1 ========================
2 ftrace - Function Tracer
3 ========================
5 Copyright 2008 Red Hat Inc.
7 :Author: Steven Rostedt <srostedt@redhat.com>
8 :License: The GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2
9 (dual licensed under the GPL v2)
10 :Original Reviewers: Elias Oltmanns, Randy Dunlap, Andrew Morton,
11 John Kacur, and David Teigland.
13 - Written for: 2.6.28-rc2
15 - Updated for: 4.13 - Copyright 2017 VMware Inc. Steven Rostedt
16 - Converted to rst format - Changbin Du <changbin.du@intel.com>
21 Ftrace is an internal tracer designed to help out developers and
22 designers of systems to find what is going on inside the kernel.
23 It can be used for debugging or analyzing latencies and
24 performance issues that take place outside of user-space.
26 Although ftrace is typically considered the function tracer, it
27 is really a framework of several assorted tracing utilities.
28 There's latency tracing to examine what occurs between interrupts
29 disabled and enabled, as well as for preemption and from a time
30 a task is woken to the task is actually scheduled in.
32 One of the most common uses of ftrace is the event tracing.
33 Throughout the kernel is hundreds of static event points that
34 can be enabled via the tracefs file system to see what is
35 going on in certain parts of the kernel.
37 See events.rst for more information.
40 Implementation Details
41 ----------------------
43 See Documentation/trace/ftrace-design.rst for details for arch porters and such.
49 Ftrace uses the tracefs file system to hold the control files as
50 well as the files to display output.
52 When tracefs is configured into the kernel (which selecting any ftrace
53 option will do) the directory /sys/kernel/tracing will be created. To mount
54 this directory, you can add to your /etc/fstab file::
56 tracefs /sys/kernel/tracing tracefs defaults 0 0
58 Or you can mount it at run time with::
60 mount -t tracefs nodev /sys/kernel/tracing
62 For quicker access to that directory you may want to make a soft link to
65 ln -s /sys/kernel/tracing /tracing
69 Before 4.1, all ftrace tracing control files were within the debugfs
70 file system, which is typically located at /sys/kernel/debug/tracing.
71 For backward compatibility, when mounting the debugfs file system,
72 the tracefs file system will be automatically mounted at:
74 /sys/kernel/debug/tracing
76 All files located in the tracefs file system will be located in that
77 debugfs file system directory as well.
81 Any selected ftrace option will also create the tracefs file system.
82 The rest of the document will assume that you are in the ftrace directory
83 (cd /sys/kernel/tracing) and will only concentrate on the files within that
84 directory and not distract from the content with the extended
85 "/sys/kernel/tracing" path name.
87 That's it! (assuming that you have ftrace configured into your kernel)
89 After mounting tracefs you will have access to the control and output files
90 of ftrace. Here is a list of some of the key files:
93 Note: all time values are in microseconds.
97 This is used to set or display the current tracer
98 that is configured. Changing the current tracer clears
99 the ring buffer content as well as the "snapshot" buffer.
103 This holds the different types of tracers that
104 have been compiled into the kernel. The
105 tracers listed here can be configured by
106 echoing their name into current_tracer.
110 This sets or displays whether writing to the trace
111 ring buffer is enabled. Echo 0 into this file to disable
112 the tracer or 1 to enable it. Note, this only disables
113 writing to the ring buffer, the tracing overhead may
116 The kernel function tracing_off() can be used within the
117 kernel to disable writing to the ring buffer, which will
118 set this file to "0". User space can re-enable tracing by
119 echoing "1" into the file.
121 Note, the function and event trigger "traceoff" will also
122 set this file to zero and stop tracing. Which can also
123 be re-enabled by user space using this file.
127 This file holds the output of the trace in a human
128 readable format (described below). Opening this file for
129 writing with the O_TRUNC flag clears the ring buffer content.
130 Note, this file is not a consumer. If tracing is off
131 (no tracer running, or tracing_on is zero), it will produce
132 the same output each time it is read. When tracing is on,
133 it may produce inconsistent results as it tries to read
134 the entire buffer without consuming it.
138 The output is the same as the "trace" file but this
139 file is meant to be streamed with live tracing.
140 Reads from this file will block until new data is
141 retrieved. Unlike the "trace" file, this file is a
142 consumer. This means reading from this file causes
143 sequential reads to display more current data. Once
144 data is read from this file, it is consumed, and
145 will not be read again with a sequential read. The
146 "trace" file is static, and if the tracer is not
147 adding more data, it will display the same
148 information every time it is read.
152 This file lets the user control the amount of data
153 that is displayed in one of the above output
154 files. Options also exist to modify how a tracer
155 or events work (stack traces, timestamps, etc).
159 This is a directory that has a file for every available
160 trace option (also in trace_options). Options may also be set
161 or cleared by writing a "1" or "0" respectively into the
162 corresponding file with the option name.
166 Some of the tracers record the max latency.
167 For example, the maximum time that interrupts are disabled.
168 The maximum time is saved in this file. The max trace will also be
169 stored, and displayed by "trace". A new max trace will only be
170 recorded if the latency is greater than the value in this file
173 By echoing in a time into this file, no latency will be recorded
174 unless it is greater than the time in this file.
178 Some latency tracers will record a trace whenever the
179 latency is greater than the number in this file.
180 Only active when the file contains a number greater than 0.
185 This is the watermark for how much the ring buffer needs to be filled
186 before a waiter is woken up. That is, if an application calls a
187 blocking read syscall on one of the per_cpu trace_pipe_raw files, it
188 will block until the given amount of data specified by buffer_percent
189 is in the ring buffer before it wakes the reader up. This also
190 controls how the splice system calls are blocked on this file::
192 0 - means to wake up as soon as there is any data in the ring buffer.
193 50 - means to wake up when roughly half of the ring buffer sub-buffers
195 100 - means to block until the ring buffer is totally full and is
196 about to start overwriting the older data.
200 This sets or displays the number of kilobytes each CPU
201 buffer holds. By default, the trace buffers are the same size
202 for each CPU. The displayed number is the size of the
203 CPU buffer and not total size of all buffers. The
204 trace buffers are allocated in pages (blocks of memory
205 that the kernel uses for allocation, usually 4 KB in size).
206 A few extra pages may be allocated to accommodate buffer management
207 meta-data. If the last page allocated has room for more bytes
208 than requested, the rest of the page will be used,
209 making the actual allocation bigger than requested or shown.
210 ( Note, the size may not be a multiple of the page size
211 due to buffer management meta-data. )
213 Buffer sizes for individual CPUs may vary
214 (see "per_cpu/cpu0/buffer_size_kb" below), and if they do
215 this file will show "X".
217 buffer_total_size_kb:
219 This displays the total combined size of all the trace buffers.
221 buffer_subbuf_size_kb:
223 This sets or displays the sub buffer size. The ring buffer is broken up
224 into several same size "sub buffers". An event can not be bigger than
225 the size of the sub buffer. Normally, the sub buffer is the size of the
226 architecture's page (4K on x86). The sub buffer also contains meta data
227 at the start which also limits the size of an event. That means when
228 the sub buffer is a page size, no event can be larger than the page
229 size minus the sub buffer meta data.
231 Note, the buffer_subbuf_size_kb is a way for the user to specify the
232 minimum size of the subbuffer. The kernel may make it bigger due to the
233 implementation details, or simply fail the operation if the kernel can
234 not handle the request.
236 Changing the sub buffer size allows for events to be larger than the
239 Note: When changing the sub-buffer size, tracing is stopped and any
240 data in the ring buffer and the snapshot buffer will be discarded.
244 If a process is performing tracing, and the ring buffer should be
245 shrunk "freed" when the process is finished, even if it were to be
246 killed by a signal, this file can be used for that purpose. On close
247 of this file, the ring buffer will be resized to its minimum size.
248 Having a process that is tracing also open this file, when the process
249 exits its file descriptor for this file will be closed, and in doing so,
250 the ring buffer will be "freed".
252 It may also stop tracing if disable_on_free option is set.
256 This is a mask that lets the user only trace on specified CPUs.
257 The format is a hex string representing the CPUs.
261 When dynamic ftrace is configured in (see the
262 section below "dynamic ftrace"), the code is dynamically
263 modified (code text rewrite) to disable calling of the
264 function profiler (mcount). This lets tracing be configured
265 in with practically no overhead in performance. This also
266 has a side effect of enabling or disabling specific functions
267 to be traced. Echoing names of functions into this file
268 will limit the trace to only those functions.
269 This influences the tracers "function" and "function_graph"
270 and thus also function profiling (see "function_profile_enabled").
272 The functions listed in "available_filter_functions" are what
273 can be written into this file.
275 This interface also allows for commands to be used. See the
276 "Filter commands" section for more details.
278 As a speed up, since processing strings can be quite expensive
279 and requires a check of all functions registered to tracing, instead
280 an index can be written into this file. A number (starting with "1")
281 written will instead select the same corresponding at the line position
282 of the "available_filter_functions" file.
286 This has an effect opposite to that of
287 set_ftrace_filter. Any function that is added here will not
288 be traced. If a function exists in both set_ftrace_filter
289 and set_ftrace_notrace, the function will _not_ be traced.
293 Have the function tracer only trace the threads whose PID are
296 If the "function-fork" option is set, then when a task whose
297 PID is listed in this file forks, the child's PID will
298 automatically be added to this file, and the child will be
299 traced by the function tracer as well. This option will also
300 cause PIDs of tasks that exit to be removed from the file.
302 set_ftrace_notrace_pid:
304 Have the function tracer ignore threads whose PID are listed in
307 If the "function-fork" option is set, then when a task whose
308 PID is listed in this file forks, the child's PID will
309 automatically be added to this file, and the child will not be
310 traced by the function tracer as well. This option will also
311 cause PIDs of tasks that exit to be removed from the file.
313 If a PID is in both this file and "set_ftrace_pid", then this
314 file takes precedence, and the thread will not be traced.
318 Have the events only trace a task with a PID listed in this file.
319 Note, sched_switch and sched_wake_up will also trace events
322 To have the PIDs of children of tasks with their PID in this file
323 added on fork, enable the "event-fork" option. That option will also
324 cause the PIDs of tasks to be removed from this file when the task
327 set_event_notrace_pid:
329 Have the events not trace a task with a PID listed in this file.
330 Note, sched_switch and sched_wakeup will trace threads not listed
331 in this file, even if a thread's PID is in the file if the
332 sched_switch or sched_wakeup events also trace a thread that should
335 To have the PIDs of children of tasks with their PID in this file
336 added on fork, enable the "event-fork" option. That option will also
337 cause the PIDs of tasks to be removed from this file when the task
342 Functions listed in this file will cause the function graph
343 tracer to only trace these functions and the functions that
344 they call. (See the section "dynamic ftrace" for more details).
345 Note, set_ftrace_filter and set_ftrace_notrace still affects
346 what functions are being traced.
350 Similar to set_graph_function, but will disable function graph
351 tracing when the function is hit until it exits the function.
352 This makes it possible to ignore tracing functions that are called
353 by a specific function.
355 available_filter_functions:
357 This lists the functions that ftrace has processed and can trace.
358 These are the function names that you can pass to
359 "set_ftrace_filter", "set_ftrace_notrace",
360 "set_graph_function", or "set_graph_notrace".
361 (See the section "dynamic ftrace" below for more details.)
363 available_filter_functions_addrs:
365 Similar to available_filter_functions, but with address displayed
366 for each function. The displayed address is the patch-site address
367 and can differ from /proc/kallsyms address.
369 dyn_ftrace_total_info:
371 This file is for debugging purposes. The number of functions that
372 have been converted to nops and are available to be traced.
376 This file is more for debugging ftrace, but can also be useful
377 in seeing if any function has a callback attached to it.
378 Not only does the trace infrastructure use ftrace function
379 trace utility, but other subsystems might too. This file
380 displays all functions that have a callback attached to them
381 as well as the number of callbacks that have been attached.
382 Note, a callback may also call multiple functions which will
383 not be listed in this count.
385 If the callback registered to be traced by a function with
386 the "save regs" attribute (thus even more overhead), a 'R'
387 will be displayed on the same line as the function that
388 is returning registers.
390 If the callback registered to be traced by a function with
391 the "ip modify" attribute (thus the regs->ip can be changed),
392 an 'I' will be displayed on the same line as the function that
395 If a non ftrace trampoline is attached (BPF) a 'D' will be displayed.
396 Note, normal ftrace trampolines can also be attached, but only one
397 "direct" trampoline can be attached to a given function at a time.
399 Some architectures can not call direct trampolines, but instead have
400 the ftrace ops function located above the function entry point. In
401 such cases an 'O' will be displayed.
403 If a function had either the "ip modify" or a "direct" call attached to
404 it in the past, a 'M' will be shown. This flag is never cleared. It is
405 used to know if a function was every modified by the ftrace infrastructure,
406 and can be used for debugging.
408 If the architecture supports it, it will also show what callback
409 is being directly called by the function. If the count is greater
410 than 1 it most likely will be ftrace_ops_list_func().
412 If the callback of a function jumps to a trampoline that is
413 specific to the callback and which is not the standard trampoline,
414 its address will be printed as well as the function that the
419 This file contains all the functions that ever had a function callback
420 to it via the ftrace infrastructure. It has the same format as
421 enabled_functions but shows all functions that have every been
424 To see any function that has every been modified by "ip modify" or a
425 direct trampoline, one can perform the following command:
427 grep ' M ' /sys/kernel/tracing/touched_functions
429 function_profile_enabled:
431 When set it will enable all functions with either the function
432 tracer, or if configured, the function graph tracer. It will
433 keep a histogram of the number of functions that were called
434 and if the function graph tracer was configured, it will also keep
435 track of the time spent in those functions. The histogram
436 content can be displayed in the files:
438 trace_stat/function<cpu> ( function0, function1, etc).
442 A directory that holds different tracing stats.
446 Enable dynamic trace points. See kprobetrace.rst.
450 Dynamic trace points stats. See kprobetrace.rst.
454 Used with the function graph tracer. This is the max depth
455 it will trace into a function. Setting this to a value of
456 one will show only the first kernel function that is called
461 This is for tools that read the raw format files. If an event in
462 the ring buffer references a string, only a pointer to the string
463 is recorded into the buffer and not the string itself. This prevents
464 tools from knowing what that string was. This file displays the string
465 and address for the string allowing tools to map the pointers to what
470 Only the pid of the task is recorded in a trace event unless
471 the event specifically saves the task comm as well. Ftrace
472 makes a cache of pid mappings to comms to try to display
473 comms for events. If a pid for a comm is not listed, then
474 "<...>" is displayed in the output.
476 If the option "record-cmd" is set to "0", then comms of tasks
477 will not be saved during recording. By default, it is enabled.
481 By default, 128 comms are saved (see "saved_cmdlines" above). To
482 increase or decrease the amount of comms that are cached, echo
483 the number of comms to cache into this file.
487 If the option "record-tgid" is set, on each scheduling context switch
488 the Task Group ID of a task is saved in a table mapping the PID of
489 the thread to its TGID. By default, the "record-tgid" option is
494 This displays the "snapshot" buffer and also lets the user
495 take a snapshot of the current running trace.
496 See the "Snapshot" section below for more details.
500 When the stack tracer is activated, this will display the
501 maximum stack size it has encountered.
502 See the "Stack Trace" section below.
506 This displays the stack back trace of the largest stack
507 that was encountered when the stack tracer is activated.
508 See the "Stack Trace" section below.
512 This is similar to "set_ftrace_filter" but it limits what
513 functions the stack tracer will check.
517 Whenever an event is recorded into the ring buffer, a
518 "timestamp" is added. This stamp comes from a specified
519 clock. By default, ftrace uses the "local" clock. This
520 clock is very fast and strictly per cpu, but on some
521 systems it may not be monotonic with respect to other
522 CPUs. In other words, the local clocks may not be in sync
523 with local clocks on other CPUs.
525 Usual clocks for tracing::
528 [local] global counter x86-tsc
530 The clock with the square brackets around it is the one in effect.
533 Default clock, but may not be in sync across CPUs
536 This clock is in sync with all CPUs but may
537 be a bit slower than the local clock.
