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diff --git a/Documentation/trace/ftrace.txt b/Documentation/trace/ftrace.txt new file mode 100644 index 000000000..572ca9236 --- /dev/null +++ b/Documentation/trace/ftrace.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2846 @@ + ftrace - Function Tracer + ======================== + +Copyright 2008 Red Hat Inc. + Author: Steven Rostedt <srostedt@redhat.com> + License: The GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 + (dual licensed under the GPL v2) +Reviewers: Elias Oltmanns, Randy Dunlap, Andrew Morton, + John Kacur, and David Teigland. +Written for: 2.6.28-rc2 +Updated for: 3.10 + +Introduction +------------ + +Ftrace is an internal tracer designed to help out developers and +designers of systems to find what is going on inside the kernel. +It can be used for debugging or analyzing latencies and +performance issues that take place outside of user-space. + +Although ftrace is typically considered the function tracer, it +is really a frame work of several assorted tracing utilities. +There's latency tracing to examine what occurs between interrupts +disabled and enabled, as well as for preemption and from a time +a task is woken to the task is actually scheduled in. + +One of the most common uses of ftrace is the event tracing. +Through out the kernel is hundreds of static event points that +can be enabled via the debugfs file system to see what is +going on in certain parts of the kernel. + + +Implementation Details +---------------------- + +See ftrace-design.txt for details for arch porters and such. + + +The File System +--------------- + +Ftrace uses the debugfs file system to hold the control files as +well as the files to display output. + +When debugfs is configured into the kernel (which selecting any ftrace +option will do) the directory /sys/kernel/debug will be created. To mount +this directory, you can add to your /etc/fstab file: + + debugfs /sys/kernel/debug debugfs defaults 0 0 + +Or you can mount it at run time with: + + mount -t debugfs nodev /sys/kernel/debug + +For quicker access to that directory you may want to make a soft link to +it: + + ln -s /sys/kernel/debug /debug + +Any selected ftrace option will also create a directory called tracing +within the debugfs. The rest of the document will assume that you are in +the ftrace directory (cd /sys/kernel/debug/tracing) and will only concentrate +on the files within that directory and not distract from the content with +the extended "/sys/kernel/debug/tracing" path name. + +That's it! (assuming that you have ftrace configured into your kernel) + +After mounting debugfs, you can see a directory called +"tracing". This directory contains the control and output files +of ftrace. Here is a list of some of the key files: + + + Note: all time values are in microseconds. + + current_tracer: + + This is used to set or display the current tracer + that is configured. + + available_tracers: + + This holds the different types of tracers that + have been compiled into the kernel. The + tracers listed here can be configured by + echoing their name into current_tracer. + + tracing_on: + + This sets or displays whether writing to the trace + ring buffer is enabled. Echo 0 into this file to disable + the tracer or 1 to enable it. Note, this only disables + writing to the ring buffer, the tracing overhead may + still be occurring. + + trace: + + This file holds the output of the trace in a human + readable format (described below). + + trace_pipe: + + The output is the same as the "trace" file but this + file is meant to be streamed with live tracing. + Reads from this file will block until new data is + retrieved. Unlike the "trace" file, this file is a + consumer. This means reading from this file causes + sequential reads to display more current data. Once + data is read from this file, it is consumed, and + will not be read again with a sequential read. The + "trace" file is static, and if the tracer is not + adding more data,they will display the same + information every time they are read. + + trace_options: + + This file lets the user control the amount of data + that is displayed in one of the above output + files. Options also exist to modify how a tracer + or events work (stack traces, timestamps, etc). + + options: + + This is a directory that has a file for every available + trace option (also in trace_options). Options may also be set + or cleared by writing a "1" or "0" respectively into the + corresponding file with the option name. + + tracing_max_latency: + + Some of the tracers record the max latency. + For example, the time interrupts are disabled. + This time is saved in this file. The max trace + will also be stored, and displayed by "trace". + A new max trace will only be recorded if the + latency is greater than the value in this + file. (in microseconds) + + tracing_thresh: + + Some latency tracers will record a trace whenever the + latency is greater than the number in this file. + Only active when the file contains a number greater than 0. + (in microseconds) + + buffer_size_kb: + + This sets or displays the number of kilobytes each CPU + buffer holds. By default, the trace buffers are the same size + for each CPU. The displayed number is the size of the + CPU buffer and not total size of all buffers. The + trace buffers are allocated in pages (blocks of memory + that the kernel uses for allocation, usually 4 KB in size). + If the last page allocated has room for more bytes + than requested, the rest of the page will be used, + making the actual allocation bigger than requested. + ( Note, the size may not be a multiple of the page size + due to buffer management meta-data. ) + + buffer_total_size_kb: + + This displays the total combined size of all the trace buffers. + + free_buffer: + + If a process is performing the tracing, and the ring buffer + should be shrunk "freed" when the process is finished, even + if it were to be killed by a signal, this file can be used + for that purpose. On close of this file, the ring buffer will + be resized to its minimum size. Having a process that is tracing + also open this file, when the process exits its file descriptor + for this file will be closed, and in doing so, the ring buffer + will be "freed". + + It may also stop tracing if disable_on_free option is set. + + tracing_cpumask: + + This is a mask that lets the user only trace + on specified CPUs. The format is a hex string + representing the CPUs. + + set_ftrace_filter: + + When dynamic ftrace is configured in (see the + section below "dynamic ftrace"), the code is dynamically + modified (code text rewrite) to disable calling of the + function profiler (mcount). This lets tracing be configured + in with practically no overhead in performance. This also + has a side effect of enabling or disabling specific functions + to be traced. Echoing names of functions into this file + will limit the trace to only those functions. + + This interface also allows for commands to be used. See the + "Filter commands" section for more details. + + set_ftrace_notrace: + + This has an effect opposite to that of + set_ftrace_filter. Any function that is added here will not + be traced. If a function exists in both set_ftrace_filter + and set_ftrace_notrace, the function will _not_ be traced. + + set_ftrace_pid: + + Have the function tracer only trace a single thread. + + set_graph_function: + + Set a "trigger" function where tracing should start + with the function graph tracer (See the section + "dynamic ftrace" for more details). + + available_filter_functions: + + This lists the functions that ftrace + has processed and can trace. These are the function + names that you can pass to "set_ftrace_filter" or + "set_ftrace_notrace". (See the section "dynamic ftrace" + below for more details.) + + enabled_functions: + + This file is more for debugging ftrace, but can also be useful + in seeing if any function has a callback attached to it. + Not only does the trace infrastructure use ftrace function + trace utility, but other subsystems might too. This file + displays all functions that have a callback attached to them + as well as the number of callbacks that have been attached. + Note, a callback may also call multiple functions which will + not be listed in this count. + + If the callback registered to be traced by a function with + the "save regs" attribute (thus even more overhead), a 'R' + will be displayed on the same line as the function that + is returning registers. + + If the callback registered to be traced by a function with + the "ip modify" attribute (thus the regs->ip can be changed), + an 'I' will be displayed on the same line as the function that + can be overridden. + + function_profile_enabled: + + When set it will enable all functions with either the function + tracer, or if enabled, the function graph tracer. It will + keep a histogram of the number of functions that were called + and if run with the function graph tracer, it will also keep + track of the time spent in those functions. The histogram + content can be displayed in the files: + + trace_stats/function<cpu> ( function0, function1, etc). + + trace_stats: + + A directory that holds different tracing stats. + + kprobe_events: + + Enable dynamic trace points. See kprobetrace.txt. + + kprobe_profile: + + Dynamic trace points stats. See kprobetrace.txt. + + max_graph_depth: + + Used with the function graph tracer. This is the max depth + it will trace into a function. Setting this to a value of + one will show only the first kernel function that is called + from user space. + + printk_formats: + + This is for tools that read the raw format files. If an event in + the ring buffer references a string (currently only trace_printk() + does this), only a pointer to the string is recorded into the buffer + and not the string itself. This prevents tools from knowing what + that string was. This file displays the string and address for + the string allowing tools to map the pointers to what the + strings were. + + saved_cmdlines: + + Only the pid of the task is recorded in a trace event unless + the event specifically saves the task comm as well. Ftrace + makes a cache of pid mappings to comms to try to display + comms for events. If a pid for a comm is not listed, then + "<...>" is displayed in the output. + + snapshot: + + This displays the "snapshot" buffer and also lets the user + take a snapshot of the current running trace. + See the "Snapshot" section below for more details. + + stack_max_size: + + When the stack tracer is activated, this will display the + maximum stack size it has encountered. + See the "Stack Trace" section below. + + stack_trace: + + This displays the stack back trace of the largest stack + that was encountered when the stack tracer is activated. + See the "Stack Trace" section below. + + stack_trace_filter: + + This is similar to "set_ftrace_filter" but it limits what + functions the stack tracer will check. + + trace_clock: + + Whenever an event is recorded into the ring buffer, a + "timestamp" is added. This stamp comes from a specified + clock. By default, ftrace uses the "local" clock. This + clock is very fast and strictly per cpu, but on some + systems it may not be monotonic with respect to other + CPUs. In other words, the local clocks may not be in sync + with local clocks on other CPUs. + + Usual clocks for tracing: + + # cat trace_clock + [local] global counter x86-tsc + + local: Default clock, but may not be in sync across CPUs + + global: This clock is in sync with all CPUs but may + be a bit slower than the local clock. + + counter: This is not a clock at all, but literally an atomic + counter. It counts up one by one, but is in sync + with all CPUs. This is useful when you need to + know exactly the order events occurred with respect to + each other on different CPUs. + + uptime: This uses the jiffies counter and the time stamp + is relative to the time since boot up. + + perf: This makes ftrace use the same clock that perf uses. + Eventually perf will be able to read ftrace buffers + and this will help out in interleaving the data. + + x86-tsc: Architectures may define their own clocks. For + example, x86 uses its own TSC cycle clock here. + + To set a clock, simply echo the clock name into this file. + + echo global > trace_clock + + trace_marker: + + This is a very useful file for synchronizing user space + with events happening in the kernel. Writing strings into + this file will