The feature supports two coalescing modes:
- Time-based: delay notifications up to N microseconds
- Count-based: delay until N packets are processed

Implementation details:
- Added VIRTIO_NET_CTRL_NOTF_COAL class handling in control virtqueue
- RX path: batches notifications based on packet count or timeout
- TX path: leverages the unified dispatcher to dynamically enable
  timer-based coalescing when guest configures it via ethtool
- Coalescing parameters persist across live migration

Note: When tx=timer is configured at VM launch, the coalescing feature
is automatically disabled because tx=timer already introduces a fixed
150µs delay for packet batching, making notification coalescing redundant.

Adds the `x-vq_notf_coal=on` device parameter to dynamically enable
virtqueue notification coalescing at VM startup.

Performance metrics (Moderate Coalescing vs Without Coalescing):
- RX parameters: 1000µs, 10 frames
- TX parameters: 2000µs, 20 frames
- Results: 20% drop in CPU overhead and a 30% reduction in interrupts.

Signed-off-by: Koushik Dutta <[email protected]>
---
 hw/net/virtio-net.c            | 203 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-
 include/hw/virtio/virtio-net.h |  10 ++
 net/passt.c                    |   1 +
 net/tap.c                      |   1 +
 net/vhost-user.c               |   1 +
 net/vhost-vdpa.c               |   1 +
 6 files changed, 213 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/hw/net/virtio-net.c b/hw/net/virtio-net.c
index e7f05956a5..fac1013d47 100644
--- a/hw/net/virtio-net.c
+++ b/hw/net/virtio-net.c
@@ -157,6 +157,16 @@ static void flush_or_purge_queued_packets(NetClientState 
*nc)
  * - we could suppress RX interrupt if we were so inclined.
  */
 
+static void virtio_net_rx_notify(void *opaque)
+{
+    VirtIONetQueue *q = opaque;
+    VirtIONet *n = q->n;
+    VirtIODevice *vdev = VIRTIO_DEVICE(n);
+
+    q->rx_coal.pkt_cnt = 0;
+    virtio_notify(vdev, q->rx_vq);
+}
+
 static void virtio_net_get_config(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t *config)
 {
     VirtIONet *n = VIRTIO_NET(vdev);
@@ -1002,6 +1012,87 @@ static void virtio_net_set_features(VirtIODevice *vdev,
     }
 }
 
+static void virtio_net_tx_notification_timer(void *opaque)
+{
+    VirtIONetQueue *q = opaque;
+    VirtIONet *n = q->n;
+    VirtIODevice *vdev = VIRTIO_DEVICE(n);
+
+    q->tx_coal.pkt_cnt = 0;
+    virtio_notify(vdev, q->tx_vq);
+}
+
+static bool virtio_net_tx_should_notify(VirtIONetQueue *q)
+{
+    if (q->tx_coal.usecs == 0 || !q->tx_coal.timer) {
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    q->tx_coal.pkt_cnt++;
+
+    if (q->tx_coal.packets > 0 && q->tx_coal.pkt_cnt >= q->tx_coal.packets) {
+        q->tx_coal.pkt_cnt = 0;
+        timer_del(q->tx_coal.timer);
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    if (!timer_pending(q->tx_coal.timer)) {
+        timer_mod(q->tx_coal.timer,
+                  qemu_clock_get_ns(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL) +
+                  q->tx_coal.usecs * 1000); /* Converted to ns */
+    }
+
+    return false;
+}
+
+static int virtio_net_handle_coal(VirtIONet *n, uint8_t cmd,
+                                  struct iovec *iov, unsigned int iov_cnt)
+{
+    struct virtio_net_ctrl_coal coal;
+    VirtIONetQueue *q;
+    size_t s;
+    int i;
+
+    s = iov_to_buf(iov, iov_cnt, 0, &coal, sizeof(coal));
+    if (s != sizeof(coal)) {
+        return VIRTIO_NET_ERR;
+    }
+
+    if (cmd == VIRTIO_NET_CTRL_NOTF_COAL_RX_SET) {
+        for (i = 0; i < n->max_queue_pairs; i++) {
+            q = &n->vqs[i];
+            q->rx_coal.usecs = le32_to_cpu(coal.max_usecs);
+            q->rx_coal.packets = le32_to_cpu(coal.max_packets);
+            q->rx_coal.pkt_cnt = 0;
+            if (q->rx_coal.usecs > 0) {
+                /* Delete old timer if exists, then create new one */
+                g_clear_pointer(&q->rx_coal.timer, timer_free);
+                q->rx_coal.timer = timer_new_ns(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL,
+                                                virtio_net_rx_notify,
+                                                q);
+            } else {
+                g_clear_pointer(&q->rx_coal.timer, timer_free);
+            }
+        }
+    } else if (cmd == VIRTIO_NET_CTRL_NOTF_COAL_TX_SET) {
+        for (i = 0; i < n->max_queue_pairs; i++) {
+            q = &n->vqs[i];
+            q->tx_coal.usecs = le32_to_cpu(coal.max_usecs);
+            q->tx_coal.packets = le32_to_cpu(coal.max_packets);
+            q->tx_coal.pkt_cnt = 0;
+            if (q->tx_coal.usecs > 0) {
+                g_clear_pointer(&q->tx_coal.timer, timer_free);
+                q->tx_coal.timer = timer_new_ns(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL,
+                                                
virtio_net_tx_notification_timer,
+                                                q);
+            } else {
+                g_clear_pointer(&q->tx_coal.timer, timer_free);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    return VIRTIO_NET_OK;
+}
+
 static int virtio_net_handle_rx_mode(VirtIONet *n, uint8_t cmd,
                                      struct iovec *iov, unsigned int iov_cnt)
 {
@@ -1581,6 +1672,8 @@ size_t virtio_net_handle_ctrl_iov(VirtIODevice *vdev,
         status = virtio_net_handle_mq(n, ctrl.cmd, iov, out_num);
     } else if (ctrl.class == VIRTIO_NET_CTRL_GUEST_OFFLOADS) {
         status = virtio_net_handle_offloads(n, ctrl.cmd, iov, out_num);
+    } else if (ctrl.class == VIRTIO_NET_CTRL_NOTF_COAL) {
+        status = virtio_net_handle_coal(n, ctrl.cmd, iov, out_num);
     }
 