540 This is not a clock at all, but literally an atomic
541 counter. It counts up one by one, but is in sync
542 with all CPUs. This is useful when you need to
543 know exactly the order events occurred with respect to
544 each other on different CPUs.
547 This uses the jiffies counter and the time stamp
548 is relative to the time since boot up.
551 This makes ftrace use the same clock that perf uses.
552 Eventually perf will be able to read ftrace buffers
553 and this will help out in interleaving the data.
556 Architectures may define their own clocks. For
557 example, x86 uses its own TSC cycle clock here.
560 This uses the powerpc timebase register value.
561 This is in sync across CPUs and can also be used
562 to correlate events across hypervisor/guest if
566 This uses the fast monotonic clock (CLOCK_MONOTONIC)
567 which is monotonic and is subject to NTP rate adjustments.
570 This is the raw monotonic clock (CLOCK_MONOTONIC_RAW)
571 which is monotonic but is not subject to any rate adjustments
572 and ticks at the same rate as the hardware clocksource.
575 This is the boot clock (CLOCK_BOOTTIME) and is based on the
576 fast monotonic clock, but also accounts for time spent in
577 suspend. Since the clock access is designed for use in
578 tracing in the suspend path, some side effects are possible
579 if clock is accessed after the suspend time is accounted before
580 the fast mono clock is updated. In this case, the clock update
581 appears to happen slightly sooner than it normally would have.
582 Also on 32-bit systems, it's possible that the 64-bit boot offset
583 sees a partial update. These effects are rare and post
584 processing should be able to handle them. See comments in the
585 ktime_get_boot_fast_ns() function for more information.
588 This is the tai clock (CLOCK_TAI) and is derived from the wall-
589 clock time. However, this clock does not experience
590 discontinuities and backwards jumps caused by NTP inserting leap
591 seconds. Since the clock access is designed for use in tracing,
592 side effects are possible. The clock access may yield wrong
593 readouts in case the internal TAI offset is updated e.g., caused
594 by setting the system time or using adjtimex() with an offset.
595 These effects are rare and post processing should be able to
596 handle them. See comments in the ktime_get_tai_fast_ns()
597 function for more information.
599 To set a clock, simply echo the clock name into this file::
601 # echo global > trace_clock
603 Setting a clock clears the ring buffer content as well as the
608 This is a very useful file for synchronizing user space
609 with events happening in the kernel. Writing strings into
610 this file will be written into the ftrace buffer.
612 It is useful in applications to open this file at the start
613 of the application and just reference the file descriptor
616 void trace_write(const char *fmt, ...)
626 n = vsnprintf(buf, 256, fmt, ap);
629 write(trace_fd, buf, n);
634 trace_fd = open("trace_marker", O_WRONLY);
636 Note: Writing into the trace_marker file can also initiate triggers
637 that are written into /sys/kernel/tracing/events/ftrace/print/trigger
638 See "Event triggers" in Documentation/trace/events.rst and an
639 example in Documentation/trace/histogram.rst (Section 3.)
643 This is similar to trace_marker above, but is meant for binary data
644 to be written to it, where a tool can be used to parse the data
649 Add dynamic tracepoints in programs.
654 Uprobe statistics. See uprobetrace.txt
658 This is a way to make multiple trace buffers where different
659 events can be recorded in different buffers.
660 See "Instances" section below.
664 This is the trace event directory. It holds event tracepoints
665 (also known as static tracepoints) that have been compiled
666 into the kernel. It shows what event tracepoints exist
667 and how they are grouped by system. There are "enable"
668 files at various levels that can enable the tracepoints
669 when a "1" is written to them.
671 See events.rst for more information.
675 By echoing in the event into this file, will enable that event.
677 See events.rst for more information.
681 A list of events that can be enabled in tracing.
683 See events.rst for more information.
687 Certain tracers may change the timestamp mode used when
688 logging trace events into the event buffer. Events with
689 different modes can coexist within a buffer but the mode in
690 effect when an event is logged determines which timestamp mode
691 is used for that event. The default timestamp mode is
694 Usual timestamp modes for tracing:
699 The timestamp mode with the square brackets around it is the
702 delta: Default timestamp mode - timestamp is a delta against
703 a per-buffer timestamp.
705 absolute: The timestamp is a full timestamp, not a delta
706 against some other value. As such it takes up more
707 space and is less efficient.
711 Directory for the Hardware Latency Detector.
712 See "Hardware Latency Detector" section below.
716 This is a directory that contains the trace per_cpu information.
718 per_cpu/cpu0/buffer_size_kb:
720 The ftrace buffer is defined per_cpu. That is, there's a separate
721 buffer for each CPU to allow writes to be done atomically,
722 and free from cache bouncing. These buffers may have different
723 size buffers. This file is similar to the buffer_size_kb
724 file, but it only displays or sets the buffer size for the
725 specific CPU. (here cpu0).
729 This is similar to the "trace" file, but it will only display
730 the data specific for the CPU. If written to, it only clears
731 the specific CPU buffer.
733 per_cpu/cpu0/trace_pipe
735 This is similar to the "trace_pipe" file, and is a consuming
736 read, but it will only display (and consume) the data specific
739 per_cpu/cpu0/trace_pipe_raw
741 For tools that can parse the ftrace ring buffer binary format,
742 the trace_pipe_raw file can be used to extract the data
743 from the ring buffer directly. With the use of the splice()
744 system call, the buffer data can be quickly transferred to
745 a file or to the network where a server is collecting the
748 Like trace_pipe, this is a consuming reader, where multiple
749 reads will always produce different data.
751 per_cpu/cpu0/snapshot:
753 This is similar to the main "snapshot" file, but will only
754 snapshot the current CPU (if supported). It only displays
755 the content of the snapshot for a given CPU, and if
756 written to, only clears this CPU buffer.
758 per_cpu/cpu0/snapshot_raw:
760 Similar to the trace_pipe_raw, but will read the binary format
761 from the snapshot buffer for the given CPU.
765 This displays certain stats about the ring buffer:
768 The number of events that are still in the buffer.
771 The number of lost events due to overwriting when
775 Should always be zero.
776 This gets set if so many events happened within a nested
777 event (ring buffer is re-entrant), that it fills the
778 buffer and starts dropping events.
781 Bytes actually read (not overwritten).
784 The oldest timestamp in the buffer
787 The current timestamp
790 Events lost due to overwrite option being off.
793 The number of events read.
798 Here is the list of current tracers that may be configured.
802 Function call tracer to trace all kernel functions.
806 Similar to the function tracer except that the
807 function tracer probes the functions on their entry
808 whereas the function graph tracer traces on both entry
809 and exit of the functions. It then provides the ability
810 to draw a graph of function calls similar to C code
815 The block tracer. The tracer used by the blktrace user
820 The Hardware Latency tracer is used to detect if the hardware
821 produces any latency. See "Hardware Latency Detector" section
826 Traces the areas that disable interrupts and saves
827 the trace with the longest max latency.
828 See tracing_max_latency. When a new max is recorded,
829 it replaces the old trace. It is best to view this
830 trace with the latency-format option enabled, which
831 happens automatically when the tracer is selected.
835 Similar to irqsoff but traces and records the amount of
836 time for which preemption is disabled.
840 Similar to irqsoff and preemptoff, but traces and
841 records the largest time for which irqs and/or preemption
846 Traces and records the max latency that it takes for
847 the highest priority task to get scheduled after
848 it has been woken up.
849 Traces all tasks as an average developer would expect.
853 Traces and records the max latency that it takes for just
854 RT tasks (as the current "wakeup" does). This is useful
855 for those interested in wake up timings of RT tasks.
859 Traces and records the max latency that it takes for
860 a SCHED_DEADLINE task to be woken (as the "wakeup" and
865 A special tracer that is used to trace binary module.
866 It will trace all the calls that a module makes to the
867 hardware. Everything it writes and reads from the I/O
872 This tracer can be configured when tracing likely/unlikely
873 calls within the kernel. It will trace when a likely and
874 unlikely branch is hit and if it was correct in its prediction
879 This is the "trace nothing" tracer. To remove all
880 tracers from tracing simply echo "nop" into
886 For most ftrace commands, failure modes are obvious and communicated
887 using standard return codes.
889 For other more involved commands, extended error information may be
890 available via the tracing/error_log file. For the commands that
891 support it, reading the tracing/error_log file after an error will
892 display more detailed information about what went wrong, if
893 information is available. The tracing/error_log file is a circular
894 error log displaying a small number (currently, 8) of ftrace errors
895 for the last (8) failed commands.
897 The extended error information and usage takes the form shown in
900 # echo xxx > /sys/kernel/tracing/events/sched/sched_wakeup/trigger
901 echo: write error: Invalid argument
903 # cat /sys/kernel/tracing/error_log
904 [ 5348.887237] location: error: Couldn't yyy: zzz
907 [ 7517.023364] location: error: Bad rrr: sss
911 To clear the error log, echo the empty string into it::
913 # echo > /sys/kernel/tracing/error_log
915 Examples of using the tracer
916 ----------------------------
918 Here are typical examples of using the tracers when controlling
919 them only with the tracefs interface (without using any
920 user-land utilities).
925 Here is an example of the output format of the file "trace"::
929 # entries-in-buffer/entries-written: 140080/250280 #P:4
932 # / _----=> need-resched
933 # | / _---=> hardirq/softirq
934 # || / _--=> preempt-depth
936 # TASK-PID CPU# |||| TIMESTAMP FUNCTION
938 bash-1977 [000] .... 17284.993652: sys_close <-system_call_fastpath
939 bash-1977 [000] .... 17284.993653: __close_fd <-sys_close
940 bash-1977 [000] .... 17284.993653: _raw_spin_lock <-__close_fd
941 sshd-1974 [003] .... 17284.993653: __srcu_read_unlock <-fsnotify
942 bash-1977 [000] .... 17284.993654: add_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_lock
943 bash-1977 [000] ...1 17284.993655: _raw_spin_unlock <-__close_fd
944 bash-1977 [000] ...1 17284.993656: sub_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_unlock
945 bash-1977 [000] .... 17284.993657: filp_close <-__close_fd
946 bash-1977 [000] .... 17284.993657: dnotify_flush <-filp_close
947 sshd-1974 [003] .... 17284.993658: sys_select <-system_call_fastpath
950 A header is printed with the tracer name that is represented by
951 the trace. In this case the tracer is "function". Then it shows the
952 number of events in the buffer as well as the total number of entries
953 that were written. The difference is the number of entries that were
954 lost due to the buffer filling up (250280 - 140080 = 110200 events
957 The header explains the content of the events. Task name "bash", the task
958 PID "1977", the CPU that it was running on "000", the latency format
959 (explained below), the timestamp in <secs>.<usecs> format, the
960 function name that was traced "sys_close" and the parent function that
961 called this function "system_call_fastpath". The timestamp is the time
962 at which the function was entered.
967 When the latency-format option is enabled or when one of the latency
968 tracers is set, the trace file gives somewhat more information to see
969 why a latency happened. Here is a typical trace::
973 # irqsoff latency trace v1.1.5 on 3.8.0-test+
974 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
975 # latency: 259 us, #4/4, CPU#2 | (M:preempt VP:0, KP:0, SP:0 HP:0 #P:4)
977 # | task: ps-6143 (uid:0 nice:0 policy:0 rt_prio:0)
979 # => started at: __lock_task_sighand
980 # => ended at: _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore
984 # / _-----=> irqs-off
985 # | / _----=> need-resched
986 # || / _---=> hardirq/softirq
987 # ||| / _--=> preempt-depth
989 # cmd pid ||||| time | caller
991 ps-6143 2d... 0us!: trace_hardirqs_off <-__lock_task_sighand
992 ps-6143 2d..1 259us+: trace_hardirqs_on <-_raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore
993 ps-6143 2d..1 263us+: time_hardirqs_on <-_raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore
994 ps-6143 2d..1 306us : <stack trace>
995 => trace_hardirqs_on_caller
997 => _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore
1004 => system_call_fastpath
1007 This shows that the current tracer is "irqsoff" tracing the time
1008 for which interrupts were disabled. It gives the trace version (which
1009 never changes) and the version of the kernel upon which this was executed on
1010 (3.8). Then it displays the max latency in microseconds (259 us). The number
1011 of trace entries displayed and the total number (both are four: #4/4).
1012 VP, KP, SP, and HP are always zero and are reserved for later use.
1013 #P is the number of online CPUs (#P:4).
1015 The task is the process that was running when the latency
1016 occurred. (ps pid: 6143).
1018 The start and stop (the functions in which the interrupts were
1019 disabled and enabled respectively) that caused the latencies:
1021 - __lock_task_sighand is where the interrupts were disabled.
1022 - _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore is where they were enabled again.
1024 The next lines after the header are the trace itself. The header
1025 explains which is which.
1027 cmd: The name of the process in the trace.
1029 pid: The PID of that process.
1031 CPU#: The CPU which the process was running on.
1033 irqs-off: 'd' interrupts are disabled. '.' otherwise.
1034 .. caution:: If the architecture does not support a way to
1035 read the irq flags variable, an 'X' will always
1039 - 'N' both TIF_NEED_RESCHED and PREEMPT_NEED_RESCHED is set,
1040 - 'n' only TIF_NEED_RESCHED is set,
1041 - 'p' only PREEMPT_NEED_RESCHED is set,
1045 - 'Z' - NMI occurred inside a hardirq
1046 - 'z' - NMI is running
1047 - 'H' - hard irq occurred inside a softirq.
1048 - 'h' - hard irq is running
1049 - 's' - soft irq is running
1050 - '.' - normal context.
1052 preempt-depth: The level of preempt_disabled
1054 The above is mostly meaningful for kernel developers.
1057 When the latency-format option is enabled, the trace file
1058 output includes a timestamp relative to the start of the
1059 trace. This differs from the output when latency-format
1060 is disabled, which includes an absolute timestamp.
1063 This is just to help catch your eye a bit better. And
1064 needs to be fixed to be only relative to the same CPU.
1065 The marks are determined by the difference between this
1066 current trace and the next trace.
1068 - '$' - greater than 1 second
1069 - '@' - greater than 100 millisecond
1070 - '*' - greater than 10 millisecond
1071 - '#' - greater than 1000 microsecond
1072 - '!' - greater than 100 microsecond
1073 - '+' - greater than 10 microsecond
1074 - ' ' - less than or equal to 10 microsecond.
1076 The rest is the same as the 'trace' file.
1078 Note, the latency tracers will usually end with a back trace
1079 to easily find where the latency occurred.
1084 The trace_options file (or the options directory) is used to control
1085 what gets printed in the trace output, or manipulate the tracers.
1086 To see what is available, simply cat the file::
1118 To disable one of the options, echo in the option prepended with
1121 echo noprint-parent > trace_options
1123 To enable an option, leave off the "no"::
1125 echo sym-offset > trace_options
1127 Here are the available options:
1130 On function traces, display the calling (parent)
1131 function as well as the function being traced.
1135 bash-4000 [01] 1477.606694: simple_strtoul <-kstrtoul
1138 bash-4000 [01] 1477.606694: simple_strtoul
1142 Display not only the function name, but also the
1143 offset in the function. For example, instead of
1144 seeing just "ktime_get", you will see
1145 "ktime_get+0xb/0x20".
1149 bash-4000 [01] 1477.606694: simple_strtoul+0x6/0xa0
1152 This will also display the function address as well
1153 as the function name.
1157 bash-4000 [01] 1477.606694: simple_strtoul <c0339346>
1160 This deals with the trace file when the
1161 latency-format option is enabled.
1164 bash 4000 1 0 00000000 00010a95 [58127d26] 1720.415ms \
1165 (+0.000ms): simple_strtoul (kstrtoul)
1168 This will display raw numbers. This option is best for
1169 use with user applications that can translate the raw
1170 numbers better than having it done in the kernel.
1173 Similar to raw, but the numbers will be in a hexadecimal format.
1176 This will print out the formats in raw binary.
1179 When set, reading trace_pipe will not block when polled.
1182 Print the fields as described by their types. This is a better
1183 option than using hex, bin or raw, as it gives a better parsing
1184 of the content of the event.