be written into the ftrace buffer. + + It is useful in applications to open this file at the start + of the application and just reference the file descriptor + for the file. + + void trace_write(const char *fmt, ...) + { + va_list ap; + char buf[256]; + int n; + + if (trace_fd < 0) + return; + + va_start(ap, fmt); + n = vsnprintf(buf, 256, fmt, ap); + va_end(ap); + + write(trace_fd, buf, n); + } + + start: + + trace_fd = open("trace_marker", WR_ONLY); + + uprobe_events: + + Add dynamic tracepoints in programs. + See uprobetracer.txt + + uprobe_profile: + + Uprobe statistics. See uprobetrace.txt + + instances: + + This is a way to make multiple trace buffers where different + events can be recorded in different buffers. + See "Instances" section below. + + events: + + This is the trace event directory. It holds event tracepoints + (also known as static tracepoints) that have been compiled + into the kernel. It shows what event tracepoints exist + and how they are grouped by system. There are "enable" + files at various levels that can enable the tracepoints + when a "1" is written to them. + + See events.txt for more information. + + per_cpu: + + This is a directory that contains the trace per_cpu information. + + per_cpu/cpu0/buffer_size_kb: + + The ftrace buffer is defined per_cpu. That is, there's a separate + buffer for each CPU to allow writes to be done atomically, + and free from cache bouncing. These buffers may have different + size buffers. This file is similar to the buffer_size_kb + file, but it only displays or sets the buffer size for the + specific CPU. (here cpu0). + + per_cpu/cpu0/trace: + + This is similar to the "trace" file, but it will only display + the data specific for the CPU. If written to, it only clears + the specific CPU buffer. + + per_cpu/cpu0/trace_pipe + + This is similar to the "trace_pipe" file, and is a consuming + read, but it will only display (and consume) the data specific + for the CPU. + + per_cpu/cpu0/trace_pipe_raw + + For tools that can parse the ftrace ring buffer binary format, + the trace_pipe_raw file can be used to extract the data + from the ring buffer directly. With the use of the splice() + system call, the buffer data can be quickly transferred to + a file or to the network where a server is collecting the + data. + + Like trace_pipe, this is a consuming reader, where multiple + reads will always produce different data. + + per_cpu/cpu0/snapshot: + + This is similar to the main "snapshot" file, but will only + snapshot the current CPU (if supported). It only displays + the content of the snapshot for a given CPU, and if + written to, only clears this CPU buffer. + + per_cpu/cpu0/snapshot_raw: + + Similar to the trace_pipe_raw, but will read the binary format + from the snapshot buffer for the given CPU. + + per_cpu/cpu0/stats: + + This displays certain stats about the ring buffer: + + entries: The number of events that are still in the buffer. + + overrun: The number of lost events due to overwriting when + the buffer was full. + + commit overrun: Should always be zero. + This gets set if so many events happened within a nested + event (ring buffer is re-entrant), that it fills the + buffer and starts dropping events. + + bytes: Bytes actually read (not overwritten). + + oldest event ts: The oldest timestamp in the buffer + + now ts: The current timestamp + + dropped events: Events lost due to overwrite option being off. + + read events: The number of events read. + +The Tracers +----------- + +Here is the list of current tracers that may be configured. + + "function" + + Function call tracer to trace all kernel functions. + + "function_graph" + + Similar to the function tracer except that the + function tracer probes the functions on their entry + whereas the function graph tracer traces on both entry + and exit of the functions. It then provides the ability + to draw a graph of function calls similar to C code + source. + + "irqsoff" + + Traces the areas that disable interrupts and saves + the trace with the longest max latency. + See tracing_max_latency. When a new max is recorded, + it replaces the old trace. It is best to view this + trace with the latency-format option enabled. + + "preemptoff" + + Similar to irqsoff but traces and records the amount of + time for which preemption is disabled. + + "preemptirqsoff" + + Similar to irqsoff and preemptoff, but traces and + records the largest time for which irqs and/or preemption + is disabled. + + "wakeup" + + Traces and records the max latency that it takes for + the highest priority task to get scheduled after + it has been woken up. + Traces all tasks as an average developer would expect. + + "wakeup_rt" + + Traces and records the max latency that it takes for just + RT tasks (as the current "wakeup" does). This is useful + for those interested in wake up timings of RT tasks. + + "nop" + + This is the "trace nothing" tracer. To remove all + tracers from tracing simply echo "nop" into + current_tracer. + + +Examples of using the tracer +---------------------------- + +Here are typical examples of using the tracers when controlling +them only with the debugfs interface (without using any +user-land utilities). + +Output format: +-------------- + +Here is an example of the output format of the file "trace" + + -------- +# tracer: function +# +# entries-in-buffer/entries-written: 140080/250280 #P:4 +# +# _-----=> irqs-off +# / _----=> need-resched +# | / _---=> hardirq/softirq +# || / _--=> preempt-depth +# ||| / delay +# TASK-PID CPU# |||| TIMESTAMP FUNCTION +# | | | |||| | | + bash-1977 [000] .... 17284.993652: sys_close <-system_call_fastpath + bash-1977 [000] .... 17284.993653: __close_fd <-sys_close + bash-1977 [000] .... 17284.993653: _raw_spin_lock <-__close_fd + sshd-1974 [003] .... 17284.993653: __srcu_read_unlock <-fsnotify + bash-1977 [000] .... 17284.993654: add_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_lock + bash-1977 [000] ...1 17284.993655: _raw_spin_unlock <-__close_fd + bash-1977 [000] ...1 17284.993656: sub_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_unlock + bash-1977 [000] .... 17284.993657: filp_close <-__close_fd + bash-1977 [000] .... 17284.993657: dnotify_flush <-filp_close + sshd-1974 [003] .... 17284.993658: sys_select <-system_call_fastpath + -------- + +A header is printed with the tracer name that is represented by +the trace. In this case the tracer is "function". Then it shows the +number of events in the buffer as well as the total number of entries +that were written. The difference is the number of entries that were +lost due to the buffer filling up (250280 - 140080 = 110200 events +lost). + +The header explains the content of the events. Task name "bash", the task +PID "1977", the CPU that it was running on "000", the latency format +(explained below), the timestamp in <secs>.<usecs> format, the +function name that was traced "sys_close" and the parent function that +called this function "system_call_fastpath". The timestamp is the time +at which the function was entered. + +Latency trace format +-------------------- + +When the latency-format option is enabled or when one of the latency +tracers is set, the trace file gives somewhat more information to see +why a latency happened. Here is a typical trace. + +# tracer: irqsoff +# +# irqsoff latency trace v1.1.5 on 3.8.0-test+ +# -------------------------------------------------------------------- +# latency: 259 us, #4/4, CPU#2 | (M:preempt VP:0, KP:0, SP:0 HP:0 #P:4) +# ----------------- +# | task: ps-6143 (uid:0 nice:0 policy:0 rt_prio:0) +# ----------------- +# => started at: __lock_task_sighand +# => ended at: _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore +# +# +# _------=> CPU# +# / _-----=> irqs-off +# | / _----=> need-resched +# || / _---=> hardirq/softirq +# ||| / _--=> preempt-depth +# |||| / delay +# cmd pid ||||| time | caller +# \ / ||||| \ | / + ps-6143 2d... 0us!: trace_hardirqs_off <-__lock_task_sighand + ps-6143 2d..1 259us+: trace_hardirqs_on <-_raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore + ps-6143 2d..1 263us+: time_hardirqs_on <-_raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore + ps-6143 2d..1 306us : <stack trace> + => trace_hardirqs_on_caller + => trace_hardirqs_on + => _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore + => do_task_stat + => proc_tgid_stat + => proc_single_show + => seq_read + => vfs_read + => sys_read + => system_call_fastpath + + +This shows that the current tracer is "irqsoff" tracing the time +for which interrupts were disabled. It gives the trace version (which +never changes) and the version of the kernel upon which this was executed on +(3.10). Then it displays the max latency in microseconds (259 us). The number +of trace entries displayed and the total number (both are four: #4/4). +VP, KP, SP, and HP are always zero and are reserved for later use. +#P is the number of online CPUs (#P:4). + +The task is the process that was running when the latency +occurred. (ps pid: 6143). + +The start and stop (the functions in which the interrupts were +disabled and enabled respectively) that caused the latencies: + + __lock_task_sighand is where the interrupts were disabled. + _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore is where they were enabled again. + +The next lines after the header are the trace itself. The header +explains which is which. + + cmd: The name of the process in the trace. + + pid: The PID of that process. + + CPU#: The CPU which the process was running on. + + irqs-off: 'd' interrupts are disabled. '.' otherwise. + Note: If the architecture does not support a way to + read the irq flags variable, an 'X' will always + be printed here. + + need-resched: + 'N' both TIF_NEED_RESCHED and PREEMPT_NEED_RESCHED is set, + 'n' only TIF_NEED_RESCHED is set, + 'p' only PREEMPT_NEED_RESCHED is set, + '.' otherwise. + + hardirq/softirq: + 'H' - hard irq occurred inside a softirq. + 'h' - hard irq is running + 's' - soft irq is running + '.' - normal context. + + preempt-depth: The level of preempt_disabled + +The above is mostly meaningful for kernel developers. + + time: When the latency-format option is enabled, the trace file + output includes a timestamp relative to the start of the + trace. This differs from the output when latency-format + is disabled, which includes an absolute timestamp. + + delay: This is just to help catch your eye a bit better. And + needs to be fixed to be only relative to the same CPU. + The marks are determined by the difference between this + current trace and the next trace. + '$' - greater than 1 second + '#' - greater than 1000 microsecond + '!' - greater than 100 microsecond + '+' - greater than 10 microsecond + ' ' - less than or equal to 10 microsecond. + + The rest is the same as the 'trace' file. + + Note, the latency tracers will usually end with a back trace + to easily find where the latency occurred. + +trace_options +------------- + +The trace_options file (or the options directory) is used to control +what gets printed in the trace output, or manipulate the tracers. +To see what is available, simply cat the file: + + cat trace_options +print-parent +nosym-offset +nosym-addr +noverbose +noraw +nohex +nobin +noblock +nostacktrace +trace_printk +noftrace_preempt +nobranch +annotate +nouserstacktrace +nosym-userobj +noprintk-msg-only +context-info +latency-format +sleep-time +graph-time +record-cmd +overwrite +nodisable_on_free +irq-info +markers +function-trace + +To disable one of the options, echo in the option prepended with +"no". + + echo noprint-parent > trace_options + +To enable an option, leave off the "no". + + echo sym-offset > trace_options + +Here are the available options: + + print-parent - On function traces, display the calling (parent) + function as well as the function being traced. + + print-parent: + bash-4000 [01] 1477.606694: simple_strtoul <-kstrtoul + + noprint-parent: + bash-4000 [01] 1477.606694: simple_strtoul + + + sym-offset - Display not only the function name, but also the + offset in the function. For example, instead of + seeing just "ktime_get", you will see + "ktime_get+0xb/0x20". + + sym-offset: + bash-4000 [01] 1477.606694: simple_strtoul+0x6/0xa0 + + sym-addr - this will also display the function address as well + as the function name. + + sym-addr: + bash-4000 [01] 1477.606694: simple_strtoul <c0339346> + + verbose - This deals with the trace file when the + latency-format option is enabled. + + bash 4000 1 0 00000000 