--- /dev/null
+.. SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
+
+======================
+VFIO AP Locks Overview
+======================
+This document describes the locks that are pertinent to the secure operation
+of the vfio_ap device driver. Throughout this document, the following variables
+will be used to denote instances of the structures herein described:
+
+struct ap_matrix_dev *matrix_dev;
+struct ap_matrix_mdev *matrix_mdev;
+struct kvm *kvm;
+
+The Matrix Devices Lock (drivers/s390/crypto/vfio_ap_private.h)
+--------------------------------------------------------------
+
+struct ap_matrix_dev {
+ ...
+ struct list_head mdev_list;
+ struct mutex mdevs_lock;
+ ...
+}
+
+The Matrix Devices Lock (matrix_dev->mdevs_lock) is implemented as a global
+mutex contained within the single object of struct ap_matrix_dev. This lock
+controls access to all fields contained within each matrix_mdev
+(matrix_dev->mdev_list). This lock must be held while reading from, writing to
+or using the data from a field contained within a matrix_mdev instance
+representing one of the vfio_ap device driver's mediated devices.
+
+The KVM Lock (include/linux/kvm_host.h)
+---------------------------------------
+
+struct kvm {
+ ...
+ struct mutex lock;
+ ...
+}
+
+The KVM Lock (kvm->lock) controls access to the state data for a KVM guest. This
+lock must be held by the vfio_ap device driver while one or more AP adapters,
+domains or control domains are being plugged into or unplugged from the guest.
+
+The KVM pointer is stored in the in the matrix_mdev instance
+(matrix_mdev->kvm = kvm) containing the state of the mediated device that has
+been attached to the KVM guest.
+
+The Guests Lock (drivers/s390/crypto/vfio_ap_private.h)
+-----------------------------------------------------------
+
+struct ap_matrix_dev {
+ ...
+ struct list_head mdev_list;
+ struct mutex guests_lock;
+ ...
+}
+
+The Guests Lock (matrix_dev->guests_lock) controls access to the
+matrix_mdev instances (matrix_dev->mdev_list) that represent mediated devices
+that hold the state for the mediated devices that have been attached to a
+KVM guest. This lock must be held:
+
+1. To control access to the KVM pointer (matrix_mdev->kvm) while the vfio_ap
+ device driver is using it to plug/unplug AP devices passed through to the KVM
+ guest.
+
+2. To add matrix_mdev instances to or remove them from matrix_dev->mdev_list.
+ This is necessary to ensure the proper locking order when the list is perused
+ to find an ap_matrix_mdev instance for the purpose of plugging/unplugging
+ AP devices passed through to a KVM guest.
+
+ For example, when a queue device is removed from the vfio_ap device driver,
+ if the adapter is passed through to a KVM guest, it will have to be
+ unplugged. In order to figure out whether the adapter is passed through,
+ the matrix_mdev object to which the queue is assigned will have to be
+ found. The KVM pointer (matrix_mdev->kvm) can then be used to determine if
+ the mediated device is passed through (matrix_mdev->kvm != NULL) and if so,
+ to unplug the adapter.
+
+It is not necessary to take the Guests Lock to access the KVM pointer if the
+pointer is not used to plug/unplug devices passed through to the KVM guest;
+however, in this case, the Matrix Devices Lock (matrix_dev->mdevs_lock) must be
+held in order to access the KVM pointer since it is set and cleared under the
+protection of the Matrix Devices Lock. A case in point is the function that
+handles interception of the PQAP(AQIC) instruction sub-function. This handler
+needs to access the KVM pointer only for the purposes of setting or clearing IRQ
+resources, so only the matrix_dev->mdevs_lock needs to be held.
+
+The PQAP Hook Lock (arch/s390/include/asm/kvm_host.h)
+-----------------------------------------------------
+
+typedef int (*crypto_hook)(struct kvm_vcpu *vcpu);
+
+struct kvm_s390_crypto {
+ ...
+ struct rw_semaphore pqap_hook_rwsem;
+ crypto_hook *pqap_hook;
+ ...
+};
+
+The PQAP Hook Lock is a r/w semaphore that controls access to the function
+pointer of the handler (*kvm->arch.crypto.pqap_hook) to invoke when the
+PQAP(AQIC) instruction sub-function is intercepted by the host. The lock must be
+held in write mode when pqap_hook value is set, and in read mode when the
+pqap_hook function is called.