1187 Can disable trace_printk() from writing into the buffer.
1190 Set to have trace_printk() and similar internal tracing functions
1191 write into this instance. Note, only one trace instance can have
1192 this set. By setting this flag, it clears the trace_printk_dest flag
1193 of the instance that had it set previously. By default, the top
1194 level trace has this set, and will get it set again if another
1195 instance has it set then clears it.
1197 This flag cannot be cleared by the top level instance, as it is the
1198 default instance. The only way the top level instance has this flag
1199 cleared, is by it being set in another instance.
1202 It is sometimes confusing when the CPU buffers are full
1203 and one CPU buffer had a lot of events recently, thus
1204 a shorter time frame, were another CPU may have only had
1205 a few events, which lets it have older events. When
1206 the trace is reported, it shows the oldest events first,
1207 and it may look like only one CPU ran (the one with the
1208 oldest events). When the annotate option is set, it will
1209 display when a new CPU buffer started::
1211 <idle>-0 [001] dNs4 21169.031481: wake_up_idle_cpu <-add_timer_on
1212 <idle>-0 [001] dNs4 21169.031482: _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore <-add_timer_on
1213 <idle>-0 [001] .Ns4 21169.031484: sub_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore
1214 ##### CPU 2 buffer started ####
1215 <idle>-0 [002] .N.1 21169.031484: rcu_idle_exit <-cpu_idle
1216 <idle>-0 [001] .Ns3 21169.031484: _raw_spin_unlock <-clocksource_watchdog
1217 <idle>-0 [001] .Ns3 21169.031485: sub_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_unlock
1220 This option changes the trace. It records a
1221 stacktrace of the current user space thread after
1225 when user stacktrace are enabled, look up which
1226 object the address belongs to, and print a
1227 relative address. This is especially useful when
1228 ASLR is on, otherwise you don't get a chance to
1229 resolve the address to object/file/line after
1230 the app is no longer running
1232 The lookup is performed when you read
1233 trace,trace_pipe. Example::
1235 a.out-1623 [000] 40874.465068: /root/a.out[+0x480] <-/root/a.out[+0
1236 x494] <- /root/a.out[+0x4a8] <- /lib/libc-2.7.so[+0x1e1a6]
1240 When set, trace_printk()s will only show the format
1241 and not their parameters (if trace_bprintk() or
1242 trace_bputs() was used to save the trace_printk()).
1245 Show only the event data. Hides the comm, PID,
1246 timestamp, CPU, and other useful data.
1249 This option changes the trace output. When it is enabled,
1250 the trace displays additional information about the
1251 latency, as described in "Latency trace format".
1254 When set, opening the trace file for read, will pause
1255 writing to the ring buffer (as if tracing_on was set to zero).
1256 This simulates the original behavior of the trace file.
1257 When the file is closed, tracing will be enabled again.
1260 When set, "%p" in the event printk format displays the
1261 hashed pointer value instead of real address.
1262 This will be useful if you want to find out which hashed
1263 value is corresponding to the real value in trace log.
1266 When any event or tracer is enabled, a hook is enabled
1267 in the sched_switch trace point to fill comm cache
1268 with mapped pids and comms. But this may cause some
1269 overhead, and if you only care about pids, and not the
1270 name of the task, disabling this option can lower the
1271 impact of tracing. See "saved_cmdlines".
1274 When any event or tracer is enabled, a hook is enabled
1275 in the sched_switch trace point to fill the cache of
1276 mapped Thread Group IDs (TGID) mapping to pids. See
1280 This controls what happens when the trace buffer is
1281 full. If "1" (default), the oldest events are
1282 discarded and overwritten. If "0", then the newest
1283 events are discarded.
1284 (see per_cpu/cpu0/stats for overrun and dropped)
1287 When the free_buffer is closed, tracing will
1288 stop (tracing_on set to 0).
1291 Shows the interrupt, preempt count, need resched data.
1292 When disabled, the trace looks like::
1296 # entries-in-buffer/entries-written: 144405/9452052 #P:4
1298 # TASK-PID CPU# TIMESTAMP FUNCTION
1300 <idle>-0 [002] 23636.756054: ttwu_do_activate.constprop.89 <-try_to_wake_up
1301 <idle>-0 [002] 23636.756054: activate_task <-ttwu_do_activate.constprop.89
1302 <idle>-0 [002] 23636.756055: enqueue_task <-activate_task
1306 When set, the trace_marker is writable (only by root).
1307 When disabled, the trace_marker will error with EINVAL
1311 When set, tasks with PIDs listed in set_event_pid will have
1312 the PIDs of their children added to set_event_pid when those
1313 tasks fork. Also, when tasks with PIDs in set_event_pid exit,
1314 their PIDs will be removed from the file.
1316 This affects PIDs listed in set_event_notrace_pid as well.
1319 The latency tracers will enable function tracing
1320 if this option is enabled (default it is). When
1321 it is disabled, the latency tracers do not trace
1322 functions. This keeps the overhead of the tracer down
1323 when performing latency tests.
1326 When set, tasks with PIDs listed in set_ftrace_pid will
1327 have the PIDs of their children added to set_ftrace_pid
1328 when those tasks fork. Also, when tasks with PIDs in
1329 set_ftrace_pid exit, their PIDs will be removed from the
1332 This affects PIDs in set_ftrace_notrace_pid as well.
1335 When set, the latency tracers (irqsoff, wakeup, etc) will
1336 use function graph tracing instead of function tracing.
1339 When set, a stack trace is recorded after any trace event
1343 Enable branch tracing with the tracer. This enables branch
1344 tracer along with the currently set tracer. Enabling this
1345 with the "nop" tracer is the same as just enabling the
1348 .. tip:: Some tracers have their own options. They only appear in this
1349 file when the tracer is active. They always appear in the
1353 Here are the per tracer options:
1355 Options for function tracer:
1358 When set, a stack trace is recorded after every
1359 function that is recorded. NOTE! Limit the functions
1360 that are recorded before enabling this, with
1361 "set_ftrace_filter" otherwise the system performance
1362 will be critically degraded. Remember to disable
1363 this option before clearing the function filter.
1365 Options for function_graph tracer:
1367 Since the function_graph tracer has a slightly different output
1368 it has its own options to control what is displayed.
1371 When set, the "overrun" of the graph stack is
1372 displayed after each function traced. The
1373 overrun, is when the stack depth of the calls
1374 is greater than what is reserved for each task.
1375 Each task has a fixed array of functions to
1376 trace in the call graph. If the depth of the
1377 calls exceeds that, the function is not traced.
1378 The overrun is the number of functions missed
1379 due to exceeding this array.
1382 When set, the CPU number of the CPU where the trace
1383 occurred is displayed.
1386 When set, if the function takes longer than
1387 A certain amount, then a delay marker is
1388 displayed. See "delay" above, under the
1392 Unlike other tracers, the process' command line
1393 is not displayed by default, but instead only
1394 when a task is traced in and out during a context
1395 switch. Enabling this options has the command
1396 of each process displayed at every line.
1399 At the end of each function (the return)
1400 the duration of the amount of time in the
1401 function is displayed in microseconds.
1404 When set, the timestamp is displayed at each line.
1407 When disabled, functions that happen inside an
1408 interrupt will not be traced.
1411 When set, the return event will include the function
1412 that it represents. By default this is off, and
1413 only a closing curly bracket "}" is displayed for
1414 the return of a function.
1417 When set, the return value of each traced function
1418 will be printed after an equal sign "=". By default
1421 funcgraph-retval-hex
1422 When set, the return value will always be printed
1423 in hexadecimal format. If the option is not set and
1424 the return value is an error code, it will be printed
1425 in signed decimal format; otherwise it will also be
1426 printed in hexadecimal format. By default, this option
1430 When running function graph tracer, to include
1431 the time a task schedules out in its function.
1432 When enabled, it will account time the task has been
1433 scheduled out as part of the function call.
1436 When running function profiler with function graph tracer,
1437 to include the time to call nested functions. When this is
1438 not set, the time reported for the function will only
1439 include the time the function itself executed for, not the
1440 time for functions that it called.
1442 Options for blk tracer:
1445 Shows a more minimalistic output.
1451 When interrupts are disabled, the CPU can not react to any other
1452 external event (besides NMIs and SMIs). This prevents the timer
1453 interrupt from triggering or the mouse interrupt from letting
1454 the kernel know of a new mouse event. The result is a latency
1455 with the reaction time.
1457 The irqsoff tracer tracks the time for which interrupts are
1458 disabled. When a new maximum latency is hit, the tracer saves
1459 the trace leading up to that latency point so that every time a
1460 new maximum is reached, the old saved trace is discarded and the
1463 To reset the maximum, echo 0 into tracing_max_latency. Here is
1466 # echo 0 > options/function-trace
1467 # echo irqsoff > current_tracer
1468 # echo 1 > tracing_on
1469 # echo 0 > tracing_max_latency
1472 # echo 0 > tracing_on
1476 # irqsoff latency trace v1.1.5 on 3.8.0-test+
1477 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
1478 # latency: 16 us, #4/4, CPU#0 | (M:preempt VP:0, KP:0, SP:0 HP:0 #P:4)
1480 # | task: swapper/0-0 (uid:0 nice:0 policy:0 rt_prio:0)
1482 # => started at: run_timer_softirq
1483 # => ended at: run_timer_softirq
1487 # / _-----=> irqs-off
1488 # | / _----=> need-resched
1489 # || / _---=> hardirq/softirq
1490 # ||| / _--=> preempt-depth
1492 # cmd pid ||||| time | caller
1494 <idle>-0 0d.s2 0us+: _raw_spin_lock_irq <-run_timer_softirq
1495 <idle>-0 0dNs3 17us : _raw_spin_unlock_irq <-run_timer_softirq
1496 <idle>-0 0dNs3 17us+: trace_hardirqs_on <-run_timer_softirq
1497 <idle>-0 0dNs3 25us : <stack trace>
1498 => _raw_spin_unlock_irq
1499 => run_timer_softirq
1504 => smp_apic_timer_interrupt
1505 => apic_timer_interrupt
1510 => x86_64_start_reservations
1511 => x86_64_start_kernel
1513 Here we see that we had a latency of 16 microseconds (which is
1514 very good). The _raw_spin_lock_irq in run_timer_softirq disabled
1515 interrupts. The difference between the 16 and the displayed
1516 timestamp 25us occurred because the clock was incremented
1517 between the time of recording the max latency and the time of
1518 recording the function that had that latency.
1520 Note the above example had function-trace not set. If we set
1521 function-trace, we get a much larger output::
1523 with echo 1 > options/function-trace
1527 # irqsoff latency trace v1.1.5 on 3.8.0-test+
1528 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
1529 # latency: 71 us, #168/168, CPU#3 | (M:preempt VP:0, KP:0, SP:0 HP:0 #P:4)
1531 # | task: bash-2042 (uid:0 nice:0 policy:0 rt_prio:0)
1533 # => started at: ata_scsi_queuecmd
1534 # => ended at: ata_scsi_queuecmd
1538 # / _-----=> irqs-off
1539 # | / _----=> need-resched
1540 # || / _---=> hardirq/softirq
1541 # ||| / _--=> preempt-depth
1543 # cmd pid ||||| time | caller
1545 bash-2042 3d... 0us : _raw_spin_lock_irqsave <-ata_scsi_queuecmd
1546 bash-2042 3d... 0us : add_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_lock_irqsave
1547 bash-2042 3d..1 1us : ata_scsi_find_dev <-ata_scsi_queuecmd
1548 bash-2042 3d..1 1us : __ata_scsi_find_dev <-ata_scsi_find_dev
1549 bash-2042 3d..1 2us : ata_find_dev.part.14 <-__ata_scsi_find_dev
1550 bash-2042 3d..1 2us : ata_qc_new_init <-__ata_scsi_queuecmd
1551 bash-2042 3d..1 3us : ata_sg_init <-__ata_scsi_queuecmd
1552 bash-2042 3d..1 4us : ata_scsi_rw_xlat <-__ata_scsi_queuecmd
1553 bash-2042 3d..1 4us : ata_build_rw_tf <-ata_scsi_rw_xlat
1555 bash-2042 3d..1 67us : delay_tsc <-__delay
1556 bash-2042 3d..1 67us : add_preempt_count <-delay_tsc
1557 bash-2042 3d..2 67us : sub_preempt_count <-delay_tsc
1558 bash-2042 3d..1 67us : add_preempt_count <-delay_tsc
1559 bash-2042 3d..2 68us : sub_preempt_count <-delay_tsc
1560 bash-2042 3d..1 68us+: ata_bmdma_start <-ata_bmdma_qc_issue
1561 bash-2042 3d..1 71us : _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore <-ata_scsi_queuecmd
1562 bash-2042 3d..1 71us : _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore <-ata_scsi_queuecmd
1563 bash-2042 3d..1 72us+: trace_hardirqs_on <-ata_scsi_queuecmd
1564 bash-2042 3d..1 120us : <stack trace>
1565 => _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore
1566 => ata_scsi_queuecmd
1567 => scsi_dispatch_cmd
1569 => __blk_run_queue_uncond
1572 => submit_bio_noacct
1575 => __ext3_get_inode_loc
1584 => user_path_at_empty
1589 => system_call_fastpath
1592 Here we traced a 71 microsecond latency. But we also see all the
1593 functions that were called during that time. Note that by
1594 enabling function tracing, we incur an added overhead. This
1595 overhead may extend the latency times. But nevertheless, this
1596 trace has provided some very helpful debugging information.
1598 If we prefer function graph output instead of function, we can set
1599 display-graph option::
1601 with echo 1 > options/display-graph
1605 # irqsoff latency trace v1.1.5 on 4.20.0-rc6+
1606 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
1607 # latency: 3751 us, #274/274, CPU#0 | (M:desktop VP:0, KP:0, SP:0 HP:0 #P:4)
1609 # | task: bash-1507 (uid:0 nice:0 policy:0 rt_prio:0)
1611 # => started at: free_debug_processing
1612 # => ended at: return_to_handler
1616 # / _----=> need-resched
1617 # | / _---=> hardirq/softirq
1618 # || / _--=> preempt-depth
1620 # REL TIME CPU TASK/PID |||| DURATION FUNCTION CALLS
1621 # | | | | |||| | | | | | |
1622 0 us | 0) bash-1507 | d... | 0.000 us | _raw_spin_lock_irqsave();
1623 0 us | 0) bash-1507 | d..1 | 0.378 us | do_raw_spin_trylock();
1624 1 us | 0) bash-1507 | d..2 | | set_track() {
1625 2 us | 0) bash-1507 | d..2 | | save_stack_trace() {
1626 2 us | 0) bash-1507 | d..2 | | __save_stack_trace() {
1627 3 us | 0) bash-1507 | d..2 | | __unwind_start() {
1628 3 us | 0) bash-1507 | d..2 | | get_stack_info() {
1629 3 us | 0) bash-1507 | d..2 | 0.351 us | in_task_stack();
1630 4 us | 0) bash-1507 | d..2 | 1.107 us | }
1632 3750 us | 0) bash-1507 | d..1 | 0.516 us | do_raw_spin_unlock();
1633 3750 us | 0) bash-1507 | d..1 | 0.000 us | _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore();
1634 3764 us | 0) bash-1507 | d..1 | 0.000 us | tracer_hardirqs_on();
1635 bash-1507 0d..1 3792us : <stack trace>
1636 => free_debug_processing
1645 => search_binary_handler
1646 => __do_execve_file.isra.32
1649 => entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe
1654 When preemption is disabled, we may be able to receive
1655 interrupts but the task cannot be preempted and a higher
1656 priority task must wait for preemption to be enabled again
1657 before it can preempt a lower priority task.
1659 The preemptoff tracer traces the places that disable preemption.
1660 Like the irqsoff tracer, it records the maximum latency for
1661 which preemption was disabled. The control of preemptoff tracer
1662 is much like the irqsoff tracer.
