_free(context->threads);
> +    g_free(context);
> +    return ret;
> +}
> +
>  static int touch_all_pages(char *area, size_t hpagesize, size_t 
> numpages,
> -                           int max_threads, ThreadContext *tc,
> +                           int max_threads, ThreadContext *tc, bool 
> async,
>                             bool use_madv_populate_write)
>  {
>      static gsize initialized = 0;
> -    MemsetContext context = {
> -        .num_threads = get_memset_num_threads(hpagesize, numpages, 
> max_threads),
> -    };
> +    MemsetContext *context = g_new0(MemsetContext, 1);
>      size_t numpages_per_thread, leftover;
>      void *(*touch_fn)(void *);
> -    int ret = 0, i = 0;
> +    int ret, i = 0;
>      char *addr = area;
>
> +    /*
> +     * Async prealloc is only allowed when using MADV_POPULATE_WRITE and
> +     * prealloc context (to ensure optimal thread placement).
> +     */
> +    if (!use_madv_populate_write || !tc) {
> +        async = false;
> +    }
> +
> +    context->num_threads = get_memset_num_threads(hpagesize, numpages,
> +                                                  max_threads);
> +
>      if (g_once_init_enter(&initialized)) {
>          qemu_mutex_init(&page_mutex);
>          qemu_cond_init(&page_cond);
> @@ -432,8 +462,11 @@ static int touch_all_pages(char *area, size_t 
> hpagesize, size_t numpages,
>      }
>
>      if (use_madv_populate_write) {
> -        /* Avoid creating a single thread for MADV_POPULATE_WRITE */
> -        if (context.num_threads == 1) {
> +        /*
> +         * Avoid creating a single thread for MADV_POPULATE_WRITE when
> +         * preallocating synchronously.
> +         */
> +        if (context->num_threads == 1 && !async) {
>              if (qemu_madvise(area, hpagesize * numpages,
>                               QEMU_MADV_POPULATE_WRITE)) {
>                  return -errno;
> @@ -445,50 +478,85 @@ static int touch_all_pages(char *area, size_t 
> hpagesize, size_t numpages,
>          touch_fn = do_touch_pages;
>      }
>
> -    context.threads = g_new0(MemsetThread, context.num_threads);
> -    numpages_per_thread = numpages / context.num_threads;
> -    leftover = numpages % context.num_threads;
> -    for (i = 0; i < context.num_threads; i++) {
> -        context.threads[i].addr = addr;
> -        context.threads[i].numpages = numpages_per_thread + (i < 
> leftover);
> -        context.threads[i].hpagesize = hpagesize;
> -        context.threads[i].context = &context;
> +    context->threads = g_new0(MemsetThread, context->num_threads);
> +    numpages_per_thread = numpages / context->num_threads;
> +    leftover = numpages % context->num_threads;
> +    for (i = 0; i < context->num_threads; i++) {
> +        context->threads[i].addr = addr;
> +        context->threads[i].numpages = numpages_per_thread + (i < 
> leftover);
> +        context->threads[i].hpagesize = hpagesize;
> +        context->threads[i].context = context;
>          if (tc) {
> -            thread_context_create_thread(tc, 
> &context.threads[i].pgthread,
> +            thread_context_create_thread(tc, 
> &context->threads[i].pgthread,
>                                           "touch_pages",
> -                                         touch_fn, &context.threads[i],
> +                                         touch_fn, &context->threads[i],
>                                           QEMU_THREAD_JOINABLE);
>          } else {
> -            qemu_thread_create(&context.threads[i].pgthread, 
> "touch_pages",
> -                               touch_fn, &context.threads[i],
> + qemu_thread_create(&context->threads[i].pgthread, "touch_pages",
> +                               touch_fn, &context->threads[i],
>                                 QEMU_THREAD_JOINABLE);
>          }
> -        addr += context.threads[i].numpages * hpagesize;
> +        addr += context->threads[i].numpages * hpagesize;
> +    }
> +
> +    if (async) {
> +        /*
> +         * async requests currently require the BQL. Add it to the 
> list and kick
> +         * preallocation off during qemu_finish_async_mem_prealloc().
