1 perf-intel-pt(1) 1 perf-intel-pt(1)
2 ================ 2 ================
3 3
4 NAME 4 NAME
5 ---- 5 ----
6 perf-intel-pt - Support for Intel Processor Tr 6 perf-intel-pt - Support for Intel Processor Trace within perf tools
7 7
8 SYNOPSIS 8 SYNOPSIS
9 -------- 9 --------
10 [verse] 10 [verse]
11 'perf record' -e intel_pt// 11 'perf record' -e intel_pt//
12 12
13 DESCRIPTION 13 DESCRIPTION
14 ----------- 14 -----------
15 15
16 Intel Processor Trace (Intel PT) is an extensi 16 Intel Processor Trace (Intel PT) is an extension of Intel Architecture that
17 collects information about software execution 17 collects information about software execution such as control flow, execution
18 modes and timings and formats it into highly c 18 modes and timings and formats it into highly compressed binary packets.
19 Technical details are documented in the Intel 19 Technical details are documented in the Intel 64 and IA-32 Architectures
20 Software Developer Manuals, Chapter 36 Intel P 20 Software Developer Manuals, Chapter 36 Intel Processor Trace.
21 21
22 Intel PT is first supported in Intel Core M an 22 Intel PT is first supported in Intel Core M and 5th generation Intel Core
23 processors that are based on the Intel micro-a 23 processors that are based on the Intel micro-architecture code name Broadwell.
24 24
25 Trace data is collected by 'perf record' and s 25 Trace data is collected by 'perf record' and stored within the perf.data file.
26 See below for options to 'perf record'. 26 See below for options to 'perf record'.
27 27
28 Trace data must be 'decoded' which involves wa 28 Trace data must be 'decoded' which involves walking the object code and matching
29 the trace data packets. For example a TNT pack 29 the trace data packets. For example a TNT packet only tells whether a
30 conditional branch was taken or not taken, so 30 conditional branch was taken or not taken, so to make use of that packet the
31 decoder must know precisely which instruction 31 decoder must know precisely which instruction was being executed.
32 32
33 Decoding is done on-the-fly. The decoder outp 33 Decoding is done on-the-fly. The decoder outputs samples in the same format as
34 samples output by perf hardware events, for ex 34 samples output by perf hardware events, for example as though the "instructions"
35 or "branches" events had been recorded. Prese 35 or "branches" events had been recorded. Presently 3 tools support this:
36 'perf script', 'perf report' and 'perf inject' 36 'perf script', 'perf report' and 'perf inject'. See below for more information
37 on using those tools. 37 on using those tools.
38 38
39 The main distinguishing feature of Intel PT is 39 The main distinguishing feature of Intel PT is that the decoder can determine
40 the exact flow of software execution. Intel P 40 the exact flow of software execution. Intel PT can be used to understand why
41 and how did software get to a certain point, o 41 and how did software get to a certain point, or behave a certain way. The
42 software does not have to be recompiled, so In 42 software does not have to be recompiled, so Intel PT works with debug or release
43 builds, however the executed images are needed 43 builds, however the executed images are needed - which makes use in JIT-compiled
44 environments, or with self-modified code, a ch 44 environments, or with self-modified code, a challenge. Also symbols need to be
45 provided to make sense of addresses. 45 provided to make sense of addresses.
46 46
47 A limitation of Intel PT is that it produces h 47 A limitation of Intel PT is that it produces huge amounts of trace data
48 (hundreds of megabytes per second per core) wh 48 (hundreds of megabytes per second per core) which takes a long time to decode,
49 for example two or three orders of magnitude l 49 for example two or three orders of magnitude longer than it took to collect.
50 Another limitation is the performance impact o 50 Another limitation is the performance impact of tracing, something that will
51 vary depending on the use-case and architectur 51 vary depending on the use-case and architecture.
52 52
53 53
54 Quickstart 54 Quickstart
55 ---------- 55 ----------
56 56
57 It is important to start small. That is becau 57 It is important to start small. That is because it is easy to capture vastly
58 more data than can possibly be processed. 58 more data than can possibly be processed.
59 59
60 The simplest thing to do with Intel PT is user 60 The simplest thing to do with Intel PT is userspace profiling of small programs.
61 Data is captured with 'perf record' e.g. to tr 61 Data is captured with 'perf record' e.g. to trace 'ls' userspace-only:
62 62
63 perf record -e intel_pt//u ls 63 perf record -e intel_pt//u ls
64 64
65 And profiled with 'perf report' e.g. 65 And profiled with 'perf report' e.g.
66 66
67 perf report 67 perf report
68 68
69 To also trace kernel space presents a problem, 69 To also trace kernel space presents a problem, namely kernel self-modifying
70 code. A fairly good kernel image is available 70 code. A fairly good kernel image is available in /proc/kcore but to get an
71 accurate image a copy of /proc/kcore needs to 71 accurate image a copy of /proc/kcore needs to be made under the same conditions
72 as the data capture. 'perf record' can make a 72 as the data capture. 'perf record' can make a copy of /proc/kcore if the option
73 --kcore is used, but access to /proc/kcore is 73 --kcore is used, but access to /proc/kcore is restricted e.g.
74 74
75 sudo perf record -o pt_ls --kcore -e i 75 sudo perf record -o pt_ls --kcore -e intel_pt// -- ls
76 76
77 which will create a directory named 'pt_ls' an 77 which will create a directory named 'pt_ls' and put the perf.data file (named
78 simply 'data') and copies of /proc/kcore, /pro 78 simply 'data') and copies of /proc/kcore, /proc/kallsyms and /proc/modules into
79 it. The other tools understand the directory 79 it. The other tools understand the directory format, so to use 'perf report'
80 becomes: 80 becomes:
81 81
82 sudo perf report -i pt_ls 82 sudo perf report -i pt_ls
83 83
84 Because samples are synthesized after-the-fact 84 Because samples are synthesized after-the-fact, the sampling period can be
85 selected for reporting. e.g. sample every micr 85 selected for reporting. e.g. sample every microsecond
86 86
87 sudo perf report pt_ls --itrace=i1usge 87 sudo perf report pt_ls --itrace=i1usge
88 88
89 See the sections below for more information ab 89 See the sections below for more information about the --itrace option.
90 90
91 Beware the smaller the period, the more sample 91 Beware the smaller the period, the more samples that are produced, and the
92 longer it takes to process them. 92 longer it takes to process them.
93 93
94 Also note that the coarseness of Intel PT timi 94 Also note that the coarseness of Intel PT timing information will start to
95 distort the statistical value of the sampling 95 distort the statistical value of the sampling as the sampling period becomes
96 smaller. 96 smaller.
97 97
98 To represent software control flow, "branches" 98 To represent software control flow, "branches" samples are produced. By default
99 a branch sample is synthesized for every singl 99 a branch sample is synthesized for every single branch. To get an idea what
100 data is available you can use the 'perf script 100 data is available you can use the 'perf script' tool with all itrace sampling
101 options, which will list all the samples. 101 options, which will list all the samples.
102 102
103 perf record -e intel_pt//u ls 103 perf record -e intel_pt//u ls
104 perf script --itrace=iybxwpe 104 perf script --itrace=iybxwpe
105 105
106 An interesting field that is not printed by de 106 An interesting field that is not printed by default is 'flags' which can be
107 displayed as follows: 107 displayed as follows:
108 108
109 perf script --itrace=iybxwpe -F+flags 109 perf script --itrace=iybxwpe -F+flags
110 110
111 The flags are "bcrosyiABExghDt" which stand fo 111 The flags are "bcrosyiABExghDt" which stand for branch, call, return, conditional,
112 system, asynchronous, interrupt, transaction a 112 system, asynchronous, interrupt, transaction abort, trace begin, trace end,
113 in transaction, VM-entry, VM-exit, interrupt d 113 in transaction, VM-entry, VM-exit, interrupt disabled, and interrupt disable
114 toggle respectively. 114 toggle respectively.
115 115
116 perf script also supports higher level ways to 116 perf script also supports higher level ways to dump instruction traces:
117 117
118 perf script --insn-trace=disasm <<
119 <<
120 or to use the xed disassembler, which requires <<
121 (see XED below): <<
122 <<
123 perf script --insn-trace --xed 118 perf script --insn-trace --xed
124 119
>> 120 Dump all instructions. This requires installing the xed tool (see XED below)
125 Dumping all instructions in a long trace can b 121 Dumping all instructions in a long trace can be fairly slow. It is usually better
126 to start with higher level decoding, like 122 to start with higher level decoding, like
127 123
128 perf script --call-trace 124 perf script --call-trace
129 125
130 or 126 or
131 127
132 perf script --call-ret-trace 128 perf script --call-ret-trace
133 129
134 and then select a time range of interest. The 130 and then select a time range of interest. The time range can then be examined
135 in detail with 131 in detail with
136 132
137 perf script --time starttime,stoptime !! 133 perf script --time starttime,stoptime --insn-trace --xed
138 134
139 While examining the trace it's also useful to 135 While examining the trace it's also useful to filter on specific CPUs using
140 the -C option 136 the -C option
141 137
142 perf script --time starttime,stoptime !! 138 perf script --time starttime,stoptime --insn-trace --xed -C 1
143 139
144 Dump all instructions in time range on CPU 1. 140 Dump all instructions in time range on CPU 1.
145 141
146 Another interesting field that is not printed 142 Another interesting field that is not printed by default is 'ipc' which can be
147 displayed as follows: 143 displayed as follows:
148 144
149 perf script --itrace=be -F+ipc 145 perf script --itrace=be -F+ipc
150 146
151 There are two ways that instructions-per-cycle 147 There are two ways that instructions-per-cycle (IPC) can be calculated depending
152 on the recording. 148 on the recording.
153 149
154 If the 'cyc' config term (see config terms sec 150 If the 'cyc' config term (see config terms section below) was used, then IPC
155 and cycle events are calculated using the cycl 151 and cycle events are calculated using the cycle count from CYC packets, otherwise
156 MTC packets are used - refer to the 'mtc' conf 152 MTC packets are used - refer to the 'mtc' config term. When MTC is used, however,
157 the values are less accurate because the timin 153 the values are less accurate because the timing is less accurate.
158 154
159 Because Intel PT does not update the cycle cou 155 Because Intel PT does not update the cycle count on every branch or instruction,
160 the values will often be zero. When there are 156 the values will often be zero. When there are values, they will be the number
161 of instructions and number of cycles since the 157 of instructions and number of cycles since the last update, and thus represent
162 the average IPC cycle count since the last IPC 158 the average IPC cycle count since the last IPC for that event type.
163 Note IPC for "branches" events is calculated s 159 Note IPC for "branches" events is calculated separately from IPC for "instructions"
164 events. 160 events.
165 161
166 Even with the 'cyc' config term, it is possibl 162 Even with the 'cyc' config term, it is possible to produce IPC information for
167 every change of timestamp, but at the expense 163 every change of timestamp, but at the expense of accuracy. That is selected by
168 specifying the itrace 'A' option. Due to the 164 specifying the itrace 'A' option. Due to the granularity of timestamps, the
169 actual number of cycles increases even though 165 actual number of cycles increases even though the cycles reported does not.
