PVF validation host: do not alter niceness (#4525)

We wanted to change niceness to accomodate the fact that some of the
preparation tasks are low priority. For example, when a node sees that
there is a new para was onboarded the node may start preparing right
away. Since all other activities are more important, such as network I/O
or validation of the backed candidates and preparation of the
immediatelly needed PVFs.

However, it turned out that this approach does not work: generally
non-root processes can only decrease niceness and they cannot increase
it to the previous value, as was assumed by the code.

Apart from that, https://github.com/paritytech/polkadot/pull/4123
assumes all PVFs are prepared in the same way. Specifically, that if a
PVF preparation failed before, then PVF pre-checking will also report
that it was failed, even though it could happen that preparation failed
due to being low-priority. In order to avoid such cases, we decided to
simplify the whole preparation model. Preparation under low priority
does not work well with that.

Closes https://github.com/paritytech/polkadot/issues/4520

polkadot/Cargo.lock

@@ -6329,7 +6329,6 @@ dependencies = [
  "futures 0.3.18",
  "futures-timer 3.0.2",
  "hex-literal",
- "libc",
  "parity-scale-codec",
  "pin-project 1.0.8",
  "polkadot-core-primitives",

polkadot/node/core/pvf/Cargo.toml

@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ async-process = "1.3.0"
 assert_matches = "1.4.0"
 futures = "0.3.17"
 futures-timer = "3.0.2"
-libc = "0.2.109"
 slotmap = "1.0"
 tracing = "0.1.29"
 pin-project = "1.0.8"

polkadot/node/core/pvf/src/host.rs

@@ -486,12 +486,6 @@ async fn handle_execute_pvf(
 				.await?;
 			},
 			ArtifactState::Preparing { waiting_for_response: _ } => {
-				send_prepare(
-					prepare_queue,
-					prepare::ToQueue::Amend { priority, artifact_id: artifact_id.clone() },
-				)
-				.await?;
-
 				awaiting_prepare.add(artifact_id, execution_timeout, params, result_tx);
 			},
 			ArtifactState::FailedToProcess(error) => {
@@ -525,18 +519,17 @@ async fn handle_heads_up(
 					*last_time_needed = now;
 				},
 				ArtifactState::Preparing { waiting_for_response: _ } => {
-					// Already preparing. We don't need to send a priority amend either because
-					// it can't get any lower than the background.
+					// The artifact is already being prepared, so we don't need to do anything.
 				},
 				ArtifactState::FailedToProcess(_) => {},
 			}
 		} else {
-			// The artifact is unknown: register it and put a background job into the prepare queue.
+			// It's not in the artifacts, so we need to enqueue a job to prepare it.
 			artifacts.insert_preparing(artifact_id.clone(), Vec::new());
 
 			send_prepare(
 				prepare_queue,
-				prepare::ToQueue::Enqueue { priority: Priority::Background, pvf: active_pvf },
+				prepare::ToQueue::Enqueue { priority: Priority::Normal, pvf: active_pvf },
 			)
 			.await?;
 		}
@@ -923,48 +916,6 @@ mod tests {
 		test.poll_ensure_to_sweeper_is_empty().await;
 	}
 
-	#[async_std::test]
-	async fn amending_priority() {
-		let mut test = Builder::default().build();
-		let mut host = test.host_handle();
-
-		host.heads_up(vec![Pvf::from_discriminator(1)]).await.unwrap();
-
-		// Run until we receive a prepare request.
-		let prepare_q_rx = &mut test.to_prepare_queue_rx;
-		run_until(
-			&mut test.run,
-			async {
-				assert_matches!(
-					prepare_q_rx.next().await.unwrap(),
-					prepare::ToQueue::Enqueue { .. }
-				);
-			}
-			.boxed(),
-		)
-		.await;
-
-		let (result_tx, _result_rx) = oneshot::channel();
-		host.execute_pvf(
-			Pvf::from_discriminator(1),
-			TEST_EXECUTION_TIMEOUT,
-			vec![],
-			Priority::Critical,
-			result_tx,
-		)
-		.await
-		.unwrap();
-
-		run_until(
-			&mut test.run,
-			async {
-				assert_matches!(prepare_q_rx.next().await.unwrap(), prepare::ToQueue::Amend { .. });
-			}
-			.boxed(),
-		)
-		.await;
-	}
-
 	#[async_std::test]
 	async fn execute_pvf_requests() {
 		let mut test = Builder::default().build();
@@ -1007,10 +958,6 @@ mod tests {
 			test.poll_and_recv_to_prepare_queue().await,
 			prepare::ToQueue::Enqueue { .. }
 		);
-		assert_matches!(
-			test.poll_and_recv_to_prepare_queue().await,
-			prepare::ToQueue::Amend { .. }
-		);
 		assert_matches!(
 			test.poll_and_recv_to_prepare_queue().await,
 			prepare::ToQueue::Enqueue { .. }

polkadot/node/core/pvf/src/prepare/pool.rs

@@ -53,10 +53,6 @@ pub enum ToPool {
 	/// this message is processed.
 	Kill(Worker),
 
