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diff --git a/Documentation/trace/index.rst b/Documentation/trace/index.rst index 7d83156c9ac1..879ebb9f647d 100644 --- a/Documentation/trace/index.rst +++ b/Documentation/trace/index.rst @@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ Linux Tracing Technologies tracepoint-analysis ftrace ftrace-uses + kprobes kprobetrace uprobetracer tracepoints diff --git a/Documentation/trace/kprobes.rst b/Documentation/trace/kprobes.rst new file mode 100644 index 000000000000..b757b6dfd3d4 --- /dev/null +++ b/Documentation/trace/kprobes.rst @@ -0,0 +1,803 @@ +======================= +Kernel Probes (Kprobes) +======================= + +:Author: Jim Keniston <jkenisto@us.ibm.com> +:Author: Prasanna S Panchamukhi <prasanna.panchamukhi@gmail.com> +:Author: Masami Hiramatsu <mhiramat@redhat.com> + +.. CONTENTS + + 1. Concepts: Kprobes, and Return Probes + 2. Architectures Supported + 3. Configuring Kprobes + 4. API Reference + 5. Kprobes Features and Limitations + 6. Probe Overhead + 7. TODO + 8. Kprobes Example + 9. Kretprobes Example + 10. Deprecated Features + Appendix A: The kprobes debugfs interface + Appendix B: The kprobes sysctl interface + Appendix C: References + +Concepts: Kprobes and Return Probes +========================================= + +Kprobes enables you to dynamically break into any kernel routine and +collect debugging and performance information non-disruptively. You +can trap at almost any kernel code address [1]_, specifying a handler +routine to be invoked when the breakpoint is hit. + +.. [1] some parts of the kernel code can not be trapped, see + :ref:`kprobes_blacklist`) + +There are currently two types of probes: kprobes, and kretprobes +(also called return probes). A kprobe can be inserted on virtually +any instruction in the kernel. A return probe fires when a specified +function returns. + +In the typical case, Kprobes-based instrumentation is packaged as +a kernel module. The module's init function installs ("registers") +one or more probes, and the exit function unregisters them. A +registration function such as register_kprobe() specifies where +the probe is to be inserted and what handler is to be called when +the probe is hit. + +There are also ``register_/unregister_*probes()`` functions for batch +registration/unregistration of a group of ``*probes``. These functions +can speed up unregistration process when you have to unregister +a lot of probes at once. + +The next four subsections explain how the different types of +probes work and how jump optimization works. They explain certain +things that you'll need to know in order to make the best use of +Kprobes -- e.g., the difference between a pre_handler and +a post_handler, and how to use the maxactive and nmissed fields of +a kretprobe. But if you're in a hurry to start using Kprobes, you +can skip ahead to :ref:`kprobes_archs_supported`. + +How Does a Kprobe Work? +----------------------- + +When a kprobe is registered, Kprobes makes a copy of the probed +instruction and replaces the first byte(s) of the probed instruction +with a breakpoint instruction (e.g., int3 on i386 and x86_64). + +When a CPU hits the breakpoint instruction, a trap occurs, the CPU's +registers are saved, and control passes to Kprobes via the +notifier_call_chain mechanism. Kprobes executes the "pre_handler" +associated with the kprobe, passing the handler the addresses of the +kprobe struct and the saved registers. + +Next, Kprobes single-steps its copy of the probed instruction. +(It would be simpler to single-step the actual instruction in place, +but then Kprobes would have to temporarily remove the breakpoint +instruction. This would open a small time window when another CPU +could sail right past the probepoint.) + +After the instruction is single-stepped, Kprobes executes the +"post_handler," if any, that is associated with the kprobe. +Execution then continues with the instruction following the probepoint. + +Changing Execution Path +----------------------- + +Since kprobes can probe into a running kernel code, it can change the +register set, including instruction pointer. This operation requires +maximum care, such as keeping the stack frame, recovering the execution +path etc. Since it operates on a running kernel and needs deep knowledge +of computer architecture and concurrent computing, you can easily shoot +your foot. + +If you change the instruction pointer (and set up other related +registers) in pre_handler, you must return !0 so that kprobes stops +single stepping and just returns to the given address. +This