170 The number of instructions is known, but if IP 166 The number of instructions is known, but if IPC is reported, cycles can be too
171 low and so IPC is too high. Note that inaccur 167 low and so IPC is too high. Note that inaccuracy decreases as the period of
172 sampling increases i.e. if the number of cycle 168 sampling increases i.e. if the number of cycles is too low by a small amount,
173 that becomes less significant if the number of 169 that becomes less significant if the number of cycles is large. It may also be
174 useful to use the 'A' option in conjunction wi 170 useful to use the 'A' option in conjunction with dlfilter-show-cycles.so to
175 provide higher granularity cycle information. 171 provide higher granularity cycle information.
176 172
177 Also note that the IPC instruction count may o 173 Also note that the IPC instruction count may or may not include the current
178 instruction. If the cycle count is associated 174 instruction. If the cycle count is associated with an asynchronous branch
179 (e.g. page fault or interrupt), then the instr 175 (e.g. page fault or interrupt), then the instruction count does not include the
180 current instruction, otherwise it does. That 176 current instruction, otherwise it does. That is consistent with whether or not
181 that instruction has retired when the cycle co 177 that instruction has retired when the cycle count is updated.
182 178
183 Another note, in the case of "branches" events 179 Another note, in the case of "branches" events, non-taken branches are not
184 presently sampled, so IPC values for them do n 180 presently sampled, so IPC values for them do not appear e.g. a CYC packet with a
185 TNT packet that starts with a non-taken branch 181 TNT packet that starts with a non-taken branch. To see every possible IPC
186 value, "instructions" events can be used e.g. 182 value, "instructions" events can be used e.g. --itrace=i0ns
187 183
188 While it is possible to create scripts to anal 184 While it is possible to create scripts to analyze the data, an alternative
189 approach is available to export the data to a 185 approach is available to export the data to a sqlite or postgresql database.
190 Refer to script export-to-sqlite.py or export- 186 Refer to script export-to-sqlite.py or export-to-postgresql.py for more details,
191 and to script exported-sql-viewer.py for an ex 187 and to script exported-sql-viewer.py for an example of using the database.
192 188
193 There is also script intel-pt-events.py which 189 There is also script intel-pt-events.py which provides an example of how to
194 unpack the raw data for power events and PTWRI 190 unpack the raw data for power events and PTWRITE. The script also displays
195 branches, and supports 2 additional modes sele 191 branches, and supports 2 additional modes selected by option:
196 192
197 - --insn-trace - instruction trace 193 - --insn-trace - instruction trace
198 - --src-trace - source trace 194 - --src-trace - source trace
199 195
200 The intel-pt-events.py script also has options 196 The intel-pt-events.py script also has options:
201 197
202 - --all-switch-events - display all switch ev 198 - --all-switch-events - display all switch events, not only the last consecutive.
203 - --interleave [<n>] - interleave sample outp 199 - --interleave [<n>] - interleave sample output for the same timestamp so that
204 no more than n samples for a CPU are displaye 200 no more than n samples for a CPU are displayed in a row. 'n' defaults to 4.
205 Note this only affects the order of output, a 201 Note this only affects the order of output, and only when the timestamp is the
206 same. 202 same.
207 203
208 As mentioned above, it is easy to capture too 204 As mentioned above, it is easy to capture too much data. One way to limit the
209 data captured is to use 'snapshot' mode which 205 data captured is to use 'snapshot' mode which is explained further below.
210 Refer to 'new snapshot option' and 'Intel PT m 206 Refer to 'new snapshot option' and 'Intel PT modes of operation' further below.
211 207
212 Another problem that will be experienced is de 208 Another problem that will be experienced is decoder errors. They can be caused
213 by inability to access the executed image, sel 209 by inability to access the executed image, self-modified or JIT-ed code, or the
214 inability to match side-band information (such 210 inability to match side-band information (such as context switches and mmaps)
215 which results in the decoder not knowing what 211 which results in the decoder not knowing what code was executed.
216 212
217 There is also the problem of perf not being ab 213 There is also the problem of perf not being able to copy the data fast enough,
218 resulting in data lost because the buffer was 214 resulting in data lost because the buffer was full. See 'Buffer handling' below
219 for more details. 215 for more details.
220 216
221 217
222 perf record 218 perf record
223 ----------- 219 -----------
224 220
225 new event 221 new event
226 ~~~~~~~~~ 222 ~~~~~~~~~
227 223
228 The Intel PT kernel driver creates a new PMU f 224 The Intel PT kernel driver creates a new PMU for Intel PT. PMU events are
229 selected by providing the PMU name followed by 225 selected by providing the PMU name followed by the "config" separated by slashes.
230 An enhancement has been made to allow default 226 An enhancement has been made to allow default "config" e.g. the option
231 227
232 -e intel_pt// 228 -e intel_pt//
233 229
234 will use a default config value. Currently th 230 will use a default config value. Currently that is the same as
235 231
236 -e intel_pt/tsc,noretcomp=0/ 232 -e intel_pt/tsc,noretcomp=0/
237 233
238 which is the same as 234 which is the same as
239 235
240 -e intel_pt/tsc=1,noretcomp=0/ 236 -e intel_pt/tsc=1,noretcomp=0/
241 237
242 Note there are now new config terms - see sect 238 Note there are now new config terms - see section 'config terms' further below.
243 239
244 The config terms are listed in /sys/devices/in 240 The config terms are listed in /sys/devices/intel_pt/format. They are bit
245 fields within the config member of the struct 241 fields within the config member of the struct perf_event_attr which is
246 passed to the kernel by the perf_event_open sy 242 passed to the kernel by the perf_event_open system call. They correspond to bit
247 fields in the IA32_RTIT_CTL MSR. Here is a li 243 fields in the IA32_RTIT_CTL MSR. Here is a list of them and their definitions:
248 244
249 $ grep -H . /sys/bus/event_source/devi 245 $ grep -H . /sys/bus/event_source/devices/intel_pt/format/*
250 /sys/bus/event_source/devices/intel_pt 246 /sys/bus/event_source/devices/intel_pt/format/cyc:config:1
251 /sys/bus/event_source/devices/intel_pt 247 /sys/bus/event_source/devices/intel_pt/format/cyc_thresh:config:19-22
252 /sys/bus/event_source/devices/intel_pt 248 /sys/bus/event_source/devices/intel_pt/format/mtc:config:9
253 /sys/bus/event_source/devices/intel_pt 249 /sys/bus/event_source/devices/intel_pt/format/mtc_period:config:14-17
254 /sys/bus/event_source/devices/intel_pt 250 /sys/bus/event_source/devices/intel_pt/format/noretcomp:config:11
255 /sys/bus/event_source/devices/intel_pt 251 /sys/bus/event_source/devices/intel_pt/format/psb_period:config:24-27
256 /sys/bus/event_source/devices/intel_pt 252 /sys/bus/event_source/devices/intel_pt/format/tsc:config:10
257 253
258 Note that the default config must be overridde 254 Note that the default config must be overridden for each term i.e.
259 255
260 -e intel_pt/noretcomp=0/ 256 -e intel_pt/noretcomp=0/
261 257
262 is the same as: 258 is the same as:
263 259
264 -e intel_pt/tsc=1,noretcomp=0/ 260 -e intel_pt/tsc=1,noretcomp=0/
265 261
266 So, to disable TSC packets use: 262 So, to disable TSC packets use:
267 263
268 -e intel_pt/tsc=0/ 264 -e intel_pt/tsc=0/
269 265
270 It is also possible to specify the config valu 266 It is also possible to specify the config value explicitly:
271 267
272 -e intel_pt/config=0x400/ 268 -e intel_pt/config=0x400/
273 269
274 Note that, as with all events, the event is su 270 Note that, as with all events, the event is suffixed with event modifiers:
275 271
276 u userspace 272 u userspace
277 k kernel 273 k kernel
278 h hypervisor 274 h hypervisor
279 G guest 275 G guest
280 H host 276 H host
281 p precise ip 277 p precise ip
282 278
283 'h', 'G' and 'H' are for virtualization which 279 'h', 'G' and 'H' are for virtualization which are not used by Intel PT.
284 'p' is also not relevant to Intel PT. So only 280 'p' is also not relevant to Intel PT. So only options 'u' and 'k' are
285 meaningful for Intel PT. 281 meaningful for Intel PT.
286 282
287 perf_event_attr is displayed if the -vv option 283 perf_event_attr is displayed if the -vv option is used e.g.
288 284
289 -------------------------------------- 285 ------------------------------------------------------------
290 perf_event_attr: 286 perf_event_attr:
291 type 6 287 type 6
292 size 112 288 size 112
293 config 0x400 289 config 0x400
294 { sample_period, sample_freq } 1 290 { sample_period, sample_freq } 1
295 sample_type IP|TI 291 sample_type IP|TID|TIME|CPU|IDENTIFIER
296 read_format ID 292 read_format ID
297 disabled 1 293 disabled 1
298 inherit 1 294 inherit 1
299 exclude_kernel 1 295 exclude_kernel 1
300 exclude_hv 1 296 exclude_hv 1
301 enable_on_exec 1 297 enable_on_exec 1
302 sample_id_all 1 298 sample_id_all 1
303 -------------------------------------- 299 ------------------------------------------------------------
304 sys_perf_event_open: pid 31104 cpu 0 300 sys_perf_event_open: pid 31104 cpu 0 group_fd -1 flags 0x8
305 sys_perf_event_open: pid 31104 cpu 1 301 sys_perf_event_open: pid 31104 cpu 1 group_fd -1 flags 0x8
306 sys_perf_event_open: pid 31104 cpu 2 302 sys_perf_event_open: pid 31104 cpu 2 group_fd -1 flags 0x8
307 sys_perf_event_open: pid 31104 cpu 3 303 sys_perf_event_open: pid 31104 cpu 3 group_fd -1 flags 0x8
308 -------------------------------------- 304 ------------------------------------------------------------
309 305
310 306
311 config terms 307 config terms
312 ~~~~~~~~~~~~ 308 ~~~~~~~~~~~~
313 309
314 The June 2015 version of Intel 64 and IA-32 Ar 310 The June 2015 version of Intel 64 and IA-32 Architectures Software Developer
315 Manuals, Chapter 36 Intel Processor Trace, def 311 Manuals, Chapter 36 Intel Processor Trace, defined new Intel PT features.
316 Some of the features are reflect in new config 312 Some of the features are reflect in new config terms. All the config terms are
317 described below. 313 described below.
318 314
319 tsc Always supported. Produces TS 315 tsc Always supported. Produces TSC timestamp packets to provide
320 timing information. In some c 316 timing information. In some cases it is possible to decode
321 without timing information, fo 317 without timing information, for example a per-thread context
322 that does not overlap executab 318 that does not overlap executable memory maps.
323 319
324 The default config selects tsc 320 The default config selects tsc (i.e. tsc=1).
325 321
326 noretcomp Always supported. Disables "r 322 noretcomp Always supported. Disables "return compression" so a TIP packet
327 is produced when a function re 323 is produced when a function returns. Causes more packets to be
328 produced but might make decodi 324 produced but might make decoding more reliable.
329 325
330 The default config does not se 326 The default config does not select noretcomp (i.e. noretcomp=0).
331 327
332 psb_period Allows the frequency of PSB pa 328 psb_period Allows the frequency of PSB packets to be specified.