1665 # echo 0 > options/function-trace
1666 # echo preemptoff > current_tracer
1667 # echo 1 > tracing_on
1668 # echo 0 > tracing_max_latency
1671 # echo 0 > tracing_on
1673 # tracer: preemptoff
1675 # preemptoff latency trace v1.1.5 on 3.8.0-test+
1676 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
1677 # latency: 46 us, #4/4, CPU#1 | (M:preempt VP:0, KP:0, SP:0 HP:0 #P:4)
1679 # | task: sshd-1991 (uid:0 nice:0 policy:0 rt_prio:0)
1681 # => started at: do_IRQ
1682 # => ended at: do_IRQ
1686 # / _-----=> irqs-off
1687 # | / _----=> need-resched
1688 # || / _---=> hardirq/softirq
1689 # ||| / _--=> preempt-depth
1691 # cmd pid ||||| time | caller
1693 sshd-1991 1d.h. 0us+: irq_enter <-do_IRQ
1694 sshd-1991 1d..1 46us : irq_exit <-do_IRQ
1695 sshd-1991 1d..1 47us+: trace_preempt_on <-do_IRQ
1696 sshd-1991 1d..1 52us : <stack trace>
1697 => sub_preempt_count
1703 This has some more changes. Preemption was disabled when an
1704 interrupt came in (notice the 'h'), and was enabled on exit.
1705 But we also see that interrupts have been disabled when entering
1706 the preempt off section and leaving it (the 'd'). We do not know if
1707 interrupts were enabled in the mean time or shortly after this
1711 # tracer: preemptoff
1713 # preemptoff latency trace v1.1.5 on 3.8.0-test+
1714 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
1715 # latency: 83 us, #241/241, CPU#1 | (M:preempt VP:0, KP:0, SP:0 HP:0 #P:4)
1717 # | task: bash-1994 (uid:0 nice:0 policy:0 rt_prio:0)
1719 # => started at: wake_up_new_task
1720 # => ended at: task_rq_unlock
1724 # / _-----=> irqs-off
1725 # | / _----=> need-resched
1726 # || / _---=> hardirq/softirq
1727 # ||| / _--=> preempt-depth
1729 # cmd pid ||||| time | caller
1731 bash-1994 1d..1 0us : _raw_spin_lock_irqsave <-wake_up_new_task
1732 bash-1994 1d..1 0us : select_task_rq_fair <-select_task_rq
1733 bash-1994 1d..1 1us : __rcu_read_lock <-select_task_rq_fair
1734 bash-1994 1d..1 1us : source_load <-select_task_rq_fair
1735 bash-1994 1d..1 1us : source_load <-select_task_rq_fair
1737 bash-1994 1d..1 12us : irq_enter <-smp_apic_timer_interrupt
1738 bash-1994 1d..1 12us : rcu_irq_enter <-irq_enter
1739 bash-1994 1d..1 13us : add_preempt_count <-irq_enter
1740 bash-1994 1d.h1 13us : exit_idle <-smp_apic_timer_interrupt
1741 bash-1994 1d.h1 13us : hrtimer_interrupt <-smp_apic_timer_interrupt
1742 bash-1994 1d.h1 13us : _raw_spin_lock <-hrtimer_interrupt
1743 bash-1994 1d.h1 14us : add_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_lock
1744 bash-1994 1d.h2 14us : ktime_get_update_offsets <-hrtimer_interrupt
1746 bash-1994 1d.h1 35us : lapic_next_event <-clockevents_program_event
1747 bash-1994 1d.h1 35us : irq_exit <-smp_apic_timer_interrupt
1748 bash-1994 1d.h1 36us : sub_preempt_count <-irq_exit
1749 bash-1994 1d..2 36us : do_softirq <-irq_exit
1750 bash-1994 1d..2 36us : __do_softirq <-call_softirq
1751 bash-1994 1d..2 36us : __local_bh_disable <-__do_softirq
1752 bash-1994 1d.s2 37us : add_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_lock_irq
1753 bash-1994 1d.s3 38us : _raw_spin_unlock <-run_timer_softirq
1754 bash-1994 1d.s3 39us : sub_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_unlock
1755 bash-1994 1d.s2 39us : call_timer_fn <-run_timer_softirq
1757 bash-1994 1dNs2 81us : cpu_needs_another_gp <-rcu_process_callbacks
1758 bash-1994 1dNs2 82us : __local_bh_enable <-__do_softirq
1759 bash-1994 1dNs2 82us : sub_preempt_count <-__local_bh_enable
1760 bash-1994 1dN.2 82us : idle_cpu <-irq_exit
1761 bash-1994 1dN.2 83us : rcu_irq_exit <-irq_exit
1762 bash-1994 1dN.2 83us : sub_preempt_count <-irq_exit
1763 bash-1994 1.N.1 84us : _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore <-task_rq_unlock
1764 bash-1994 1.N.1 84us+: trace_preempt_on <-task_rq_unlock
1765 bash-1994 1.N.1 104us : <stack trace>
1766 => sub_preempt_count
1767 => _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore
1775 The above is an example of the preemptoff trace with
1776 function-trace set. Here we see that interrupts were not disabled
1777 the entire time. The irq_enter code lets us know that we entered
1778 an interrupt 'h'. Before that, the functions being traced still
1779 show that it is not in an interrupt, but we can see from the
1780 functions themselves that this is not the case.
1785 Knowing the locations that have interrupts disabled or
1786 preemption disabled for the longest times is helpful. But
1787 sometimes we would like to know when either preemption and/or
1788 interrupts are disabled.
1790 Consider the following code::
1792 local_irq_disable();
1793 call_function_with_irqs_off();
1795 call_function_with_irqs_and_preemption_off();
1797 call_function_with_preemption_off();
1800 The irqsoff tracer will record the total length of
1801 call_function_with_irqs_off() and
1802 call_function_with_irqs_and_preemption_off().
1804 The preemptoff tracer will record the total length of
1805 call_function_with_irqs_and_preemption_off() and
1806 call_function_with_preemption_off().
1808 But neither will trace the time that interrupts and/or
1809 preemption is disabled. This total time is the time that we can
1810 not schedule. To record this time, use the preemptirqsoff
1813 Again, using this trace is much like the irqsoff and preemptoff
1817 # echo 0 > options/function-trace
1818 # echo preemptirqsoff > current_tracer
1819 # echo 1 > tracing_on
1820 # echo 0 > tracing_max_latency
1823 # echo 0 > tracing_on
1825 # tracer: preemptirqsoff
1827 # preemptirqsoff latency trace v1.1.5 on 3.8.0-test+
1828 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
1829 # latency: 100 us, #4/4, CPU#3 | (M:preempt VP:0, KP:0, SP:0 HP:0 #P:4)
1831 # | task: ls-2230 (uid:0 nice:0 policy:0 rt_prio:0)
1833 # => started at: ata_scsi_queuecmd
1834 # => ended at: ata_scsi_queuecmd
1838 # / _-----=> irqs-off
1839 # | / _----=> need-resched
1840 # || / _---=> hardirq/softirq
1841 # ||| / _--=> preempt-depth
1843 # cmd pid ||||| time | caller
1845 ls-2230 3d... 0us+: _raw_spin_lock_irqsave <-ata_scsi_queuecmd
1846 ls-2230 3...1 100us : _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore <-ata_scsi_queuecmd
1847 ls-2230 3...1 101us+: trace_preempt_on <-ata_scsi_queuecmd
1848 ls-2230 3...1 111us : <stack trace>
1849 => sub_preempt_count
1850 => _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore
1851 => ata_scsi_queuecmd
1852 => scsi_dispatch_cmd
1854 => __blk_run_queue_uncond
1857 => submit_bio_noacct
1862 => htree_dirblock_to_tree
1863 => ext3_htree_fill_tree
1867 => system_call_fastpath
1870 The trace_hardirqs_off_thunk is called from assembly on x86 when
1871 interrupts are disabled in the assembly code. Without the
1872 function tracing, we do not know if interrupts were enabled
1873 within the preemption points. We do see that it started with
1876 Here is a trace with function-trace set::
1878 # tracer: preemptirqsoff
1880 # preemptirqsoff latency trace v1.1.5 on 3.8.0-test+
1881 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
1882 # latency: 161 us, #339/339, CPU#3 | (M:preempt VP:0, KP:0, SP:0 HP:0 #P:4)
1884 # | task: ls-2269 (uid:0 nice:0 policy:0 rt_prio:0)
1886 # => started at: schedule
1887 # => ended at: mutex_unlock
1891 # / _-----=> irqs-off
1892 # | / _----=> need-resched
1893 # || / _---=> hardirq/softirq
1894 # ||| / _--=> preempt-depth
1896 # cmd pid ||||| time | caller
1898 kworker/-59 3...1 0us : __schedule <-schedule
1899 kworker/-59 3d..1 0us : rcu_preempt_qs <-rcu_note_context_switch
1900 kworker/-59 3d..1 1us : add_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_lock_irq
1901 kworker/-59 3d..2 1us : deactivate_task <-__schedule
1902 kworker/-59 3d..2 1us : dequeue_task <-deactivate_task
1903 kworker/-59 3d..2 2us : update_rq_clock <-dequeue_task
1904 kworker/-59 3d..2 2us : dequeue_task_fair <-dequeue_task
1905 kworker/-59 3d..2 2us : update_curr <-dequeue_task_fair
1906 kworker/-59 3d..2 2us : update_min_vruntime <-update_curr
1907 kworker/-59 3d..2 3us : cpuacct_charge <-update_curr
1908 kworker/-59 3d..2 3us : __rcu_read_lock <-cpuacct_charge
1909 kworker/-59 3d..2 3us : __rcu_read_unlock <-cpuacct_charge
1910 kworker/-59 3d..2 3us : update_cfs_rq_blocked_load <-dequeue_task_fair
1911 kworker/-59 3d..2 4us : clear_buddies <-dequeue_task_fair
1912 kworker/-59 3d..2 4us : account_entity_dequeue <-dequeue_task_fair
1913 kworker/-59 3d..2 4us : update_min_vruntime <-dequeue_task_fair
1914 kworker/-59 3d..2 4us : update_cfs_shares <-dequeue_task_fair
1915 kworker/-59 3d..2 5us : hrtick_update <-dequeue_task_fair
1916 kworker/-59 3d..2 5us : wq_worker_sleeping <-__schedule
1917 kworker/-59 3d..2 5us : kthread_data <-wq_worker_sleeping
1918 kworker/-59 3d..2 5us : put_prev_task_fair <-__schedule
1919 kworker/-59 3d..2 6us : pick_next_task_fair <-pick_next_task
1920 kworker/-59 3d..2 6us : clear_buddies <-pick_next_task_fair
1921 kworker/-59 3d..2 6us : set_next_entity <-pick_next_task_fair
1922 kworker/-59 3d..2 6us : update_stats_wait_end <-set_next_entity
1923 ls-2269 3d..2 7us : finish_task_switch <-__schedule
1924 ls-2269 3d..2 7us : _raw_spin_unlock_irq <-finish_task_switch
1925 ls-2269 3d..2 8us : do_IRQ <-ret_from_intr
1926 ls-2269 3d..2 8us : irq_enter <-do_IRQ
1927 ls-2269 3d..2 8us : rcu_irq_enter <-irq_enter
1928 ls-2269 3d..2 9us : add_preempt_count <-irq_enter
1929 ls-2269 3d.h2 9us : exit_idle <-do_IRQ
1931 ls-2269 3d.h3 20us : sub_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_unlock
1932 ls-2269 3d.h2 20us : irq_exit <-do_IRQ
1933 ls-2269 3d.h2 21us : sub_preempt_count <-irq_exit
1934 ls-2269 3d..3 21us : do_softirq <-irq_exit
1935 ls-2269 3d..3 21us : __do_softirq <-call_softirq
1936 ls-2269 3d..3 21us+: __local_bh_disable <-__do_softirq
1937 ls-2269 3d.s4 29us : sub_preempt_count <-_local_bh_enable_ip
1938 ls-2269 3d.s5 29us : sub_preempt_count <-_local_bh_enable_ip
1939 ls-2269 3d.s5 31us : do_IRQ <-ret_from_intr
1940 ls-2269 3d.s5 31us : irq_enter <-do_IRQ
1941 ls-2269 3d.s5 31us : rcu_irq_enter <-irq_enter
1943 ls-2269 3d.s5 31us : rcu_irq_enter <-irq_enter
1944 ls-2269 3d.s5 32us : add_preempt_count <-irq_enter
1945 ls-2269 3d.H5 32us : exit_idle <-do_IRQ
1946 ls-2269 3d.H5 32us : handle_irq <-do_IRQ
1947 ls-2269 3d.H5 32us : irq_to_desc <-handle_irq
1948 ls-2269 3d.H5 33us : handle_fasteoi_irq <-handle_irq
1950 ls-2269 3d.s5 158us : _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore <-rtl8139_poll
1951 ls-2269 3d.s3 158us : net_rps_action_and_irq_enable.isra.65 <-net_rx_action
1952 ls-2269 3d.s3 159us : __local_bh_enable <-__do_softirq
1953 ls-2269 3d.s3 159us : sub_preempt_count <-__local_bh_enable
1954 ls-2269 3d..3 159us : idle_cpu <-irq_exit
1955 ls-2269 3d..3 159us : rcu_irq_exit <-irq_exit
1956 ls-2269 3d..3 160us : sub_preempt_count <-irq_exit
1957 ls-2269 3d... 161us : __mutex_unlock_slowpath <-mutex_unlock
1958 ls-2269 3d... 162us+: trace_hardirqs_on <-mutex_unlock
1959 ls-2269 3d... 186us : <stack trace>
1960 => __mutex_unlock_slowpath
1967 => system_call_fastpath
1969 This is an interesting trace. It started with kworker running and
1970 scheduling out and ls taking over. But as soon as ls released the
1971 rq lock and enabled interrupts (but not preemption) an interrupt
1972 triggered. When the interrupt finished, it started running softirqs.
1973 But while the softirq was running, another interrupt triggered.
1974 When an interrupt is running inside a softirq, the annotation is 'H'.
1980 One common case that people are interested in tracing is the
1981 time it takes for a task that is woken to actually wake up.
1982 Now for non Real-Time tasks, this can be arbitrary. But tracing
1983 it nonetheless can be interesting.
1985 Without function tracing::
1987 # echo 0 > options/function-trace
1988 # echo wakeup > current_tracer
1989 # echo 1 > tracing_on
1990 # echo 0 > tracing_max_latency
1992 # echo 0 > tracing_on
1996 # wakeup latency trace v1.1.5 on 3.8.0-test+
1997 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 # latency: 15 us, #4/4, CPU#3 | (M:preempt VP:0, KP:0, SP:0 HP:0 #P:4)
2000 # | task: kworker/3:1H-312 (uid:0 nice:-20 policy:0 rt_prio:0)
2004 # / _-----=> irqs-off
2005 # | / _----=> need-resched
2006 # || / _---=> hardirq/softirq
2007 # ||| / _--=> preempt-depth
2009 # cmd pid ||||| time | caller
2011 <idle>-0 3dNs7 0us : 0:120:R + [003] 312:100:R kworker/3:1H
2012 <idle>-0 3dNs7 1us+: ttwu_do_activate.constprop.87 <-try_to_wake_up
2013 <idle>-0 3d..3 15us : __schedule <-schedule
2014 <idle>-0 3d..3 15us : 0:120:R ==> [003] 312:100:R kworker/3:1H
2016 The tracer only traces the highest priority task in the system
2017 to avoid tracing the normal circumstances. Here we see that
2018 the kworker with a nice priority of -20 (not very nice), took
2019 just 15 microseconds from the time it woke up, to the time it
2022 Non Real-Time tasks are not that interesting. A more interesting
2023 trace is to concentrate only on Real-Time tasks.
2028 In a Real-Time environment it is very important to know the
2029 wakeup time it takes for the highest priority task that is woken
2030 up to the time that it executes. This is also known as "schedule
2031 latency". I stress the point that this is about RT tasks. It is
2032 also important to know the scheduling latency of non-RT tasks,
2033 but the average schedule latency is better for non-RT tasks.
2034 Tools like LatencyTop are more appropriate for such
2037 Real-Time environments are interested in the worst case latency.
2038 That is the longest latency it takes for something to happen,
2039 and not the average. We can have a very fast scheduler that may
2040 only have a large latency once in a while, but that would not
2041 work well with Real-Time tasks. The wakeup_rt tracer was designed
2042 to record the worst case wakeups of RT tasks. Non-RT tasks are
2043 not recorded because the tracer only records one worst case and
2044 tracing non-RT tasks that are unpredictable will overwrite the
2045 worst case latency of RT tasks (just run the normal wakeup
2046 tracer for a while to see that effect).
