[PATCH 1/5] xfs: remove ->write_super and stop maintaining ->s_dirt

[Eric Sandeen]

Eric Sandeen wrote:
> Christoph Hellwig wrote:
> 
>> the write_super method is used for
>>
>>  (1) writing back the superblock periodically from pdflush
>>  (2) called just before ->sync_fs for data integerity syncs
>>  (3) just before ->put_super
>>
>> We don't need (1) because we have our own peridoc writeout through xfssyncd,
>> we don't need (2) because xfs_fs_sync_fs performs a proper synchronous
>> superblock writeout after all other data and metadata has been written out,
>> and we don't need (3) because we synchronously write the superblock in
>> ->put_super once the filesystem is fully shut down.
>>
>> Also remove ->s_dirt tracking as it's only used to decide when too call
>> ->write_super.
>>
> Just to double check, what about sync_filesystems():
> 
>                 if (sb->s_root && (wait || sb->s_dirt))
>                         sb->s_op->sync_fs(sb, wait);
> 
> if we lose s_dirt does that mean we are potentially doing one less ->sync_fs 
> here when called with wait = 0, and is that ok?  (/me waves hands about
> sync; sync; sync magic) :)
> 
> -Eric

gah, never mind, I forgot that 0/5 talked about Jan's patches, and here:

http://lkml.indiana.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/0904.2/03642.html

takes care of this concern.

-Eric