333 329
334 The PSB packet is a synchroniz 330 The PSB packet is a synchronization packet that provides a
335 starting point for decoding or 331 starting point for decoding or recovery from errors.
336 332
337 Support for psb_period is indi 333 Support for psb_period is indicated by:
338 334
339 /sys/bus/event_source/ 335 /sys/bus/event_source/devices/intel_pt/caps/psb_cyc
340 336
341 which contains "1" if the feat 337 which contains "1" if the feature is supported and "0"
342 otherwise. 338 otherwise.
343 339
344 Valid values are given by: 340 Valid values are given by:
345 341
346 /sys/bus/event_source/ 342 /sys/bus/event_source/devices/intel_pt/caps/psb_periods
347 343
348 which contains a hexadecimal v 344 which contains a hexadecimal value, the bits of which represent
349 valid values e.g. bit 2 set me 345 valid values e.g. bit 2 set means value 2 is valid.
350 346
351 The psb_period value is conver 347 The psb_period value is converted to the approximate number of
352 trace bytes between PSB packet 348 trace bytes between PSB packets as:
353 349
354 2 ^ (value + 11) 350 2 ^ (value + 11)
355 351
356 e.g. value 3 means 16KiB bytes 352 e.g. value 3 means 16KiB bytes between PSBs
357 353
358 If an invalid value is entered 354 If an invalid value is entered, the error message
359 will give a list of valid valu 355 will give a list of valid values e.g.
360 356
361 $ perf record -e intel 357 $ perf record -e intel_pt/psb_period=15/u uname
362 Invalid psb_period for 358 Invalid psb_period for intel_pt. Valid values are: 0-5
363 359
364 If MTC packets are selected, t 360 If MTC packets are selected, the default config selects a value
365 of 3 (i.e. psb_period=3) or th 361 of 3 (i.e. psb_period=3) or the nearest lower value that is
366 supported (0 is always support 362 supported (0 is always supported). Otherwise the default is 0.
367 363
368 If decoding is expected to be 364 If decoding is expected to be reliable and the buffer is large
369 then a large PSB period can be 365 then a large PSB period can be used.
370 366
371 Because a TSC packet is produc 367 Because a TSC packet is produced with PSB, the PSB period can
372 also affect the granularity to 368 also affect the granularity to timing information in the absence
373 of MTC or CYC. 369 of MTC or CYC.
374 370
375 mtc Produces MTC timing packets. 371 mtc Produces MTC timing packets.
376 372
377 MTC packets provide finer grai 373 MTC packets provide finer grain timestamp information than TSC
378 packets. MTC packets record t 374 packets. MTC packets record time using the hardware crystal
379 clock (CTC) which is related t 375 clock (CTC) which is related to TSC packets using a TMA packet.
380 376
381 Support for this feature is in 377 Support for this feature is indicated by:
382 378
383 /sys/bus/event_source/ 379 /sys/bus/event_source/devices/intel_pt/caps/mtc
384 380
385 which contains "1" if the feat 381 which contains "1" if the feature is supported and
386 "0" otherwise. 382 "0" otherwise.
387 383
388 The frequency of MTC packets c 384 The frequency of MTC packets can also be specified - see
389 mtc_period below. 385 mtc_period below.
390 386
391 mtc_period Specifies how frequently MTC p 387 mtc_period Specifies how frequently MTC packets are produced - see mtc
392 above for how to determine if 388 above for how to determine if MTC packets are supported.
393 389
394 Valid values are given by: 390 Valid values are given by:
395 391
396 /sys/bus/event_source/ 392 /sys/bus/event_source/devices/intel_pt/caps/mtc_periods
397 393
398 which contains a hexadecimal v 394 which contains a hexadecimal value, the bits of which represent
399 valid values e.g. bit 2 set me 395 valid values e.g. bit 2 set means value 2 is valid.
400 396
401 The mtc_period value is conver 397 The mtc_period value is converted to the MTC frequency as:
402 398
403 CTC-frequency / (2 ^ v 399 CTC-frequency / (2 ^ value)
404 400
405 e.g. value 3 means one eighth 401 e.g. value 3 means one eighth of CTC-frequency
406 402
407 Where CTC is the hardware crys 403 Where CTC is the hardware crystal clock, the frequency of which
408 can be related to TSC via valu 404 can be related to TSC via values provided in cpuid leaf 0x15.
409 405
410 If an invalid value is entered 406 If an invalid value is entered, the error message
411 will give a list of valid valu 407 will give a list of valid values e.g.
412 408
413 $ perf record -e intel 409 $ perf record -e intel_pt/mtc_period=15/u uname
414 Invalid mtc_period for 410 Invalid mtc_period for intel_pt. Valid values are: 0,3,6,9
415 411
416 The default value is 3 or the 412 The default value is 3 or the nearest lower value
417 that is supported (0 is always 413 that is supported (0 is always supported).
418 414
419 cyc Produces CYC timing packets. 415 cyc Produces CYC timing packets.
420 416
421 CYC packets provide even finer 417 CYC packets provide even finer grain timestamp information than
422 MTC and TSC packets. A CYC pa 418 MTC and TSC packets. A CYC packet contains the number of CPU
423 cycles since the last CYC pack 419 cycles since the last CYC packet. Unlike MTC and TSC packets,
424 CYC packets are only sent when 420 CYC packets are only sent when another packet is also sent.
425 421
426 Support for this feature is in 422 Support for this feature is indicated by:
427 423
428 /sys/bus/event_source/ 424 /sys/bus/event_source/devices/intel_pt/caps/psb_cyc
429 425
430 which contains "1" if the feat 426 which contains "1" if the feature is supported and
431 "0" otherwise. 427 "0" otherwise.
432 428
433 The number of CYC packets prod 429 The number of CYC packets produced can be reduced by specifying
434 a threshold - see cyc_thresh b 430 a threshold - see cyc_thresh below.
435 431
436 cyc_thresh Specifies how frequently CYC p 432 cyc_thresh Specifies how frequently CYC packets are produced - see cyc
437 above for how to determine if 433 above for how to determine if CYC packets are supported.
438 434
439 Valid cyc_thresh values are gi 435 Valid cyc_thresh values are given by:
440 436
441 /sys/bus/event_source/ 437 /sys/bus/event_source/devices/intel_pt/caps/cycle_thresholds
442 438
443 which contains a hexadecimal v 439 which contains a hexadecimal value, the bits of which represent
444 valid values e.g. bit 2 set me 440 valid values e.g. bit 2 set means value 2 is valid.
445 441
446 The cyc_thresh value represent 442 The cyc_thresh value represents the minimum number of CPU cycles
447 that must have passed before a 443 that must have passed before a CYC packet can be sent. The
448 number of CPU cycles is: 444 number of CPU cycles is:
449 445
450 2 ^ (value - 1) 446 2 ^ (value - 1)
451 447
452 e.g. value 4 means 8 CPU cycle 448 e.g. value 4 means 8 CPU cycles must pass before a CYC packet
453 can be sent. Note a CYC packe 449 can be sent. Note a CYC packet is still only sent when another
454 packet is sent, not at, e.g. e 450 packet is sent, not at, e.g. every 8 CPU cycles.
455 451
456 If an invalid value is entered 452 If an invalid value is entered, the error message
457 will give a list of valid valu 453 will give a list of valid values e.g.
458 454
459 $ perf record -e intel 455 $ perf record -e intel_pt/cyc,cyc_thresh=15/u uname
460 Invalid cyc_thresh for 456 Invalid cyc_thresh for intel_pt. Valid values are: 0-12
461 457
462 CYC packets are not requested 458 CYC packets are not requested by default.
463 459
464 pt Specifies pass-through which e 460 pt Specifies pass-through which enables the 'branch' config term.
465 461
466 The default config selects 'pt 462 The default config selects 'pt' if it is available, so a user will
467 never need to specify this ter 463 never need to specify this term.
468 464
469 branch Enable branch tracing. Branch 465 branch Enable branch tracing. Branch tracing is enabled by default so to
470 disable branch tracing use 'br 466 disable branch tracing use 'branch=0'.
471 467
472 The default config selects 'br 468 The default config selects 'branch' if it is available.
473 469
474 ptw Enable PTWRITE packets which a 470 ptw Enable PTWRITE packets which are produced when a ptwrite instruction
475 is executed. 471 is executed.
476 472
477 Support for this feature is in 473 Support for this feature is indicated by:
478 474
479 /sys/bus/event_source/ 475 /sys/bus/event_source/devices/intel_pt/caps/ptwrite
480 476
481 which contains "1" if the feat 477 which contains "1" if the feature is supported and
482 "0" otherwise. 478 "0" otherwise.
483 479
484 As an alternative, refer to "E 480 As an alternative, refer to "Emulated PTWRITE" further below.
485 481
486 fup_on_ptw Enable a FUP packet to follow 482 fup_on_ptw Enable a FUP packet to follow the PTWRITE packet. The FUP packet
487 provides the address of the pt 483 provides the address of the ptwrite instruction. In the absence of
488 fup_on_ptw, the decoder will u 484 fup_on_ptw, the decoder will use the address of the previous branch
489 if branch tracing is enabled, 485 if branch tracing is enabled, otherwise the address will be zero.
490 Note that fup_on_ptw will work 486 Note that fup_on_ptw will work even when branch tracing is disabled.
491 487
492 pwr_evt Enable power events. The powe 488 pwr_evt Enable power events. The power events provide information about
493 changes to the CPU C-state. 489 changes to the CPU C-state.
494 490
495 Support for this feature is in 491 Support for this feature is indicated by:
496 492
497 /sys/bus/event_source/ 493 /sys/bus/event_source/devices/intel_pt/caps/power_event_trace
498 494
499 which contains "1" if the feat 495 which contains "1" if the feature is supported and
500 "0" otherwise. 496 "0" otherwise.
501 497
502 event Enable Event Trace. The event 498 event Enable Event Trace. The events provide information about asynchronous
503 events. 499 events.
504 500
505 Support for this feature is in 501 Support for this feature is indicated by:
506 502
507 /sys/bus/event_source/ 503 /sys/bus/event_source/devices/intel_pt/caps/event_trace
508 504
509 which contains "1" if the feat 505 which contains "1" if the feature is supported and
510 "0" otherwise. 506 "0" otherwise.
511 507
512 notnt Disable TNT packets. Without 508 notnt Disable TNT packets. Without TNT packets, it is not possible to walk
513 executable code to reconstruct 509 executable code to reconstruct control flow, however FUP, TIP, TIP.PGE
514 and TIP.PGD packets still indi 510 and TIP.PGD packets still indicate asynchronous control flow, and (if
515 return compression is disabled 511 return compression is disabled - see noretcomp) return statements.
516 The advantage of eliminating T 512 The advantage of eliminating TNT packets is reducing the size of the
517 trace and corresponding tracin 513 trace and corresponding tracing overhead.
518 514
519 Support for this feature is in 515 Support for this feature is indicated by:
520 516
521 /sys/bus/event_source/ 517 /sys/bus/event_source/devices/intel_pt/caps/tnt_disable
522 518
523 which contains "1" if the feat 519 which contains "1" if the feature is supported and
524 "0" otherwise. 520 "0" otherwise.