00010a95 [58127d26] 1720.415ms \ + (+0.000ms): simple_strtoul (kstrtoul) + + raw - This will display raw numbers. This option is best for + use with user applications that can translate the raw + numbers better than having it done in the kernel. + + hex - Similar to raw, but the numbers will be in a hexadecimal + format. + + bin - This will print out the formats in raw binary. + + block - When set, reading trace_pipe will not block when polled. + + stacktrace - This is one of the options that changes the trace + itself. When a trace is recorded, so is the stack + of functions. This allows for back traces of + trace sites. + + trace_printk - Can disable trace_printk() from writing into the buffer. + + branch - Enable branch tracing with the tracer. + + annotate - It is sometimes confusing when the CPU buffers are full + and one CPU buffer had a lot of events recently, thus + a shorter time frame, were another CPU may have only had + a few events, which lets it have older events. When + the trace is reported, it shows the oldest events first, + and it may look like only one CPU ran (the one with the + oldest events). When the annotate option is set, it will + display when a new CPU buffer started: + + <idle>-0 [001] dNs4 21169.031481: wake_up_idle_cpu <-add_timer_on + <idle>-0 [001] dNs4 21169.031482: _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore <-add_timer_on + <idle>-0 [001] .Ns4 21169.031484: sub_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore +##### CPU 2 buffer started #### + <idle>-0 [002] .N.1 21169.031484: rcu_idle_exit <-cpu_idle + <idle>-0 [001] .Ns3 21169.031484: _raw_spin_unlock <-clocksource_watchdog + <idle>-0 [001] .Ns3 21169.031485: sub_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_unlock + + userstacktrace - This option changes the trace. It records a + stacktrace of the current userspace thread. + + sym-userobj - when user stacktrace are enabled, look up which + object the address belongs to, and print a + relative address. This is especially useful when + ASLR is on, otherwise you don't get a chance to + resolve the address to object/file/line after + the app is no longer running + + The lookup is performed when you read + trace,trace_pipe. Example: + + a.out-1623 [000] 40874.465068: /root/a.out[+0x480] <-/root/a.out[+0 +x494] <- /root/a.out[+0x4a8] <- /lib/libc-2.7.so[+0x1e1a6] + + + printk-msg-only - When set, trace_printk()s will only show the format + and not their parameters (if trace_bprintk() or + trace_bputs() was used to save the trace_printk()). + + context-info - Show only the event data. Hides the comm, PID, + timestamp, CPU, and other useful data. + + latency-format - This option changes the trace. When + it is enabled, the trace displays + additional information about the + latencies, as described in "Latency + trace format". + + sleep-time - When running function graph tracer, to include + the time a task schedules out in its function. + When enabled, it will account time the task has been + scheduled out as part of the function call. + + graph-time - When running function graph tracer, to include the + time to call nested functions. When this is not set, + the time reported for the function will only include + the time the function itself executed for, not the time + for functions that it called. + + record-cmd - When any event or tracer is enabled, a hook is enabled + in the sched_switch trace point to fill comm cache + with mapped pids and comms. But this may cause some + overhead, and if you only care about pids, and not the + name of the task, disabling this option can lower the + impact of tracing. + + overwrite - This controls what happens when the trace buffer is + full. If "1" (default), the oldest events are + discarded and overwritten. If "0", then the newest + events are discarded. + (see per_cpu/cpu0/stats for overrun and dropped) + + disable_on_free - When the free_buffer is closed, tracing will + stop (tracing_on set to 0). + + irq-info - Shows the interrupt, preempt count, need resched data. + When disabled, the trace looks like: + +# tracer: function +# +# entries-in-buffer/entries-written: 144405/9452052 #P:4 +# +# TASK-PID CPU# TIMESTAMP FUNCTION +# | | | | | + <idle>-0 [002] 23636.756054: ttwu_do_activate.constprop.89 <-try_to_wake_up + <idle>-0 [002] 23636.756054: activate_task <-ttwu_do_activate.constprop.89 + <idle>-0 [002] 23636.756055: enqueue_task <-activate_task + + + markers - When set, the trace_marker is writable (only by root). + When disabled, the trace_marker will error with EINVAL + on write. + + + function-trace - The latency tracers will enable function tracing + if this option is enabled (default it is). When + it is disabled, the latency tracers do not trace + functions. This keeps the overhead of the tracer down + when performing latency tests. + + Note: Some tracers have their own options. They only appear + when the tracer is active. + + + +irqsoff +------- + +When interrupts are disabled, the CPU can not react to any other +external event (besides NMIs and SMIs). This prevents the timer +interrupt from triggering or the mouse interrupt from letting +the kernel know of a new mouse event. The result is a latency +with the reaction time. + +The irqsoff tracer tracks the time for which interrupts are +disabled. When a new maximum latency is hit, the tracer saves +the trace leading up to that latency point so that every time a +new maximum is reached, the old saved trace is discarded and the +new trace is saved. + +To reset the maximum, echo 0 into tracing_max_latency. Here is +an example: + + # echo 0 > options/function-trace + # echo irqsoff > current_tracer + # echo 1 > tracing_on + # echo 0 > tracing_max_latency + # ls -ltr + [...] + # echo 0 > tracing_on + # cat trace +# tracer: irqsoff +# +# irqsoff latency trace v1.1.5 on 3.8.0-test+ +# -------------------------------------------------------------------- +# latency: 16 us, #4/4, CPU#0 | (M:preempt VP:0, KP:0, SP:0 HP:0 #P:4) +# ----------------- +# | task: swapper/0-0 (uid:0 nice:0 policy:0 rt_prio:0) +# ----------------- +# => started at: run_timer_softirq +# => ended at: run_timer_softirq +# +# +# _------=> CPU# +# / _-----=> irqs-off +# | / _----=> need-resched +# || / _---=> hardirq/softirq +# ||| / _--=> preempt-depth +# |||| / delay +# cmd pid ||||| time | caller +# \ / ||||| \ | / + <idle>-0 0d.s2 0us+: _raw_spin_lock_irq <-run_timer_softirq + <idle>-0 0dNs3 17us : _raw_spin_unlock_irq <-run_timer_softirq + <idle>-0 0dNs3 17us+: trace_hardirqs_on <-run_timer_softirq + <idle>-0 0dNs3 25us : <stack trace> + => _raw_spin_unlock_irq + => run_timer_softirq + => __do_softirq + => call_softirq + => do_softirq + => irq_exit + => smp_apic_timer_interrupt + => apic_timer_interrupt + => rcu_idle_exit + => cpu_idle + => rest_init + => start_kernel + => x86_64_start_reservations + => x86_64_start_kernel + +Here we see that that we had a latency of 16 microseconds (which is +very good). The _raw_spin_lock_irq in run_timer_softirq disabled +interrupts. The difference between the 16 and the displayed +timestamp 25us occurred because the clock was incremented +between the time of recording the max latency and the time of +recording the function that had that latency. + +Note the above example had function-trace not set. If we set +function-trace, we get a much larger output: + + with echo 1 > options/function-trace + +# tracer: irqsoff +# +# irqsoff latency trace v1.1.5 on 3.8.0-test+ +# -------------------------------------------------------------------- +# latency: 71 us, #168/168, CPU#3 | (M:preempt VP:0, KP:0, SP:0 HP:0 #P:4) +# ----------------- +# | task: bash-2042 (uid:0 nice:0 policy:0 rt_prio:0) +# ----------------- +# => started at: ata_scsi_queuecmd +# => ended at: ata_scsi_queuecmd +# +# +# _------=> CPU# +# / _-----=> irqs-off +# | / _----=> need-resched +# || / _---=> hardirq/softirq +# ||| / _--=> preempt-depth +# |||| / delay +# cmd pid ||||| time | caller +# \ / ||||| \ | / + bash-2042 3d... 0us : _raw_spin_lock_irqsave <-ata_scsi_queuecmd + bash-2042 3d... 0us : add_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_lock_irqsave + bash-2042 3d..1 1us : ata_scsi_find_dev <-ata_scsi_queuecmd + bash-2042 3d..1 1us : __ata_scsi_find_dev <-ata_scsi_find_dev + bash-2042 3d..1 2us : ata_find_dev.part.14 <-__ata_scsi_find_dev + bash-2042 3d..1 2us : ata_qc_new_init <-__ata_scsi_queuecmd + bash-2042 3d..1 3us : ata_sg_init <-__ata_scsi_queuecmd + bash-2042 3d..1 4us : ata_scsi_rw_xlat <-__ata_scsi_queuecmd + bash-2042 3d..1 4us : ata_build_rw_tf <-ata_scsi_rw_xlat +[...] + bash-2042 3d..1 67us : delay_tsc <-__delay + bash-2042 3d..1 67us : add_preempt_count <-delay_tsc + bash-2042 3d..2 67us : sub_preempt_count <-delay_tsc + bash-2042 3d..1 67us : add_preempt_count <-delay_tsc + bash-2042 3d..2 68us : sub_preempt_count <-delay_tsc + bash-2042 3d..1 68us+: ata_bmdma_start <-ata_bmdma_qc_issue + bash-2042 3d..1 71us : _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore <-ata_scsi_queuecmd + bash-2042 3d..1 71us : _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore <-ata_scsi_queuecmd + bash-2042 3d..1 72us+: trace_hardirqs_on <-ata_scsi_queuecmd + bash-2042 3d..1 120us : <stack trace> + => _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore + => ata_scsi_queuecmd + => scsi_dispatch_cmd + => scsi_request_fn + => __blk_run_queue_uncond + => __blk_run_queue + => blk_queue_bio + => generic_make_request + => submit_bio + => submit_bh + => __ext3_get_inode_loc + => ext3_iget + => ext3_lookup + => lookup_real + => __lookup_hash + => walk_component + => lookup_last + => path_lookupat + => filename_lookup + => user_path_at_empty + => user_path_at + => vfs_fstatat + => vfs_stat + => sys_newstat + => system_call_fastpath + + +Here we traced a 71 microsecond latency. But we also see all the +functions that were called during that time. Note that by +enabling function tracing, we incur an added overhead. This +overhead may extend the latency times. But nevertheless, this +trace has provided some very helpful debugging information. + + +preemptoff +---------- + +When preemption is disabled, we may be able to receive +interrupts but the task cannot be preempted and a higher +priority task must wait for preemption to be enabled again +before it can preempt a lower priority task. + +The preemptoff tracer traces the places that disable preemption. +Like the irqsoff tracer, it records the maximum latency for +which preemption was disabled. The control of preemptoff tracer +is much like the irqsoff tracer. + + # echo 0 > options/function-trace + # echo preemptoff > current_tracer + # echo 1 > tracing_on + # echo 0 > tracing_max_latency + # ls -ltr + [...] + # echo 0 > tracing_on + # cat trace +# tracer: preemptoff +# +# preemptoff latency trace v1.1.5 on 3.8.0-test+ +# -------------------------------------------------------------------- +# latency: 46 us, #4/4, CPU#1 | (M:preempt VP:0, KP:0, SP:0 HP:0 #P:4) +# ----------------- +# | task: sshd-1991 (uid:0 nice:0 policy:0 rt_prio:0) +# ----------------- +# => started at: do_IRQ +# => ended at: do_IRQ +# +# +# _------=> CPU# +# / _-----=> irqs-off +# | / _----=> need-resched +# || / _---=> hardirq/softirq +# ||| / _--=> preempt-depth +# |||| / delay +# cmd pid ||||| time | caller +# \ / ||||| \ | / + sshd-1991 1d.h. 0us+: irq_enter <-do_IRQ + sshd-1991 1d..1 46us : irq_exit <-do_IRQ + sshd-1991 1d..1 47us+: trace_preempt_on <-do_IRQ + sshd-1991 1d..1 52us : <stack trace> + => sub_preempt_count + => irq_exit + => do_IRQ + => ret_from_intr + + +This has some more changes. Preemption was disabled when an +interrupt came in (notice the 'h'), and was enabled on exit. +But we also see that interrupts have been disabled when entering +the preempt off section and leaving it (the 'd'). We do not know if +interrupts were enabled in the mean time or shortly after this +was over. + +# tracer: preemptoff +# +# preemptoff latency trace v1.1.5 on 3.8.0-test+ +# -------------------------------------------------------------------- +# latency: 83 us, #241/241, CPU#1 | (M:preempt VP:0, KP:0, SP:0 HP:0 #P:4) +# ----------------- +# | task: bash-1994 (uid:0 nice:0 policy:0 rt_prio:0) +# ----------------- +# => started at: wake_up_new_task +# => ended at: task_rq_unlock +# +# +# _------=> CPU# +# / _-----=> irqs-off +# | / _----=> need-resched +# || / _---=> hardirq/softirq +# ||| / _--=> preempt-depth +# |||| / delay +# cmd pid ||||| time | caller +# \ / ||||| \ | / + bash-1994 1d..1 0us : _raw_spin_lock_irqsave <-wake_up_new_task + bash-1994 