also means post_handler should not be called anymore. + +Note that this operation may be harder on some architectures which use +TOC (Table of Contents) for function call, since you have to setup a new +TOC for your function in your module, and recover the old one after +returning from it. + +Return Probes +------------- + +How Does a Return Probe Work? +^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ + +When you call register_kretprobe(), Kprobes establishes a kprobe at +the entry to the function. When the probed function is called and this +probe is hit, Kprobes saves a copy of the return address, and replaces +the return address with the address of a "trampoline." The trampoline +is an arbitrary piece of code -- typically just a nop instruction. +At boot time, Kprobes registers a kprobe at the trampoline. + +When the probed function executes its return instruction, control +passes to the trampoline and that probe is hit. Kprobes' trampoline +handler calls the user-specified return handler associated with the +kretprobe, then sets the saved instruction pointer to the saved return +address, and that's where execution resumes upon return from the trap. + +While the probed function is executing, its return address is +stored in an object of type kretprobe_instance. Before calling +register_kretprobe(), the user sets the maxactive field of the +kretprobe struct to specify how many instances of the specified +function can be probed simultaneously. register_kretprobe() +pre-allocates the indicated number of kretprobe_instance objects. + +For example, if the function is non-recursive and is called with a +spinlock held, maxactive = 1 should be enough. If the function is +non-recursive and can never relinquish the CPU (e.g., via a semaphore +or preemption), NR_CPUS should be enough. If maxactive <= 0, it is +set to a default value. If CONFIG_PREEMPT is enabled, the default +is max(10, 2*NR_CPUS). Otherwise, the default is NR_CPUS. + +It's not a disaster if you set maxactive too low; you'll just miss +some probes. In the kretprobe struct, the nmissed field is set to +zero when the return probe is registered, and is incremented every +time the probed function is entered but there is no kretprobe_instance +object available for establishing the return probe. + +Kretprobe entry-handler +^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ + +Kretprobes also provides an optional user-specified handler which runs +on function entry. This handler is specified by setting the entry_handler +field of the kretprobe struct. Whenever the kprobe placed by kretprobe at the +function entry is hit, the user-defined entry_handler, if any, is invoked. +If the entry_handler returns 0 (success) then a corresponding return handler +is guaranteed to be called upon function return. If the entry_handler +returns a non-zero error then Kprobes leaves the return address as is, and +the kretprobe has no further effect for that particular function instance. + +Multiple entry and return handler invocations are matched using the unique +kretprobe_instance object associated with them. Additionally, a user +may also specify per return-instance private data to be part of each +kretprobe_instance object. This is especially useful when sharing private +data between corresponding user entry and return handlers. The size of each +private data object can be specified at kretprobe registration time by +setting the data_size field of the kretprobe struct. This data can be +accessed through the data field of each kretprobe_instance object. + +In case probed function is entered but there is no kretprobe_instance +object available, then in addition to incrementing the nmissed count, +the user entry_handler invocation is also skipped. + +.. _kprobes_jump_optimization: + +How Does Jump Optimization Work? +-------------------------------- + +If your kernel is built with CONFIG_OPTPROBES=y (currently this flag +is automatically set 'y' on x86/x86-64, non-preemptive kernel) and +the "debug.kprobes_optimization" kernel parameter is set to 1 (see +sysctl(8)), Kprobes tries to reduce probe-hit overhead by using a jump +instruction instead of a breakpoint instruction at each probepoint. + +Init a Kprobe +^^^^^^^^^^^^^ + +When a probe is registered, before attempting this optimization, +Kprobes inserts an ordinary, breakpoint-based kprobe at the specified +address. So, even if it's not possible to optimize this particular +probepoint, there'll be a probe there. + +Safety Check +^^^^^^^^^^^^ + +Before optimizing a probe, Kprobes performs the following safety checks: + +- Kprobes