525 521
526 522
527 AUX area sampling option 523 AUX area sampling option
528 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 524 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
529 525
530 To select Intel PT "sampling" the AUX area sam 526 To select Intel PT "sampling" the AUX area sampling option can be used:
531 527
532 --aux-sample 528 --aux-sample
533 529
534 Optionally it can be followed by the sample si 530 Optionally it can be followed by the sample size in bytes e.g.
535 531
536 --aux-sample=8192 532 --aux-sample=8192
537 533
538 In addition, the Intel PT event to sample must 534 In addition, the Intel PT event to sample must be defined e.g.
539 535
540 -e intel_pt//u 536 -e intel_pt//u
541 537
542 Samples on other events will be created contai 538 Samples on other events will be created containing Intel PT data e.g. the
543 following will create Intel PT samples on the 539 following will create Intel PT samples on the branch-misses event, note the
544 events must be grouped using {}: 540 events must be grouped using {}:
545 541
546 perf record --aux-sample -e '{intel_pt 542 perf record --aux-sample -e '{intel_pt//u,branch-misses:u}'
547 543
548 An alternative to '--aux-sample' is to add the 544 An alternative to '--aux-sample' is to add the config term 'aux-sample-size' to
549 events. In this case, the grouping is implied 545 events. In this case, the grouping is implied e.g.
550 546
551 perf record -e intel_pt//u -e branch-m 547 perf record -e intel_pt//u -e branch-misses/aux-sample-size=8192/u
552 548
553 is the same as: 549 is the same as:
554 550
555 perf record -e '{intel_pt//u,branch-mi 551 perf record -e '{intel_pt//u,branch-misses/aux-sample-size=8192/u}'
556 552
557 but allows for also using an address filter e. 553 but allows for also using an address filter e.g.:
558 554
559 perf record -e intel_pt//u --filter 'f 555 perf record -e intel_pt//u --filter 'filter * @/bin/ls' -e branch-misses/aux-sample-size=8192/u -- ls
560 556
561 It is important to select a sample size that i 557 It is important to select a sample size that is big enough to contain at least
562 one PSB packet. If not a warning will be disp 558 one PSB packet. If not a warning will be displayed:
563 559
564 Intel PT sample size (%zu) may be too 560 Intel PT sample size (%zu) may be too small for PSB period (%zu)
565 561
566 The calculation used for that is: if sample_si 562 The calculation used for that is: if sample_size <= psb_period + 256 display the
567 warning. When sampling is used, psb_period de 563 warning. When sampling is used, psb_period defaults to 0 (2KiB).
568 564
569 The default sample size is 4KiB. 565 The default sample size is 4KiB.
570 566
571 The sample size is passed in aux_sample_size i 567 The sample size is passed in aux_sample_size in struct perf_event_attr. The
572 sample size is limited by the maximum event si 568 sample size is limited by the maximum event size which is 64KiB. It is
573 difficult to know how big the event might be w 569 difficult to know how big the event might be without the trace sample attached,
574 but the tool validates that the sample size is 570 but the tool validates that the sample size is not greater than 60KiB.
575 571
576 572
577 new snapshot option 573 new snapshot option
578 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 574 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
579 575
580 The difference between full trace and snapshot 576 The difference between full trace and snapshot from the kernel's perspective is
581 that in full trace we don't overwrite trace da 577 that in full trace we don't overwrite trace data that the user hasn't collected
582 yet (and indicated that by advancing aux_tail) 578 yet (and indicated that by advancing aux_tail), whereas in snapshot mode we let
583 the trace run and overwrite older data in the 579 the trace run and overwrite older data in the buffer so that whenever something
584 interesting happens, we can stop it and grab a 580 interesting happens, we can stop it and grab a snapshot of what was going on
585 around that interesting moment. 581 around that interesting moment.
586 582
587 To select snapshot mode a new option has been 583 To select snapshot mode a new option has been added:
588 584
589 -S 585 -S
590 586
591 Optionally it can be followed by the snapshot 587 Optionally it can be followed by the snapshot size e.g.
592 588
593 -S0x100000 589 -S0x100000
594 590
595 The default snapshot size is the auxtrace mmap 591 The default snapshot size is the auxtrace mmap size. If neither auxtrace mmap size
596 nor snapshot size is specified, then the defau 592 nor snapshot size is specified, then the default is 4MiB for privileged users
597 (or if /proc/sys/kernel/perf_event_paranoid < 593 (or if /proc/sys/kernel/perf_event_paranoid < 0), 128KiB for unprivileged users.
598 If an unprivileged user does not specify mmap 594 If an unprivileged user does not specify mmap pages, the mmap pages will be
599 reduced as described in the 'new auxtrace mmap 595 reduced as described in the 'new auxtrace mmap size option' section below.
600 596
601 The snapshot size is displayed if the option - 597 The snapshot size is displayed if the option -vv is used e.g.
602 598
603 Intel PT snapshot size: %zu 599 Intel PT snapshot size: %zu
604 600
605 601
606 new auxtrace mmap size option 602 new auxtrace mmap size option
607 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 603 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
608 604
609 Intel PT buffer size is specified by an additi 605 Intel PT buffer size is specified by an addition to the -m option e.g.
610 606
611 -m,16 607 -m,16
612 608
613 selects a buffer size of 16 pages i.e. 64KiB. 609 selects a buffer size of 16 pages i.e. 64KiB.
614 610
615 Note that the existing functionality of -m is 611 Note that the existing functionality of -m is unchanged. The auxtrace mmap size
616 is specified by the optional addition of a com 612 is specified by the optional addition of a comma and the value.
617 613
618 The default auxtrace mmap size for Intel PT is 614 The default auxtrace mmap size for Intel PT is 4MiB/page_size for privileged users
619 (or if /proc/sys/kernel/perf_event_paranoid < 615 (or if /proc/sys/kernel/perf_event_paranoid < 0), 128KiB for unprivileged users.
620 If an unprivileged user does not specify mmap 616 If an unprivileged user does not specify mmap pages, the mmap pages will be
621 reduced from the default 512KiB/page_size to 2 617 reduced from the default 512KiB/page_size to 256KiB/page_size, otherwise the
622 user is likely to get an error as they exceed 618 user is likely to get an error as they exceed their mlock limit (Max locked
623 memory as shown in /proc/self/limits). Note t 619 memory as shown in /proc/self/limits). Note that perf does not count the first
624 512KiB (actually /proc/sys/kernel/perf_event_m 620 512KiB (actually /proc/sys/kernel/perf_event_mlock_kb minus 1 page) per cpu
625 against the mlock limit so an unprivileged use 621 against the mlock limit so an unprivileged user is allowed 512KiB per cpu plus
626 their mlock limit (which defaults to 64KiB but 622 their mlock limit (which defaults to 64KiB but is not multiplied by the number
627 of cpus). 623 of cpus).
628 624
629 In full-trace mode, powers of two are allowed 625 In full-trace mode, powers of two are allowed for buffer size, with a minimum
630 size of 2 pages. In snapshot mode or sampling 626 size of 2 pages. In snapshot mode or sampling mode, it is the same but the
631 minimum size is 1 page. 627 minimum size is 1 page.
632 628
633 The mmap size and auxtrace mmap size are displ 629 The mmap size and auxtrace mmap size are displayed if the -vv option is used e.g.
634 630
635 mmap length 528384 631 mmap length 528384
636 auxtrace mmap length 4198400 632 auxtrace mmap length 4198400
637 633
638 634
639 Intel PT modes of operation 635 Intel PT modes of operation
640 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 636 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
641 637
642 Intel PT can be used in 3 modes: 638 Intel PT can be used in 3 modes:
643 full-trace mode 639 full-trace mode
644 sample mode 640 sample mode
645 snapshot mode 641 snapshot mode
646 642
647 Full-trace mode traces continuously e.g. 643 Full-trace mode traces continuously e.g.
648 644
649 perf record -e intel_pt//u uname 645 perf record -e intel_pt//u uname
650 646
651 Sample mode attaches a Intel PT sample to othe 647 Sample mode attaches a Intel PT sample to other events e.g.
652 648
653 perf record --aux-sample -e intel_pt// 649 perf record --aux-sample -e intel_pt//u -e branch-misses:u
654 650
655 Snapshot mode captures the available data when 651 Snapshot mode captures the available data when a signal is sent or "snapshot"
656 control command is issued. e.g. using a signal 652 control command is issued. e.g. using a signal
657 653
658 perf record -v -e intel_pt//u -S ./loo 654 perf record -v -e intel_pt//u -S ./loopy 1000000000 &
659 [1] 11435 655 [1] 11435
660 kill -USR2 11435 656 kill -USR2 11435
661 Recording AUX area tracing snapshot 657 Recording AUX area tracing snapshot
662 658
663 Note that the signal sent is SIGUSR2. 659 Note that the signal sent is SIGUSR2.
664 Note that "Recording AUX area tracing snapshot 660 Note that "Recording AUX area tracing snapshot" is displayed because the -v
665 option is used. 661 option is used.
666 662
667 The advantage of using "snapshot" control comm 663 The advantage of using "snapshot" control command is that the access is
668 controlled by access to a FIFO e.g. 664 controlled by access to a FIFO e.g.
669 665
670 $ mkfifo perf.control 666 $ mkfifo perf.control
671 $ mkfifo perf.ack 667 $ mkfifo perf.ack
672 $ cat perf.ack & 668 $ cat perf.ack &
673 [1] 15235 669 [1] 15235
674 $ sudo ~/bin/perf record --control fif 670 $ sudo ~/bin/perf record --control fifo:perf.control,perf.ack -S -e intel_pt//u -- sleep 60 &
675 [2] 15243 671 [2] 15243
676 $ ps -e | grep perf 672 $ ps -e | grep perf
677 15244 pts/1 00:00:00 perf 673 15244 pts/1 00:00:00 perf
678 $ kill -USR2 15244 674 $ kill -USR2 15244
679 bash: kill: (15244) - Operation not pe 675 bash: kill: (15244) - Operation not permitted
680 $ echo snapshot > perf.control 676 $ echo snapshot > perf.control
681 ack 677 ack
682 678
683 The 3 Intel PT modes of operation cannot be us 679 The 3 Intel PT modes of operation cannot be used together.
684 680
685 681
686 Buffer handling 682 Buffer handling
687 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 683 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
688 684
689 There may be buffer limitations (i.e. single T 685 There may be buffer limitations (i.e. single ToPa entry) which means that actual
690 buffer sizes are limited to powers of 2 up to 686 buffer sizes are limited to powers of 2 up to 4MiB (MAX_PAGE_ORDER). In order to
691 provide other sizes, and in particular an arbi 687 provide other sizes, and in particular an arbitrarily large size, multiple
692 buffers are logically concatenated. However a 688 buffers are logically concatenated. However an interrupt must be used to switch
693 between buffers. That has two potential probl 689 between buffers. That has two potential problems:
694 a) the interrupt may not be handled in 690 a) the interrupt may not be handled in time so that the current buffer
695 becomes full and some trace data is lo 691 becomes full and some trace data is lost.
696 b) the interrupts may slow the system 692 b) the interrupts may slow the system and affect the performance
697 results. 693 results.
698 694
699 If trace data is lost, the driver sets 'trunca 695 If trace data is lost, the driver sets 'truncated' in the PERF_RECORD_AUX event
700 which the tools report as an error. 696 which the tools report as an error.