1d..1 0us : select_task_rq_fair <-select_task_rq + bash-1994 1d..1 1us : __rcu_read_lock <-select_task_rq_fair + bash-1994 1d..1 1us : source_load <-select_task_rq_fair + bash-1994 1d..1 1us : source_load <-select_task_rq_fair +[...] + bash-1994 1d..1 12us : irq_enter <-smp_apic_timer_interrupt + bash-1994 1d..1 12us : rcu_irq_enter <-irq_enter + bash-1994 1d..1 13us : add_preempt_count <-irq_enter + bash-1994 1d.h1 13us : exit_idle <-smp_apic_timer_interrupt + bash-1994 1d.h1 13us : hrtimer_interrupt <-smp_apic_timer_interrupt + bash-1994 1d.h1 13us : _raw_spin_lock <-hrtimer_interrupt + bash-1994 1d.h1 14us : add_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_lock + bash-1994 1d.h2 14us : ktime_get_update_offsets <-hrtimer_interrupt +[...] + bash-1994 1d.h1 35us : lapic_next_event <-clockevents_program_event + bash-1994 1d.h1 35us : irq_exit <-smp_apic_timer_interrupt + bash-1994 1d.h1 36us : sub_preempt_count <-irq_exit + bash-1994 1d..2 36us : do_softirq <-irq_exit + bash-1994 1d..2 36us : __do_softirq <-call_softirq + bash-1994 1d..2 36us : __local_bh_disable <-__do_softirq + bash-1994 1d.s2 37us : add_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_lock_irq + bash-1994 1d.s3 38us : _raw_spin_unlock <-run_timer_softirq + bash-1994 1d.s3 39us : sub_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_unlock + bash-1994 1d.s2 39us : call_timer_fn <-run_timer_softirq +[...] + bash-1994 1dNs2 81us : cpu_needs_another_gp <-rcu_process_callbacks + bash-1994 1dNs2 82us : __local_bh_enable <-__do_softirq + bash-1994 1dNs2 82us : sub_preempt_count <-__local_bh_enable + bash-1994 1dN.2 82us : idle_cpu <-irq_exit + bash-1994 1dN.2 83us : rcu_irq_exit <-irq_exit + bash-1994 1dN.2 83us : sub_preempt_count <-irq_exit + bash-1994 1.N.1 84us : _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore <-task_rq_unlock + bash-1994 1.N.1 84us+: trace_preempt_on <-task_rq_unlock + bash-1994 1.N.1 104us : <stack trace> + => sub_preempt_count + => _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore + => task_rq_unlock + => wake_up_new_task + => do_fork + => sys_clone + => stub_clone + + +The above is an example of the preemptoff trace with +function-trace set. Here we see that interrupts were not disabled +the entire time. The irq_enter code lets us know that we entered +an interrupt 'h'. Before that, the functions being traced still +show that it is not in an interrupt, but we can see from the +functions themselves that this is not the case. + +preemptirqsoff +-------------- + +Knowing the locations that have interrupts disabled or +preemption disabled for the longest times is helpful. But +sometimes we would like to know when either preemption and/or +interrupts are disabled. + +Consider the following code: + + local_irq_disable(); + call_function_with_irqs_off(); + preempt_disable(); + call_function_with_irqs_and_preemption_off(); + local_irq_enable(); + call_function_with_preemption_off(); + preempt_enable(); + +The irqsoff tracer will record the total length of +call_function_with_irqs_off() and +call_function_with_irqs_and_preemption_off(). + +The preemptoff tracer will record the total length of +call_function_with_irqs_and_preemption_off() and +call_function_with_preemption_off(). + +But neither will trace the time that interrupts and/or +preemption is disabled. This total time is the time that we can +not schedule. To record this time, use the preemptirqsoff +tracer. + +Again, using this trace is much like the irqsoff and preemptoff +tracers. + + # echo 0 > options/function-trace + # echo preemptirqsoff > current_tracer + # echo 1 > tracing_on + # echo 0 > tracing_max_latency + # ls -ltr + [...] + # echo 0 > tracing_on + # cat trace +# tracer: preemptirqsoff +# +# preemptirqsoff latency trace v1.1.5 on 3.8.0-test+ +# -------------------------------------------------------------------- +# latency: 100 us, #4/4, CPU#3 | (M:preempt VP:0, KP:0, SP:0 HP:0 #P:4) +# ----------------- +# | task: ls-2230 (uid:0 nice:0 policy:0 rt_prio:0) +# ----------------- +# => started at: ata_scsi_queuecmd +# => ended at: ata_scsi_queuecmd +# +# +# _------=> CPU# +# / _-----=> irqs-off +# | / _----=> need-resched +# || / _---=> hardirq/softirq +# ||| / _--=> preempt-depth +# |||| / delay +# cmd pid ||||| time | caller +# \ / ||||| \ | / + ls-2230 3d... 0us+: _raw_spin_lock_irqsave <-ata_scsi_queuecmd + ls-2230 3...1 100us : _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore <-ata_scsi_queuecmd + ls-2230 3...1 101us+: trace_preempt_on <-ata_scsi_queuecmd + ls-2230 3...1 111us : <stack trace> + => sub_preempt_count + => _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore + => ata_scsi_queuecmd + => scsi_dispatch_cmd + => scsi_request_fn + => __blk_run_queue_uncond + => __blk_run_queue + => blk_queue_bio + => generic_make_request + => submit_bio + => submit_bh + => ext3_bread + => ext3_dir_bread + => htree_dirblock_to_tree + => ext3_htree_fill_tree + => ext3_readdir + => vfs_readdir + => sys_getdents + => system_call_fastpath + + +The trace_hardirqs_off_thunk is called from assembly on x86 when +interrupts are disabled in the assembly code. Without the +function tracing, we do not know if interrupts were enabled +within the preemption points. We do see that it started with +preemption enabled. + +Here is a trace with function-trace set: + +# tracer: preemptirqsoff +# +# preemptirqsoff latency trace v1.1.5 on 3.8.0-test+ +# -------------------------------------------------------------------- +# latency: 161 us, #339/339, CPU#3 | (M:preempt VP:0, KP:0, SP:0 HP:0 #P:4) +# ----------------- +# | task: ls-2269 (uid:0 nice:0 policy:0 rt_prio:0) +# ----------------- +# => started at: schedule +# => ended at: mutex_unlock +# +# +# _------=> CPU# +# / _-----=> irqs-off +# | / _----=> need-resched +# || / _---=> hardirq/softirq +# ||| / _--=> preempt-depth +# |||| / delay +# cmd pid ||||| time | caller +# \ / ||||| \ | / +kworker/-59 3...1 0us : __schedule <-schedule +kworker/-59 3d..1 0us : rcu_preempt_qs <-rcu_note_context_switch +kworker/-59 3d..1 1us : add_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_lock_irq +kworker/-59 3d..2 1us : deactivate_task <-__schedule +kworker/-59 3d..2 1us : dequeue_task <-deactivate_task +kworker/-59 3d..2 2us : update_rq_clock <-dequeue_task +kworker/-59 3d..2 2us : dequeue_task_fair <-dequeue_task +kworker/-59 3d..2 2us : update_curr <-dequeue_task_fair +kworker/-59 3d..2 2us : update_min_vruntime <-update_curr +kworker/-59 3d..2 3us : cpuacct_charge <-update_curr +kworker/-59 3d..2 3us : __rcu_read_lock <-cpuacct_charge +kworker/-59 3d..2 3us : __rcu_read_unlock <-cpuacct_charge +kworker/-59 3d..2 3us : update_cfs_rq_blocked_load <-dequeue_task_fair +kworker/-59 3d..2 4us : clear_buddies <-dequeue_task_fair +kworker/-59 3d..2 4us : account_entity_dequeue <-dequeue_task_fair +kworker/-59 3d..2 4us : update_min_vruntime <-dequeue_task_fair +kworker/-59 3d..2 4us : update_cfs_shares <-dequeue_task_fair +kworker/-59 3d..2 5us : hrtick_update <-dequeue_task_fair +kworker/-59 3d..2 5us : wq_worker_sleeping <-__schedule +kworker/-59 3d..2 5us : kthread_data <-wq_worker_sleeping +kworker/-59 3d..2 5us : put_prev_task_fair <-__schedule +kworker/-59 3d..2 6us : pick_next_task_fair <-pick_next_task +kworker/-59 3d..2 6us : clear_buddies <-pick_next_task_fair +kworker/-59 3d..2 6us : set_next_entity <-pick_next_task_fair +kworker/-59 3d..2 6us : update_stats_wait_end <-set_next_entity + ls-2269 3d..2 7us : finish_task_switch <-__schedule + ls-2269 3d..2 7us : _raw_spin_unlock_irq <-finish_task_switch + ls-2269 3d..2 8us : do_IRQ <-ret_from_intr + ls-2269 3d..2 8us : irq_enter <-do_IRQ + ls-2269 3d..2 8us : rcu_irq_enter <-irq_enter + ls-2269 3d..2 9us : add_preempt_count <-irq_enter + ls-2269 3d.h2 9us : exit_idle <-do_IRQ +[...] + ls-2269 3d.h3 20us : sub_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_unlock + ls-2269 3d.h2 20us : irq_exit <-do_IRQ + ls-2269 3d.h2 21us : sub_preempt_count <-irq_exit + ls-2269 3d..3 21us : do_softirq <-irq_exit + ls-2269 3d..3 21us : __do_softirq <-call_softirq + ls-2269 3d..3 21us+: __local_bh_disable <-__do_softirq + ls-2269 3d.s4 29us : sub_preempt_count <-_local_bh_enable_ip + ls-2269 3d.s5 29us : sub_preempt_count <-_local_bh_enable_ip + ls-2269 3d.s5 31us : do_IRQ <-ret_from_intr + ls-2269 3d.s5 31us : irq_enter <-do_IRQ + ls-2269 3d.s5 31us : rcu_irq_enter <-irq_enter +[...] + ls-2269 3d.s5 31us : rcu_irq_enter <-irq_enter + ls-2269 3d.s5 32us : add_preempt_count <-irq_enter + ls-2269 3d.H5 32us : exit_idle <-do_IRQ + ls-2269 3d.H5 32us : handle_irq <-do_IRQ + ls-2269 3d.H5 32us : irq_to_desc <-handle_irq + ls-2269 3d.H5 33us : handle_fasteoi_irq <-handle_irq +[...] + ls-2269 3d.s5 158us : _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore <-rtl8139_poll + ls-2269 3d.s3 158us : net_rps_action_and_irq_enable.isra.65 <-net_rx_action + ls-2269 3d.s3 159us : __local_bh_enable <-__do_softirq + ls-2269 3d.s3 159us : sub_preempt_count <-__local_bh_enable + ls-2269 3d..3 159us : idle_cpu <-irq_exit + ls-2269 3d..3 159us : rcu_irq_exit <-irq_exit + ls-2269 3d..3 160us : sub_preempt_count <-irq_exit + ls-2269 3d... 161us : __mutex_unlock_slowpath <-mutex_unlock + ls-2269 3d... 162us+: trace_hardirqs_on <-mutex_unlock + ls-2269 3d... 186us : <stack trace> + => __mutex_unlock_slowpath + => mutex_unlock + => process_output + => n_tty_write + => tty_write + => vfs_write + => sys_write + => system_call_fastpath + +This is an interesting trace. It started with kworker running and +scheduling out and ls taking over. But as soon as ls released the +rq lock and enabled interrupts (but not preemption) an interrupt +triggered. When the interrupt finished, it started running softirqs. +But while the softirq was running, another interrupt triggered. +When an interrupt is running inside a softirq, the annotation is 'H'. + + +wakeup +------ + +One common case that people are interested in tracing is the +time it takes for a task that is woken to actually wake up. +Now for non Real-Time tasks, this can be arbitrary. But tracing +it none the less can be interesting. + +Without function tracing: + + # echo 0 > options/function-trace + # echo wakeup > current_tracer + # echo 1 > tracing_on + # echo 0 > tracing_max_latency + # chrt -f 5 sleep 1 + # echo 0 > tracing_on + # cat trace +# tracer: wakeup +# +# wakeup latency trace v1.1.5 on 3.8.0-test+ +# -------------------------------------------------------------------- +# latency: 15 us, #4/4, CPU#3 | (M:preempt VP:0, KP:0, SP:0 HP:0 #P:4) +# ----------------- +# | task: kworker/3:1H-312 (uid:0 nice:-20 policy:0 rt_prio:0) +# ----------------- +# +# _------=> CPU# +# / _-----=> irqs-off +# | / _----=> need-resched +# || / _---=> hardirq/softirq +# ||| / _--=> preempt-depth +# |||| / delay +# cmd pid ||||| time | caller +# \ / ||||| \ | / + <idle>-0 3dNs7 0us : 0:120:R + [003] 312:100:R kworker/3:1H + <idle>-0 3dNs7 1us+: ttwu_do_activate.constprop.87 <-try_to_wake_up + <idle>-0 3d..3 15us : __schedule <-schedule + <idle>-0 3d..3 15us : 0:120:R ==> [003] 312:100:R kworker/3:1H + +The tracer only traces the highest priority task in the system +to avoid tracing the normal circumstances. Here we see that +the kworker with a nice priority of -20 (not very nice), took +just 15 microseconds from the time it woke up, to the time it +ran. + +Non Real-Time tasks are not that interesting. A more interesting +trace is to concentrate only on Real-Time tasks. + +wakeup_rt +--------- + +In a Real-Time environment it is very important to know the +wakeup time it takes for the highest priority task that is woken +up to the time that it executes. This is also known as "schedule +latency". I stress the point that this is about RT tasks. It is +also important to know the scheduling latency of non-RT tasks, +but the average schedule latency is better for non-RT tasks. +Tools like LatencyTop are more appropriate for such +measurements. + +Real-Time environments are interested in the worst case latency. +That is the longest latency it takes for something to happen, +and not the average. We can have a very fast scheduler that may +only have a large latency once in a while, but that would not +work well with Real-Time tasks. The wakeup_rt tracer was designed +to record the worst case wakeups of RT tasks. Non-RT tasks are +not recorded because the tracer only records one worst case and +tracing non-RT tasks that are unpredictable will overwrite the +worst case latency of RT tasks (just run the normal wakeup +tracer for a while to see that