verifies that the region that will be replaced by the jump + instruction (the "optimized region") lies entirely within one function. + (A jump instruction is multiple bytes, and so may overlay multiple + instructions.) + +- Kprobes analyzes the entire function and verifies that there is no + jump into the optimized region. Specifically: + + - the function contains no indirect jump; + - the function contains no instruction that causes an exception (since + the fixup code triggered by the exception could jump back into the + optimized region -- Kprobes checks the exception tables to verify this); + - there is no near jump to the optimized region (other than to the first + byte). + +- For each instruction in the optimized region, Kprobes verifies that + the instruction can be executed out of line. + +Preparing Detour Buffer +^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ + +Next, Kprobes prepares a "detour" buffer, which contains the following +instruction sequence: + +- code to push the CPU's registers (emulating a breakpoint trap) +- a call to the trampoline code which calls user's probe handlers. +- code to restore registers +- the instructions from the optimized region +- a jump back to the original execution path. + +Pre-optimization +^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ + +After preparing the detour buffer, Kprobes verifies that none of the +following situations exist: + +- The probe has a post_handler. +- Other instructions in the optimized region are probed. +- The probe is disabled. + +In any of the above cases, Kprobes won't start optimizing the probe. +Since these are temporary situations, Kprobes tries to start +optimizing it again if the situation is changed. + +If the kprobe can be optimized, Kprobes enqueues the kprobe to an +optimizing list, and kicks the kprobe-optimizer workqueue to optimize +it. If the to-be-optimized probepoint is hit before being optimized, +Kprobes returns control to the original instruction path by setting +the CPU's instruction pointer to the copied code in the detour buffer +-- thus at least avoiding the single-step. + +Optimization +^^^^^^^^^^^^ + +The Kprobe-optimizer doesn't insert the jump instruction immediately; +rather, it calls synchronize_rcu() for safety first, because it's +possible for a CPU to be interrupted in the middle of executing the +optimized region [3]_. As you know, synchronize_rcu() can ensure +that all interruptions that were active when synchronize_rcu() +was called are done, but only if CONFIG_PREEMPT=n. So, this version +of kprobe optimization supports only kernels with CONFIG_PREEMPT=n [4]_. + +After that, the Kprobe-optimizer calls stop_machine() to replace +the optimized region with a jump instruction to the detour buffer, +using text_poke_smp(). + +Unoptimization +^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ + +When an optimized kprobe is unregistered, disabled, or blocked by +another kprobe, it will be unoptimized. If this happens before +the optimization is complete, the kprobe is just dequeued from the +optimized list. If the optimization has been done, the jump is +replaced with the original code (except for an int3 breakpoint in +the first byte) by using text_poke_smp(). + +.. [3] Please imagine that the 2nd instruction is interrupted and then + the optimizer replaces the 2nd instruction with the jump *address* + while the interrupt handler is running. When the interrupt + returns to original address, there is no valid instruction, + and it causes an unexpected result. + +.. [4] This optimization-safety checking may be replaced with the + stop-machine method that ksplice uses for supporting a CONFIG_PREEMPT=y + kernel. + +NOTE for geeks: +The jump optimization changes the kprobe's pre_handler behavior. +Without optimization, the pre_handler can change the kernel's execution +path by changing regs->ip and returning 1. However, when the probe +is optimized, that modification is ignored. Thus, if you want to +tweak the kernel's execution path, you need to suppress optimization, +using one of the following techniques: + +- Specify an empty function for the kprobe's post_handler. + +or + +- Execute 'sysctl -w debug.kprobes_optimization=n' + +.. _kprobes_blacklist: + +Blacklist +--------- + +Kprobes can probe most of the kernel except itself. This means +that there are some functions where kprobes cannot probe. Probing +(trapping) such functions can cause a recursive trap (e.g. double +fault) or the nested probe handler may never be called. +Kprobes manages such functions as a blacklist. +If you want to add a function into