> +         */
> +        assert(bql_locked());
> +        QLIST_INSERT_HEAD(&memset_contexts, context, next);
> +        return 0;
>      }
>
>      if (!use_madv_populate_write) {
> -        sigbus_memset_context = &context;
> +        sigbus_memset_context = context;
>      }
>
>      qemu_mutex_lock(&page_mutex);
> -    context.all_threads_created = true;
> +    context->all_threads_created = true;
>      qemu_cond_broadcast(&page_cond);
>      qemu_mutex_unlock(&page_mutex);
> +    ret = wait_and_free_mem_prealloc_context(context);
>
> -    for (i = 0; i < context.num_threads; i++) {
> -        int tmp = 
> (uintptr_t)qemu_thread_join(&context.threads[i].pgthread);
> +    if (!use_madv_populate_write) {
> +        sigbus_memset_context = NULL;
> +    }
> +    return ret;
> +}
> +
> +bool qemu_finish_async_mem_prealloc(Error **errp)
> +{
> +    int ret, tmp;
> +    MemsetContext *context, *next_context;
> +
> +    /* Waiting for preallocation requires the BQL. */
> +    assert(bql_locked());
> +    if (QLIST_EMPTY(&memset_contexts)) {
> +        return 0;
> +    }
> +
> +    qemu_mutex_lock(&page_mutex);
> +    QLIST_FOREACH(context, &memset_contexts, next) {
> +        context->all_threads_created = true;
> +    }
> +    qemu_cond_broadcast(&page_cond);
> +    qemu_mutex_unlock(&page_mutex);
>
> +    QLIST_FOREACH_SAFE(context, &memset_contexts, next, next_context) {
> +        QLIST_REMOVE(context, next);
> +        tmp = wait_and_free_mem_prealloc_context(context);
>          if (tmp) {
>              ret = tmp;
>          }
>      }
>
> -    if (!use_madv_populate_write) {
> -        sigbus_memset_context = NULL;
> +    if (ret) {
> +        error_setg_errno(errp, -ret,
> +                         "qemu_prealloc_mem: preallocating memory 
> failed");
> +        return false;
>      }
> -    g_free(context.threads);
> -
> -    return ret;
> +    return true;
>  }
>
>  static bool madv_populate_write_possible(char *area, size_t pagesize)
> @@ -498,7 +566,7 @@ static bool madv_populate_write_possible(char 
> *area, size_t pagesize)
>  }
>
>  bool qemu_prealloc_mem(int fd, char *area, size_t sz, int max_threads,
> -                       ThreadContext *tc, Error **errp)
> +                       ThreadContext *tc, bool async, Error **errp)
>  {
>      static gsize initialized;
>      int ret;
> @@ -540,7 +608,7 @@ bool qemu_prealloc_mem(int fd, char *area, size_t 
> sz, int max_threads,
>      }
>
>      /* touch pages simultaneously */
> -    ret = touch_all_pages(area, hpagesize, numpages, max_threads, tc,
> +    ret = touch_all_pages(area, hpagesize, numpages, max_threads, tc, 
> async,
>                            use_madv_populate_write);
>      if (ret) {
>          error_setg_errno(errp, -ret,
> diff --git a/util/oslib-win32.c b/util/oslib-win32.c
> index c4a5f05a49..107f0efe37 100644
> --- a/util/oslib-win32.c
> +++ b/util/oslib-win32.c
> @@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ int getpagesize(void)
>  }
>
>  bool qemu_prealloc_mem(int fd, char *area, size_t sz, int max_threads,
> -                       ThreadContext *tc, Error **errp)
> +                       ThreadContext *tc, bool async, Error **errp)
>  {
>      int i;
>      size_t pagesize = qemu_real_host_page_size();
> @@ -278,6 +278,12 @@ bool qemu_prealloc_mem(int fd, char *area, size_t 
> sz, int max_threads,
>      return true;
>  }
>
> +bool qemu_finish_async_mem_prealloc(Error **errp)
> +{
> +    /* async prealloc not supported, there is nothing to finish */
> +    return true;
> +}
> +
>  char *qemu_get_pid_name(pid_t pid)
>  {
>      /* XXX Implement me */