-	/// If the given worker was started with the background priority, then it will be raised up to
-	/// normal priority. Otherwise, it's no-op.
-	BumpPriority(Worker),
-
 	/// Request the given worker to start working on the given code.
 	///
 	/// Once the job either succeeded or failed, a [`FromPool::Concluded`] message will be sent back.
@@ -65,12 +61,7 @@ pub enum ToPool {
 	///
 	/// In either case, the worker is considered busy and no further `StartWork` messages should be
 	/// sent until either `Concluded` or `Rip` message is received.
-	StartWork {
-		worker: Worker,
-		code: Arc<Vec<u8>>,
-		artifact_path: PathBuf,
-		background_priority: bool,
-	},
+	StartWork { worker: Worker, code: Arc<Vec<u8>>, artifact_path: PathBuf },
 }
 
 /// A message sent from pool to its client.
@@ -214,7 +205,7 @@ fn handle_to_pool(
 			metrics.prepare_worker().on_begin_spawn();
 			mux.push(spawn_worker_task(program_path.to_owned(), spawn_timeout).boxed());
 		},
-		ToPool::StartWork { worker, code, artifact_path, background_priority } => {
+		ToPool::StartWork { worker, code, artifact_path } => {
 			if let Some(data) = spawned.get_mut(worker) {
 				if let Some(idle) = data.idle.take() {
 					let preparation_timer = metrics.time_preparation();
@@ -225,7 +216,6 @@ fn handle_to_pool(
 							code,
 							cache_path.to_owned(),
 							artifact_path,
-							background_priority,
 							preparation_timer,
 						)
 						.boxed(),
@@ -248,10 +238,6 @@ fn handle_to_pool(
 			// It may be absent if it were previously already removed by `purge_dead`.
 			let _ = attempt_retire(metrics, spawned, worker);
 		},
-		ToPool::BumpPriority(worker) =>
-			if let Some(data) = spawned.get(worker) {
-				worker::bump_priority(&data.handle);
-			},
 	}
 }
 
@@ -277,11 +263,9 @@ async fn start_work_task<Timer>(
 	code: Arc<Vec<u8>>,
 	cache_path: PathBuf,
 	artifact_path: PathBuf,
-	background_priority: bool,
 	_preparation_timer: Option<Timer>,
 ) -> PoolEvent {
-	let outcome =
-		worker::start_work(idle, code, &cache_path, artifact_path, background_priority).await;
+	let outcome = worker::start_work(idle, code, &cache_path, artifact_path).await;
 	PoolEvent::StartWork(worker, outcome)
 }
 

polkadot/node/core/pvf/src/prepare/queue.rs

@@ -29,11 +29,8 @@ pub enum ToQueue {
 	/// This schedules preparation of the given PVF.
 	///
 	/// Note that it is incorrect to enqueue the same PVF again without first receiving the
-	/// [`FromQueue`] response. In case there is a need to bump the priority, use
-	/// [`ToQueue::Amend`].
+	/// [`FromQueue`] response.
 	Enqueue { priority: Priority, pvf: Pvf },
-	/// Amends the priority for the given [`ArtifactId`] if it is running. If it's not, then it's noop.
-	Amend { priority: Priority, artifact_id: ArtifactId },
 }
 
