Commit 27dc2ae7 authored by Beau Belgrave's avatar Beau Belgrave Committed by Steven Rostedt (Google)

tracing/user_events: Update documentation for ABI

The ABI for user_events has changed from mmap() based to remote writes.
Update the documentation to reflect these changes, add new section for
unregistering events since lifetime is now tied to tasks instead of
files.

Link: https://lkml.kernel.org/r/20230328235219.203-10-beaub@linux.microsoft.comSigned-off-by: default avatarBeau Belgrave <beaub@linux.microsoft.com>
Signed-off-by: default avatarSteven Rostedt (Google) <rostedt@goodmis.org>
parent 9211ddaa
...@@ -20,11 +20,10 @@ dynamic_events is the same as the ioctl with the u: prefix applied. ...@@ -20,11 +20,10 @@ dynamic_events is the same as the ioctl with the u: prefix applied.
Typically programs will register a set of events that they wish to expose to Typically programs will register a set of events that they wish to expose to
tools that can read trace_events (such as ftrace and perf). The registration tools that can read trace_events (such as ftrace and perf). The registration
process gives back two ints to the program for each event. The first int is process tells the kernel which address and bit to reflect if any tool has
the status bit. This describes which bit in little-endian format in the enabled the event and data should be written. The registration will give back
/sys/kernel/tracing/user_events_status file represents this event. The a write index which describes the data when a write() or writev() is called
second int is the write index which describes the data when a write() or on the /sys/kernel/tracing/user_events_data file.
writev() is called on the /sys/kernel/tracing/user_events_data file.
The structures referenced in this document are contained within the The structures referenced in this document are contained within the
/include/uapi/linux/user_events.h file in the source tree. /include/uapi/linux/user_events.h file in the source tree.
...@@ -41,23 +40,64 @@ DIAG_IOCSREG. ...@@ -41,23 +40,64 @@ DIAG_IOCSREG.
This command takes a packed struct user_reg as an argument:: This command takes a packed struct user_reg as an argument::
struct user_reg { struct user_reg {
u32 size; /* Input: Size of the user_reg structure being used */
u64 name_args; __u32 size;
u32 status_bit;
u32 write_index; /* Input: Bit in enable address to use */
}; __u8 enable_bit;
/* Input: Enable size in bytes at address */
__u8 enable_size;
/* Input: Flags for future use, set to 0 */
__u16 flags;
/* Input: Address to update when enabled */
__u64 enable_addr;
/* Input: Pointer to string with event name, description and flags */
__u64 name_args;
/* Output: Index of the event to use when writing data */
__u32 write_index;
} __attribute__((__packed__));
The struct user_reg requires all the above inputs to be set appropriately.
+ size: This must be set to sizeof(struct user_reg).
The struct user_reg requires two inputs, the first is the size of the structure + enable_bit: The bit to reflect the event status at the address specified by
to ensure forward and backward compatibility. The second is the command string enable_addr.
to issue for registering. Upon success two outputs are set, the status bit
and the write index. + enable_size: The size of the value specified by enable_addr.
This must be 4 (32-bit) or 8 (64-bit). 64-bit values are only allowed to be
used on 64-bit kernels, however, 32-bit can be used on all kernels.
+ flags: The flags to use, if any. For the initial version this must be 0.
Callers should first attempt to use flags and retry without flags to ensure
support for lower versions of the kernel. If a flag is not supported -EINVAL
is returned.
+ enable_addr: The address of the value to use to reflect event status. This
must be naturally aligned and write accessible within the user program.
+ name_args: The name and arguments to describe the event, see command format
for details.
Upon successful registration the following is set.
+ write_index: The index to use for this file descriptor that represents this
event when writing out data. The index is unique to this instance of the file
descriptor that was used for the registration. See writing data for details.
User based events show up under tracefs like any other event under the User based events show up under tracefs like any other event under the
subsystem named "user_events". This means tools that wish to attach to the subsystem named "user_events". This means tools that wish to attach to the
events need to use /sys/kernel/tracing/events/user_events/[name]/enable events need to use /sys/kernel/tracing/events/user_events/[name]/enable
or perf record -e user_events:[name] when attaching/recording. or perf record -e user_events:[name] when attaching/recording.
**NOTE:** *The write_index returned is only valid for the FD that was used* **NOTE:** The event subsystem name by default is "user_events". Callers should
not assume it will always be "user_events". Operators reserve the right in the
future to change the subsystem name per-process to accomodate event isolation.
Command Format Command Format
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
...@@ -94,7 +134,7 @@ Would be represented by the following field:: ...@@ -94,7 +134,7 @@ Would be represented by the following field::
struct mytype myname 20 struct mytype myname 20
Deleting Deleting
----------- --------
Deleting an event from within a user process is done via ioctl() out to the Deleting an event from within a user process is done via ioctl() out to the