effect). + +Since this tracer only deals with RT tasks, we will run this +slightly differently than we did with the previous tracers. +Instead of performing an 'ls', we will run 'sleep 1' under +'chrt' which changes the priority of the task. + + # echo 0 > options/function-trace + # echo wakeup_rt > current_tracer + # echo 1 > tracing_on + # echo 0 > tracing_max_latency + # chrt -f 5 sleep 1 + # echo 0 > tracing_on + # cat trace +# tracer: wakeup +# +# tracer: wakeup_rt +# +# wakeup_rt latency trace v1.1.5 on 3.8.0-test+ +# -------------------------------------------------------------------- +# latency: 5 us, #4/4, CPU#3 | (M:preempt VP:0, KP:0, SP:0 HP:0 #P:4) +# ----------------- +# | task: sleep-2389 (uid:0 nice:0 policy:1 rt_prio:5) +# ----------------- +# +# _------=> CPU# +# / _-----=> irqs-off +# | / _----=> need-resched +# || / _---=> hardirq/softirq +# ||| / _--=> preempt-depth +# |||| / delay +# cmd pid ||||| time | caller +# \ / ||||| \ | / + <idle>-0 3d.h4 0us : 0:120:R + [003] 2389: 94:R sleep + <idle>-0 3d.h4 1us+: ttwu_do_activate.constprop.87 <-try_to_wake_up + <idle>-0 3d..3 5us : __schedule <-schedule + <idle>-0 3d..3 5us : 0:120:R ==> [003] 2389: 94:R sleep + + +Running this on an idle system, we see that it only took 5 microseconds +to perform the task switch. Note, since the trace point in the schedule +is before the actual "switch", we stop the tracing when the recorded task +is about to schedule in. This may change if we add a new marker at the +end of the scheduler. + +Notice that the recorded task is 'sleep' with the PID of 2389 +and it has an rt_prio of 5. This priority is user-space priority +and not the internal kernel priority. The policy is 1 for +SCHED_FIFO and 2 for SCHED_RR. + +Note, that the trace data shows the internal priority (99 - rtprio). + + <idle>-0 3d..3 5us : 0:120:R ==> [003] 2389: 94:R sleep + +The 0:120:R means idle was running with a nice priority of 0 (120 - 20) +and in the running state 'R'. The sleep task was scheduled in with +2389: 94:R. That is the priority is the kernel rtprio (99 - 5 = 94) +and it too is in the running state. + +Doing the same with chrt -r 5 and function-trace set. + + echo 1 > options/function-trace + +# tracer: wakeup_rt +# +# wakeup_rt latency trace v1.1.5 on 3.8.0-test+ +# -------------------------------------------------------------------- +# latency: 29 us, #85/85, CPU#3 | (M:preempt VP:0, KP:0, SP:0 HP:0 #P:4) +# ----------------- +# | task: sleep-2448 (uid:0 nice:0 policy:1 rt_prio:5) +# ----------------- +# +# _------=> CPU# +# / _-----=> irqs-off +# | / _----=> need-resched +# || / _---=> hardirq/softirq +# ||| / _--=> preempt-depth +# |||| / delay +# cmd pid ||||| time | caller +# \ / ||||| \ | / + <idle>-0 3d.h4 1us+: 0:120:R + [003] 2448: 94:R sleep + <idle>-0 3d.h4 2us : ttwu_do_activate.constprop.87 <-try_to_wake_up + <idle>-0 3d.h3 3us : check_preempt_curr <-ttwu_do_wakeup + <idle>-0 3d.h3 3us : resched_curr <-check_preempt_curr + <idle>-0 3dNh3 4us : task_woken_rt <-ttwu_do_wakeup + <idle>-0 3dNh3 4us : _raw_spin_unlock <-try_to_wake_up + <idle>-0 3dNh3 4us : sub_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_unlock + <idle>-0 3dNh2 5us : ttwu_stat <-try_to_wake_up + <idle>-0 3dNh2 5us : _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore <-try_to_wake_up + <idle>-0 3dNh2 6us : sub_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore + <idle>-0 3dNh1 6us : _raw_spin_lock <-__run_hrtimer + <idle>-0 3dNh1 6us : add_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_lock + <idle>-0 3dNh2 7us : _raw_spin_unlock <-hrtimer_interrupt + <idle>-0 3dNh2 7us : sub_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_unlock + <idle>-0 3dNh1 7us : tick_program_event <-hrtimer_interrupt + <idle>-0 3dNh1 7us : clockevents_program_event <-tick_program_event + <idle>-0 3dNh1 8us : ktime_get <-clockevents_program_event + <idle>-0 3dNh1 8us : lapic_next_event <-clockevents_program_event + <idle>-0 3dNh1 8us : irq_exit <-smp_apic_timer_interrupt + <idle>-0 3dNh1 9us : sub_preempt_count <-irq_exit + <idle>-0 3dN.2 9us : idle_cpu <-irq_exit + <idle>-0 3dN.2 9us : rcu_irq_exit <-irq_exit + <idle>-0 3dN.2 10us : rcu_eqs_enter_common.isra.45 <-rcu_irq_exit + <idle>-0 3dN.2 10us : sub_preempt_count <-irq_exit + <idle>-0 3.N.1 11us : rcu_idle_exit <-cpu_idle + <idle>-0 3dN.1 11us : rcu_eqs_exit_common.isra.43 <-rcu_idle_exit + <idle>-0 3.N.1 11us : tick_nohz_idle_exit <-cpu_idle + <idle>-0 3dN.1 12us : menu_hrtimer_cancel <-tick_nohz_idle_exit + <idle>-0 3dN.1 12us : ktime_get <-tick_nohz_idle_exit + <idle>-0 3dN.1 12us : tick_do_update_jiffies64 <-tick_nohz_idle_exit + <idle>-0 3dN.1 13us : update_cpu_load_nohz <-tick_nohz_idle_exit + <idle>-0 3dN.1 13us : _raw_spin_lock <-update_cpu_load_nohz + <idle>-0 3dN.1 13us : add_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_lock + <idle>-0 3dN.2 13us : __update_cpu_load <-update_cpu_load_nohz + <idle>-0 3dN.2 14us : sched_avg_update <-__update_cpu_load + <idle>-0 3dN.2 14us : _raw_spin_unlock <-update_cpu_load_nohz + <idle>-0 3dN.2 14us : sub_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_unlock + <idle>-0 3dN.1 15us : calc_load_exit_idle <-tick_nohz_idle_exit + <idle>-0 3dN.1 15us : touch_softlockup_watchdog <-tick_nohz_idle_exit + <idle>-0 3dN.1 15us : hrtimer_cancel <-tick_nohz_idle_exit + <idle>-0 3dN.1 15us : hrtimer_try_to_cancel <-hrtimer_cancel + <idle>-0 3dN.1 16us : lock_hrtimer_base.isra.18 <-hrtimer_try_to_cancel + <idle>-0 3dN.1 16us : _raw_spin_lock_irqsave <-lock_hrtimer_base.isra.18 + <idle>-0 3dN.1 16us : add_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_lock_irqsave + <idle>-0 3dN.2 17us : __remove_hrtimer <-remove_hrtimer.part.16 + <idle>-0 3dN.2 17us : hrtimer_force_reprogram <-__remove_hrtimer + <idle>-0 3dN.2 17us : tick_program_event <-hrtimer_force_reprogram + <idle>-0 3dN.2 18us : clockevents_program_event <-tick_program_event + <idle>-0 3dN.2 18us : ktime_get <-clockevents_program_event + <idle>-0 3dN.2 18us : lapic_next_event <-clockevents_program_event + <idle>-0 3dN.2 19us : _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore <-hrtimer_try_to_cancel + <idle>-0 3dN.2 19us : sub_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore + <idle>-0 3dN.1 19us : hrtimer_forward <-tick_nohz_idle_exit + <idle>-0 3dN.1 20us : ktime_add_safe <-hrtimer_forward + <idle>-0 3dN.1 20us : ktime_add_safe <-hrtimer_forward + <idle>-0 3dN.1 20us : hrtimer_start_range_ns <-hrtimer_start_expires.constprop.11 + <idle>-0 3dN.1 20us : __hrtimer_start_range_ns <-hrtimer_start_range_ns + <idle>-0 3dN.1 21us : lock_hrtimer_base.isra.18 <-__hrtimer_start_range_ns + <idle>-0 3dN.1 21us : _raw_spin_lock_irqsave <-lock_hrtimer_base.isra.18 + <idle>-0 3dN.1 21us : add_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_lock_irqsave + <idle>-0 3dN.2 22us : ktime_add_safe <-__hrtimer_start_range_ns + <idle>-0 3dN.2 22us : enqueue_hrtimer <-__hrtimer_start_range_ns + <idle>-0 3dN.2 22us : tick_program_event <-__hrtimer_start_range_ns + <idle>-0 3dN.2 23us : clockevents_program_event <-tick_program_event + <idle>-0 3dN.2 23us : ktime_get <-clockevents_program_event + <idle>-0 3dN.2 23us : lapic_next_event <-clockevents_program_event + <idle>-0 3dN.2 24us : _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore <-__hrtimer_start_range_ns + <idle>-0 3dN.2 24us : sub_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore + <idle>-0 3dN.1 24us : account_idle_ticks <-tick_nohz_idle_exit + <idle>-0 3dN.1 24us : account_idle_time <-account_idle_ticks + <idle>-0 3.N.1 25us : sub_preempt_count <-cpu_idle + <idle>-0 3.N.. 25us : schedule <-cpu_idle + <idle>-0 3.N.. 25us : __schedule <-preempt_schedule + <idle>-0 3.N.. 26us : add_preempt_count <-__schedule + <idle>-0 3.N.1 26us : rcu_note_context_switch <-__schedule + <idle>-0 3.N.1 26us : rcu_sched_qs <-rcu_note_context_switch + <idle>-0 3dN.1 27us : rcu_preempt_qs <-rcu_note_context_switch + <idle>-0 3.N.1 27us : _raw_spin_lock_irq <-__schedule + <idle>-0 3dN.1 27us : add_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_lock_irq + <idle>-0 3dN.2 28us : put_prev_task_idle <-__schedule + <idle>-0 3dN.2 28us : pick_next_task_stop <-pick_next_task + <idle>-0 3dN.2 28us : pick_next_task_rt <-pick_next_task + <idle>-0 3dN.2 29us : dequeue_pushable_task <-pick_next_task_rt + <idle>-0 3d..3 29us : __schedule <-preempt_schedule + <idle>-0 3d..3 30us : 0:120:R ==> [003] 2448: 94:R sleep + +This isn't that big of a trace, even with function tracing enabled, +so I included the entire trace. + +The interrupt went off while when the system was idle. Somewhere +before task_woken_rt() was called, the NEED_RESCHED flag was set, +this is indicated by the first occurrence of the 'N' flag. + +Latency tracing and events +-------------------------- +As function tracing can induce a much larger latency, but without +seeing what happens within the latency it is hard to know what +caused it. There is a middle ground, and that is with enabling +events. + + # echo 0 > options/function-trace + # echo wakeup_rt > current_tracer + # echo 1 > events/enable + # echo 1 > tracing_on + # echo 0 > tracing_max_latency + # chrt -f 5 sleep 1 + # echo 0 > tracing_on + # cat trace +# tracer: wakeup_rt +# +# wakeup_rt latency trace v1.1.5 on 3.8.0-test+ +# -------------------------------------------------------------------- +# latency: 6 us, #12/12, CPU#2 | (M:preempt VP:0, KP:0, SP:0 HP:0 #P:4) +# ----------------- +# | task: sleep-5882 (uid:0 nice:0 policy:1 rt_prio:5) +# ----------------- +# +# _------=> CPU# +# / _-----=> irqs-off +# | / _----=> need-resched +# || / _---=> hardirq/softirq +# ||| / _--=> preempt-depth +# |||| / delay +# cmd pid ||||| time | caller +# \ / ||||| \ | / + <idle>-0 2d.h4 0us : 0:120:R + [002] 5882: 94:R sleep + <idle>-0 2d.h4 0us : ttwu_do_activate.constprop.87 <-try_to_wake_up + <idle>-0 2d.h4 1us : sched_wakeup: comm=sleep pid=5882 prio=94 success=1 target_cpu=002 + <idle>-0 2dNh2 1us : hrtimer_expire_exit: hrtimer=ffff88007796feb8 + <idle>-0 2.N.2 2us : power_end: cpu_id=2 + <idle>-0 2.N.2 3us : cpu_idle: state=4294967295 cpu_id=2 + <idle>-0 2dN.3 4us : hrtimer_cancel: hrtimer=ffff88007d50d5e0 + <idle>-0 2dN.3 4us : hrtimer_start: hrtimer=ffff88007d50d5e0 function=tick_sched_timer expires=34311211000000 softexpires=34311211000000 + <idle>-0 2.N.2 5us : rcu_utilization: Start context switch + <idle>-0 2.N.2 5us : rcu_utilization: End context switch + <idle>-0 2d..3 6us : __schedule <-schedule + <idle>-0 2d..3 6us : 0:120:R ==> [002] 5882: 94:R sleep + + +function +-------- + +This tracer is the function tracer. Enabling the function tracer +can be done from the debug file system. Make sure the +ftrace_enabled is set; otherwise this tracer is a nop. +See the "ftrace_enabled" section below. + + # sysctl kernel.ftrace_enabled=1 + # echo function > current_tracer + # echo 1 > tracing_on + # usleep 1 + # echo 0 > tracing_on + # cat trace +# tracer: function +# +# entries-in-buffer/entries-written: 24799/24799 #P:4 +# +# _-----=> irqs-off +# / _----=> need-resched +# | / _---=> hardirq/softirq +# || / _--=> preempt-depth +# ||| / delay +# TASK-PID CPU# |||| TIMESTAMP FUNCTION +# | | | |||| | | + bash-1994 [002] .... 3082.063030: mutex_unlock <-rb_simple_write + bash-1994 [002] .... 3082.063031: __mutex_unlock_slowpath <-mutex_unlock + bash-1994 [002] .... 3082.063031: __fsnotify_parent <-fsnotify_modify + bash-1994 [002] .... 3082.063032: fsnotify <-fsnotify_modify + bash-1994 [002] .... 3082.063032: __srcu_read_lock <-fsnotify + bash-1994 [002] .... 3082.063032: add_preempt_count <-__srcu_read_lock + bash-1994 [002] ...1 3082.063032: sub_preempt_count <-__srcu_read_lock + bash-1994 [002] .... 