2048 Since this tracer only deals with RT tasks, we will run this
2049 slightly differently than we did with the previous tracers.
2050 Instead of performing an 'ls', we will run 'sleep 1' under
2051 'chrt' which changes the priority of the task.
2054 # echo 0 > options/function-trace
2055 # echo wakeup_rt > current_tracer
2056 # echo 1 > tracing_on
2057 # echo 0 > tracing_max_latency
2059 # echo 0 > tracing_on
2065 # wakeup_rt latency trace v1.1.5 on 3.8.0-test+
2066 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
2067 # latency: 5 us, #4/4, CPU#3 | (M:preempt VP:0, KP:0, SP:0 HP:0 #P:4)
2069 # | task: sleep-2389 (uid:0 nice:0 policy:1 rt_prio:5)
2073 # / _-----=> irqs-off
2074 # | / _----=> need-resched
2075 # || / _---=> hardirq/softirq
2076 # ||| / _--=> preempt-depth
2078 # cmd pid ||||| time | caller
2080 <idle>-0 3d.h4 0us : 0:120:R + [003] 2389: 94:R sleep
2081 <idle>-0 3d.h4 1us+: ttwu_do_activate.constprop.87 <-try_to_wake_up
2082 <idle>-0 3d..3 5us : __schedule <-schedule
2083 <idle>-0 3d..3 5us : 0:120:R ==> [003] 2389: 94:R sleep
2086 Running this on an idle system, we see that it only took 5 microseconds
2087 to perform the task switch. Note, since the trace point in the schedule
2088 is before the actual "switch", we stop the tracing when the recorded task
2089 is about to schedule in. This may change if we add a new marker at the
2090 end of the scheduler.
2092 Notice that the recorded task is 'sleep' with the PID of 2389
2093 and it has an rt_prio of 5. This priority is user-space priority
2094 and not the internal kernel priority. The policy is 1 for
2095 SCHED_FIFO and 2 for SCHED_RR.
2097 Note, that the trace data shows the internal priority (99 - rtprio).
2100 <idle>-0 3d..3 5us : 0:120:R ==> [003] 2389: 94:R sleep
2102 The 0:120:R means idle was running with a nice priority of 0 (120 - 120)
2103 and in the running state 'R'. The sleep task was scheduled in with
2104 2389: 94:R. That is the priority is the kernel rtprio (99 - 5 = 94)
2105 and it too is in the running state.
2107 Doing the same with chrt -r 5 and function-trace set.
2110 echo 1 > options/function-trace
2114 # wakeup_rt latency trace v1.1.5 on 3.8.0-test+
2115 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
2116 # latency: 29 us, #85/85, CPU#3 | (M:preempt VP:0, KP:0, SP:0 HP:0 #P:4)
2118 # | task: sleep-2448 (uid:0 nice:0 policy:1 rt_prio:5)
2122 # / _-----=> irqs-off
2123 # | / _----=> need-resched
2124 # || / _---=> hardirq/softirq
2125 # ||| / _--=> preempt-depth
2127 # cmd pid ||||| time | caller
2129 <idle>-0 3d.h4 1us+: 0:120:R + [003] 2448: 94:R sleep
2130 <idle>-0 3d.h4 2us : ttwu_do_activate.constprop.87 <-try_to_wake_up
2131 <idle>-0 3d.h3 3us : check_preempt_curr <-ttwu_do_wakeup
2132 <idle>-0 3d.h3 3us : resched_curr <-check_preempt_curr
2133 <idle>-0 3dNh3 4us : task_woken_rt <-ttwu_do_wakeup
2134 <idle>-0 3dNh3 4us : _raw_spin_unlock <-try_to_wake_up
2135 <idle>-0 3dNh3 4us : sub_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_unlock
2136 <idle>-0 3dNh2 5us : ttwu_stat <-try_to_wake_up
2137 <idle>-0 3dNh2 5us : _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore <-try_to_wake_up
2138 <idle>-0 3dNh2 6us : sub_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore
2139 <idle>-0 3dNh1 6us : _raw_spin_lock <-__run_hrtimer
2140 <idle>-0 3dNh1 6us : add_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_lock
2141 <idle>-0 3dNh2 7us : _raw_spin_unlock <-hrtimer_interrupt
2142 <idle>-0 3dNh2 7us : sub_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_unlock
2143 <idle>-0 3dNh1 7us : tick_program_event <-hrtimer_interrupt
2144 <idle>-0 3dNh1 7us : clockevents_program_event <-tick_program_event
2145 <idle>-0 3dNh1 8us : ktime_get <-clockevents_program_event
2146 <idle>-0 3dNh1 8us : lapic_next_event <-clockevents_program_event
2147 <idle>-0 3dNh1 8us : irq_exit <-smp_apic_timer_interrupt
2148 <idle>-0 3dNh1 9us : sub_preempt_count <-irq_exit
2149 <idle>-0 3dN.2 9us : idle_cpu <-irq_exit
2150 <idle>-0 3dN.2 9us : rcu_irq_exit <-irq_exit
2151 <idle>-0 3dN.2 10us : rcu_eqs_enter_common.isra.45 <-rcu_irq_exit
2152 <idle>-0 3dN.2 10us : sub_preempt_count <-irq_exit
2153 <idle>-0 3.N.1 11us : rcu_idle_exit <-cpu_idle
2154 <idle>-0 3dN.1 11us : rcu_eqs_exit_common.isra.43 <-rcu_idle_exit
2155 <idle>-0 3.N.1 11us : tick_nohz_idle_exit <-cpu_idle
2156 <idle>-0 3dN.1 12us : menu_hrtimer_cancel <-tick_nohz_idle_exit
2157 <idle>-0 3dN.1 12us : ktime_get <-tick_nohz_idle_exit
2158 <idle>-0 3dN.1 12us : tick_do_update_jiffies64 <-tick_nohz_idle_exit
2159 <idle>-0 3dN.1 13us : cpu_load_update_nohz <-tick_nohz_idle_exit
2160 <idle>-0 3dN.1 13us : _raw_spin_lock <-cpu_load_update_nohz
2161 <idle>-0 3dN.1 13us : add_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_lock
2162 <idle>-0 3dN.2 13us : __cpu_load_update <-cpu_load_update_nohz
2163 <idle>-0 3dN.2 14us : sched_avg_update <-__cpu_load_update
2164 <idle>-0 3dN.2 14us : _raw_spin_unlock <-cpu_load_update_nohz
2165 <idle>-0 3dN.2 14us : sub_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_unlock
2166 <idle>-0 3dN.1 15us : calc_load_nohz_stop <-tick_nohz_idle_exit
2167 <idle>-0 3dN.1 15us : touch_softlockup_watchdog <-tick_nohz_idle_exit
2168 <idle>-0 3dN.1 15us : hrtimer_cancel <-tick_nohz_idle_exit
2169 <idle>-0 3dN.1 15us : hrtimer_try_to_cancel <-hrtimer_cancel
2170 <idle>-0 3dN.1 16us : lock_hrtimer_base.isra.18 <-hrtimer_try_to_cancel
2171 <idle>-0 3dN.1 16us : _raw_spin_lock_irqsave <-lock_hrtimer_base.isra.18
2172 <idle>-0 3dN.1 16us : add_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_lock_irqsave
2173 <idle>-0 3dN.2 17us : __remove_hrtimer <-remove_hrtimer.part.16
2174 <idle>-0 3dN.2 17us : hrtimer_force_reprogram <-__remove_hrtimer
2175 <idle>-0 3dN.2 17us : tick_program_event <-hrtimer_force_reprogram
2176 <idle>-0 3dN.2 18us : clockevents_program_event <-tick_program_event
2177 <idle>-0 3dN.2 18us : ktime_get <-clockevents_program_event
2178 <idle>-0 3dN.2 18us : lapic_next_event <-clockevents_program_event
2179 <idle>-0 3dN.2 19us : _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore <-hrtimer_try_to_cancel
2180 <idle>-0 3dN.2 19us : sub_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore
2181 <idle>-0 3dN.1 19us : hrtimer_forward <-tick_nohz_idle_exit
2182 <idle>-0 3dN.1 20us : ktime_add_safe <-hrtimer_forward
2183 <idle>-0 3dN.1 20us : ktime_add_safe <-hrtimer_forward
2184 <idle>-0 3dN.1 20us : hrtimer_start_range_ns <-hrtimer_start_expires.constprop.11
2185 <idle>-0 3dN.1 20us : __hrtimer_start_range_ns <-hrtimer_start_range_ns
2186 <idle>-0 3dN.1 21us : lock_hrtimer_base.isra.18 <-__hrtimer_start_range_ns
2187 <idle>-0 3dN.1 21us : _raw_spin_lock_irqsave <-lock_hrtimer_base.isra.18
2188 <idle>-0 3dN.1 21us : add_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_lock_irqsave
2189 <idle>-0 3dN.2 22us : ktime_add_safe <-__hrtimer_start_range_ns
2190 <idle>-0 3dN.2 22us : enqueue_hrtimer <-__hrtimer_start_range_ns
2191 <idle>-0 3dN.2 22us : tick_program_event <-__hrtimer_start_range_ns
2192 <idle>-0 3dN.2 23us : clockevents_program_event <-tick_program_event
2193 <idle>-0 3dN.2 23us : ktime_get <-clockevents_program_event
2194 <idle>-0 3dN.2 23us : lapic_next_event <-clockevents_program_event
2195 <idle>-0 3dN.2 24us : _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore <-__hrtimer_start_range_ns
2196 <idle>-0 3dN.2 24us : sub_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore
2197 <idle>-0 3dN.1 24us : account_idle_ticks <-tick_nohz_idle_exit
2198 <idle>-0 3dN.1 24us : account_idle_time <-account_idle_ticks
2199 <idle>-0 3.N.1 25us : sub_preempt_count <-cpu_idle
2200 <idle>-0 3.N.. 25us : schedule <-cpu_idle
2201 <idle>-0 3.N.. 25us : __schedule <-preempt_schedule
2202 <idle>-0 3.N.. 26us : add_preempt_count <-__schedule
2203 <idle>-0 3.N.1 26us : rcu_note_context_switch <-__schedule
2204 <idle>-0 3.N.1 26us : rcu_sched_qs <-rcu_note_context_switch
2205 <idle>-0 3dN.1 27us : rcu_preempt_qs <-rcu_note_context_switch
2206 <idle>-0 3.N.1 27us : _raw_spin_lock_irq <-__schedule
2207 <idle>-0 3dN.1 27us : add_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_lock_irq
2208 <idle>-0 3dN.2 28us : put_prev_task_idle <-__schedule
2209 <idle>-0 3dN.2 28us : pick_next_task_stop <-pick_next_task
2210 <idle>-0 3dN.2 28us : pick_next_task_rt <-pick_next_task
2211 <idle>-0 3dN.2 29us : dequeue_pushable_task <-pick_next_task_rt
2212 <idle>-0 3d..3 29us : __schedule <-preempt_schedule
2213 <idle>-0 3d..3 30us : 0:120:R ==> [003] 2448: 94:R sleep
2215 This isn't that big of a trace, even with function tracing enabled,
2216 so I included the entire trace.
2218 The interrupt went off while when the system was idle. Somewhere
2219 before task_woken_rt() was called, the NEED_RESCHED flag was set,
2220 this is indicated by the first occurrence of the 'N' flag.
2222 Latency tracing and events
2223 --------------------------
2224 As function tracing can induce a much larger latency, but without
2225 seeing what happens within the latency it is hard to know what
2226 caused it. There is a middle ground, and that is with enabling
2230 # echo 0 > options/function-trace
2231 # echo wakeup_rt > current_tracer
2232 # echo 1 > events/enable
2233 # echo 1 > tracing_on
2234 # echo 0 > tracing_max_latency
2236 # echo 0 > tracing_on
2240 # wakeup_rt latency trace v1.1.5 on 3.8.0-test+
2241 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
2242 # latency: 6 us, #12/12, CPU#2 | (M:preempt VP:0, KP:0, SP:0 HP:0 #P:4)
2244 # | task: sleep-5882 (uid:0 nice:0 policy:1 rt_prio:5)
2248 # / _-----=> irqs-off
2249 # | / _----=> need-resched
2250 # || / _---=> hardirq/softirq
2251 # ||| / _--=> preempt-depth
2253 # cmd pid ||||| time | caller
2255 <idle>-0 2d.h4 0us : 0:120:R + [002] 5882: 94:R sleep
2256 <idle>-0 2d.h4 0us : ttwu_do_activate.constprop.87 <-try_to_wake_up
2257 <idle>-0 2d.h4 1us : sched_wakeup: comm=sleep pid=5882 prio=94 success=1 target_cpu=002
2258 <idle>-0 2dNh2 1us : hrtimer_expire_exit: hrtimer=ffff88007796feb8
2259 <idle>-0 2.N.2 2us : power_end: cpu_id=2
2260 <idle>-0 2.N.2 3us : cpu_idle: state=4294967295 cpu_id=2
2261 <idle>-0 2dN.3 4us : hrtimer_cancel: hrtimer=ffff88007d50d5e0
2262 <idle>-0 2dN.3 4us : hrtimer_start: hrtimer=ffff88007d50d5e0 function=tick_sched_timer expires=34311211000000 softexpires=34311211000000
2263 <idle>-0 2.N.2 5us : rcu_utilization: Start context switch
2264 <idle>-0 2.N.2 5us : rcu_utilization: End context switch
2265 <idle>-0 2d..3 6us : __schedule <-schedule
2266 <idle>-0 2d..3 6us : 0:120:R ==> [002] 5882: 94:R sleep
2269 Hardware Latency Detector
2270 -------------------------
2272 The hardware latency detector is executed by enabling the "hwlat" tracer.
2274 NOTE, this tracer will affect the performance of the system as it will
2275 periodically make a CPU constantly busy with interrupts disabled.
2278 # echo hwlat > current_tracer
2283 # entries-in-buffer/entries-written: 13/13 #P:8
2286 # / _----=> need-resched
2287 # | / _---=> hardirq/softirq
2288 # || / _--=> preempt-depth
2290 # TASK-PID CPU# |||| TIMESTAMP FUNCTION
2292 <...>-1729 [001] d... 678.473449: #1 inner/outer(us): 11/12 ts:1581527483.343962693 count:6
2293 <...>-1729 [004] d... 689.556542: #2 inner/outer(us): 16/9 ts:1581527494.889008092 count:1
2294 <...>-1729 [005] d... 714.756290: #3 inner/outer(us): 16/16 ts:1581527519.678961629 count:5
2295 <...>-1729 [001] d... 718.788247: #4 inner/outer(us): 9/17 ts:1581527523.889012713 count:1
2296 <...>-1729 [002] d... 719.796341: #5 inner/outer(us): 13/9 ts:1581527524.912872606 count:1
2297 <...>-1729 [006] d... 844.787091: #6 inner/outer(us): 9/12 ts:1581527649.889048502 count:2
2298 <...>-1729 [003] d... 849.827033: #7 inner/outer(us): 18/9 ts:1581527654.889013793 count:1
2299 <...>-1729 [007] d... 853.859002: #8 inner/outer(us): 9/12 ts:1581527658.889065736 count:1
2300 <...>-1729 [001] d... 855.874978: #9 inner/outer(us): 9/11 ts:1581527660.861991877 count:1
2301 <...>-1729 [001] d... 863.938932: #10 inner/outer(us): 9/11 ts:1581527668.970010500 count:1 nmi-total:7 nmi-count:1
2302 <...>-1729 [007] d... 878.050780: #11 inner/outer(us): 9/12 ts:1581527683.385002600 count:1 nmi-total:5 nmi-count:1
2303 <...>-1729 [007] d... 886.114702: #12 inner/outer(us): 9/12 ts:1581527691.385001600 count:1
2306 The above output is somewhat the same in the header. All events will have
2307 interrupts disabled 'd'. Under the FUNCTION title there is:
2310 This is the count of events recorded that were greater than the
2311 tracing_threshold (See below).