     s = iov_from_buf(in_sg, in_num, 0, &status, sizeof(status));
@@ -2040,7 +2133,23 @@ static ssize_t virtio_net_receive_rcu(NetClientState 
*nc, const uint8_t *buf,
     }
 
     virtqueue_flush(q->rx_vq, i);
-    virtio_notify(vdev, q->rx_vq);
+
+    /* rx coalescing */
+    q->rx_coal.pkt_cnt += i;
+    if (q->rx_coal.usecs == 0 || q->rx_coal.pkt_cnt >= q->rx_coal.packets) {
+        if (q->rx_coal.timer) {
+            timer_del(q->rx_coal.timer);
+        }
+        virtio_net_rx_notify(q);
+    } else {
+        if (q->rx_coal.timer) {
+            if (!timer_pending(q->rx_coal.timer)) {
+                timer_mod(q->rx_coal.timer,
+                          qemu_clock_get_ns(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL) +
+                          q->rx_coal.usecs * 1000); /* Converted to ns */
+            }
+        }
+    }
 
     return size;
 
@@ -2690,7 +2799,9 @@ static void virtio_net_tx_complete(NetClientState *nc, 
ssize_t len)
     int ret;
 
     virtqueue_push(q->tx_vq, q->async_tx.elem, 0);
-    virtio_notify(vdev, q->tx_vq);
+    if (virtio_net_tx_should_notify(q)) {
+        virtio_notify(vdev, q->tx_vq);
+    }
 
     g_free(q->async_tx.elem);
     q->async_tx.elem = NULL;
@@ -2802,7 +2913,10 @@ static int32_t virtio_net_flush_tx(VirtIONetQueue *q)
 
 drop:
         virtqueue_push(q->tx_vq, elem, 0);
-        virtio_notify(vdev, q->tx_vq);
+        if (virtio_net_tx_should_notify(q)) {
+            virtio_notify(vdev, q->tx_vq);
+        }
+
         g_free(elem);
 
         if (++num_packets >= n->tx_burst) {
@@ -2899,6 +3013,7 @@ static void virtio_net_tx_timer(void *opaque)
     if (ret == -EBUSY || ret == -EINVAL) {
         return;
     }
+
     /*
      * If we flush a full burst of packets, assume there are
      * more coming and immediately rearm
@@ -3005,6 +3120,12 @@ static void virtio_net_add_queue(VirtIONet *n, int index)
                             &DEVICE(vdev)->mem_reentrancy_guard);
 
     n->vqs[index].tx_waiting = 0;
+    n->vqs[index].rx_coal.pkt_cnt = 0;
+    n->vqs[index].tx_coal.pkt_cnt = 0;
+    n->vqs[index].rx_coal.usecs = 0;
+    n->vqs[index].tx_coal.usecs = 0;
+    n->vqs[index].rx_coal.packets = 0;
+    n->vqs[index].tx_coal.packets = 0;
     n->vqs[index].n = n;
 }
 