3082.063033: __srcu_read_unlock <-fsnotify +[...] + + +Note: function tracer uses ring buffers to store the above +entries. The newest data may overwrite the oldest data. +Sometimes using echo to stop the trace is not sufficient because +the tracing could have overwritten the data that you wanted to +record. For this reason, it is sometimes better to disable +tracing directly from a program. This allows you to stop the +tracing at the point that you hit the part that you are +interested in. To disable the tracing directly from a C program, +something like following code snippet can be used: + +int trace_fd; +[...] +int main(int argc, char *argv[]) { + [...] + trace_fd = open(tracing_file("tracing_on"), O_WRONLY); + [...] + if (condition_hit()) { + write(trace_fd, "0", 1); + } + [...] +} + + +Single thread tracing +--------------------- + +By writing into set_ftrace_pid you can trace a +single thread. For example: + +# cat set_ftrace_pid +no pid +# echo 3111 > set_ftrace_pid +# cat set_ftrace_pid +3111 +# echo function > current_tracer +# cat trace | head + # tracer: function + # + # TASK-PID CPU# TIMESTAMP FUNCTION + # | | | | | + yum-updatesd-3111 [003] 1637.254676: finish_task_switch <-thread_return + yum-updatesd-3111 [003] 1637.254681: hrtimer_cancel <-schedule_hrtimeout_range + yum-updatesd-3111 [003] 1637.254682: hrtimer_try_to_cancel <-hrtimer_cancel + yum-updatesd-3111 [003] 1637.254683: lock_hrtimer_base <-hrtimer_try_to_cancel + yum-updatesd-3111 [003] 1637.254685: fget_light <-do_sys_poll + yum-updatesd-3111 [003] 1637.254686: pipe_poll <-do_sys_poll +# echo > set_ftrace_pid +# cat trace |head + # tracer: function + # + # TASK-PID CPU# TIMESTAMP FUNCTION + # | | | | | + ##### CPU 3 buffer started #### + yum-updatesd-3111 [003] 1701.957688: free_poll_entry <-poll_freewait + yum-updatesd-3111 [003] 1701.957689: remove_wait_queue <-free_poll_entry + yum-updatesd-3111 [003] 1701.957691: fput <-free_poll_entry + yum-updatesd-3111 [003] 1701.957692: audit_syscall_exit <-sysret_audit + yum-updatesd-3111 [003] 1701.957693: path_put <-audit_syscall_exit + +If you want to trace a function when executing, you could use +something like this simple program: + +#include <stdio.h> +#include <stdlib.h> +#include <sys/types.h> +#include <sys/stat.h> +#include <fcntl.h> +#include <unistd.h> +#include <string.h> + +#define _STR(x) #x +#define STR(x) _STR(x) +#define MAX_PATH 256 + +const char *find_debugfs(void) +{ + static char debugfs[MAX_PATH+1]; + static int debugfs_found; + char type[100]; + FILE *fp; + + if (debugfs_found) + return debugfs; + + if ((fp = fopen("/proc/mounts","r")) == NULL) { + perror("/proc/mounts"); + return NULL; + } + + while (fscanf(fp, "%*s %" + STR(MAX_PATH) + "s %99s %*s %*d %*d\n", + debugfs, type) == 2) { + if (strcmp(type, "debugfs") == 0) + break; + } + fclose(fp); + + if (strcmp(type, "debugfs") != 0) { + fprintf(stderr, "debugfs not mounted"); + return NULL; + } + + strcat(debugfs, "/tracing/"); + debugfs_found = 1; + + return debugfs; +} + +const char *tracing_file(const char *file_name) +{ + static char trace_file[MAX_PATH+1]; + snprintf(trace_file, MAX_PATH, "%s/%s", find_debugfs(), file_name); + return trace_file; +} + +int main (int argc, char **argv) +{ + if (argc < 1) + exit(-1); + + if (fork() > 0) { + int fd, ffd; + char line[64]; + int s; + + ffd = open(tracing_file("current_tracer"), O_WRONLY); + if (ffd < 0) + exit(-1); + write(ffd, "nop", 3); + + fd = open(tracing_file("set_ftrace_pid"), O_WRONLY); + s = sprintf(line, "%d\n", getpid()); + write(fd, line, s); + + write(ffd, "function", 8); + + close(fd); + close(ffd); + + execvp(argv[1], argv+1); + } + + return 0; +} + +Or this simple script! + +------ +#!/bin/bash + +debugfs=`sed -ne 's/^debugfs \(.*\) debugfs.*/\1/p' /proc/mounts` +echo nop > $debugfs/tracing/current_tracer +echo 0 > $debugfs/tracing/tracing_on +echo $$ > $debugfs/tracing/set_ftrace_pid +echo function > $debugfs/tracing/current_tracer +echo 1 > $debugfs/tracing/tracing_on +exec "$@" +------ + + +function graph tracer +--------------------------- + +This tracer is similar to the function tracer except that it +probes a function on its entry and its exit. This is done by +using a dynamically allocated stack of return addresses in each +task_struct. On function entry the tracer overwrites the return +address of each function traced to set a custom probe. Thus the +original return address is stored on the stack of return address +in the task_struct. + +Probing on both ends of a function leads to special features +such as: + +- measure of a function's time execution +- having a reliable call stack to draw function calls graph + +This tracer is useful in several situations: + +- you want to find the reason of a strange kernel behavior and + need to see what happens in detail on any areas (or specific + ones). + +- you are experiencing weird latencies but it's difficult to + find its origin. + +- you want to find quickly which path is taken by a specific + function + +- you just want to peek inside a working kernel and want to see + what happens there. + +# tracer: function_graph +# +# CPU DURATION FUNCTION CALLS +# | | | | | | | + + 0) | sys_open() { + 0) | do_sys_open() { + 0) | getname() { + 0) | kmem_cache_alloc() { + 0) 1.382 us | __might_sleep(); + 0) 2.478 us | } + 0) | strncpy_from_user() { + 0) | might_fault() { + 0) 1.389 us | __might_sleep(); + 0) 2.553 us | } + 0) 3.807 us | } + 0) 7.876 us | } + 0) | alloc_fd() { + 0) 0.668 us | _spin_lock(); + 0) 0.570 us | expand_files(); + 0) 0.586 us | _spin_unlock(); + + +There are several columns that can be dynamically +enabled/disabled. You can use every combination of options you +want, depending on your needs. + +- The cpu number on which the function executed is default + enabled. It is sometimes better to only trace one cpu (see + tracing_cpu_mask file) or you might sometimes see unordered + function calls while cpu tracing switch. + + hide: echo nofuncgraph-cpu > trace_options + show: echo funcgraph-cpu > trace_options + +- The duration (function's time of execution) is displayed on + the closing bracket line of a function or on the same line + than the current function in case of a leaf one. It is default + enabled. + + hide: echo nofuncgraph-duration > trace_options + show: echo funcgraph-duration > trace_options + +- The overhead field precedes the duration field in case of + reached duration thresholds. + + hide: echo nofuncgraph-overhead > trace_options + show: echo funcgraph-overhead > trace_options + depends on: funcgraph-duration + + ie: + + 0) | up_write() { + 0) 0.646 us | _spin_lock_irqsave(); + 0) 0.684 us | _spin_unlock_irqrestore(); + 0) 3.123 us | } + 0) 0.548 us | fput(); + 0) + 58.628 us | } + + [...] + + 0) | putname() { + 0) | kmem_cache_free() { + 0) 0.518 us | __phys_addr(); + 0) 1.757 us | } + 0) 2.861 us | } + 0) ! 115.305 us | } + 0) ! 116.402 us | } + + + means that the function exceeded 10 usecs. + ! means that the function exceeded 100 usecs. + # means that the function exceeded 1000 usecs. + $ means that the function exceeded 1 sec. + + +- The task/pid field displays the thread cmdline and pid which + executed the function. It is default disabled. + + hide: echo nofuncgraph-proc > trace_options + show: echo funcgraph-proc > trace_options + + ie: + + # tracer: function_graph + # + # CPU TASK/PID DURATION FUNCTION CALLS + # | | | | | | | | | + 0) sh-4802 | | d_free() { + 0) sh-4802 | | call_rcu() { + 0) sh-4802 | | __call_rcu() { + 0) sh-4802 | 0.616 us | rcu_process_gp_end(); + 0) sh-4802 | 0.586 us | check_for_new_grace_period(); + 0) sh-4802 | 2.899 us | } + 0) sh-4802 | 4.040 us | } + 0) sh-4802 | 5.151 us | } + 0) sh-4802 | + 49.370 us | } + + +- The absolute time field is an absolute timestamp given by the + system clock since it started. A snapshot of this time is + given on each entry/exit of functions + + hide: echo nofuncgraph-abstime > trace_options + show: echo funcgraph-abstime > trace_options + + ie: + + # + # TIME CPU DURATION FUNCTION CALLS + # | | | | | | | | + 360.774522 | 1) 0.541 us | } + 360.774522 | 1) 4.663 us | } + 360.774523 | 1) 0.541 us | __wake_up_bit(); + 360.774524 | 1) 6.796 us | } + 360.774524 | 1) 7.952 us | } + 360.774525 | 1) 9.063 us | } + 360.774525 | 1) 0.615 us | journal_mark_dirty(); + 360.774527 | 1) 0.578 us | __brelse(); + 360.774528 | 1) | reiserfs_prepare_for_journal() { + 360.774528 | 1) | unlock_buffer() { + 360.774529 | 1) | wake_up_bit() { + 360.774529 | 1) | bit_waitqueue() { + 360.774530 | 1) 0.594 us | __phys_addr(); + + +The function name is always displayed after the closing bracket +for a function if the start of that function is not in the +trace buffer. + +Display of the function name after the closing bracket may be +enabled for functions whose start is in the trace buffer, +allowing easier searching with grep for function durations. +It is default disabled. + + hide: echo nofuncgraph-tail > trace_options + show: echo funcgraph-tail > trace_options + + Example with nofuncgraph-tail (default): + 0) | putname() { + 0) | kmem_cache_free() { + 0) 0.518 us | __phys_addr(); + 0) 1.757 us | } + 0) 2.861 us | } + + Example with funcgraph-tail: + 0) | putname() { + 0) | kmem_cache_free() { + 0) 0.518 us | __phys_addr(); + 0) 1.757 us | } /* kmem_cache_free() */ + 0) 2.861 us | } /* putname() */ + +You can put some comments on specific functions by using +trace_printk() For example, if you want to put a comment inside +the __might_sleep() function, you just have to include +<linux/ftrace.h> and call trace_printk() inside __might_sleep() + +trace_printk("I'm a comment!\n") + +will produce: + + 1) | __might_sleep() { + 1) | /* I'm a comment! */ + 1) 1.449 us | } + + +You might find other useful features for this tracer in the +following "dynamic ftrace" section such as tracing only specific +functions or tasks. + +dynamic ftrace +-------------- + +If CONFIG_DYNAMIC_FTRACE is set, the system will run with +virtually no overhead when function tracing is disabled. The way +this works is the mcount function call (placed at the start of +every kernel function, produced by the -pg switch in gcc), +starts of pointing to a simple return. (Enabling FTRACE will +include the -pg switch in the compiling of the kernel.) + +At compile time every C file object is run through the +recordmcount program (located in the scripts directory). This +program will parse the ELF headers in the C object to find all +the locations in the .text section that call mcount. (Note, only +white listed .text sections are processed, since processing other +sections like .init.text may cause races due to those sections +being freed unexpectedly). + +A new section called "__mcount_loc" is created that holds +references to all the mcount call sites in the .text section. +The recordmcount program re-links this section back into the +original object. The final linking stage of the kernel will add all these +references into a single table. + +On boot up, before SMP is initialized, the dynamic ftrace code +scans this table and updates all the locations into nops. It +also records the locations, which are added to the +available_filter_functions list. Modules are processed as they +are loaded and before they are executed. When a module is +unloaded, it also removes its functions from the ftrace function +list. This is automatic in the module unload code, and the +module author does not need to worry about it. + +When tracing is enabled, the process of modifying the function +tracepoints is dependent on architecture. The old method is to use +kstop_machine to prevent races with the CPUs executing code being +modified (which can cause the CPU to do undesirable things, especially +if the modified code crosses cache (or page) boundaries), and the nops are +patched back to calls. But this time, they do not call mcount +(which is just a function stub). They now call into the ftrace +infrastructure. + +The new method of modifying the function tracepoints is to place +a breakpoint at the location to be modified, sync all CPUs, modify +the rest of the instruction not covered by the breakpoint. Sync +all CPUs again, and then remove the breakpoint with the finished +version to the ftrace call site. + +Some archs do not even need to monkey around with the synchronization, +and can just slap the new code on top of the old without any +problems with other CPUs executing it at the same time. + +One special side-effect to the recording of the functions being +traced is that we can now selectively choose which functions we +wish to trace and which ones we want the mcount calls to remain +as nops. + +Two files are used, one for enabling and one for disabling the +tracing of specified functions. They are: + + set_ftrace_filter + +and + + set_ftrace_notrace + +A list of available functions that you can add to these files is +listed in: + + available_filter_functions + + # cat available_filter_functions +put_prev_task_idle +kmem_cache_create +pick_next_task_rt +get_online_cpus +pick_next_task_fair +mutex_lock +[...] + +If I am only interested in sys_nanosleep and hrtimer_interrupt: + + # echo sys_nanosleep hrtimer_interrupt > set_ftrace_filter + # echo function > current_tracer + # echo 1 > tracing_on + # usleep 1 + # echo 0 > tracing_on + # cat trace +# tracer: function +# +# entries-in-buffer/entries-written: 5/5 #P:4 +# +# _-----=> irqs-off +# / _----=> need-resched +# | / _---=> hardirq/softirq +# || / _--=> preempt-depth +# ||| / delay +# TASK-PID CPU# |||| TIMESTAMP FUNCTION +# | | | |||| | | + usleep-2665 [001] .... 