2313 inner/outer(us): 11/11
2315 This shows two numbers as "inner latency" and "outer latency". The test
2316 runs in a loop checking a timestamp twice. The latency detected within
2317 the two timestamps is the "inner latency" and the latency detected
2318 after the previous timestamp and the next timestamp in the loop is
2319 the "outer latency".
2321 ts:1581527483.343962693
2323 The absolute timestamp that the first latency was recorded in the window.
2327 The number of times a latency was detected during the window.
2329 nmi-total:7 nmi-count:1
2331 On architectures that support it, if an NMI comes in during the
2332 test, the time spent in NMI is reported in "nmi-total" (in
2335 All architectures that have NMIs will show the "nmi-count" if an
2336 NMI comes in during the test.
2341 This gets automatically set to "10" to represent 10
2342 microseconds. This is the threshold of latency that
2343 needs to be detected before the trace will be recorded.
2345 Note, when hwlat tracer is finished (another tracer is
2346 written into "current_tracer"), the original value for
2347 tracing_threshold is placed back into this file.
2349 hwlat_detector/width
2350 The length of time the test runs with interrupts disabled.
2352 hwlat_detector/window
2353 The length of time of the window which the test
2354 runs. That is, the test will run for "width"
2355 microseconds per "window" microseconds
2358 When the test is started. A kernel thread is created that
2359 runs the test. This thread will alternate between CPUs
2360 listed in the tracing_cpumask between each period
2361 (one "window"). To limit the test to specific CPUs
2362 set the mask in this file to only the CPUs that the test
2368 This tracer is the function tracer. Enabling the function tracer
2369 can be done from the debug file system. Make sure the
2370 ftrace_enabled is set; otherwise this tracer is a nop.
2371 See the "ftrace_enabled" section below.
2374 # sysctl kernel.ftrace_enabled=1
2375 # echo function > current_tracer
2376 # echo 1 > tracing_on
2378 # echo 0 > tracing_on
2382 # entries-in-buffer/entries-written: 24799/24799 #P:4
2385 # / _----=> need-resched
2386 # | / _---=> hardirq/softirq
2387 # || / _--=> preempt-depth
2389 # TASK-PID CPU# |||| TIMESTAMP FUNCTION
2391 bash-1994 [002] .... 3082.063030: mutex_unlock <-rb_simple_write
2392 bash-1994 [002] .... 3082.063031: __mutex_unlock_slowpath <-mutex_unlock
2393 bash-1994 [002] .... 3082.063031: __fsnotify_parent <-fsnotify_modify
2394 bash-1994 [002] .... 3082.063032: fsnotify <-fsnotify_modify
2395 bash-1994 [002] .... 3082.063032: __srcu_read_lock <-fsnotify
2396 bash-1994 [002] .... 3082.063032: add_preempt_count <-__srcu_read_lock
2397 bash-1994 [002] ...1 3082.063032: sub_preempt_count <-__srcu_read_lock
2398 bash-1994 [002] .... 3082.063033: __srcu_read_unlock <-fsnotify
2402 Note: function tracer uses ring buffers to store the above
2403 entries. The newest data may overwrite the oldest data.
2404 Sometimes using echo to stop the trace is not sufficient because
2405 the tracing could have overwritten the data that you wanted to
2406 record. For this reason, it is sometimes better to disable
2407 tracing directly from a program. This allows you to stop the
2408 tracing at the point that you hit the part that you are
2409 interested in. To disable the tracing directly from a C program,
2410 something like following code snippet can be used::
2414 int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
2416 trace_fd = open(tracing_file("tracing_on"), O_WRONLY);
2418 if (condition_hit()) {
2419 write(trace_fd, "0", 1);
2425 Single thread tracing
2426 ---------------------
2428 By writing into set_ftrace_pid you can trace a
2429 single thread. For example::
2431 # cat set_ftrace_pid
2433 # echo 3111 > set_ftrace_pid
2434 # cat set_ftrace_pid
2436 # echo function > current_tracer
2440 # TASK-PID CPU# TIMESTAMP FUNCTION
2442 yum-updatesd-3111 [003] 1637.254676: finish_task_switch <-thread_return
2443 yum-updatesd-3111 [003] 1637.254681: hrtimer_cancel <-schedule_hrtimeout_range
2444 yum-updatesd-3111 [003] 1637.254682: hrtimer_try_to_cancel <-hrtimer_cancel
2445 yum-updatesd-3111 [003] 1637.254683: lock_hrtimer_base <-hrtimer_try_to_cancel
2446 yum-updatesd-3111 [003] 1637.254685: fget_light <-do_sys_poll
2447 yum-updatesd-3111 [003] 1637.254686: pipe_poll <-do_sys_poll
2448 # echo > set_ftrace_pid
2452 # TASK-PID CPU# TIMESTAMP FUNCTION
2454 ##### CPU 3 buffer started ####
2455 yum-updatesd-3111 [003] 1701.957688: free_poll_entry <-poll_freewait
2456 yum-updatesd-3111 [003] 1701.957689: remove_wait_queue <-free_poll_entry
2457 yum-updatesd-3111 [003] 1701.957691: fput <-free_poll_entry
2458 yum-updatesd-3111 [003] 1701.957692: audit_syscall_exit <-sysret_audit
2459 yum-updatesd-3111 [003] 1701.957693: path_put <-audit_syscall_exit
2461 If you want to trace a function when executing, you could use
2462 something like this simple program.
2467 #include <sys/types.h>
2468 #include <sys/stat.h>
2474 #define STR(x) _STR(x)
2475 #define MAX_PATH 256
2477 const char *find_tracefs(void)
2479 static char tracefs[MAX_PATH+1];
2480 static int tracefs_found;
2487 if ((fp = fopen("/proc/mounts","r")) == NULL) {
2488 perror("/proc/mounts");
2492 while (fscanf(fp, "%*s %"
2494 "s %99s %*s %*d %*d\n",
2495 tracefs, type) == 2) {
2496 if (strcmp(type, "tracefs") == 0)
2501 if (strcmp(type, "tracefs") != 0) {
2502 fprintf(stderr, "tracefs not mounted");
2506 strcat(tracefs, "/tracing/");
2512 const char *tracing_file(const char *file_name)
2514 static char trace_file[MAX_PATH+1];
2515 snprintf(trace_file, MAX_PATH, "%s/%s", find_tracefs(), file_name);
2519 int main (int argc, char **argv)
2529 ffd = open(tracing_file("current_tracer"), O_WRONLY);
2532 write(ffd, "nop", 3);
2534 fd = open(tracing_file("set_ftrace_pid"), O_WRONLY);
2535 s = sprintf(line, "%d\n", getpid());
2538 write(ffd, "function", 8);
2543 execvp(argv[1], argv+1);
2549 Or this simple script!
2554 tracefs=`sed -ne 's/^tracefs \(.*\) tracefs.*/\1/p' /proc/mounts`
2555 echo 0 > $tracefs/tracing_on
2556 echo $$ > $tracefs/set_ftrace_pid
2557 echo function > $tracefs/current_tracer
2558 echo 1 > $tracefs/tracing_on
2562 function graph tracer
2563 ---------------------------
2565 This tracer is similar to the function tracer except that it
2566 probes a function on its entry and its exit. This is done by
2567 using a dynamically allocated stack of return addresses in each
2568 task_struct. On function entry the tracer overwrites the return
2569 address of each function traced to set a custom probe. Thus the
2570 original return address is stored on the stack of return address
2573 Probing on both ends of a function leads to special features
2576 - measure of a function's time execution
2577 - having a reliable call stack to draw function calls graph
2579 This tracer is useful in several situations:
2581 - you want to find the reason of a strange kernel behavior and
2582 need to see what happens in detail on any areas (or specific
2585 - you are experiencing weird latencies but it's difficult to
2588 - you want to find quickly which path is taken by a specific
2591 - you just want to peek inside a working kernel and want to see
2596 # tracer: function_graph
2598 # CPU DURATION FUNCTION CALLS
2602 0) | do_sys_open() {
2604 0) | kmem_cache_alloc() {
2605 0) 1.382 us | __might_sleep();
2607 0) | strncpy_from_user() {
2608 0) | might_fault() {
2609 0) 1.389 us | __might_sleep();
2614 0) 0.668 us | _spin_lock();
2615 0) 0.570 us | expand_files();
2616 0) 0.586 us | _spin_unlock();
2619 There are several columns that can be dynamically
2620 enabled/disabled. You can use every combination of options you
2621 want, depending on your needs.
2623 - The cpu number on which the function executed is default
2624 enabled. It is sometimes better to only trace one cpu (see
2625 tracing_cpumask file) or you might sometimes see unordered
2626 function calls while cpu tracing switch.
2628 - hide: echo nofuncgraph-cpu > trace_options
2629 - show: echo funcgraph-cpu > trace_options
2631 - The duration (function's time of execution) is displayed on
2632 the closing bracket line of a function or on the same line
2633 than the current function in case of a leaf one. It is default
2636 - hide: echo nofuncgraph-duration > trace_options
2637 - show: echo funcgraph-duration > trace_options
2639 - The overhead field precedes the duration field in case of
2640 reached duration thresholds.
2642 - hide: echo nofuncgraph-overhead > trace_options
2643 - show: echo funcgraph-overhead > trace_options
2644 - depends on: funcgraph-duration
2648 3) # 1837.709 us | } /* __switch_to */
2649 3) | finish_task_switch() {
2650 3) 0.313 us | _raw_spin_unlock_irq();
2652 3) # 1889.063 us | } /* __schedule */
2653 3) ! 140.417 us | } /* __schedule */
2654 3) # 2034.948 us | } /* schedule */
2655 3) * 33998.59 us | } /* schedule_preempt_disabled */
2659 1) 0.260 us | msecs_to_jiffies();
2660 1) 0.313 us | __rcu_read_unlock();
2663 1) 0.313 us | rcu_bh_qs();
2664 1) 0.313 us | __local_bh_enable();
2666 1) 0.365 us | idle_cpu();
2667 1) | rcu_irq_exit() {
2668 1) 0.417 us | rcu_eqs_enter_common.isra.47();
2672 1) @ 119760.2 us | }
2678 2) 0.417 us | scheduler_ipi();
2688 + means that the function exceeded 10 usecs.
2689 ! means that the function exceeded 100 usecs.
2690 # means that the function exceeded 1000 usecs.
2691 * means that the function exceeded 10 msecs.
2692 @ means that the function exceeded 100 msecs.
2693 $ means that the function exceeded 1 sec.
2696 - The task/pid field displays the thread cmdline and pid which
2697 executed the function. It is default disabled.
2699 - hide: echo nofuncgraph-proc > trace_options
2700 - show: echo funcgraph-proc > trace_options
2704 # tracer: function_graph
2706 # CPU TASK/PID DURATION FUNCTION CALLS
2708 0) sh-4802 | | d_free() {
2709 0) sh-4802 | | call_rcu() {
2710 0) sh-4802 | | __call_rcu() {
2711 0) sh-4802 | 0.616 us | rcu_process_gp_end();
2712 0) sh-4802 | 0.586 us | check_for_new_grace_period();
2713 0) sh-4802 | 2.899 us | }
2714 0) sh-4802 | 4.040 us | }
2715 0) sh-4802 | 5.151 us | }
2716 0) sh-4802 | + 49.370 us | }
2719 - The absolute time field is an absolute timestamp given by the
2720 system clock since it started. A snapshot of this time is
2721 given on each entry/exit of functions
2723 - hide: echo nofuncgraph-abstime > trace_options
2724 - show: echo funcgraph-abstime > trace_options
2729 # TIME CPU DURATION FUNCTION CALLS
2731 360.774522 | 1) 0.541 us | }
2732 360.774522 | 1) 4.663 us | }
2733 360.774523 | 1) 0.541 us | __wake_up_bit();
2734 360.774524 | 1) 6.796 us | }
2735 360.774524 | 1) 7.952 us | }
2736 360.774525 | 1) 9.063 us | }
2737 360.774525 | 1) 0.615 us | journal_mark_dirty();
2738 360.774527 | 1) 0.578 us | __brelse();
2739 360.774528 | 1) | reiserfs_prepare_for_journal() {
2740 360.774528 | 1) | unlock_buffer() {
2741 360.774529 | 1) | wake_up_bit() {
2742 360.774529 | 1) | bit_waitqueue() {
2743 360.774530 | 1) 0.594 us | __phys_addr();
2746 The function name is always displayed after the closing bracket
2747 for a function if the start of that function is not in the
2750 Display of the function name after the closing bracket may be
2751 enabled for functions whose start is in the trace buffer,
2752 allowing easier searching with grep for function durations.
2753 It is default disabled.
2755 - hide: echo nofuncgraph-tail > trace_options
2756 - show: echo funcgraph-tail > trace_options
2758 Example with nofuncgraph-tail (default)::
2761 0) | kmem_cache_free() {
2762 0) 0.518 us | __phys_addr();
2766 Example with funcgraph-tail::
2769 0) | kmem_cache_free() {
2770 0) 0.518 us | __phys_addr();
2771 0) 1.757 us | } /* kmem_cache_free() */
2772 0) 2.861 us | } /* putname() */
2774 The return value of each traced function can be displayed after
2775 an equal sign "=". When encountering system call failures, it
2776 can be very helpful to quickly locate the function that first
2777 returns an error code.
2779 - hide: echo nofuncgraph-retval > trace_options
2780 - show: echo funcgraph-retval > trace_options
2782 Example with funcgraph-retval::
2784 1) | cgroup_migrate() {
2785 1) 0.651 us | cgroup_migrate_add_task(); /* = 0xffff93fcfd346c00 */
2786 1) | cgroup_migrate_execute() {
2787 1) | cpu_cgroup_can_attach() {
2788 1) | cgroup_taskset_first() {
2789 1) 0.732 us | cgroup_taskset_next(); /* = 0xffff93fc8fb20000 */
2790 1) 1.232 us | } /* cgroup_taskset_first = 0xffff93fc8fb20000 */
2791 1) 0.380 us | sched_rt_can_attach(); /* = 0x0 */
2792 1) 2.335 us | } /* cpu_cgroup_can_attach = -22 */
2793 1) 4.369 us | } /* cgroup_migrate_execute = -22 */
2794 1) 7.143 us | } /* cgroup_migrate = -22 */
2796 The above example shows that the function cpu_cgroup_can_attach
2797 returned the error code -22 firstly, then we can read the code
2798 of this function to get the root cause.
2800 When the option funcgraph-retval-hex is not set, the return value can
2801 be displayed in a smart way. Specifically, if it is an error code,
2802 it will be printed in signed decimal format, otherwise it will
2803 printed in hexadecimal format.
2805 - smart: echo nofuncgraph-retval-hex > trace_options
2806 - hexadecimal: echo funcgraph-retval-hex > trace_options
2808 Example with funcgraph-retval-hex::
2810 1) | cgroup_migrate() {
2811 1) 0.651 us | cgroup_migrate_add_task(); /* = 0xffff93fcfd346c00 */
2812 1) | cgroup_migrate_execute() {
2813 1) | cpu_cgroup_can_attach() {
2814 1) | cgroup_taskset_first() {
2815 1) 0.732 us | cgroup_taskset_next(); /* = 0xffff93fc8fb20000 */
2816 1) 1.232 us | } /* cgroup_taskset_first = 0xffff93fc8fb20000 */
2817 1) 0.380 us | sched_rt_can_attach(); /* = 0x0 */
2818 1) 2.335 us | } /* cpu_cgroup_can_attach = 0xffffffea */
2819 1) 4.369 us | } /* cgroup_migrate_execute = 0xffffffea */
2820 1) 7.143 us | } /* cgroup_migrate = 0xffffffea */
2822 At present, there are some limitations when using the funcgraph-retval
2823 option, and these limitations will be eliminated in the future:
2825 - Even if the function return type is void, a return value will still
2826 be printed, and you can just ignore it.
2828 - Even if return values are stored in multiple registers, only the
2829 value contained in the first register will be recorded and printed.
2830 To illustrate, in the x86 architecture, eax and edx are used to store
2831 a 64-bit return value, with the lower 32 bits saved in eax and the
2832 upper 32 bits saved in edx. However, only the value stored in eax
2833 will be recorded and printed.
