What's the meaning of PREEMPT_ACTIVE in preempt_count?

Nov. 7, 2011

      Hi,

   The preempt_count contains a PREEMPT_ACTIVE flag. In cond_resched()
and preempt_schedule(), there is a pattern which is like this:

                add_preempt_count(PREEMPT_ACTIVE);
                schedule();
                sub_preempt_count(PREEMPT_ACTIVE);

I wonder what's the role which PREEMPT_ACTIVE plays. Why we need to
add to it before schedule() and sub from it after?

Parmenides