701 697
702 In full-trace mode, the driver waits for data 698 In full-trace mode, the driver waits for data to be copied out before allowing
703 the (logical) buffer to wrap-around. If data 699 the (logical) buffer to wrap-around. If data is not copied out quickly enough,
704 again 'truncated' is set in the PERF_RECORD_AU 700 again 'truncated' is set in the PERF_RECORD_AUX event. If the driver has to
705 wait, the intel_pt event gets disabled. Becau 701 wait, the intel_pt event gets disabled. Because it is difficult to know when
706 that happens, perf tools always re-enable the 702 that happens, perf tools always re-enable the intel_pt event after copying out
707 data. 703 data.
708 704
709 705
710 Intel PT and build ids 706 Intel PT and build ids
711 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 707 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
712 708
713 By default "perf record" post-processes the ev 709 By default "perf record" post-processes the event stream to find all build ids
714 for executables for all addresses sampled. De 710 for executables for all addresses sampled. Deliberately, Intel PT is not
715 decoded for that purpose (it would take too lo 711 decoded for that purpose (it would take too long). Instead the build ids for
716 all executables encountered (due to mmap, comm 712 all executables encountered (due to mmap, comm or task events) are included
717 in the perf.data file. 713 in the perf.data file.
718 714
719 To see buildids included in the perf.data file 715 To see buildids included in the perf.data file use the command:
720 716
721 perf buildid-list 717 perf buildid-list
722 718
723 If the perf.data file contains Intel PT data, 719 If the perf.data file contains Intel PT data, that is the same as:
724 720
725 perf buildid-list --with-hits 721 perf buildid-list --with-hits
726 722
727 723
728 Snapshot mode and event disabling 724 Snapshot mode and event disabling
729 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 725 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
730 726
731 In order to make a snapshot, the intel_pt even 727 In order to make a snapshot, the intel_pt event is disabled using an IOCTL,
732 namely PERF_EVENT_IOC_DISABLE. However doing 728 namely PERF_EVENT_IOC_DISABLE. However doing that can also disable the
733 collection of side-band information. In order 729 collection of side-band information. In order to prevent that, a dummy
734 software event has been introduced that permit 730 software event has been introduced that permits tracking events (like mmaps) to
735 continue to be recorded while intel_pt is disa 731 continue to be recorded while intel_pt is disabled. That is important to ensure
736 there is complete side-band information to all 732 there is complete side-band information to allow the decoding of subsequent
737 snapshots. 733 snapshots.
738 734
739 A test has been created for that. To find the 735 A test has been created for that. To find the test:
740 736
741 perf test list 737 perf test list
742 ... 738 ...
743 23: Test using a dummy software event 739 23: Test using a dummy software event to keep tracking
744 740
745 To run the test: 741 To run the test:
746 742
747 perf test 23 743 perf test 23
748 23: Test using a dummy software event 744 23: Test using a dummy software event to keep tracking : Ok
749 745
750 746
751 perf record modes (nothing new here) 747 perf record modes (nothing new here)
752 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 748 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
753 749
754 perf record essentially operates in one of thr 750 perf record essentially operates in one of three modes:
755 per thread 751 per thread
756 per cpu 752 per cpu
757 workload only 753 workload only
758 754
759 "per thread" mode is selected by -t or by --pe 755 "per thread" mode is selected by -t or by --per-thread (with -p or -u or just a
760 workload). 756 workload).
761 "per cpu" is selected by -C or -a. 757 "per cpu" is selected by -C or -a.
762 "workload only" mode is selected by not using 758 "workload only" mode is selected by not using the other options but providing a
763 command to run (i.e. the workload). 759 command to run (i.e. the workload).
764 760
765 In per-thread mode an exact list of threads is 761 In per-thread mode an exact list of threads is traced. There is no inheritance.
766 Each thread has its own event buffer. 762 Each thread has its own event buffer.
767 763
768 In per-cpu mode all processes (or processes fr 764 In per-cpu mode all processes (or processes from the selected cgroup i.e. -G
769 option, or processes selected with -p or -u) a 765 option, or processes selected with -p or -u) are traced. Each cpu has its own
770 buffer. Inheritance is allowed. 766 buffer. Inheritance is allowed.
771 767
772 In workload-only mode, the workload is traced 768 In workload-only mode, the workload is traced but with per-cpu buffers.
773 Inheritance is allowed. Note that you can now 769 Inheritance is allowed. Note that you can now trace a workload in per-thread
774 mode by using the --per-thread option. 770 mode by using the --per-thread option.
775 771
776 772
777 Privileged vs non-privileged users 773 Privileged vs non-privileged users
778 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 774 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
779 775
780 Unless /proc/sys/kernel/perf_event_paranoid is 776 Unless /proc/sys/kernel/perf_event_paranoid is set to -1, unprivileged users
781 have memory limits imposed upon them. That af 777 have memory limits imposed upon them. That affects what buffer sizes they can
782 have as outlined above. 778 have as outlined above.
783 779
784 The v4.2 kernel introduced support for a conte 780 The v4.2 kernel introduced support for a context switch metadata event,
785 PERF_RECORD_SWITCH, which allows unprivileged 781 PERF_RECORD_SWITCH, which allows unprivileged users to see when their processes
786 are scheduled out and in, just not by whom, wh 782 are scheduled out and in, just not by whom, which is left for the
787 PERF_RECORD_SWITCH_CPU_WIDE, that is only acce 783 PERF_RECORD_SWITCH_CPU_WIDE, that is only accessible in system wide context,
788 which in turn requires CAP_PERFMON or CAP_SYS_ 784 which in turn requires CAP_PERFMON or CAP_SYS_ADMIN.
789 785
790 Please see the 45ac1403f564 ("perf: Add PERF_R 786 Please see the 45ac1403f564 ("perf: Add PERF_RECORD_SWITCH to indicate context
791 switches") commit, that introduces these metad 787 switches") commit, that introduces these metadata events for further info.
792 788
793 When working with kernels < v4.2, the followin 789 When working with kernels < v4.2, the following considerations must be taken,
794 as the sched:sched_switch tracepoints will be 790 as the sched:sched_switch tracepoints will be used to receive such information:
795 791
796 Unless /proc/sys/kernel/perf_event_paranoid is 792 Unless /proc/sys/kernel/perf_event_paranoid is set to -1, unprivileged users are
797 not permitted to use tracepoints which means t 793 not permitted to use tracepoints which means there is insufficient side-band
798 information to decode Intel PT in per-cpu mode 794 information to decode Intel PT in per-cpu mode, and potentially workload-only
799 mode too if the workload creates new processes 795 mode too if the workload creates new processes.
800 796
801 Note also, that to use tracepoints, read-acces 797 Note also, that to use tracepoints, read-access to debugfs is required. So if
802 debugfs is not mounted or the user does not ha 798 debugfs is not mounted or the user does not have read-access, it will again not
803 be possible to decode Intel PT in per-cpu mode 799 be possible to decode Intel PT in per-cpu mode.
804 800
805 801
806 sched_switch tracepoint 802 sched_switch tracepoint
807 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 803 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
808 804
809 The sched_switch tracepoint is used to provide 805 The sched_switch tracepoint is used to provide side-band data for Intel PT
810 decoding in kernels where the PERF_RECORD_SWIT 806 decoding in kernels where the PERF_RECORD_SWITCH metadata event isn't
811 available. 807 available.
812 808
813 The sched_switch events are automatically adde 809 The sched_switch events are automatically added. e.g. the second event shown
814 below: 810 below:
815 811
816 $ perf record -vv -e intel_pt//u uname 812 $ perf record -vv -e intel_pt//u uname
817 -------------------------------------- 813 ------------------------------------------------------------
818 perf_event_attr: 814 perf_event_attr:
819 type 6 815 type 6
820 size 112 816 size 112
821 config 0x400 817 config 0x400
822 { sample_period, sample_freq } 1 818 { sample_period, sample_freq } 1
823 sample_type IP|TI 819 sample_type IP|TID|TIME|CPU|IDENTIFIER
824 read_format ID 820 read_format ID
825 disabled 1 821 disabled 1
826 inherit 1 822 inherit 1
827 exclude_kernel 1 823 exclude_kernel 1
828 exclude_hv 1 824 exclude_hv 1
829 enable_on_exec 1 825 enable_on_exec 1
830 sample_id_all 1 826 sample_id_all 1
831 -------------------------------------- 827 ------------------------------------------------------------
832 sys_perf_event_open: pid 31104 cpu 0 828 sys_perf_event_open: pid 31104 cpu 0 group_fd -1 flags 0x8
833 sys_perf_event_open: pid 31104 cpu 1 829 sys_perf_event_open: pid 31104 cpu 1 group_fd -1 flags 0x8
834 sys_perf_event_open: pid 31104 cpu 2 830 sys_perf_event_open: pid 31104 cpu 2 group_fd -1 flags 0x8
835 sys_perf_event_open: pid 31104 cpu 3 831 sys_perf_event_open: pid 31104 cpu 3 group_fd -1 flags 0x8
836 -------------------------------------- 832 ------------------------------------------------------------
837 perf_event_attr: 833 perf_event_attr:
838 type 2 834 type 2
839 size 112 835 size 112
840 config 0x108 836 config 0x108
841 { sample_period, sample_freq } 1 837 { sample_period, sample_freq } 1
842 sample_type IP|TI 838 sample_type IP|TID|TIME|CPU|PERIOD|RAW|IDENTIFIER
843 read_format ID 839 read_format ID
844 inherit 1 840 inherit 1
845 sample_id_all 1 841 sample_id_all 1
846 exclude_guest 1 842 exclude_guest 1
847 -------------------------------------- 843 ------------------------------------------------------------
848 sys_perf_event_open: pid -1 cpu 0 gr 844 sys_perf_event_open: pid -1 cpu 0 group_fd -1 flags 0x8
849 sys_perf_event_open: pid -1 cpu 1 gr 845 sys_perf_event_open: pid -1 cpu 1 group_fd -1 flags 0x8
850 sys_perf_event_open: pid -1 cpu 2 gr 846 sys_perf_event_open: pid -1 cpu 2 group_fd -1 flags 0x8
851 sys_perf_event_open: pid -1 cpu 3 gr 847 sys_perf_event_open: pid -1 cpu 3 group_fd -1 flags 0x8
852 -------------------------------------- 848 ------------------------------------------------------------
853 perf_event_attr: 849 perf_event_attr:
854 type 1 850 type 1
855 size 112 851 size 112
856 config 0x9 852 config 0x9
857 { sample_period, sample_freq } 1 853 { sample_period, sample_freq } 1
858 sample_type IP|TI 854 sample_type IP|TID|TIME|IDENTIFIER
859 read_format ID 855 read_format ID
860 disabled 1 856 disabled 1
861 inherit 1 857 inherit 1
862 exclude_kernel 1 858 exclude_kernel 1
863 exclude_hv 1 859 exclude_hv 1
864 mmap 1 860 mmap 1
865 comm 1 861 comm 1
866 enable_on_exec 1 862 enable_on_exec 1
867 task 1 863 task 1
868 sample_id_all 1 864 sample_id_all 1
869 mmap2 1 865 mmap2 1
870 comm_exec 1 866 comm_exec 1
871 -------------------------------------- 867 ------------------------------------------------------------
872 sys_perf_event_open: pid 31104 cpu 0 868 sys_perf_event_open: pid 31104 cpu 0 group_fd -1 flags 0x8
873 sys_perf_event_open: pid 31104 cpu 1 869 sys_perf_event_open: pid 31104 cpu 1 group_fd -1 flags 0x8
874 sys_perf_event_open: pid 31104 cpu 2 870 sys_perf_event_open: pid 31104 cpu 2 group_fd -1 flags 0x8
875 sys_perf_event_open: pid 31104 cpu 3 871 sys_perf_event_open: pid 31104 cpu 3 group_fd -1 flags 0x8
876 mmap size 528384B 872 mmap size 528384B
877 AUX area mmap length 4194304 873 AUX area mmap length 4194304
878 perf event ring buffer mmapped per cpu 874 perf event ring buffer mmapped per cpu
879 Synthesizing auxtrace information 875 Synthesizing auxtrace information
880 Linux 876 Linux
881 [ perf record: Woken up 1 times to wri 877 [ perf record: Woken up 1 times to write data ]
882 [ perf record: Captured and wrote 0.04 878 [ perf record: Captured and wrote 0.042 MB perf.data ]
883 879
884 Note, the sched_switch event is only added if 880 Note, the sched_switch event is only added if the user is permitted to use it
885 and only in per-cpu mode. 881 and only in per-cpu mode.