 /// A response from queue.
@@ -97,7 +94,6 @@ impl WorkerData {
 ///  there is going to be a limited number of critical jobs and we don't really care if background starve.
 #[derive(Default)]
 struct Unscheduled {
-	background: VecDeque<Job>,
 	normal: VecDeque<Job>,
 	critical: VecDeque<Job>,
 }
@@ -105,7 +101,6 @@ struct Unscheduled {
 impl Unscheduled {
 	fn queue_mut(&mut self, prio: Priority) -> &mut VecDeque<Job> {
 		match prio {
-			Priority::Background => &mut self.background,
 			Priority::Normal => &mut self.normal,
 			Priority::Critical => &mut self.critical,
 		}
@@ -120,14 +115,12 @@ impl Unscheduled {
 	}
 
 	fn is_empty(&self) -> bool {
-		self.background.is_empty() && self.normal.is_empty() && self.critical.is_empty()
+		self.normal.is_empty() && self.critical.is_empty()
 	}
 
 	fn next(&mut self) -> Option<Job> {
 		let mut check = |prio: Priority| self.queue_mut(prio).pop_front();
-		check(Priority::Critical)
-			.or_else(|| check(Priority::Normal))
-			.or_else(|| check(Priority::Background))
+		check(Priority::Critical).or_else(|| check(Priority::Normal))
 	}
 }
 
@@ -213,9 +206,6 @@ async fn handle_to_queue(queue: &mut Queue, to_queue: ToQueue) -> Result<(), Fat
 		ToQueue::Enqueue { priority, pvf } => {
 			handle_enqueue(queue, priority, pvf).await?;
 		},
-		ToQueue::Amend { priority, artifact_id } => {
-			handle_amend(queue, priority, artifact_id).await?;
-		},
 	}
 	Ok(())
 }
@@ -265,41 +255,6 @@ fn find_idle_worker(queue: &mut Queue) -> Option<Worker> {
 	queue.workers.iter().filter(|(_, data)| data.is_idle()).map(|(k, _)| k).next()
 }
 
-async fn handle_amend(
-	queue: &mut Queue,
-	priority: Priority,
-	artifact_id: ArtifactId,
-) -> Result<(), Fatal> {
-	if let Some(&job) = queue.artifact_id_to_job.get(&artifact_id) {
-		tracing::debug!(
-			target: LOG_TARGET,
-			validation_code_hash = ?artifact_id.code_hash,
-			?priority,
-			"amending preparation priority.",
-		);
-
-		let mut job_data: &mut JobData = &mut queue.jobs[job];
-		if job_data.priority < priority {
-			// The new priority is higher. We should do two things:
-			// - if the worker was already spawned with the background prio and the new one is not
-			//   (it's already the case, if we are in this branch but we still do the check for
-			//   clarity), then we should tell the pool to bump the priority for the worker.
-			//
-			// - save the new priority in the job.
-
-			if let Some(worker) = job_data.worker {
-				if job_data.priority.is_background() && !priority.is_background() {
-					send_pool(&mut queue.to_pool_tx, pool::ToPool::BumpPriority(worker)).await?;
-				}
-			}
-
-			job_data.priority = priority;
-		}
-	}
-
-	Ok(())
-}
-
 async fn handle_from_pool(queue: &mut Queue, from_pool: pool::FromPool) -> Result<(), Fatal> {
 	use pool::FromPool::*;
 	match from_pool {
@@ -469,12 +424,7 @@ async fn assign(queue: &mut Queue, worker: Worker, job: Job) -> Result<(), Fatal
 
 	send_pool(
 		&mut queue.to_pool_tx,
-		pool::ToPool::StartWork {
-			worker,
-			code: job_data.pvf.code.clone(),
-			artifact_path,
-			background_priority: job_data.priority.is_background(),
-		},
+		pool::ToPool::StartWork { worker, code: job_data.pvf.code.clone(), artifact_path },
 	)
 	.await?;
 
@@ -644,7 +594,7 @@ mod tests {
 	async fn properly_concludes() {
 		let mut test = Test::new(2, 2);
 
-		test.send_queue(ToQueue::Enqueue { priority: Priority::Background, pvf: pvf(1) });
+		test.send_queue(ToQueue::Enqueue { priority: Priority::Normal, pvf: pvf(1) });
 		assert_eq!(test.poll_and_recv_to_pool().await, pool::ToPool::Spawn);
 
 		let w = test.workers.insert(());
@@ -713,26 +663,6 @@ mod tests {
 		assert_eq!(test.poll_and_recv_to_pool().await, pool::ToPool::Kill(w1));
 	}
 