2835 - In certain procedure call standards, such as arm64's AAPCS64, when a
2836 type is smaller than a GPR, it is the responsibility of the consumer
2837 to perform the narrowing, and the upper bits may contain UNKNOWN values.
2838 Therefore, it is advisable to check the code for such cases. For instance,
2839 when using a u8 in a 64-bit GPR, bits [63:8] may contain arbitrary values,
2840 especially when larger types are truncated, whether explicitly or implicitly.
2841 Here are some specific cases to illustrate this point:
2845 The function narrow_to_u8 is defined as follows::
2847 u8 narrow_to_u8(u64 val)
2849 // implicitly truncated
2853 It may be compiled to::
2856 < ... ftrace instrumentation ... >
2859 If you pass 0x123456789abcdef to this function and want to narrow it,
2860 it may be recorded as 0x123456789abcdef instead of 0xef.
2864 The function error_if_not_4g_aligned is defined as follows::
2866 int error_if_not_4g_aligned(u64 val)
2868 if (val & GENMASK(31, 0))
2874 It could be compiled to::
2876 error_if_not_4g_aligned:
2877 CBNZ w0, .Lnot_aligned
2878 RET // bits [31:0] are zero, bits
2879 // [63:32] are UNKNOWN
2884 When passing 0x2_0000_0000 to it, the return value may be recorded as
2885 0x2_0000_0000 instead of 0.
2887 You can put some comments on specific functions by using
2888 trace_printk() For example, if you want to put a comment inside
2889 the __might_sleep() function, you just have to include
2890 <linux/ftrace.h> and call trace_printk() inside __might_sleep()::
2892 trace_printk("I'm a comment!\n")
2896 1) | __might_sleep() {
2897 1) | /* I'm a comment! */
2901 You might find other useful features for this tracer in the
2902 following "dynamic ftrace" section such as tracing only specific
2908 If CONFIG_DYNAMIC_FTRACE is set, the system will run with
2909 virtually no overhead when function tracing is disabled. The way
2910 this works is the mcount function call (placed at the start of
2911 every kernel function, produced by the -pg switch in gcc),
2912 starts of pointing to a simple return. (Enabling FTRACE will
2913 include the -pg switch in the compiling of the kernel.)
2915 At compile time every C file object is run through the
2916 recordmcount program (located in the scripts directory). This
2917 program will parse the ELF headers in the C object to find all
2918 the locations in the .text section that call mcount. Starting
2919 with gcc version 4.6, the -mfentry has been added for x86, which
2920 calls "__fentry__" instead of "mcount". Which is called before
2921 the creation of the stack frame.
2923 Note, not all sections are traced. They may be prevented by either
2924 a notrace, or blocked another way and all inline functions are not
2925 traced. Check the "available_filter_functions" file to see what functions
2928 A section called "__mcount_loc" is created that holds
2929 references to all the mcount/fentry call sites in the .text section.
2930 The recordmcount program re-links this section back into the
2931 original object. The final linking stage of the kernel will add all these
2932 references into a single table.
2934 On boot up, before SMP is initialized, the dynamic ftrace code
2935 scans this table and updates all the locations into nops. It
2936 also records the locations, which are added to the
2937 available_filter_functions list. Modules are processed as they
2938 are loaded and before they are executed. When a module is
2939 unloaded, it also removes its functions from the ftrace function
2940 list. This is automatic in the module unload code, and the
2941 module author does not need to worry about it.
2943 When tracing is enabled, the process of modifying the function
2944 tracepoints is dependent on architecture. The old method is to use
2945 kstop_machine to prevent races with the CPUs executing code being
2946 modified (which can cause the CPU to do undesirable things, especially
2947 if the modified code crosses cache (or page) boundaries), and the nops are
2948 patched back to calls. But this time, they do not call mcount
2949 (which is just a function stub). They now call into the ftrace
2952 The new method of modifying the function tracepoints is to place
2953 a breakpoint at the location to be modified, sync all CPUs, modify
2954 the rest of the instruction not covered by the breakpoint. Sync
2955 all CPUs again, and then remove the breakpoint with the finished
2956 version to the ftrace call site.
2958 Some archs do not even need to monkey around with the synchronization,
2959 and can just slap the new code on top of the old without any
2960 problems with other CPUs executing it at the same time.
2962 One special side-effect to the recording of the functions being
2963 traced is that we can now selectively choose which functions we
2964 wish to trace and which ones we want the mcount calls to remain
2967 Two files are used, one for enabling and one for disabling the
2968 tracing of specified functions. They are:
2976 A list of available functions that you can add to these files is
2979 available_filter_functions
2983 # cat available_filter_functions
2992 If I am only interested in sys_nanosleep and hrtimer_interrupt::
2994 # echo sys_nanosleep hrtimer_interrupt > set_ftrace_filter
2995 # echo function > current_tracer
2996 # echo 1 > tracing_on
2998 # echo 0 > tracing_on
3002 # entries-in-buffer/entries-written: 5/5 #P:4
3005 # / _----=> need-resched
3006 # | / _---=> hardirq/softirq
3007 # || / _--=> preempt-depth
3009 # TASK-PID CPU# |||| TIMESTAMP FUNCTION
3011 usleep-2665 [001] .... 4186.475355: sys_nanosleep <-system_call_fastpath
3012 <idle>-0 [001] d.h1 4186.475409: hrtimer_interrupt <-smp_apic_timer_interrupt
3013 usleep-2665 [001] d.h1 4186.475426: hrtimer_interrupt <-smp_apic_timer_interrupt
3014 <idle>-0 [003] d.h1 4186.475426: hrtimer_interrupt <-smp_apic_timer_interrupt
3015 <idle>-0 [002] d.h1 4186.475427: hrtimer_interrupt <-smp_apic_timer_interrupt
3017 To see which functions are being traced, you can cat the file:
3020 # cat set_ftrace_filter
3025 Perhaps this is not enough. The filters also allow glob(7) matching.
3028 will match functions that begin with <match>
3030 will match functions that end with <match>
3032 will match functions that have <match> in it
3033 ``<match1>*<match2>``
3034 will match functions that begin with <match1> and end with <match2>
3037 It is better to use quotes to enclose the wild cards,
3038 otherwise the shell may expand the parameters into names
3039 of files in the local directory.
3043 # echo 'hrtimer_*' > set_ftrace_filter
3049 # entries-in-buffer/entries-written: 897/897 #P:4
3052 # / _----=> need-resched
3053 # | / _---=> hardirq/softirq
3054 # || / _--=> preempt-depth
3056 # TASK-PID CPU# |||| TIMESTAMP FUNCTION
3058 <idle>-0 [003] dN.1 4228.547803: hrtimer_cancel <-tick_nohz_idle_exit
3059 <idle>-0 [003] dN.1 4228.547804: hrtimer_try_to_cancel <-hrtimer_cancel
3060 <idle>-0 [003] dN.2 4228.547805: hrtimer_force_reprogram <-__remove_hrtimer
3061 <idle>-0 [003] dN.1 4228.547805: hrtimer_forward <-tick_nohz_idle_exit
3062 <idle>-0 [003] dN.1 4228.547805: hrtimer_start_range_ns <-hrtimer_start_expires.constprop.11
3063 <idle>-0 [003] d..1 4228.547858: hrtimer_get_next_event <-get_next_timer_interrupt
3064 <idle>-0 [003] d..1 4228.547859: hrtimer_start <-__tick_nohz_idle_enter
3065 <idle>-0 [003] d..2 4228.547860: hrtimer_force_reprogram <-__rem
3067 Notice that we lost the sys_nanosleep.
3070 # cat set_ftrace_filter
3075 hrtimer_try_to_cancel
3079 hrtimer_force_reprogram
3080 hrtimer_get_next_event
3084 hrtimer_get_remaining
3086 hrtimer_init_sleeper
3089 This is because the '>' and '>>' act just like they do in bash.
3090 To rewrite the filters, use '>'
3091 To append to the filters, use '>>'
3093 To clear out a filter so that all functions will be recorded
3096 # echo > set_ftrace_filter
3097 # cat set_ftrace_filter
3100 Again, now we want to append.
3104 # echo sys_nanosleep > set_ftrace_filter
3105 # cat set_ftrace_filter
3107 # echo 'hrtimer_*' >> set_ftrace_filter
3108 # cat set_ftrace_filter
3113 hrtimer_try_to_cancel
3117 hrtimer_force_reprogram
3118 hrtimer_get_next_event
3123 hrtimer_get_remaining
3125 hrtimer_init_sleeper
3128 The set_ftrace_notrace prevents those functions from being
3132 # echo '*preempt*' '*lock*' > set_ftrace_notrace
3138 # entries-in-buffer/entries-written: 39608/39608 #P:4
3141 # / _----=> need-resched
3142 # | / _---=> hardirq/softirq
3143 # || / _--=> preempt-depth
3145 # TASK-PID CPU# |||| TIMESTAMP FUNCTION
3147 bash-1994 [000] .... 4342.324896: file_ra_state_init <-do_dentry_open
3148 bash-1994 [000] .... 4342.324897: open_check_o_direct <-do_last
3149 bash-1994 [000] .... 4342.324897: ima_file_check <-do_last
3150 bash-1994 [000] .... 4342.324898: process_measurement <-ima_file_check
3151 bash-1994 [000] .... 4342.324898: ima_get_action <-process_measurement
3152 bash-1994 [000] .... 4342.324898: ima_match_policy <-ima_get_action
3153 bash-1994 [000] .... 4342.324899: do_truncate <-do_last
3154 bash-1994 [000] .... 4342.324899: setattr_should_drop_suidgid <-do_truncate
3155 bash-1994 [000] .... 4342.324899: notify_change <-do_truncate
3156 bash-1994 [000] .... 4342.324900: current_fs_time <-notify_change
3157 bash-1994 [000] .... 4342.324900: current_kernel_time <-current_fs_time
3158 bash-1994 [000] .... 4342.324900: timespec_trunc <-current_fs_time
3160 We can see that there's no more lock or preempt tracing.
3162 Selecting function filters via index
3163 ------------------------------------
3165 Because processing of strings is expensive (the address of the function
3166 needs to be looked up before comparing to the string being passed in),
3167 an index can be used as well to enable functions. This is useful in the
3168 case of setting thousands of specific functions at a time. By passing
3169 in a list of numbers, no string processing will occur. Instead, the function
3170 at the specific location in the internal array (which corresponds to the
3171 functions in the "available_filter_functions" file), is selected.
3175 # echo 1 > set_ftrace_filter
3177 Will select the first function listed in "available_filter_functions"
3181 # head -1 available_filter_functions
3182 trace_initcall_finish_cb
3184 # cat set_ftrace_filter
3185 trace_initcall_finish_cb
3187 # head -50 available_filter_functions | tail -1
3190 # echo 1 50 > set_ftrace_filter
3191 # cat set_ftrace_filter
3192 trace_initcall_finish_cb
3195 Dynamic ftrace with the function graph tracer
3196 ---------------------------------------------
3198 Although what has been explained above concerns both the
3199 function tracer and the function-graph-tracer, there are some
3200 special features only available in the function-graph tracer.
3202 If you want to trace only one function and all of its children,
3203 you just have to echo its name into set_graph_function::
3205 echo __do_fault > set_graph_function
3207 will produce the following "expanded" trace of the __do_fault()
3211 0) | filemap_fault() {
3212 0) | find_lock_page() {
3213 0) 0.804 us | find_get_page();
3214 0) | __might_sleep() {
3218 0) 0.653 us | _spin_lock();
3219 0) 0.578 us | page_add_file_rmap();
3220 0) 0.525 us | native_set_pte_at();
3221 0) 0.585 us | _spin_unlock();
3222 0) | unlock_page() {
3223 0) 0.541 us | page_waitqueue();
3224 0) 0.639 us | __wake_up_bit();
3228 0) | filemap_fault() {
3229 0) | find_lock_page() {
3230 0) 0.698 us | find_get_page();
3231 0) | __might_sleep() {
3235 0) 0.631 us | _spin_lock();
3236 0) 0.571 us | page_add_file_rmap();
3237 0) 0.526 us | native_set_pte_at();
3238 0) 0.586 us | _spin_unlock();
3239 0) | unlock_page() {
3240 0) 0.533 us | page_waitqueue();
3241 0) 0.638 us | __wake_up_bit();
3245 You can also expand several functions at once::
3247 echo sys_open > set_graph_function
3248 echo sys_close >> set_graph_function
3250 Now if you want to go back to trace all functions you can clear
3251 this special filter via::
3253 echo > set_graph_function
3259 Note, the proc sysctl ftrace_enable is a big on/off switch for the
3260 function tracer. By default it is enabled (when function tracing is
3261 enabled in the kernel). If it is disabled, all function tracing is
3262 disabled. This includes not only the function tracers for ftrace, but
3263 also for any other uses (perf, kprobes, stack tracing, profiling, etc). It
3264 cannot be disabled if there is a callback with FTRACE_OPS_FL_PERMANENT set
3267 Please disable this with care.
3269 This can be disable (and enabled) with::
3271 sysctl kernel.ftrace_enabled=0
3272 sysctl kernel.ftrace_enabled=1
3276 echo 0 > /proc/sys/kernel/ftrace_enabled
3277 echo 1 > /proc/sys/kernel/ftrace_enabled
3283 A few commands are supported by the set_ftrace_filter interface.
3284 Trace commands have the following format::
3286 <function>:<command>:<parameter>
3288 The following commands are supported:
3291 This command enables function filtering per module. The
3292 parameter defines the module. For example, if only the write*
3293 functions in the ext3 module are desired, run:
3295 echo 'write*:mod:ext3' > set_ftrace_filter
3297 This command interacts with the filter in the same way as
3298 filtering based on function names. Thus, adding more functions
3299 in a different module is accomplished by appending (>>) to the
3300 filter file. Remove specific module functions by prepending
3303 echo '!writeback*:mod:ext3' >> set_ftrace_filter
3305 Mod command supports module globbing. Disable tracing for all
3306 functions except a specific module::
3308 echo '!*:mod:!ext3' >> set_ftrace_filter
3310 Disable tracing for all modules, but still trace kernel::
3312 echo '!*:mod:*' >> set_ftrace_filter
3314 Enable filter only for kernel::
3316 echo '*write*:mod:!*' >> set_ftrace_filter
3318 Enable filter for module globbing::
3320 echo '*write*:mod:*snd*' >> set_ftrace_filter
3323 These commands turn tracing on and off when the specified
3324 functions are hit. The parameter determines how many times the
3325 tracing system is turned on and off. If unspecified, there is
3326 no limit. For example, to disable tracing when a schedule bug
3327 is hit the first 5 times, run::
3329 echo '__schedule_bug:traceoff:5' > set_ftrace_filter
3331 To always disable tracing when __schedule_bug is hit::
3333 echo '__schedule_bug:traceoff' > set_ftrace_filter
3335 These commands are cumulative whether or not they are appended
3336 to set_ftrace_filter. To remove a command, prepend it by '!'
3337 and drop the parameter::
3339 echo '!__schedule_bug:traceoff:0' > set_ftrace_filter
3341 The above removes the traceoff command for __schedule_bug
3342 that have a counter. To remove commands without counters::
3344 echo '!__schedule_bug:traceoff' > set_ftrace_filter
3347 Will cause a snapshot to be triggered when the function is hit.
3350 echo 'native_flush_tlb_others:snapshot' > set_ftrace_filter
3352 To only snapshot once:
3355 echo 'native_flush_tlb_others:snapshot:1' > set_ftrace_filter
3357 To remove the above commands::
3359 echo '!native_flush_tlb_others:snapshot' > set_ftrace_filter
3360 echo '!native_flush_tlb_others:snapshot:0' > set_ftrace_filter
3362 - enable_event/disable_event:
3363 These commands can enable or disable a trace event. Note, because
3364 function tracing callbacks are very sensitive, when these commands
3365 are registered, the trace point is activated, but disabled in
3366 a "soft" mode. That is, the tracepoint will be called, but
3367 just will not be traced. The event tracepoint stays in this mode
3368 as long as there's a command that triggers it.