886 882
887 Note also, the sched_switch event is only adde 883 Note also, the sched_switch event is only added if TSC packets are requested.
888 That is because, in the absence of timing info 884 That is because, in the absence of timing information, the sched_switch events
889 cannot be matched against the Intel PT trace. 885 cannot be matched against the Intel PT trace.
890 886
891 887
892 perf script 888 perf script
893 ----------- 889 -----------
894 890
895 By default, perf script will decode trace data 891 By default, perf script will decode trace data found in the perf.data file.
896 This can be further controlled by new option - 892 This can be further controlled by new option --itrace.
897 893
898 894
899 New --itrace option 895 New --itrace option
900 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 896 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
901 897
902 Having no option is the same as 898 Having no option is the same as
903 899
904 --itrace 900 --itrace
905 901
906 which, in turn, is the same as 902 which, in turn, is the same as
907 903
908 --itrace=cepwxy 904 --itrace=cepwxy
909 905
910 The letters are: 906 The letters are:
911 907
912 i synthesize "instructions" even 908 i synthesize "instructions" events
913 y synthesize "cycles" events 909 y synthesize "cycles" events
914 b synthesize "branches" events 910 b synthesize "branches" events
915 x synthesize "transactions" even 911 x synthesize "transactions" events
916 w synthesize "ptwrite" events 912 w synthesize "ptwrite" events
917 p synthesize "power" events (inc 913 p synthesize "power" events (incl. PSB events)
918 c synthesize branches events (ca 914 c synthesize branches events (calls only)
919 r synthesize branches events (re 915 r synthesize branches events (returns only)
920 o synthesize PEBS-via-PT events 916 o synthesize PEBS-via-PT events
921 I synthesize Event Trace events 917 I synthesize Event Trace events
922 e synthesize tracing error event 918 e synthesize tracing error events
923 d create a debug log 919 d create a debug log
924 g synthesize a call chain (use w 920 g synthesize a call chain (use with i or x)
925 G synthesize a call chain on exi 921 G synthesize a call chain on existing event records
926 l synthesize last branch entries 922 l synthesize last branch entries (use with i or x)
927 L synthesize last branch entries 923 L synthesize last branch entries on existing event records
928 s skip initial number of events 924 s skip initial number of events
929 q quicker (less detailed) decodi 925 q quicker (less detailed) decoding
930 A approximate IPC 926 A approximate IPC
931 Z prefer to ignore timestamps (s 927 Z prefer to ignore timestamps (so-called "timeless" decoding)
932 928
933 "Instructions" events look like they were reco 929 "Instructions" events look like they were recorded by "perf record -e
934 instructions". 930 instructions".
935 931
936 "Cycles" events look like they were recorded b 932 "Cycles" events look like they were recorded by "perf record -e cycles"
937 (ie., the default). Note that even with CYC pa 933 (ie., the default). Note that even with CYC packets enabled and no sampling,
938 these are not fully accurate, since CYC packet 934 these are not fully accurate, since CYC packets are not emitted for each
939 instruction, only when some other event (like 935 instruction, only when some other event (like an indirect branch, or a
940 TNT packet representing multiple branches) hap 936 TNT packet representing multiple branches) happens causes a packet to
941 be emitted. Thus, it is more effective for att 937 be emitted. Thus, it is more effective for attributing cycles to functions
942 (and possibly basic blocks) than to individual 938 (and possibly basic blocks) than to individual instructions, although it
943 is not even perfect for functions (although it 939 is not even perfect for functions (although it becomes better if the noretcomp
944 option is active). 940 option is active).
945 941
946 "Branches" events look like they were recorded 942 "Branches" events look like they were recorded by "perf record -e branches". "c"
947 and "r" can be combined to get calls and retur 943 and "r" can be combined to get calls and returns.
948 944
949 "Transactions" events correspond to the start 945 "Transactions" events correspond to the start or end of transactions. The
950 'flags' field can be used in perf script to de 946 'flags' field can be used in perf script to determine whether the event is a
951 transaction start, commit or abort. 947 transaction start, commit or abort.
952 948
953 Note that "instructions", "cycles", "branches" 949 Note that "instructions", "cycles", "branches" and "transactions" events
954 depend on code flow packets which can be disab 950 depend on code flow packets which can be disabled by using the config term
955 "branch=0". Refer to the config terms section 951 "branch=0". Refer to the config terms section above.
956 952
957 "ptwrite" events record the payload of the ptw 953 "ptwrite" events record the payload of the ptwrite instruction and whether
958 "fup_on_ptw" was used. "ptwrite" events depen 954 "fup_on_ptw" was used. "ptwrite" events depend on PTWRITE packets which are
959 recorded only if the "ptw" config term was use 955 recorded only if the "ptw" config term was used. Refer to the config terms
960 section above. perf script "synth" field disp 956 section above. perf script "synth" field displays "ptwrite" information like
961 this: "ip: 0 payload: 0x123456789abcdef0" whe 957 this: "ip: 0 payload: 0x123456789abcdef0" where "ip" is 1 if "fup_on_ptw" was
962 used. 958 used.
963 959
964 "Power" events correspond to power event packe 960 "Power" events correspond to power event packets and CBR (core-to-bus ratio)
965 packets. While CBR packets are always recorde 961 packets. While CBR packets are always recorded when tracing is enabled, power
966 event packets are recorded only if the "pwr_ev 962 event packets are recorded only if the "pwr_evt" config term was used. Refer to
967 the config terms section above. The power eve 963 the config terms section above. The power events record information about
968 C-state changes, whereas CBR is indicative of 964 C-state changes, whereas CBR is indicative of CPU frequency. perf script
969 "event,synth" fields display information like 965 "event,synth" fields display information like this:
970 966
971 cbr: cbr: 22 freq: 2189 MHz (200%) 967 cbr: cbr: 22 freq: 2189 MHz (200%)
972 mwait: hints: 0x60 extensions: 0x1 968 mwait: hints: 0x60 extensions: 0x1
973 pwre: hw: 0 cstate: 2 sub-cstate: 0 969 pwre: hw: 0 cstate: 2 sub-cstate: 0
974 exstop: ip: 1 970 exstop: ip: 1
975 pwrx: deepest cstate: 2 last cstate: 971 pwrx: deepest cstate: 2 last cstate: 2 wake reason: 0x4
976 972
977 Where: 973 Where:
978 974
979 "cbr" includes the frequency and the p 975 "cbr" includes the frequency and the percentage of maximum non-turbo
980 "mwait" shows mwait hints and extensio 976 "mwait" shows mwait hints and extensions
981 "pwre" shows C-state transitions (to a 977 "pwre" shows C-state transitions (to a C-state deeper than C0) and
982 whether initiated by hardware 978 whether initiated by hardware
983 "exstop" indicates execution stopped a 979 "exstop" indicates execution stopped and whether the IP was recorded
984 exactly, 980 exactly,
985 "pwrx" indicates return to C0 981 "pwrx" indicates return to C0
986 982
987 For more details refer to the Intel 64 and IA- 983 For more details refer to the Intel 64 and IA-32 Architectures Software
988 Developer Manuals. 984 Developer Manuals.
989 985
990 PSB events show when a PSB+ occurred and also 986 PSB events show when a PSB+ occurred and also the byte-offset in the trace.
991 Emitting a PSB+ can cause a CPU a slight delay 987 Emitting a PSB+ can cause a CPU a slight delay. When doing timing analysis
992 of code with Intel PT, it is useful to know if 988 of code with Intel PT, it is useful to know if a timing bubble was caused
993 by Intel PT or not. 989 by Intel PT or not.
994 990
995 Error events show where the decoder lost the t 991 Error events show where the decoder lost the trace. Error events
996 are quite important. Users must know if what 992 are quite important. Users must know if what they are seeing is a complete
997 picture or not. The "e" option may be followed 993 picture or not. The "e" option may be followed by flags which affect what errors
998 will or will not be reported. Each flag must 994 will or will not be reported. Each flag must be preceded by either '+' or '-'.
999 The flags supported by Intel PT are: 995 The flags supported by Intel PT are:
1000 996
1001 -o Suppress overflow err 997 -o Suppress overflow errors
1002 -l Suppress trace data l 998 -l Suppress trace data lost errors
1003 999
1004 For example, for errors but not overflow or d 1000 For example, for errors but not overflow or data lost errors:
1005 1001
1006 --itrace=e-o-l 1002 --itrace=e-o-l
1007 1003
1008 The "d" option will cause the creation of a f 1004 The "d" option will cause the creation of a file "intel_pt.log" containing all
1009 decoded packets and instructions. Note that 1005 decoded packets and instructions. Note that this option slows down the decoder
1010 and that the resulting file may be very large 1006 and that the resulting file may be very large. The "d" option may be followed
1011 by flags which affect what debug messages wil 1007 by flags which affect what debug messages will or will not be logged. Each flag
1012 must be preceded by either '+' or '-'. The fl 1008 must be preceded by either '+' or '-'. The flags support by Intel PT are:
1013 1009
1014 -a Suppress logging of p 1010 -a Suppress logging of perf events
1015 +a Log all perf events 1011 +a Log all perf events
1016 +e Output only on decodi 1012 +e Output only on decoding errors (size configurable)
1017 +o Output to stdout inst 1013 +o Output to stdout instead of "intel_pt.log"
1018 1014
1019 By default, logged perf events are filtered b 1015 By default, logged perf events are filtered by any specified time ranges, but
1020 flag +a overrides that. The +e flag can be u 1016 flag +a overrides that. The +e flag can be useful for analyzing errors. By
1021 default, the log size in that case is 16384 b 1017 default, the log size in that case is 16384 bytes, but can be altered by
1022 linkperf:perf-config[1] e.g. perf config itra 1018 linkperf:perf-config[1] e.g. perf config itrace.debug-log-buffer-size=30000
1023 1019
1024 In addition, the period of the "instructions" 1020 In addition, the period of the "instructions" event can be specified. e.g.