4186.475355: sys_nanosleep <-system_call_fastpath + <idle>-0 [001] d.h1 4186.475409: hrtimer_interrupt <-smp_apic_timer_interrupt + usleep-2665 [001] d.h1 4186.475426: hrtimer_interrupt <-smp_apic_timer_interrupt + <idle>-0 [003] d.h1 4186.475426: hrtimer_interrupt <-smp_apic_timer_interrupt + <idle>-0 [002] d.h1 4186.475427: hrtimer_interrupt <-smp_apic_timer_interrupt + +To see which functions are being traced, you can cat the file: + + # cat set_ftrace_filter +hrtimer_interrupt +sys_nanosleep + + +Perhaps this is not enough. The filters also allow simple wild +cards. Only the following are currently available + + <match>* - will match functions that begin with <match> + *<match> - will match functions that end with <match> + *<match>* - will match functions that have <match> in it + +These are the only wild cards which are supported. + + <match>*<match> will not work. + +Note: It is better to use quotes to enclose the wild cards, + otherwise the shell may expand the parameters into names + of files in the local directory. + + # echo 'hrtimer_*' > set_ftrace_filter + +Produces: + +# tracer: function +# +# entries-in-buffer/entries-written: 897/897 #P:4 +# +# _-----=> irqs-off +# / _----=> need-resched +# | / _---=> hardirq/softirq +# || / _--=> preempt-depth +# ||| / delay +# TASK-PID CPU# |||| TIMESTAMP FUNCTION +# | | | |||| | | + <idle>-0 [003] dN.1 4228.547803: hrtimer_cancel <-tick_nohz_idle_exit + <idle>-0 [003] dN.1 4228.547804: hrtimer_try_to_cancel <-hrtimer_cancel + <idle>-0 [003] dN.2 4228.547805: hrtimer_force_reprogram <-__remove_hrtimer + <idle>-0 [003] dN.1 4228.547805: hrtimer_forward <-tick_nohz_idle_exit + <idle>-0 [003] dN.1 4228.547805: hrtimer_start_range_ns <-hrtimer_start_expires.constprop.11 + <idle>-0 [003] d..1 4228.547858: hrtimer_get_next_event <-get_next_timer_interrupt + <idle>-0 [003] d..1 4228.547859: hrtimer_start <-__tick_nohz_idle_enter + <idle>-0 [003] d..2 4228.547860: hrtimer_force_reprogram <-__rem + +Notice that we lost the sys_nanosleep. + + # cat set_ftrace_filter +hrtimer_run_queues +hrtimer_run_pending +hrtimer_init +hrtimer_cancel +hrtimer_try_to_cancel +hrtimer_forward +hrtimer_start +hrtimer_reprogram +hrtimer_force_reprogram +hrtimer_get_next_event +hrtimer_interrupt +hrtimer_nanosleep +hrtimer_wakeup +hrtimer_get_remaining +hrtimer_get_res +hrtimer_init_sleeper + + +This is because the '>' and '>>' act just like they do in bash. +To rewrite the filters, use '>' +To append to the filters, use '>>' + +To clear out a filter so that all functions will be recorded +again: + + # echo > set_ftrace_filter + # cat set_ftrace_filter + # + +Again, now we want to append. + + # echo sys_nanosleep > set_ftrace_filter + # cat set_ftrace_filter +sys_nanosleep + # echo 'hrtimer_*' >> set_ftrace_filter + # cat set_ftrace_filter +hrtimer_run_queues +hrtimer_run_pending +hrtimer_init +hrtimer_cancel +hrtimer_try_to_cancel +hrtimer_forward +hrtimer_start +hrtimer_reprogram +hrtimer_force_reprogram +hrtimer_get_next_event +hrtimer_interrupt +sys_nanosleep +hrtimer_nanosleep +hrtimer_wakeup +hrtimer_get_remaining +hrtimer_get_res +hrtimer_init_sleeper + + +The set_ftrace_notrace prevents those functions from being +traced. + + # echo '*preempt*' '*lock*' > set_ftrace_notrace + +Produces: + +# tracer: function +# +# entries-in-buffer/entries-written: 39608/39608 #P:4 +# +# _-----=> irqs-off +# / _----=> need-resched +# | / _---=> hardirq/softirq +# || / _--=> preempt-depth +# ||| / delay +# TASK-PID CPU# |||| TIMESTAMP FUNCTION +# | | | |||| | | + bash-1994 [000] .... 4342.324896: file_ra_state_init <-do_dentry_open + bash-1994 [000] .... 4342.324897: open_check_o_direct <-do_last + bash-1994 [000] .... 4342.324897: ima_file_check <-do_last + bash-1994 [000] .... 4342.324898: process_measurement <-ima_file_check + bash-1994 [000] .... 4342.324898: ima_get_action <-process_measurement + bash-1994 [000] .... 4342.324898: ima_match_policy <-ima_get_action + bash-1994 [000] .... 4342.324899: do_truncate <-do_last + bash-1994 [000] .... 4342.324899: should_remove_suid <-do_truncate + bash-1994 [000] .... 4342.324899: notify_change <-do_truncate + bash-1994 [000] .... 4342.324900: current_fs_time <-notify_change + bash-1994 [000] .... 4342.324900: current_kernel_time <-current_fs_time + bash-1994 [000] .... 4342.324900: timespec_trunc <-current_fs_time + +We can see that there's no more lock or preempt tracing. + + +Dynamic ftrace with the function graph tracer +--------------------------------------------- + +Although what has been explained above concerns both the +function tracer and the function-graph-tracer, there are some +special features only available in the function-graph tracer. + +If you want to trace only one function and all of its children, +you just have to echo its name into set_graph_function: + + echo __do_fault > set_graph_function + +will produce the following "expanded" trace of the __do_fault() +function: + + 0) | __do_fault() { + 0) | filemap_fault() { + 0) | find_lock_page() { + 0) 0.804 us | find_get_page(); + 0) | __might_sleep() { + 0) 1.329 us | } + 0) 3.904 us | } + 0) 4.979 us | } + 0) 0.653 us | _spin_lock(); + 0) 0.578 us | page_add_file_rmap(); + 0) 0.525 us | native_set_pte_at(); + 0) 0.585 us | _spin_unlock(); + 0) | unlock_page() { + 0) 0.541 us | page_waitqueue(); + 0) 0.639 us | __wake_up_bit(); + 0) 2.786 us | } + 0) + 14.237 us | } + 0) | __do_fault() { + 0) | filemap_fault() { + 0) | find_lock_page() { + 0) 0.698 us | find_get_page(); + 0) | __might_sleep() { + 0) 1.412 us | } + 0) 3.950 us | } + 0) 5.098 us | } + 0) 0.631 us | _spin_lock(); + 0) 0.571 us | page_add_file_rmap(); + 0) 0.526 us | native_set_pte_at(); + 0) 0.586 us | _spin_unlock(); + 0) | unlock_page() { + 0) 0.533 us | page_waitqueue(); + 0) 0.638 us | __wake_up_bit(); + 0) 2.793 us | } + 0) + 14.012 us | } + +You can also expand several functions at once: + + echo sys_open > set_graph_function + echo sys_close >> set_graph_function + +Now if you want to go back to trace all functions you can clear +this special filter via: + + echo > set_graph_function + + +ftrace_enabled +-------------- + +Note, the proc sysctl ftrace_enable is a big on/off switch for the +function tracer. By default it is enabled (when function tracing is +enabled in the kernel). If it is disabled, all function tracing is +disabled. This includes not only the function tracers for ftrace, but +also for any other uses (perf, kprobes, stack tracing, profiling, etc). + +Please disable this with care. + +This can be disable (and enabled) with: + + sysctl kernel.ftrace_enabled=0 + sysctl kernel.ftrace_enabled=1 + + or + + echo 0 > /proc/sys/kernel/ftrace_enabled + echo 1 > /proc/sys/kernel/ftrace_enabled + + +Filter commands +--------------- + +A few commands are supported by the set_ftrace_filter interface. +Trace commands have the following format: + +<function>:<command>:<parameter> + +The following commands are supported: + +- mod + This command enables function filtering per module. The + parameter defines the module. For example, if only the write* + functions in the ext3 module are desired, run: + + echo 'write*:mod:ext3' > set_ftrace_filter + + This command interacts with the filter in the same way as + filtering based on function names. Thus, adding more functions + in a different module is accomplished by appending (>>) to the + filter file. Remove specific module functions by prepending + '!': + + echo '!writeback*:mod:ext3' >> set_ftrace_filter + +- traceon/traceoff + These commands turn tracing on and off when the specified + functions are hit. The parameter determines how many times the + tracing system is turned on and off. If unspecified, there is + no limit. For example, to disable tracing when a schedule bug + is hit the first 5 times, run: + + echo '__schedule_bug:traceoff:5' > set_ftrace_filter + + To always disable tracing when __schedule_bug is hit: + + echo '__schedule_bug:traceoff' > set_ftrace_filter + + These commands are cumulative whether or not they are appended + to set_ftrace_filter. To remove a command, prepend it by '!' + and drop the parameter: + + echo '!__schedule_bug:traceoff:0' > set_ftrace_filter + + The above removes the traceoff command for __schedule_bug + that have a counter. To remove commands without counters: + + echo '!__schedule_bug:traceoff' > set_ftrace_filter + +- snapshot + Will cause a snapshot to be triggered when the function is hit. + + echo 'native_flush_tlb_others:snapshot' > set_ftrace_filter + + To only snapshot once: + + echo 'native_flush_tlb_others:snapshot:1' > set_ftrace_filter + + To remove the above commands: + + echo '!native_flush_tlb_others:snapshot' > set_ftrace_filter + echo '!native_flush_tlb_others:snapshot:0' > set_ftrace_filter + +- enable_event/disable_event + These commands can enable or disable a trace event. Note, because + function tracing callbacks are very sensitive, when these commands + are registered, the trace point is activated, but disabled in + a "soft" mode. That is, the tracepoint will be called, but + just will not be traced. The event tracepoint stays in this mode + as long as there's a command that triggers it. + + echo 'try_to_wake_up:enable_event:sched:sched_switch:2' > \ + set_ftrace_filter + + The format is: + + <function>:enable_event:<system>:<event>[:count] + <function>:disable_event:<system>:<event>[:count] + + To remove the events commands: + + + echo '!try_to_wake_up:enable_event:sched:sched_switch:0' > \ + set_ftrace_filter + echo '!schedule:disable_event:sched:sched_switch' > \ + set_ftrace_filter + +- dump + When the function is hit, it will dump the contents of the ftrace + ring buffer to the console. This is useful if you need to debug + something, and want to dump the trace when a certain function + is hit. Perhaps its a function that is called before a tripple + fault happens and does not allow you to get a regular dump. + +- cpudump + When the function is hit, it will dump the contents of the ftrace + ring buffer for the current CPU to the console. Unlike the "dump" + command, it only prints out the contents of the ring buffer for the + CPU that executed the function that triggered the dump. + +trace_pipe +---------- + +The trace_pipe outputs the same content as the trace file, but +the effect on the tracing is different. Every read from +trace_pipe is consumed. This means that subsequent reads will be +different. The trace is live. + + # echo function > current_tracer + # cat trace_pipe > /tmp/trace.out & +[1] 4153 + # echo 1 > tracing_on + # usleep 1 + # echo 0 > tracing_on + # cat trace +# tracer: function +# +# entries-in-buffer/entries-written: 0/0 #P:4 +# +# _-----=> irqs-off +# / _----=> need-resched +# | / _---=> hardirq/softirq +# || / _--=> preempt-depth +# ||| / delay +# TASK-PID CPU# |||| TIMESTAMP FUNCTION +# | | | |||| | | + + # + # cat /tmp/trace.out + bash-1994 [000] .... 5281.568961: mutex_unlock <-rb_simple_write + bash-1994 [000] .... 5281.568963: __mutex_unlock_slowpath <-mutex_unlock + bash-1994 [000] .... 5281.568963: __fsnotify_parent <-fsnotify_modify + bash-1994 [000] .... 5281.568964: fsnotify <-fsnotify_modify + bash-1994 [000] .... 5281.568964: __srcu_read_lock <-fsnotify + bash-1994 [000] .... 5281.568964: add_preempt_count <-__srcu_read_lock + bash-1994 [000] ...1 5281.568965: sub_preempt_count <-__srcu_read_lock + bash-1994 [000] .... 5281.568965: __srcu_read_unlock <-fsnotify + bash-1994 [000] .... 