the blacklist, you just need +to (1) include linux/kprobes.h and (2) use NOKPROBE_SYMBOL() macro +to specify a blacklisted function. +Kprobes checks the given probe address against the blacklist and +rejects registering it, if the given address is in the blacklist. + +.. _kprobes_archs_supported: + +Architectures Supported +======================= + +Kprobes and return probes are implemented on the following +architectures: + +- i386 (Supports jump optimization) +- x86_64 (AMD-64, EM64T) (Supports jump optimization) +- ppc64 +- ia64 (Does not support probes on instruction slot1.) +- sparc64 (Return probes not yet implemented.) +- arm +- ppc +- mips +- s390 +- parisc + +Configuring Kprobes +=================== + +When configuring the kernel using make menuconfig/xconfig/oldconfig, +ensure that CONFIG_KPROBES is set to "y". Under "General setup", look +for "Kprobes". + +So that you can load and unload Kprobes-based instrumentation modules, +make sure "Loadable module support" (CONFIG_MODULES) and "Module +unloading" (CONFIG_MODULE_UNLOAD) are set to "y". + +Also make sure that CONFIG_KALLSYMS and perhaps even CONFIG_KALLSYMS_ALL +are set to "y", since kallsyms_lookup_name() is used by the in-kernel +kprobe address resolution code. + +If you need to insert a probe in the middle of a function, you may find +it useful to "Compile the kernel with debug info" (CONFIG_DEBUG_INFO), +so you can use "objdump -d -l vmlinux" to see the source-to-object +code mapping. + +API Reference +============= + +The Kprobes API includes a "register" function and an "unregister" +function for each type of probe. The API also includes "register_*probes" +and "unregister_*probes" functions for (un)registering arrays of probes. +Here are terse, mini-man-page specifications for these functions and +the associated probe handlers that you'll write. See the files in the +samples/kprobes/ sub-directory for examples. + +register_kprobe +--------------- + +:: + + #include <linux/kprobes.h> + int register_kprobe(struct kprobe *kp); + +Sets a breakpoint at the address kp->addr. When the breakpoint is +hit, Kprobes calls kp->pre_handler. After the probed instruction +is single-stepped, Kprobe calls kp->post_handler. If a fault +occurs during execution of kp->pre_handler or kp->post_handler, +or during single-stepping of the probed instruction, Kprobes calls +kp->fault_handler. Any or all handlers can be NULL. If kp->flags +is set KPROBE_FLAG_DISABLED, that kp will be registered but disabled, +so, its handlers aren't hit until calling enable_kprobe(kp). + +.. note:: + + 1. With the introduction of the "symbol_name" field to struct kprobe, + the probepoint address resolution will now be taken care of by the kernel. + The following will now work:: + + kp.symbol_name = "symbol_name"; + + (64-bit powerpc intricacies such as function descriptors are handled + transparently) + + 2. Use the "offset" field of struct kprobe if the offset into the symbol + to install a probepoint is known. This field is used to calculate the + probepoint. + + 3. Specify either the kprobe "symbol_name" OR the "addr". If both are + specified, kprobe registration will fail with -EINVAL. + + 4. With CISC architectures (such as i386 and x86_64), the kprobes code + does not validate if the kprobe.addr is at an instruction boundary. + Use "offset" with caution. + +register_kprobe() returns 0 on success, or a negative errno otherwise. + +User's pre-handler (kp->pre_handler):: + + #include <linux/kprobes.h> + #include <linux/ptrace.h> + int pre_handler(struct kprobe *p, struct pt_regs *regs); + +Called with p pointing to the kprobe associated with the breakpoint, +and regs pointing to the struct containing the registers saved when +the breakpoint was hit. Return 0 here unless you're a Kprobes geek. + +User's post-handler (kp->post_handler):: + + #include <linux/kprobes.h> + #include <linux/ptrace.h> + void post_handler(struct kprobe *p, struct pt_regs *regs, + unsigned long flags); + +p and regs are as described for the pre_handler. flags always seems +to be zero. + +User's fault-handler (kp->fault_handler):: + + #include <linux/kprobes.h> + #include <linux/ptrace.h> + int fault_handler(struct kprobe *p, struct pt_regs *regs, int trapnr); + +p and regs are as described for the pre_handler. trapnr is the +architecture-specific trap number associated with the fault (e.g., +on i386, 13 for a general protection fault or 14 for a page fault). +Returns 1 if it successfully handled the exception. + +register_kretprobe +------------------ + +:: + + #include <linux/kprobes.h> + int register_kretprobe(struct