@@ -3017,6 +3138,11 @@ static void virtio_net_del_queue(VirtIONet *n, int index)
     qemu_purge_queued_packets(nc);
 
     virtio_del_queue(vdev, index * 2);
+
+    /* Cleanup coalescing timers */
+    g_clear_pointer(&q->rx_coal.timer, timer_free);
+    g_clear_pointer(&q->tx_coal.timer, timer_free);
+
     if (q->tx_timer) {
         timer_free(q->tx_timer);
         q->tx_timer = NULL;
@@ -3097,6 +3223,13 @@ static void virtio_net_get_features(VirtIODevice *vdev, 
uint64_t *features,
     virtio_features_or(features, features, n->host_features_ex);
 
     virtio_add_feature_ex(features, VIRTIO_NET_F_MAC);
+    if (n->tx_timer_activate) {
+        virtio_clear_feature_ex(features, VIRTIO_NET_F_NOTF_COAL);
+    } else {
+        if (!virtio_has_feature(*features, VIRTIO_NET_F_NOTF_COAL)) {
+            *features &= ~(1ULL << VIRTIO_NET_F_NOTF_COAL);
+        }
+    }
 
     if (!peer_has_vnet_hdr(n)) {
         virtio_clear_feature_ex(features, VIRTIO_NET_F_CSUM);
@@ -3251,6 +3384,26 @@ static int virtio_net_post_load_device(void *opaque, int 
version_id)
     }
 
     virtio_net_commit_rss_config(n);
+
+    for (i = 0; i < n->max_queue_pairs; i++) {
+        VirtIONetQueue *q = &n->vqs[i];
+        if (q->rx_coal.usecs > 0) {
+            if (!q->rx_coal.timer) {
+                q->rx_coal.timer = timer_new_ns(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL,
+                                                virtio_net_rx_notify,
+                                                q);
+            }
+        }
+
+        if (q->tx_coal.usecs > 0) {
+            if (!q->tx_coal.timer) {
+                q->tx_coal.timer = timer_new_ns(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL,
+                                                
virtio_net_tx_notification_timer,
+                                                q);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -3270,13 +3423,49 @@ static int virtio_net_post_load_virtio(VirtIODevice 
*vdev)
     return 0;
 }
 
+static const VMStateDescription vmstate_virtio_net_coal = {
+    .name = "virtio-net-coal",
+    .version_id = 1,
+    .minimum_version_id = 1,
+    .fields = (const VMStateField[]) {
+        VMSTATE_UINT32(usecs, VirtIONetCoal),
+        VMSTATE_UINT32(packets, VirtIONetCoal),
+        VMSTATE_UINT32(pkt_cnt, VirtIONetCoal),
+        VMSTATE_END_OF_LIST()
+    },
+};
+
+static bool virtio_net_queue_notf_coal_needed(void *opaque)
+{
+    VirtIONetQueue *q = opaque;
+    return q->rx_coal.usecs > 0 || q->tx_coal.usecs > 0;
+}
+
+static const VMStateDescription vmstate_virtio_net_queue_notf_coal = {
+    .name = "virtio-net-queue-tx_waiting/notf-coal",
+    .version_id = 1,
+    .minimum_version_id = 1,
+    .needed = virtio_net_queue_notf_coal_needed,
+    .fields = (const VMStateField[]) {
+        VMSTATE_STRUCT(rx_coal, VirtIONetQueue, 0,
+                       vmstate_virtio_net_coal, VirtIONetCoal),
+        VMSTATE_STRUCT(tx_coal, VirtIONetQueue, 0,
+                       vmstate_virtio_net_coal, VirtIONetCoal),
+        VMSTATE_END_OF_LIST()
+    },
+};
+
 /* tx_waiting field of a VirtIONetQueue */
 static const VMStateDescription vmstate_virtio_net_queue_tx_waiting = {
     .name = "virtio-net-queue-tx_waiting",
     .fields = (const VMStateField[]) {
         VMSTATE_UINT32(tx_waiting, VirtIONetQueue),
         VMSTATE_END_OF_LIST()
-   },
+    },
+    .subsections = (const VMStateDescription * const []) {
+        &vmstate_virtio_net_queue_notf_coal,
+        NULL
+    }
 };
 
 static bool max_queue_pairs_gt_1(void *opaque, int version_id)
@@ -3981,6 +4170,10 @@ static void virtio_net_device_realize(DeviceState *dev, 
Error **errp)
 
     if (n->net_conf.tx && strcmp(n->net_conf.tx, "timer") == 0) {
         n->tx_timer_activate = true;
+        if (n->host_features & (1ULL << VIRTIO_NET_F_NOTF_COAL)) {
+            warn_report("virtio-net: 'vq_notf_coal' is incompatible with 
'tx=timer',"
+                        "disabling notification coalescing");
+        }
     }
 