1025 1021
1026 --itrace=i10us 1022 --itrace=i10us
1027 1023
1028 sets the period to 10us i.e. one instruction 1024 sets the period to 10us i.e. one instruction sample is synthesized for each 10
1029 microseconds of trace. Alternatives to "us" 1025 microseconds of trace. Alternatives to "us" are "ms" (milliseconds),
1030 "ns" (nanoseconds), "t" (TSC ticks) or "i" (i 1026 "ns" (nanoseconds), "t" (TSC ticks) or "i" (instructions).
1031 1027
1032 "ms", "us" and "ns" are converted to TSC tick 1028 "ms", "us" and "ns" are converted to TSC ticks.
1033 1029
1034 The timing information included with Intel PT 1030 The timing information included with Intel PT does not give the time of every
1035 instruction. Consequently, for the purpose o 1031 instruction. Consequently, for the purpose of sampling, the decoder estimates
1036 the time since the last timing packet based o 1032 the time since the last timing packet based on 1 tick per instruction. The time
1037 on the sample is *not* adjusted and reflects 1033 on the sample is *not* adjusted and reflects the last known value of TSC.
1038 1034
1039 For Intel PT, the default period is 100us. 1035 For Intel PT, the default period is 100us.
1040 1036
1041 Setting it to a zero period means "as often a 1037 Setting it to a zero period means "as often as possible".
1042 1038
1043 In the case of Intel PT that is the same as a 1039 In the case of Intel PT that is the same as a period of 1 and a unit of
1044 'instructions' (i.e. --itrace=i1i). 1040 'instructions' (i.e. --itrace=i1i).
1045 1041
1046 Also the call chain size (default 16, max. 10 1042 Also the call chain size (default 16, max. 1024) for instructions or
1047 transactions events can be specified. e.g. 1043 transactions events can be specified. e.g.
1048 1044
1049 --itrace=ig32 1045 --itrace=ig32
1050 --itrace=xg32 1046 --itrace=xg32
1051 1047
1052 Also the number of last branch entries (defau 1048 Also the number of last branch entries (default 64, max. 1024) for instructions or
1053 transactions events can be specified. e.g. 1049 transactions events can be specified. e.g.
1054 1050
1055 --itrace=il10 1051 --itrace=il10
1056 --itrace=xl10 1052 --itrace=xl10
1057 1053
1058 Note that last branch entries are cleared for 1054 Note that last branch entries are cleared for each sample, so there is no overlap
1059 from one sample to the next. 1055 from one sample to the next.
1060 1056
1061 The G and L options are designed in particula 1057 The G and L options are designed in particular for sample mode, and work much
1062 like g and l but add call chain and branch st 1058 like g and l but add call chain and branch stack to the other selected events
1063 instead of synthesized events. For example, t 1059 instead of synthesized events. For example, to record branch-misses events for
1064 'ls' and then add a call chain derived from t 1060 'ls' and then add a call chain derived from the Intel PT trace:
1065 1061
1066 perf record --aux-sample -e '{intel_p 1062 perf record --aux-sample -e '{intel_pt//u,branch-misses:u}' -- ls
1067 perf report --itrace=Ge 1063 perf report --itrace=Ge
1068 1064
1069 Although in fact G is a default for perf repo 1065 Although in fact G is a default for perf report, so that is the same as just:
1070 1066
1071 perf report 1067 perf report
1072 1068
1073 One caveat with the G and L options is that t 1069 One caveat with the G and L options is that they work poorly with "Large PEBS".
1074 Large PEBS means PEBS records will be accumul 1070 Large PEBS means PEBS records will be accumulated by hardware and the written
1075 into the event buffer in one go. That reduce 1071 into the event buffer in one go. That reduces interrupts, but can give very
1076 late timestamps. Because the Intel PT trace 1072 late timestamps. Because the Intel PT trace is synchronized by timestamps,
1077 the PEBS events do not match the trace. Curr 1073 the PEBS events do not match the trace. Currently, Large PEBS is used only in
1078 certain circumstances: 1074 certain circumstances:
1079 - hardware supports it 1075 - hardware supports it
1080 - PEBS is used 1076 - PEBS is used
1081 - event period is specified, instead 1077 - event period is specified, instead of frequency
1082 - the sample type is limited to the f 1078 - the sample type is limited to the following flags:
1083 PERF_SAMPLE_IP | PERF_SAMPLE_ 1079 PERF_SAMPLE_IP | PERF_SAMPLE_TID | PERF_SAMPLE_ADDR |
1084 PERF_SAMPLE_ID | PERF_SAMPLE_ 1080 PERF_SAMPLE_ID | PERF_SAMPLE_CPU | PERF_SAMPLE_STREAM_ID |
1085 PERF_SAMPLE_DATA_SRC | PERF_S 1081 PERF_SAMPLE_DATA_SRC | PERF_SAMPLE_IDENTIFIER |
1086 PERF_SAMPLE_TRANSACTION | PER 1082 PERF_SAMPLE_TRANSACTION | PERF_SAMPLE_PHYS_ADDR |
1087 PERF_SAMPLE_REGS_INTR | PERF_ 1083 PERF_SAMPLE_REGS_INTR | PERF_SAMPLE_REGS_USER |
1088 PERF_SAMPLE_PERIOD (and somet 1084 PERF_SAMPLE_PERIOD (and sometimes) | PERF_SAMPLE_TIME
1089 Because Intel PT sample mode uses a different 1085 Because Intel PT sample mode uses a different sample type to the list above,
1090 Large PEBS is not used with Intel PT sample m 1086 Large PEBS is not used with Intel PT sample mode. To avoid Large PEBS in other
1091 cases, avoid specifying the event period i.e. 1087 cases, avoid specifying the event period i.e. avoid the 'perf record' -c option,
1092 --count option, or 'period' config term. 1088 --count option, or 'period' config term.
1093 1089
1094 To disable trace decoding entirely, use the o 1090 To disable trace decoding entirely, use the option --no-itrace.
1095 1091
1096 It is also possible to skip events generated 1092 It is also possible to skip events generated (instructions, branches, transactions)
1097 at the beginning. This is useful to ignore in 1093 at the beginning. This is useful to ignore initialization code.
1098 1094
1099 --itrace=i0nss1000000 1095 --itrace=i0nss1000000
1100 1096
1101 skips the first million instructions. 1097 skips the first million instructions.
1102 1098
1103 The q option changes the way the trace is dec 1099 The q option changes the way the trace is decoded. The decoding is much faster
1104 but much less detailed. Specifically, with t 1100 but much less detailed. Specifically, with the q option, the decoder does not
1105 decode TNT packets, and does not walk object 1101 decode TNT packets, and does not walk object code, but gets the ip from FUP and
1106 TIP packets. The q option can be used with t 1102 TIP packets. The q option can be used with the b and i options but the period
1107 is not used. The q option decodes more quick 1103 is not used. The q option decodes more quickly, but is useful only if the
1108 control flow of interest is represented or in 1104 control flow of interest is represented or indicated by FUP, TIP, TIP.PGE, or
1109 TIP.PGD packets (refer below). However the q 1105 TIP.PGD packets (refer below). However the q option could be used to find time
1110 ranges that could then be decoded fully using 1106 ranges that could then be decoded fully using the --time option.
1111 1107
1112 What will *not* be decoded with the (single) 1108 What will *not* be decoded with the (single) q option:
1113 1109
1114 - direct calls and jmps 1110 - direct calls and jmps
1115 - conditional branches 1111 - conditional branches
1116 - non-branch instructions 1112 - non-branch instructions
1117 1113
1118 What *will* be decoded with the (single) q op 1114 What *will* be decoded with the (single) q option:
1119 1115
1120 - asynchronous branches such as inter 1116 - asynchronous branches such as interrupts
1121 - indirect branches 1117 - indirect branches
1122 - function return target address *if* 1118 - function return target address *if* the noretcomp config term (refer
1123 config terms section) was used 1119 config terms section) was used
1124 - start of (control-flow) tracing 1120 - start of (control-flow) tracing
1125 - end of (control-flow) tracing, if i 1121 - end of (control-flow) tracing, if it is not out of context
1126 - power events, ptwrite, transaction 1122 - power events, ptwrite, transaction start and abort
1127 - instruction pointer associated with 1123 - instruction pointer associated with PSB packets
1128 1124
1129 Note the q option does not specify what event 1125 Note the q option does not specify what events will be synthesized e.g. the p
1130 option must be used also to show power events 1126 option must be used also to show power events.
1131 1127
1132 Repeating the q option (double-q i.e. qq) res 1128 Repeating the q option (double-q i.e. qq) results in even faster decoding and even
1133 less detail. The decoder decodes only extend 1129 less detail. The decoder decodes only extended PSB (PSB+) packets, getting the
1134 instruction pointer if there is a FUP packet 1130 instruction pointer if there is a FUP packet within PSB+ (i.e. between PSB and
1135 PSBEND). Note PSB packets occur regularly in 1131 PSBEND). Note PSB packets occur regularly in the trace based on the psb_period
1136 config term (refer config terms section). Th 1132 config term (refer config terms section). There will be a FUP packet if the
1137 PSB+ occurs while control flow is being trace 1133 PSB+ occurs while control flow is being traced.
1138 1134
1139 What will *not* be decoded with the qq option 1135 What will *not* be decoded with the qq option:
1140 1136
1141 - everything except instruction point 1137 - everything except instruction pointer associated with PSB packets
1142 1138
1143 What *will* be decoded with the qq option: 1139 What *will* be decoded with the qq option:
1144 1140
1145 - instruction pointer associated with 1141 - instruction pointer associated with PSB packets
1146 1142
1147 The Z option is equivalent to having recorded 1143 The Z option is equivalent to having recorded a trace without TSC
1148 (i.e. config term tsc=0). It can be useful to 1144 (i.e. config term tsc=0). It can be useful to avoid timestamp issues when
1149 decoding a trace of a virtual machine. 1145 decoding a trace of a virtual machine.
1150 1146
1151 1147
1152 dlfilter-show-cycles.so 1148 dlfilter-show-cycles.so
1153 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1149 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1154 1150
1155 Cycles can be displayed using dlfilter-show-c 1151 Cycles can be displayed using dlfilter-show-cycles.so in which case the itrace A
1156 option can be useful to provide higher granul 1152 option can be useful to provide higher granularity cycle information:
1157 1153
1158 perf script --itrace=A --call-trace - 1154 perf script --itrace=A --call-trace --dlfilter dlfilter-show-cycles.so
1159 1155
1160 To see a list of dlfilters: 1156 To see a list of dlfilters:
1161 1157
1162 perf script -v --list-dlfilters 1158 perf script -v --list-dlfilters
1163 1159
1164 See also linkperf:perf-dlfilters[1] 1160 See also linkperf:perf-dlfilters[1]
1165 1161
1166 1162
1167 dump option 1163 dump option
1168 ~~~~~~~~~~~ 1164 ~~~~~~~~~~~
1169 1165
1170 perf script has an option (-D) to "dump" the 1166 perf script has an option (-D) to "dump" the events i.e. display the binary
1171 data. 1167 data.
1172 1168
1173 When -D is used, Intel PT packets are display 1169 When -D is used, Intel PT packets are displayed. The packet decoder does not
1174 pay attention to PSB packets, but just decode 1170 pay attention to PSB packets, but just decodes the bytes - so the packets seen
1175 by the actual decoder may not be identical in 1171 by the actual decoder may not be identical in places where the data is corrupt.