5281.568967: sys_dup2 <-system_call_fastpath + + +Note, reading the trace_pipe file will block until more input is +added. + +trace entries +------------- + +Having too much or not enough data can be troublesome in +diagnosing an issue in the kernel. The file buffer_size_kb is +used to modify the size of the internal trace buffers. The +number listed is the number of entries that can be recorded per +CPU. To know the full size, multiply the number of possible CPUs +with the number of entries. + + # cat buffer_size_kb +1408 (units kilobytes) + +Or simply read buffer_total_size_kb + + # cat buffer_total_size_kb +5632 + +To modify the buffer, simple echo in a number (in 1024 byte segments). + + # echo 10000 > buffer_size_kb + # cat buffer_size_kb +10000 (units kilobytes) + +It will try to allocate as much as possible. If you allocate too +much, it can cause Out-Of-Memory to trigger. + + # echo 1000000000000 > buffer_size_kb +-bash: echo: write error: Cannot allocate memory + # cat buffer_size_kb +85 + +The per_cpu buffers can be changed individually as well: + + # echo 10000 > per_cpu/cpu0/buffer_size_kb + # echo 100 > per_cpu/cpu1/buffer_size_kb + +When the per_cpu buffers are not the same, the buffer_size_kb +at the top level will just show an X + + # cat buffer_size_kb +X + +This is where the buffer_total_size_kb is useful: + + # cat buffer_total_size_kb +12916 + +Writing to the top level buffer_size_kb will reset all the buffers +to be the same again. + +Snapshot +-------- +CONFIG_TRACER_SNAPSHOT makes a generic snapshot feature +available to all non latency tracers. (Latency tracers which +record max latency, such as "irqsoff" or "wakeup", can't use +this feature, since those are already using the snapshot +mechanism internally.) + +Snapshot preserves a current trace buffer at a particular point +in time without stopping tracing. Ftrace swaps the current +buffer with a spare buffer, and tracing continues in the new +current (=previous spare) buffer. + +The following debugfs files in "tracing" are related to this +feature: + + snapshot: + + This is used to take a snapshot and to read the output + of the snapshot. Echo 1 into this file to allocate a + spare buffer and to take a snapshot (swap), then read + the snapshot from this file in the same format as + "trace" (described above in the section "The File + System"). Both reads snapshot and tracing are executable + in parallel. When the spare buffer is allocated, echoing + 0 frees it, and echoing else (positive) values clear the + snapshot contents. + More details are shown in the table below. + + status\input | 0 | 1 | else | + --------------+------------+------------+------------+ + not allocated |(do nothing)| alloc+swap |(do nothing)| + --------------+------------+------------+------------+ + allocated | free | swap | clear | + --------------+------------+------------+------------+ + +Here is an example of using the snapshot feature. + + # echo 1 > events/sched/enable + # echo 1 > snapshot + # cat snapshot +# tracer: nop +# +# entries-in-buffer/entries-written: 71/71 #P:8 +# +# _-----=> irqs-off +# / _----=> need-resched +# | / _---=> hardirq/softirq +# || / _--=> preempt-depth +# ||| / delay +# TASK-PID CPU# |||| TIMESTAMP FUNCTION +# | | | |||| | | + <idle>-0 [005] d... 2440.603828: sched_switch: prev_comm=swapper/5 prev_pid=0 prev_prio=120 prev_state=R ==> next_comm=snapshot-test-2 next_pid=2242 next_prio=120 + sleep-2242 [005] d... 2440.603846: sched_switch: prev_comm=snapshot-test-2 prev_pid=2242 prev_prio=120 prev_state=R ==> next_comm=kworker/5:1 next_pid=60 next_prio=120 +[...] + <idle>-0 [002] d... 2440.707230: sched_switch: prev_comm=swapper/2 prev_pid=0 prev_prio=120 prev_state=R ==> next_comm=snapshot-test-2 next_pid=2229 next_prio=120 + + # cat trace +# tracer: nop +# +# entries-in-buffer/entries-written: 77/77 #P:8 +# +# _-----=> irqs-off +# / _----=> need-resched +# | / _---=> hardirq/softirq +# || / _--=> preempt-depth +# ||| / delay +# TASK-PID CPU# |||| TIMESTAMP FUNCTION +# | | | |||| | | + <idle>-0 [007] d... 2440.707395: sched_switch: prev_comm=swapper/7 prev_pid=0 prev_prio=120 prev_state=R ==> next_comm=snapshot-test-2 next_pid=2243 next_prio=120 + snapshot-test-2-2229 [002] d... 2440.707438: sched_switch: prev_comm=snapshot-test-2 prev_pid=2229 prev_prio=120 prev_state=S ==> next_comm=swapper/2 next_pid=0 next_prio=120 +[...] + + +If you try to use this snapshot feature when current tracer is +one of the latency tracers, you will get the following results. + + # echo wakeup > current_tracer + # echo 1 > snapshot +bash: echo: write error: Device or resource busy + # cat snapshot +cat: snapshot: Device or resource busy + + +Instances +--------- +In the debugfs tracing directory is a directory called "instances". +This directory can have new directories created inside of it using +mkdir, and removing directories with rmdir. The directory created +with mkdir in this directory will already contain files and other +directories after it is created. + + # mkdir instances/foo + # ls instances/foo +buffer_size_kb buffer_total_size_kb events free_buffer per_cpu +set_event snapshot trace trace_clock trace_marker trace_options +trace_pipe tracing_on + +As you can see, the new directory looks similar to the tracing directory +itself. In fact, it is very similar, except that the buffer and +events are agnostic from the main director, or from any other +instances that are created. + +The files in the new directory work just like the files with the +same name in the tracing directory except the buffer that is used +is a separate and new buffer. The files affect that buffer but do not +affect the main buffer with the exception of trace_options. Currently, +the trace_options affect all instances and the top level buffer +the same, but this may change in future releases. That is, options +may become specific to the instance they reside in. + +Notice that none of the function tracer files are there, nor is +current_tracer and available_tracers. This is because the buffers +can currently only have events enabled for them. + + # mkdir instances/foo + # mkdir instances/bar + # mkdir instances/zoot + # echo 100000 > buffer_size_kb + # echo 1000 > instances/foo/buffer_size_kb + # echo 5000 > instances/bar/per_cpu/cpu1/buffer_size_kb + # echo function > current_trace + # echo 1 > instances/foo/events/sched/sched_wakeup/enable + # echo 1 > instances/foo/events/sched/sched_wakeup_new/enable + # echo 1 > instances/foo/events/sched/sched_switch/enable + # echo 1 > instances/bar/events/irq/enable + # echo 1 > instances/zoot/events/syscalls/enable + # cat trace_pipe +CPU:2 [LOST 11745 EVENTS] + bash-2044 [002] .... 10594.481032: _raw_spin_lock_irqsave <-get_page_from_freelist + bash-2044 [002] d... 10594.481032: add_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_lock_irqsave + bash-2044 [002] d..1 10594.481032: __rmqueue <-get_page_from_freelist + bash-2044 [002] d..1 10594.481033: _raw_spin_unlock <-get_page_from_freelist + bash-2044 [002] d..1 10594.481033: sub_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_unlock + bash-2044 [002] d... 10594.481033: get_pageblock_flags_group <-get_pageblock_migratetype + bash-2044 [002] d... 10594.481034: __mod_zone_page_state <-get_page_from_freelist + bash-2044 [002] d... 10594.481034: zone_statistics <-get_page_from_freelist + bash-2044 [002] d... 10594.481034: __inc_zone_state <-zone_statistics + bash-2044 [002] d... 10594.481034: __inc_zone_state <-zone_statistics + bash-2044 [002] .... 10594.481035: arch_dup_task_struct <-copy_process +[...] + + # cat instances/foo/trace_pipe + bash-1998 [000] d..4 136.676759: sched_wakeup: comm=kworker/0:1 pid=59 prio=120 success=1 target_cpu=000 + bash-1998 [000] dN.4 136.676760: sched_wakeup: comm=bash pid=1998 prio=120 success=1 target_cpu=000 + <idle>-0 [003] d.h3 136.676906: sched_wakeup: comm=rcu_preempt pid=9 prio=120 success=1 target_cpu=003 + <idle>-0 [003] d..3 136.676909: sched_switch: prev_comm=swapper/3 prev_pid=0 prev_prio=120 prev_state=R ==> next_comm=rcu_preempt next_pid=9 next_prio=120 + rcu_preempt-9 [003] d..3 136.676916: sched_switch: prev_comm=rcu_preempt prev_pid=9 prev_prio=120 prev_state=S ==> next_comm=swapper/3 next_pid=0 next_prio=120 + bash-1998 [000] d..4 136.677014: sched_wakeup: comm=kworker/0:1 pid=59 prio=120 success=1 target_cpu=000 + bash-1998 [000] dN.4 136.677016: sched_wakeup: comm=bash pid=1998 prio=120 success=1 target_cpu=000 + bash-1998 [000] d..3 136.677018: sched_switch: prev_comm=bash prev_pid=1998 prev_prio=120 prev_state=R+ ==> next_comm=kworker/0:1 next_pid=59 next_prio=120 + kworker/0:1-59 [000] d..4 136.677022: sched_wakeup: comm=sshd pid=1995 prio=120 success=1 target_cpu=001 + kworker/0:1-59 [000] d..3 136.677025: sched_switch: prev_comm=kworker/0:1 prev_pid=59 prev_prio=120 prev_state=S ==> next_comm=bash next_pid=1998 next_prio=120 +[...] + + # cat instances/bar/trace_pipe + migration/1-14 [001] d.h3 138.732674: softirq_raise: vec=3 [action=NET_RX] + <idle>-0 [001] dNh3 138.732725: softirq_raise: vec=3 [action=NET_RX] + bash-1998 [000] d.h1 138.733101: softirq_raise: vec=1 [action=TIMER] + bash-1998 [000] d.h1 138.733102: softirq_raise: vec=9 [action=RCU] + bash-1998 [000] ..s2 138.733105: softirq_entry: vec=1 [action=TIMER] + bash-1998 [000] ..s2 138.733106: softirq_exit: vec=1 [action=TIMER] + bash-1998 [000] ..s2 138.733106: softirq_entry: vec=9 [action=RCU] + bash-1998 [000] ..s2 138.733109: softirq_exit: vec=9 [action=RCU] + sshd-1995 [001] d.h1 138.733278: irq_handler_entry: irq=21 name=uhci_hcd:usb4 + sshd-1995 [001] d.h1 138.733280: irq_handler_exit: irq=21 ret=unhandled + sshd-1995 [001] d.h1 138.733281: irq_handler_entry: irq=21 name=eth0 + sshd-1995 [001] d.h1 138.733283: irq_handler_exit: irq=21 ret=handled +[...] + + # cat instances/zoot/trace +# tracer: nop +# +# entries-in-buffer/entries-written: 18996/18996 #P:4 +# +# _-----=> irqs-off +# / _----=> need-resched +# | / _---=> hardirq/softirq +# || / _--=> preempt-depth +# ||| / delay +# TASK-PID CPU# |||| TIMESTAMP FUNCTION +# | | | |||| | | + bash-1998 [000] d... 140.733501: sys_write -> 0x2 + bash-1998 [000] d... 140.733504: sys_dup2(oldfd: a, newfd: 1) + bash-1998 [000] d... 140.733506: sys_dup2 -> 0x1 + bash-1998 [000] d... 140.733508: sys_fcntl(fd: a, cmd: 1, arg: 0) + bash-1998 [000] d... 140.733509: sys_fcntl -> 0x1 + bash-1998 [000] d... 140.733510: sys_close(fd: a) + bash-1998 [000] d... 140.733510: sys_close -> 0x0 + bash-1998 [000] d... 140.733514: sys_rt_sigprocmask(how: 0, nset: 0, oset: 6e2768, sigsetsize: 8) + bash-1998 [000] d... 140.733515: sys_rt_sigprocmask -> 0x0 + bash-1998 [000] d... 140.733516: sys_rt_sigaction(sig: 2, act: 7fff718846f0, oact: 7fff71884650, sigsetsize: 8) + bash-1998 [000] d... 140.733516: sys_rt_sigaction -> 0x0 + +You can see that the trace of the top most trace buffer shows only +the function tracing. The foo instance displays wakeups and task +switches. + +To remove the instances, simply delete their directories: + + # rmdir instances/foo + # rmdir instances/bar + # rmdir instances/zoot + +Note, if a process has a trace file open in one of the instance +directories, the rmdir will fail with EBUSY. + + +Stack trace +----------- +Since the kernel has a fixed sized stack, it is important not to +waste it in functions. A kernel developer must be conscience of +what they allocate on the stack. If they add too much, the system +can be in danger of a stack overflow, and corruption will occur, +usually leading to a system panic. + +There are some tools that check this, usually with interrupts +periodically checking usage. But if you can perform a check +at every function call that will become very useful. As ftrace provides +a function tracer, it makes it convenient to check the stack size +at every function call. This is enabled via the stack tracer. + +CONFIG_STACK_TRACER enables the ftrace stack tracing functionality. +To enable it, write a '1' into /proc/sys/kernel/stack_tracer_enabled. + + # echo 1 > /proc/sys/kernel/stack_tracer_enabled + +You can also enable it from the kernel command line to trace +the stack size of the kernel during boot up, by adding "stacktrace" +to the kernel command line parameter. + +After running it for a few minutes, the output looks like: + + # cat stack_max_size +2928 + + # cat stack_trace + Depth Size Location (18 entries) + ----- ---- -------- + 0) 2928 224 update_sd_lb_stats+0xbc/0x4ac + 1) 2704 160 find_busiest_group+0x31/0x1f1 + 2) 2544 256 load_balance+0xd9/0x662 + 3) 2288 80 idle_balance+0xbb/0x130 + 4) 2208 128 __schedule+0x26e/0x5b9 + 5) 2080 16 schedule+0x64/0x66 + 6) 2064 128 schedule_timeout+0x34/0xe0 + 7) 1936 112 wait_for_common+0x97/0xf1 + 8) 1824 16 wait_for_completion+0x1d/0x1f + 9) 1808 128 flush_work+0xfe/0x119 + 10) 1680 16 tty_flush_to_ldisc+0x1e/0x20 + 11) 1664 48 input_available_p+0x1d/0x5c + 12) 1616 48 n_tty_poll+0x6d/0x134 + 13) 1568 64 tty_poll+0x64/0x7f + 14) 1504 880 do_select+0x31e/0x511 + 15) 624 400 core_sys_select+0x177/0x216 + 16) 224 96 sys_select+0x91/0xb9 + 17) 128 128 system_call_fastpath+0x16/0x1b + +Note, if -mfentry is being used by gcc, functions get traced before +they set up the stack frame. This means that leaf level functions +are not tested by the stack tracer when -mfentry is used. + +Currently, -mfentry is used by gcc 4.6.0 and above on x86 only. + +--------- + +More details can be found in the source code, in the +kernel/trace/*.c files. |