     n->net_conf.tx_queue_size = MIN(virtio_net_max_tx_queue_size(n),
@@ -4271,6 +4464,8 @@ static const Property virtio_net_properties[] = {
                       VIRTIO_NET_F_GUEST_USO6, true),
     DEFINE_PROP_BIT64("host_uso", VirtIONet, host_features,
                       VIRTIO_NET_F_HOST_USO, true),
+    DEFINE_PROP_BIT64("x-vq_notf_coal", VirtIONet, host_features,
+                      VIRTIO_NET_F_NOTF_COAL, false),
     DEFINE_PROP_ON_OFF_AUTO_BIT64("hash-ipv4", VirtIONet,
                                   rss_data.specified_hash_types,
                                   VIRTIO_NET_HASH_REPORT_IPv4 - 1,
diff --git a/include/hw/virtio/virtio-net.h b/include/hw/virtio/virtio-net.h
index a4eb3f407e..244c8a0224 100644
--- a/include/hw/virtio/virtio-net.h
+++ b/include/hw/virtio/virtio-net.h
@@ -155,6 +155,14 @@ typedef struct VirtioNetRssData {
     uint16_t default_queue;
 } VirtioNetRssData;
 
+/* Interrupt notification coalescing parameters */
+typedef struct VirtIONetCoal {
+    uint32_t usecs;    /* Timeout in microseconds */
+    uint32_t packets;  /* Packet count threshold */
+    uint32_t pkt_cnt;  /* Current packet count since last notification */
+    QEMUTimer *timer;  /* Coalescing timer */
+} VirtIONetCoal;
+
 typedef struct VirtIONetQueue {
     VirtQueue *rx_vq;
     VirtQueue *tx_vq;
@@ -165,6 +173,8 @@ typedef struct VirtIONetQueue {
         VirtQueueElement *elem;
     } async_tx;
     struct VirtIONet *n;
+    VirtIONetCoal rx_coal;
+    VirtIONetCoal tx_coal;
 } VirtIONetQueue;
 
 struct VirtIONet {
diff --git a/net/passt.c b/net/passt.c
index 45440c399b..43b36ed8c5 100644
--- a/net/passt.c
+++ b/net/passt.c
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ static const int user_feature_bits[] = {
     VIRTIO_NET_F_GUEST_USO4,
     VIRTIO_NET_F_GUEST_USO6,
     VIRTIO_NET_F_HOST_USO,
+    VIRTIO_NET_F_NOTF_COAL,
 
     /* This bit implies RARP isn't sent by QEMU out of band */
     VIRTIO_NET_F_GUEST_ANNOUNCE,
diff --git a/net/tap.c b/net/tap.c
index 57ffb09885..e6ddbc1eb1 100644
--- a/net/tap.c
+++ b/net/tap.c
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ static const int kernel_feature_bits[] = {
     VIRTIO_F_NOTIFICATION_DATA,
     VIRTIO_NET_F_RSC_EXT,
     VIRTIO_NET_F_HASH_REPORT,
+    VIRTIO_NET_F_NOTF_COAL,
     VIRTIO_NET_F_GUEST_UDP_TUNNEL_GSO,
     VIRTIO_NET_F_HOST_UDP_TUNNEL_GSO,
     VHOST_INVALID_FEATURE_BIT
diff --git a/net/vhost-user.c b/net/vhost-user.c
index 2d0fc49b4d..f1e9b7a038 100644
--- a/net/vhost-user.c
+++ b/net/vhost-user.c
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ static const int user_feature_bits[] = {
     VIRTIO_NET_F_GUEST_USO4,
     VIRTIO_NET_F_GUEST_USO6,
     VIRTIO_NET_F_HOST_USO,
+    VIRTIO_NET_F_NOTF_COAL,
 
     /* This bit implies RARP isn't sent by QEMU out of band */
     VIRTIO_NET_F_GUEST_ANNOUNCE,
diff --git a/net/vhost-vdpa.c b/net/vhost-vdpa.c
index f1523697e2..0dcd6fb9f1 100644
--- a/net/vhost-vdpa.c
+++ b/net/vhost-vdpa.c
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ static const int vdpa_feature_bits[] = {
     VIRTIO_NET_F_CTRL_RX,
     VIRTIO_NET_F_CTRL_RX_EXTRA,
     VIRTIO_NET_F_CTRL_VLAN,
+    VIRTIO_NET_F_NOTF_COAL,
     VIRTIO_NET_F_CTRL_VQ,
     VIRTIO_NET_F_GSO,
     VIRTIO_NET_F_GUEST_CSUM,
-- 
2.53.0


Reply via email to