-	#[async_std::test]
-	async fn bump_prio_on_urgency_change() {
-		let mut test = Test::new(2, 2);
-
-		test.send_queue(ToQueue::Enqueue { priority: Priority::Background, pvf: pvf(1) });
-
-		assert_eq!(test.poll_and_recv_to_pool().await, pool::ToPool::Spawn);
-
-		let w = test.workers.insert(());
-		test.send_from_pool(pool::FromPool::Spawned(w));
-
-		assert_matches!(test.poll_and_recv_to_pool().await, pool::ToPool::StartWork { .. });
-		test.send_queue(ToQueue::Amend {
-			priority: Priority::Normal,
-			artifact_id: pvf(1).as_artifact_id(),
-		});
-
-		assert_eq!(test.poll_and_recv_to_pool().await, pool::ToPool::BumpPriority(w));
-	}
-
 	#[async_std::test]
 	async fn worker_mass_die_out_doesnt_stall_queue() {
 		let mut test = Test::new(2, 2);

polkadot/node/core/pvf/src/prepare/worker.rs

@@ -32,9 +32,6 @@ use parity_scale_codec::{Decode, Encode};
 use sp_core::hexdisplay::HexDisplay;
 use std::{any::Any, panic, sync::Arc, time::Duration};
 
-const NICENESS_BACKGROUND: i32 = 10;
-const NICENESS_FOREGROUND: i32 = 0;
-
 /// The time period after which the preparation worker is considered unresponsive and will be killed.
 // NOTE: If you change this make sure to fix the buckets of `pvf_preparation_time` metric.
 const COMPILATION_TIMEOUT: Duration = Duration::from_secs(60);
@@ -72,22 +69,16 @@ pub async fn start_work(
 	code: Arc<Vec<u8>>,
 	cache_path: &Path,
 	artifact_path: PathBuf,
-	background_priority: bool,
 ) -> Outcome {
 	let IdleWorker { mut stream, pid } = worker;
 
 	tracing::debug!(
 		target: LOG_TARGET,
 		worker_pid = %pid,
-		%background_priority,
 		"starting prepare for {}",
 		artifact_path.display(),
 	);
 
-	if background_priority {
-		renice(pid, NICENESS_BACKGROUND);
-	}
-
 	with_tmp_file(pid, cache_path, |tmp_file| async move {
 		if let Err(err) = send_request(&mut stream, code, &tmp_file).await {
 			tracing::warn!(
@@ -172,10 +163,8 @@ pub async fn start_work(
 			};
 
 		match selected {
-			Selected::Done(result) => {
-				renice(pid, NICENESS_FOREGROUND);
-				Outcome::Concluded { worker: IdleWorker { stream, pid }, result }
-			},
+			Selected::Done(result) =>
+				Outcome::Concluded { worker: IdleWorker { stream, pid }, result },
 			Selected::Deadline => Outcome::TimedOut,
 			Selected::IoErr => Outcome::DidNotMakeIt,
 		}
@@ -250,28 +239,6 @@ async fn recv_request(stream: &mut UnixStream) -> io::Result<(Vec<u8>, PathBuf)>
 	Ok((code, tmp_file))
 }
 
-pub fn bump_priority(handle: &WorkerHandle) {
-	let pid = handle.id();
-	renice(pid, NICENESS_FOREGROUND);
-}
-
-fn renice(pid: u32, niceness: i32) {
-	tracing::debug!(
-		target: LOG_TARGET,
-		worker_pid = %pid,
-		"changing niceness to {}",
-		niceness,
-	);
-
-	// Consider upstreaming this to the `nix` crate.
-	unsafe {
-		if -1 == libc::setpriority(libc::PRIO_PROCESS, pid, niceness) {
-			let err = std::io::Error::last_os_error();
-			tracing::warn!(target: LOG_TARGET, "failed to set the priority: {:?}", err);
-		}
-	}
-}
-
 /// The entrypoint that the spawned prepare worker should start with. The `socket_path` specifies
 /// the path to the socket used to communicate with the host.
 pub fn worker_entrypoint(socket_path: &str) {

polkadot/node/core/pvf/src/priority.rs

@@ -17,11 +17,6 @@
 /// A priority assigned to execution of a PVF.
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord)]
 pub enum Priority {
-	/// Jobs in this priority will be executed in the background, meaning that they will be only
-	/// given spare CPU time.
-	///
-	/// This is mainly for cache warmings.
-	Background,
 	/// Normal priority for things that do not require immediate response, but still need to be
 	/// done pretty quick.
 	///
@@ -38,9 +33,4 @@ impl Priority {
 	pub fn is_critical(self) -> bool {
 		self == Priority::Critical
 	}
-
-	/// Returns `true` if `self` is `Background`
-	pub fn is_background(self) -> bool {
-		self == Priority::Background
-	}
 }