kretprobe *rp); + +Establishes a return probe for the function whose address is +rp->kp.addr. When that function returns, Kprobes calls rp->handler. +You must set rp->maxactive appropriately before you call +register_kretprobe(); see "How Does a Return Probe Work?" for details. + +register_kretprobe() returns 0 on success, or a negative errno +otherwise. + +User's return-probe handler (rp->handler):: + + #include <linux/kprobes.h> + #include <linux/ptrace.h> + int kretprobe_handler(struct kretprobe_instance *ri, + struct pt_regs *regs); + +regs is as described for kprobe.pre_handler. ri points to the +kretprobe_instance object, of which the following fields may be +of interest: + +- ret_addr: the return address +- rp: points to the corresponding kretprobe object +- task: points to the corresponding task struct +- data: points to per return-instance private data; see "Kretprobe + entry-handler" for details. + +The regs_return_value(regs) macro provides a simple abstraction to +extract the return value from the appropriate register as defined by +the architecture's ABI. + +The handler's return value is currently ignored. + +unregister_*probe +------------------ + +:: + + #include <linux/kprobes.h> + void unregister_kprobe(struct kprobe *kp); + void unregister_kretprobe(struct kretprobe *rp); + +Removes the specified probe. The unregister function can be called +at any time after the probe has been registered. + +.. note:: + + If the functions find an incorrect probe (ex. an unregistered probe), + they clear the addr field of the probe. + +register_*probes +---------------- + +:: + + #include <linux/kprobes.h> + int register_kprobes(struct kprobe **kps, int num); + int register_kretprobes(struct kretprobe **rps, int num); + +Registers each of the num probes in the specified array. If any +error occurs during registration, all probes in the array, up to +the bad probe, are safely unregistered before the register_*probes +function returns. + +- kps/rps: an array of pointers to ``*probe`` data structures +- num: the number of the array entries. + +.. note:: + + You have to allocate(or define) an array of pointers and set all + of the array entries before using these functions. + +unregister_*probes +------------------ + +:: + + #include <linux/kprobes.h> + void unregister_kprobes(struct kprobe **kps, int num); + void unregister_kretprobes(struct kretprobe **rps, int num); + +Removes each of the num probes in the specified array at once. + +.. note:: + + If the functions find some incorrect probes (ex. unregistered + probes) in the specified array, they clear the addr field of those + incorrect probes. However, other probes in the array are + unregistered correctly. + +disable_*probe +-------------- + +:: + + #include <linux/kprobes.h> + int disable_kprobe(struct kprobe *kp); + int disable_kretprobe(struct kretprobe *rp); + +Temporarily disables the specified ``*probe``. You can enable it again by using +enable_*probe(). You must specify the probe which has been registered. + +enable_*probe +------------- + +:: + + #include <linux/kprobes.h> + int enable_kprobe(struct kprobe *kp); + int enable_kretprobe(struct kretprobe *rp); + +Enables ``*probe`` which has been disabled by disable_*probe(). You must specify +the probe which has been registered. + +Kprobes Features and Limitations +================================ + +Kprobes allows multiple probes at the same address. Also, +a probepoint for which there is a post_handler cannot be optimized. +So if you install a kprobe with a post_handler, at an optimized +probepoint, the probepoint will be unoptimized automatically. + +In general, you can install a probe anywhere in the kernel. +In particular, you can probe interrupt handlers. Known exceptions +are discussed in this section. + +The register_*probe functions will return -EINVAL if you attempt +to install a probe in the code that implements Kprobes (mostly +kernel/kprobes.c and ``arch/*/kernel/kprobes.c``, but also functions such +as do_page_fault and notifier_call_chain). + +If you install a probe in an inline-able function, Kprobes makes +no attempt to chase down all inline instances of the function and +install probes there. gcc may inline a function without being asked, +so keep this in mind if you're not seeing the probe hits you expect. + +A probe handler can modify the environment of the probed function +-- e.g., by modifying kernel data structures, or by modifying the +contents of the pt_regs struct (which are restored to the registers +upon return from the breakpoint). So Kprobes can be used, for example, +to install a bug fix or to