3371 echo 'try_to_wake_up:enable_event:sched:sched_switch:2' > \
3376 <function>:enable_event:<system>:<event>[:count]
3377 <function>:disable_event:<system>:<event>[:count]
3379 To remove the events commands::
3381 echo '!try_to_wake_up:enable_event:sched:sched_switch:0' > \
3383 echo '!schedule:disable_event:sched:sched_switch' > \
3387 When the function is hit, it will dump the contents of the ftrace
3388 ring buffer to the console. This is useful if you need to debug
3389 something, and want to dump the trace when a certain function
3390 is hit. Perhaps it's a function that is called before a triple
3391 fault happens and does not allow you to get a regular dump.
3394 When the function is hit, it will dump the contents of the ftrace
3395 ring buffer for the current CPU to the console. Unlike the "dump"
3396 command, it only prints out the contents of the ring buffer for the
3397 CPU that executed the function that triggered the dump.
3400 When the function is hit, a stack trace is recorded.
3405 The trace_pipe outputs the same content as the trace file, but
3406 the effect on the tracing is different. Every read from
3407 trace_pipe is consumed. This means that subsequent reads will be
3408 different. The trace is live.
3411 # echo function > current_tracer
3412 # cat trace_pipe > /tmp/trace.out &
3414 # echo 1 > tracing_on
3416 # echo 0 > tracing_on
3420 # entries-in-buffer/entries-written: 0/0 #P:4
3423 # / _----=> need-resched
3424 # | / _---=> hardirq/softirq
3425 # || / _--=> preempt-depth
3427 # TASK-PID CPU# |||| TIMESTAMP FUNCTION
3431 # cat /tmp/trace.out
3432 bash-1994 [000] .... 5281.568961: mutex_unlock <-rb_simple_write
3433 bash-1994 [000] .... 5281.568963: __mutex_unlock_slowpath <-mutex_unlock
3434 bash-1994 [000] .... 5281.568963: __fsnotify_parent <-fsnotify_modify
3435 bash-1994 [000] .... 5281.568964: fsnotify <-fsnotify_modify
3436 bash-1994 [000] .... 5281.568964: __srcu_read_lock <-fsnotify
3437 bash-1994 [000] .... 5281.568964: add_preempt_count <-__srcu_read_lock
3438 bash-1994 [000] ...1 5281.568965: sub_preempt_count <-__srcu_read_lock
3439 bash-1994 [000] .... 5281.568965: __srcu_read_unlock <-fsnotify
3440 bash-1994 [000] .... 5281.568967: sys_dup2 <-system_call_fastpath
3443 Note, reading the trace_pipe file will block until more input is
3444 added. This is contrary to the trace file. If any process opened
3445 the trace file for reading, it will actually disable tracing and
3446 prevent new entries from being added. The trace_pipe file does
3447 not have this limitation.
3452 Having too much or not enough data can be troublesome in
3453 diagnosing an issue in the kernel. The file buffer_size_kb is
3454 used to modify the size of the internal trace buffers. The
3455 number listed is the number of entries that can be recorded per
3456 CPU. To know the full size, multiply the number of possible CPUs
3457 with the number of entries.
3460 # cat buffer_size_kb
3461 1408 (units kilobytes)
3463 Or simply read buffer_total_size_kb
3466 # cat buffer_total_size_kb
3469 To modify the buffer, simple echo in a number (in 1024 byte segments).
3472 # echo 10000 > buffer_size_kb
3473 # cat buffer_size_kb
3474 10000 (units kilobytes)
3476 It will try to allocate as much as possible. If you allocate too
3477 much, it can cause Out-Of-Memory to trigger.
3480 # echo 1000000000000 > buffer_size_kb
3481 -bash: echo: write error: Cannot allocate memory
3482 # cat buffer_size_kb
3485 The per_cpu buffers can be changed individually as well:
3488 # echo 10000 > per_cpu/cpu0/buffer_size_kb
3489 # echo 100 > per_cpu/cpu1/buffer_size_kb
3491 When the per_cpu buffers are not the same, the buffer_size_kb
3492 at the top level will just show an X
3495 # cat buffer_size_kb
3498 This is where the buffer_total_size_kb is useful:
3501 # cat buffer_total_size_kb
3504 Writing to the top level buffer_size_kb will reset all the buffers
3505 to be the same again.
3509 CONFIG_TRACER_SNAPSHOT makes a generic snapshot feature
3510 available to all non latency tracers. (Latency tracers which
3511 record max latency, such as "irqsoff" or "wakeup", can't use
3512 this feature, since those are already using the snapshot
3513 mechanism internally.)
3515 Snapshot preserves a current trace buffer at a particular point
3516 in time without stopping tracing. Ftrace swaps the current
3517 buffer with a spare buffer, and tracing continues in the new
3518 current (=previous spare) buffer.
3520 The following tracefs files in "tracing" are related to this
3525 This is used to take a snapshot and to read the output
3526 of the snapshot. Echo 1 into this file to allocate a
3527 spare buffer and to take a snapshot (swap), then read
3528 the snapshot from this file in the same format as
3529 "trace" (described above in the section "The File
3530 System"). Both reads snapshot and tracing are executable
3531 in parallel. When the spare buffer is allocated, echoing
3532 0 frees it, and echoing else (positive) values clear the
3534 More details are shown in the table below.
3536 +--------------+------------+------------+------------+
3537 |status\\input | 0 | 1 | else |
3538 +==============+============+============+============+
3539 |not allocated |(do nothing)| alloc+swap |(do nothing)|
3540 +--------------+------------+------------+------------+
3541 |allocated | free | swap | clear |
3542 +--------------+------------+------------+------------+
3544 Here is an example of using the snapshot feature.
3547 # echo 1 > events/sched/enable
3552 # entries-in-buffer/entries-written: 71/71 #P:8
3555 # / _----=> need-resched
3556 # | / _---=> hardirq/softirq
3557 # || / _--=> preempt-depth
3559 # TASK-PID CPU# |||| TIMESTAMP FUNCTION
3561 <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
3562 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
3564 <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
3569 # entries-in-buffer/entries-written: 77/77 #P:8
3572 # / _----=> need-resched
3573 # | / _---=> hardirq/softirq
3574 # || / _--=> preempt-depth
3576 # TASK-PID CPU# |||| TIMESTAMP FUNCTION
3578 <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
3579 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
3583 If you try to use this snapshot feature when current tracer is
3584 one of the latency tracers, you will get the following results.
3587 # echo wakeup > current_tracer
3589 bash: echo: write error: Device or resource busy
3591 cat: snapshot: Device or resource busy
3596 In the tracefs tracing directory, there is a directory called "instances".
3597 This directory can have new directories created inside of it using
3598 mkdir, and removing directories with rmdir. The directory created
3599 with mkdir in this directory will already contain files and other
3600 directories after it is created.
3603 # mkdir instances/foo
3605 buffer_size_kb buffer_total_size_kb events free_buffer per_cpu
3606 set_event snapshot trace trace_clock trace_marker trace_options
3607 trace_pipe tracing_on
3609 As you can see, the new directory looks similar to the tracing directory
3610 itself. In fact, it is very similar, except that the buffer and
3611 events are agnostic from the main directory, or from any other
3612 instances that are created.
3614 The files in the new directory work just like the files with the
3615 same name in the tracing directory except the buffer that is used
3616 is a separate and new buffer. The files affect that buffer but do not
3617 affect the main buffer with the exception of trace_options. Currently,
3618 the trace_options affect all instances and the top level buffer
3619 the same, but this may change in future releases. That is, options
3620 may become specific to the instance they reside in.
3622 Notice that none of the function tracer files are there, nor is
3623 current_tracer and available_tracers. This is because the buffers
3624 can currently only have events enabled for them.
3627 # mkdir instances/foo
3628 # mkdir instances/bar
3629 # mkdir instances/zoot
3630 # echo 100000 > buffer_size_kb
3631 # echo 1000 > instances/foo/buffer_size_kb
3632 # echo 5000 > instances/bar/per_cpu/cpu1/buffer_size_kb
3633 # echo function > current_trace
3634 # echo 1 > instances/foo/events/sched/sched_wakeup/enable
3635 # echo 1 > instances/foo/events/sched/sched_wakeup_new/enable
3636 # echo 1 > instances/foo/events/sched/sched_switch/enable
3637 # echo 1 > instances/bar/events/irq/enable
3638 # echo 1 > instances/zoot/events/syscalls/enable
3640 CPU:2 [LOST 11745 EVENTS]
3641 bash-2044 [002] .... 10594.481032: _raw_spin_lock_irqsave <-get_page_from_freelist
3642 bash-2044 [002] d... 10594.481032: add_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_lock_irqsave
3643 bash-2044 [002] d..1 10594.481032: __rmqueue <-get_page_from_freelist
3644 bash-2044 [002] d..1 10594.481033: _raw_spin_unlock <-get_page_from_freelist
3645 bash-2044 [002] d..1 10594.481033: sub_preempt_count <-_raw_spin_unlock
3646 bash-2044 [002] d... 10594.481033: get_pageblock_flags_group <-get_pageblock_migratetype
3647 bash-2044 [002] d... 10594.481034: __mod_zone_page_state <-get_page_from_freelist
3648 bash-2044 [002] d... 10594.481034: zone_statistics <-get_page_from_freelist
3649 bash-2044 [002] d... 10594.481034: __inc_zone_state <-zone_statistics
3650 bash-2044 [002] d... 10594.481034: __inc_zone_state <-zone_statistics
3651 bash-2044 [002] .... 10594.481035: arch_dup_task_struct <-copy_process
3654 # cat instances/foo/trace_pipe
3655 bash-1998 [000] d..4 136.676759: sched_wakeup: comm=kworker/0:1 pid=59 prio=120 success=1 target_cpu=000
3656 bash-1998 [000] dN.4 136.676760: sched_wakeup: comm=bash pid=1998 prio=120 success=1 target_cpu=000
3657 <idle>-0 [003] d.h3 136.676906: sched_wakeup: comm=rcu_preempt pid=9 prio=120 success=1 target_cpu=003
3658 <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
3659 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
3660 bash-1998 [000] d..4 136.677014: sched_wakeup: comm=kworker/0:1 pid=59 prio=120 success=1 target_cpu=000
3661 bash-1998 [000] dN.4 136.677016: sched_wakeup: comm=bash pid=1998 prio=120 success=1 target_cpu=000
3662 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
3663 kworker/0:1-59 [000] d..4 136.677022: sched_wakeup: comm=sshd pid=1995 prio=120 success=1 target_cpu=001
3664 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
3667 # cat instances/bar/trace_pipe
3668 migration/1-14 [001] d.h3 138.732674: softirq_raise: vec=3 [action=NET_RX]
3669 <idle>-0 [001] dNh3 138.732725: softirq_raise: vec=3 [action=NET_RX]
3670 bash-1998 [000] d.h1 138.733101: softirq_raise: vec=1 [action=TIMER]
3671 bash-1998 [000] d.h1 138.733102: softirq_raise: vec=9 [action=RCU]
3672 bash-1998 [000] ..s2 138.733105: softirq_entry: vec=1 [action=TIMER]
3673 bash-1998 [000] ..s2 138.733106: softirq_exit: vec=1 [action=TIMER]
3674 bash-1998 [000] ..s2 138.733106: softirq_entry: vec=9 [action=RCU]
3675 bash-1998 [000] ..s2 138.733109: softirq_exit: vec=9 [action=RCU]
3676 sshd-1995 [001] d.h1 138.733278: irq_handler_entry: irq=21 name=uhci_hcd:usb4
3677 sshd-1995 [001] d.h1 138.733280: irq_handler_exit: irq=21 ret=unhandled
3678 sshd-1995 [001] d.h1 138.733281: irq_handler_entry: irq=21 name=eth0
3679 sshd-1995 [001] d.h1 138.733283: irq_handler_exit: irq=21 ret=handled
3682 # cat instances/zoot/trace
3685 # entries-in-buffer/entries-written: 18996/18996 #P:4
3688 # / _----=> need-resched
3689 # | / _---=> hardirq/softirq
3690 # || / _--=> preempt-depth
3692 # TASK-PID CPU# |||| TIMESTAMP FUNCTION
3694 bash-1998 [000] d... 140.733501: sys_write -> 0x2
3695 bash-1998 [000] d... 140.733504: sys_dup2(oldfd: a, newfd: 1)
3696 bash-1998 [000] d... 140.733506: sys_dup2 -> 0x1
3697 bash-1998 [000] d... 140.733508: sys_fcntl(fd: a, cmd: 1, arg: 0)
3698 bash-1998 [000] d... 140.733509: sys_fcntl -> 0x1
3699 bash-1998 [000] d... 140.733510: sys_close(fd: a)
3700 bash-1998 [000] d... 140.733510: sys_close -> 0x0
3701 bash-1998 [000] d... 140.733514: sys_rt_sigprocmask(how: 0, nset: 0, oset: 6e2768, sigsetsize: 8)
3702 bash-1998 [000] d... 140.733515: sys_rt_sigprocmask -> 0x0
3703 bash-1998 [000] d... 140.733516: sys_rt_sigaction(sig: 2, act: 7fff718846f0, oact: 7fff71884650, sigsetsize: 8)
3704 bash-1998 [000] d... 140.733516: sys_rt_sigaction -> 0x0
3706 You can see that the trace of the top most trace buffer shows only
3707 the function tracing. The foo instance displays wakeups and task
3710 To remove the instances, simply delete their directories:
3713 # rmdir instances/foo
3714 # rmdir instances/bar
3715 # rmdir instances/zoot
3717 Note, if a process has a trace file open in one of the instance
3718 directories, the rmdir will fail with EBUSY.
3723 Since the kernel has a fixed sized stack, it is important not to
3724 waste it in functions. A kernel developer must be conscious of
3725 what they allocate on the stack. If they add too much, the system
3726 can be in danger of a stack overflow, and corruption will occur,
3727 usually leading to a system panic.
3729 There are some tools that check this, usually with interrupts
3730 periodically checking usage. But if you can perform a check
3731 at every function call that will become very useful. As ftrace provides
3732 a function tracer, it makes it convenient to check the stack size
3733 at every function call. This is enabled via the stack tracer.
3735 CONFIG_STACK_TRACER enables the ftrace stack tracing functionality.
3736 To enable it, write a '1' into /proc/sys/kernel/stack_tracer_enabled.
3739 # echo 1 > /proc/sys/kernel/stack_tracer_enabled
3741 You can also enable it from the kernel command line to trace
3742 the stack size of the kernel during boot up, by adding "stacktrace"
3743 to the kernel command line parameter.
3745 After running it for a few minutes, the output looks like:
3748 # cat stack_max_size
3752 Depth Size Location (18 entries)
3754 0) 2928 224 update_sd_lb_stats+0xbc/0x4ac
3755 1) 2704 160 find_busiest_group+0x31/0x1f1
3756 2) 2544 256 load_balance+0xd9/0x662
3757 3) 2288 80 idle_balance+0xbb/0x130
3758 4) 2208 128 __schedule+0x26e/0x5b9
3759 5) 2080 16 schedule+0x64/0x66
3760 6) 2064 128 schedule_timeout+0x34/0xe0
3761 7) 1936 112 wait_for_common+0x97/0xf1
3762 8) 1824 16 wait_for_completion+0x1d/0x1f
3763 9) 1808 128 flush_work+0xfe/0x119
3764 10) 1680 16 tty_flush_to_ldisc+0x1e/0x20
3765 11) 1664 48 input_available_p+0x1d/0x5c
3766 12) 1616 48 n_tty_poll+0x6d/0x134
3767 13) 1568 64 tty_poll+0x64/0x7f
3768 14) 1504 880 do_select+0x31e/0x511
3769 15) 624 400 core_sys_select+0x177/0x216
3770 16) 224 96 sys_select+0x91/0xb9
3771 17) 128 128 system_call_fastpath+0x16/0x1b
3773 Note, if -mfentry is being used by gcc, functions get traced before
3774 they set up the stack frame. This means that leaf level functions
3775 are not tested by the stack tracer when -mfentry is used.
3777 Currently, -mfentry is used by gcc 4.6.0 and above on x86 only.
3781 More details can be found in the source code, in the `kernel/trace/*.c` files.