/sys/kernel/tracing/user_events_data file. The command to issue is /sys/kernel/tracing/user_events_data file. The command to issue is
DIAG_IOCSDEL. DIAG_IOCSDEL.
...@@ -104,92 +144,79 @@ its name. Delete will only succeed if there are no references left to the ...@@ -104,92 +144,79 @@ its name. Delete will only succeed if there are no references left to the
event (in both user and kernel space). User programs should use a separate file event (in both user and kernel space). User programs should use a separate file
to request deletes than the one used for registration due to this. to request deletes than the one used for registration due to this.
Status Unregistering
------ -------------
When tools attach/record user based events the status of the event is updated If after registering an event it is no longer wanted to be updated then it can
in realtime. This allows user programs to only incur the cost of the write() or be disabled via ioctl() out to the /sys/kernel/tracing/user_events_data file.
writev() calls when something is actively attached to the event. The command to issue is DIAG_IOCSUNREG. This is different than deleting, where
deleting actually removes the event from the system. Unregistering simply tells
User programs call mmap() on /sys/kernel/tracing/user_events_status to the kernel your process is no longer interested in updates to the event.
check the status for each event that is registered. The bit to check in the
file is given back after the register ioctl() via user_reg.status_bit. The bit
is always in little-endian format. Programs can check if the bit is set either
using a byte-wise index with a mask or a long-wise index with a little-endian
mask.
Currently the size of user_events_status is a single page, however, custom This command takes a packed struct user_unreg as an argument::
kernel configurations can change this size to allow more user based events. In
all cases the size of the file is a multiple of a page size.
For example, if the register ioctl() gives back a status_bit of 3 you would struct user_unreg {
check byte 0 (3 / 8) of the returned mmap data and then AND the result with 8 /* Input: Size of the user_unreg structure being used */
(1 << (3 % 8)) to see if anything is attached to that event. __u32 size;
A byte-wise index check is performed as follows:: /* Input: Bit to unregister */
__u8 disable_bit;
int index, mask; /* Input: Reserved, set to 0 */
char *status_page; __u8 __reserved;
index = status_bit / 8; /* Input: Reserved, set to 0 */
mask = 1 << (status_bit % 8); __u16 __reserved2;
...
if (status_page[index] & mask) { /* Input: Address to unregister */
/* Enabled */ __u64 disable_addr;
} } __attribute__((__packed__));
A long-wise index check is performed as follows:: The struct user_unreg requires all the above inputs to be set appropriately.
#include <asm/bitsperlong.h> + size: This must be set to sizeof(struct user_unreg).
#include <endian.h>
#if __BITS_PER_LONG == 64 + disable_bit: This must be set to the bit to disable (same bit that was
#define endian_swap(x) htole64(x) previously registered via enable_bit).
#else
#define endian_swap(x) htole32(x)
#endif
long index, mask, *status_page; + disable_addr: This must be set to the address to disable (same address that was
previously registered via enable_addr).
index = status_bit / __BITS_PER_LONG; **NOTE:** Events are automatically unregistered when execve() is invoked. During
mask = 1L << (status_bit % __BITS_PER_LONG); fork() the registered events will be retained and must be unregistered manually
mask = endian_swap(mask); in each process if wanted.
... Status
------
When tools attach/record user based events the status of the event is updated
in realtime. This allows user programs to only incur the cost of the write() or
writev() calls when something is actively attached to the event.
if (status_page[index] & mask) { The kernel will update the specified bit that was registered for the event as
/* Enabled */ tools attach/detach from the event. User programs simply check if the bit is set
} to see if something is attached or not.
Administrators can easily check the status of all registered events by reading Administrators can easily check the status of all registered events by reading
the user_events_status file directly via a terminal. The output is as follows:: the user_events_status file directly via a terminal. The output is as follows::
Byte:Name [# Comments] Name [# Comments]
... ...
Active: ActiveCount Active: ActiveCount
Busy: BusyCount Busy: BusyCount
Max: MaxCount
For example, on a system that has a single event the output looks like this:: For example, on a system that has a single event the output looks like this::
1:test test
Active: 1 Active: 1
Busy: 0 Busy: 0
Max: 32768
If a user enables the user event via ftrace, the output would change to this:: If a user enables the user event via ftrace, the output would change to this::
1:test # Used by ftrace test # Used by ftrace
Active: 1 Active: 1
Busy: 1 Busy: 1
Max: 32768
**NOTE:** *A status bit of 0 will never be returned. This allows user programs
to have a bit that can be used on error cases.*
Writing Data Writing Data
------------ ------------
...@@ -217,7 +244,7 @@ For example, if I have a struct like this:: ...@@ -217,7 +244,7 @@ For example, if I have a struct like this::
int src; int src;
int dst; int dst;
int flags; int flags;
}; } __attribute__((__packed__));
It's advised for user programs to do the following:: It's advised for user programs to do the following::
......
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