inject faults for testing. Kprobes, of +course, has no way to distinguish the deliberately injected faults +from the accidental ones. Don't drink and probe. + +Kprobes makes no attempt to prevent probe handlers from stepping on +each other -- e.g., probing printk() and then calling printk() from a +probe handler. If a probe handler hits a probe, that second probe's +handlers won't be run in that instance, and the kprobe.nmissed member +of the second probe will be incremented. + +As of Linux v2.6.15-rc1, multiple handlers (or multiple instances of +the same handler) may run concurrently on different CPUs. + +Kprobes does not use mutexes or allocate memory except during +registration and unregistration. + +Probe handlers are run with preemption disabled or interrupt disabled, +which depends on the architecture and optimization state. (e.g., +kretprobe handlers and optimized kprobe handlers run without interrupt +disabled on x86/x86-64). In any case, your handler should not yield +the CPU (e.g., by attempting to acquire a semaphore, or waiting I/O). + +Since a return probe is implemented by replacing the return +address with the trampoline's address, stack backtraces and calls +to __builtin_return_address() will typically yield the trampoline's +address instead of the real return address for kretprobed functions. +(As far as we can tell, __builtin_return_address() is used only +for instrumentation and error reporting.) + +If the number of times a function is called does not match the number +of times it returns, registering a return probe on that function may +produce undesirable results. In such a case, a line: +kretprobe BUG!: Processing kretprobe d000000000041aa8 @ c00000000004f48c +gets printed. With this information, one will be able to correlate the +exact instance of the kretprobe that caused the problem. We have the +do_exit() case covered. do_execve() and do_fork() are not an issue. +We're unaware of other specific cases where this could be a problem. + +If, upon entry to or exit from a function, the CPU is running on +a stack other than that of the current task, registering a return +probe on that function may produce undesirable results. For this +reason, Kprobes doesn't support return probes (or kprobes) +on the x86_64 version of __switch_to(); the registration functions +return -EINVAL. + +On x86/x86-64, since the Jump Optimization of Kprobes modifies +instructions widely, there are some limitations to optimization. To +explain it, we introduce some terminology. Imagine a 3-instruction +sequence consisting of a two 2-byte instructions and one 3-byte +instruction. + +:: + + IA + | + [-2][-1][0][1][2][3][4][5][6][7] + [ins1][ins2][ ins3 ] + [<- DCR ->] + [<- JTPR ->] + + ins1: 1st Instruction + ins2: 2nd Instruction + ins3: 3rd Instruction + IA: Insertion Address + JTPR: Jump Target Prohibition Region + DCR: Detoured Code Region + +The instructions in DCR are copied to the out-of-line buffer +of the kprobe, because the bytes in DCR are replaced by +a 5-byte jump instruction. So there are several limitations. + +a) The instructions in DCR must be relocatable. +b) The instructions in DCR must not include a call instruction. +c) JTPR must not be targeted by any jump or call instruction. +d) DCR must not straddle the border between functions. + +Anyway, these limitations are checked by the in-kernel instruction +decoder, so you don't need to worry about that. + +Probe Overhead +============== + +On a typical CPU in use in 2005, a kprobe hit takes 0.5 to 1.0 +microseconds to process. Specifically, a benchmark that hits the same +probepoint repeatedly, firing a simple handler each time, reports 1-2 +million hits per second, depending on the architecture. A return-probe +hit typically takes 50-75% longer than a kprobe hit. +When you have a return probe set on a function, adding a kprobe at +the entry to that function adds essentially no overhead. + +Here are sample overhead figures (in usec) for different architectures:: + + k = kprobe; r = return probe; kr = kprobe + return probe + on same function + + i386: Intel Pentium M, 1495 MHz, 2957.31 bogomips + k = 0.57 usec; r = 0.92; kr = 0.99 + + x86_64: AMD Opteron 246, 1994 MHz, 3971.48 bogomips + k = 0.49 usec; r = 0.80; kr = 0.82 + + ppc64: POWER5 (gr), 1656 MHz (SMT disabled, 1 virtual CPU per physical CPU) + k = 0.77 usec; r = 1.26; kr = 1.45 + +Optimized Probe Overhead +------------------------ + +Typically, an optimized kprobe hit takes 0.07 to 0.1 microseconds to +process. Here are sample overhead figures (in usec) for x86 architectures:: + + k = unoptimized kprobe, b = boosted (single-step skipped), o = optimized kprobe, + r = unoptimized kretprobe, rb = boosted kretprobe, ro = optimized kretprobe. + + i386: Intel(R) Xeon(R) E5410, 2.33GHz, 4656.90 bogomips + k = 0.80 usec; b = 0.33; o = 0.05; r = 1.10; rb = 0.61; ro = 0.33 + + x86-64: Intel(R) Xeon(R) E5410, 2.33GHz, 4656.90 bogomips + k = 0.99 usec; b = 0.43; o = 0.06; r = 1.24; rb = 0.68; ro = 0.30 + +TODO +==== + +a. SystemTap (http://sourceware.org/systemtap): Provides a simplified + programming interface for probe-based instrumentation. Try it out. +b. Kernel return probes for sparc64. +c. Support for other architectures. +d. User-space probes. +e. Watchpoint probes (which fire on data references). + +Kprobes Example +=============== + +See samples/kprobes/kprobe_example.c + +Kretprobes Example +================== + +See samples/kprobes/kretprobe_example.c + +Deprecated Features +=================== + +Jprobes is now a deprecated feature. People who are depending on it should +migrate to other tracing features or use older kernels. Please consider to +migrate your tool to one of the following options: + +- Use trace-event to trace target function with arguments. + + trace-event is a low-overhead (and almost no visible overhead if it + is off) statically defined event interface. You can define new events + and trace it via ftrace or any other tracing tools. + + See the following urls: + + - https://lwn.net/Articles/379903/ + - https://lwn.net/Articles/381064/ + - https://lwn.net/Articles/383362/ + +- Use ftrace dynamic events (kprobe event) with perf-probe. + + If you build your kernel with debug info (CONFIG_DEBUG_INFO=y), you can + find which register/stack is assigned to which local variable or arguments + by using perf-probe and set up new event to trace it. + + See following documents: + + - Documentation/trace/kprobetrace.rst + - Documentation/trace/events.rst + - tools/perf/Documentation/perf-probe.txt + + +The kprobes debugfs interface +============================= + + +With recent kernels (> 2.6.20) the list of registered kprobes is visible +under the /sys/kernel/debug/kprobes/ directory (assuming debugfs is mounted at //sys/kernel/debug). + +/sys/kernel/debug/kprobes/list: Lists all registered probes on the system:: + + c015d71a k vfs_read+0x0 + c03dedc5 r tcp_v4_rcv+0x0 + +The first column provides the kernel address where the probe is inserted. +The second column identifies the type of probe (k - kprobe and r - kretprobe) +while the third column specifies the symbol+offset of the probe. +If the probed function belongs to a module, the module name is also +specified. Following columns show probe status. If the probe is on +a virtual address that is no longer valid (module init sections, module +virtual addresses that correspond to modules that've been unloaded), +such probes are marked with [GONE]. If the probe is temporarily disabled, +such probes are marked with [DISABLED]. If the probe is optimized, it is +marked with [OPTIMIZED]. If the probe is ftrace-based, it is marked with +[FTRACE]. + +/sys/kernel/debug/kprobes/enabled: Turn kprobes ON/OFF forcibly. + +Provides a knob to globally and forcibly turn registered kprobes ON or OFF. +By default, all kprobes are enabled. By echoing "0" to this file, all +registered probes will be disarmed, till such time a "1" is echoed to this +file. Note that this knob just disarms and arms all kprobes and doesn't +change each probe's disabling state. This means that disabled kprobes (marked +[DISABLED]) will be not enabled if you turn ON all kprobes by this knob. + + +The kprobes sysctl interface +============================ + +/proc/sys/debug/kprobes-optimization: Turn kprobes optimization ON/OFF. + +When CONFIG_OPTPROBES=y, this sysctl interface appears and it provides +a knob to globally and forcibly turn jump optimization (see section +:ref:`kprobes_jump_optimization`) ON or OFF. By default, jump optimization +is allowed (ON). If you echo "0" to this file or set +"debug.kprobes_optimization" to 0 via sysctl, all optimized probes will be +unoptimized, and any new probes registered after that will not be optimized. + +Note that this knob *changes* the optimized state. This means that optimized +probes (marked [OPTIMIZED]) will be unoptimized ([OPTIMIZED] tag will be +removed). If the knob is turned on, they will be optimized again. + +References +========== + +For additional information on Kprobes, refer to the following URLs: + +- https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/library/l-kprobes/index.html +- https://www.kernel.org/doc/ols/2006/ols2006v2-pages-109-124.pdf + |