1176 One example of that would be when the buffer- 1172 One example of that would be when the buffer-switching interrupt has been too
1177 slow, and the buffer has been filled complete 1173 slow, and the buffer has been filled completely. In that case, the last packet
1178 in the buffer might be truncated and immediat 1174 in the buffer might be truncated and immediately followed by a PSB as the trace
1179 continues in the next buffer. 1175 continues in the next buffer.
1180 1176
1181 To disable the display of Intel PT packets, c 1177 To disable the display of Intel PT packets, combine the -D option with
1182 --no-itrace. 1178 --no-itrace.
1183 1179
1184 1180
1185 perf report 1181 perf report
1186 ----------- 1182 -----------
1187 1183
1188 By default, perf report will decode trace dat 1184 By default, perf report will decode trace data found in the perf.data file.
1189 This can be further controlled by new option 1185 This can be further controlled by new option --itrace exactly the same as
1190 perf script, with the exception that the defa 1186 perf script, with the exception that the default is --itrace=igxe.
1191 1187
1192 1188
1193 perf inject 1189 perf inject
1194 ----------- 1190 -----------
1195 1191
1196 perf inject also accepts the --itrace option 1192 perf inject also accepts the --itrace option in which case tracing data is
1197 removed and replaced with the synthesized eve 1193 removed and replaced with the synthesized events. e.g.
1198 1194
1199 perf inject --itrace -i perf.data -o 1195 perf inject --itrace -i perf.data -o perf.data.new
1200 1196
1201 Below is an example of using Intel PT with au 1197 Below is an example of using Intel PT with autofdo. It requires autofdo
1202 (https://github.com/google/autofdo) and gcc v 1198 (https://github.com/google/autofdo) and gcc version 5. The bubble
1203 sort example is from the AutoFDO tutorial (ht 1199 sort example is from the AutoFDO tutorial (https://gcc.gnu.org/wiki/AutoFDO/Tutorial)
1204 amended to take the number of elements as a p 1200 amended to take the number of elements as a parameter.
1205 1201
1206 $ gcc-5 -O3 sort.c -o sort_optimized 1202 $ gcc-5 -O3 sort.c -o sort_optimized
1207 $ ./sort_optimized 30000 1203 $ ./sort_optimized 30000
1208 Bubble sorting array of 30000 element 1204 Bubble sorting array of 30000 elements
1209 2254 ms 1205 2254 ms
1210 1206
1211 $ cat ~/.perfconfig 1207 $ cat ~/.perfconfig
1212 [intel-pt] 1208 [intel-pt]
1213 mispred-all = on 1209 mispred-all = on
1214 1210
1215 $ perf record -e intel_pt//u ./sort 3 1211 $ perf record -e intel_pt//u ./sort 3000
1216 Bubble sorting array of 3000 elements 1212 Bubble sorting array of 3000 elements
1217 58 ms 1213 58 ms
1218 [ perf record: Woken up 2 times to wr 1214 [ perf record: Woken up 2 times to write data ]
1219 [ perf record: Captured and wrote 3.9 1215 [ perf record: Captured and wrote 3.939 MB perf.data ]
1220 $ perf inject -i perf.data -o inj --i 1216 $ perf inject -i perf.data -o inj --itrace=i100usle --strip
1221 $ ./create_gcov --binary=./sort --pro 1217 $ ./create_gcov --binary=./sort --profile=inj --gcov=sort.gcov -gcov_version=1
1222 $ gcc-5 -O3 -fauto-profile=sort.gcov 1218 $ gcc-5 -O3 -fauto-profile=sort.gcov sort.c -o sort_autofdo
1223 $ ./sort_autofdo 30000 1219 $ ./sort_autofdo 30000
1224 Bubble sorting array of 30000 element 1220 Bubble sorting array of 30000 elements
1225 2155 ms 1221 2155 ms
1226 1222
1227 Note there is currently no advantage to using 1223 Note there is currently no advantage to using Intel PT instead of LBR, but
1228 that may change in the future if greater use 1224 that may change in the future if greater use is made of the data.
1229 1225
1230 1226
1231 PEBS via Intel PT 1227 PEBS via Intel PT
1232 ----------------- 1228 -----------------
1233 1229
1234 Some hardware has the feature to redirect PEB 1230 Some hardware has the feature to redirect PEBS records to the Intel PT trace.
1235 Recording is selected by using the aux-output 1231 Recording is selected by using the aux-output config term e.g.
1236 1232
1237 perf record -c 10000 -e '{intel_pt/br 1233 perf record -c 10000 -e '{intel_pt/branch=0/,cycles/aux-output/ppp}' uname
1238 1234
1239 Originally, software only supported redirecti 1235 Originally, software only supported redirecting at most one PEBS event because it
1240 was not able to differentiate one event from 1236 was not able to differentiate one event from another. To overcome that, more recent
1241 kernels and perf tools add support for the PE 1237 kernels and perf tools add support for the PERF_RECORD_AUX_OUTPUT_HW_ID side-band event.
1242 To check for the presence of that event in a 1238 To check for the presence of that event in a PEBS-via-PT trace:
1243 1239
1244 perf script -D --no-itrace | grep PER 1240 perf script -D --no-itrace | grep PERF_RECORD_AUX_OUTPUT_HW_ID
1245 1241
1246 To display PEBS events from the Intel PT trac 1242 To display PEBS events from the Intel PT trace, use the itrace 'o' option e.g.
1247 1243
1248 perf script --itrace=oe 1244 perf script --itrace=oe
1249 1245
1250 XED 1246 XED
1251 --- 1247 ---
1252 1248
1253 include::build-xed.txt[] 1249 include::build-xed.txt[]
1254 1250
1255 1251
1256 Tracing Virtual Machines (kernel only) 1252 Tracing Virtual Machines (kernel only)
1257 -------------------------------------- 1253 --------------------------------------
1258 1254
1259 Currently, kernel tracing is supported with e 1255 Currently, kernel tracing is supported with either "timeless" decoding
1260 (i.e. no TSC timestamps) or VM Time Correlati 1256 (i.e. no TSC timestamps) or VM Time Correlation. VM Time Correlation is an extra step
1261 using 'perf inject' and requires unchanging V 1257 using 'perf inject' and requires unchanging VMX TSC Offset and no VMX TSC Scaling.
1262 1258
1263 Other limitations and caveats 1259 Other limitations and caveats
1264 1260
1265 VMX controls may suppress packets needed for 1261 VMX controls may suppress packets needed for decoding resulting in decoding errors
1266 VMX controls may block the perf NMI to the h 1262 VMX controls may block the perf NMI to the host potentially resulting in lost trace data
1267 Guest kernel self-modifying code (e.g. jump 1263 Guest kernel self-modifying code (e.g. jump labels or JIT-compiled eBPF) will result in decoding errors
1268 Guest thread information is unknown 1264 Guest thread information is unknown
1269 Guest VCPU is unknown but may be able to be 1265 Guest VCPU is unknown but may be able to be inferred from the host thread
1270 Callchains are not supported 1266 Callchains are not supported
1271 1267
1272 Example using "timeless" decoding 1268 Example using "timeless" decoding
1273 1269
1274 Start VM 1270 Start VM
1275 1271
1276 $ sudo virsh start kubuntu20.04 1272 $ sudo virsh start kubuntu20.04
1277 Domain kubuntu20.04 started 1273 Domain kubuntu20.04 started
1278 1274
1279 Mount the guest file system. Note sshfs need 1275 Mount the guest file system. Note sshfs needs -o direct_io to enable reading of proc files. root access is needed to read /proc/kcore.
1280 1276
1281 $ mkdir vm0 1277 $ mkdir vm0
1282 $ sshfs -o direct_io root@vm0:/ vm0 1278 $ sshfs -o direct_io root@vm0:/ vm0
1283 1279
1284 Copy the guest /proc/kallsyms, /proc/modules 1280 Copy the guest /proc/kallsyms, /proc/modules and /proc/kcore
1285 1281
1286 $ perf buildid-cache -v --kcore vm0/proc/kco 1282 $ perf buildid-cache -v --kcore vm0/proc/kcore
1287 kcore added to build-id cache directory /hom 1283 kcore added to build-id cache directory /home/user/.debug/[kernel.kcore]/9600f316a53a0f54278885e8d9710538ec5f6a08/2021021807494306
1288 $ KALLSYMS=/home/user/.debug/[kernel.kcore]/ 1284 $ KALLSYMS=/home/user/.debug/[kernel.kcore]/9600f316a53a0f54278885e8d9710538ec5f6a08/2021021807494306/kallsyms
1289 1285
1290 Find the VM process 1286 Find the VM process
1291 1287
1292 $ ps -eLl | grep 'KVM\|PID' 1288 $ ps -eLl | grep 'KVM\|PID'
1293 F S UID PID PPID LWP C PRI NI 1289 F S UID PID PPID LWP C PRI NI ADDR SZ WCHAN TTY TIME CMD
1294 3 S 64055 1430 1 1440 1 80 0 1290 3 S 64055 1430 1 1440 1 80 0 - 1921718 - ? 00:02:47 CPU 0/KVM
1295 3 S 64055 1430 1 1441 1 80 0 1291 3 S 64055 1430 1 1441 1 80 0 - 1921718 - ? 00:02:41 CPU 1/KVM
1296 3 S 64055 1430 1 1442 1 80 0 1292 3 S 64055 1430 1 1442 1 80 0 - 1921718 - ? 00:02:38 CPU 2/KVM
1297 3 S 64055 1430 1 1443 2 80 0 1293 3 S 64055 1430 1 1443 2 80 0 - 1921718 - ? 00:03:18 CPU 3/KVM
1298 1294
1299 Start an open-ended perf record, tracing the 1295 Start an open-ended perf record, tracing the VM process, do something on the VM, and then ctrl-C to stop.
1300 TSC is not supported and tsc=0 must be specif 1296 TSC is not supported and tsc=0 must be specified. That means mtc is useless, so add mtc=0.
1301 However, IPC can still be determined, hence c 1297 However, IPC can still be determined, hence cyc=1 can be added.
1302 Only kernel decoding is supported, so 'k' mus 1298 Only kernel decoding is supported, so 'k' must be specified.
1303 Intel PT traces both the host and the guest s 1299 Intel PT traces both the host and the guest so --guest and --host need to be specified.
1304 Without timestamps, --per-thread must be spec 1300 Without timestamps, --per-thread must be specified to distinguish threads.
1305 1301
1306 $ sudo perf kvm --guest --host --guestkallsy 1302 $ sudo perf kvm --guest --host --guestkallsyms $KALLSYMS record --kcore -e intel_pt/tsc=0,mtc=0,cyc=1/k -p 1430 --per-thread
1307 ^C 1303 ^C
1308 [ perf record: Woken up 1 times to write dat 1304 [ perf record: Woken up 1 times to write data ]
1309 [ perf record: Captured and wrote 5.829 MB ] 1305 [ perf record: Captured and wrote 5.829 MB ]
1310 1306
1311 perf script can be used to provide an instruc 1307 perf script can be used to provide an instruction trace
1312 1308
1313 $ perf script --guestkallsyms $KALLSYMS --in !! 1309 $ perf script --guestkallsyms $KALLSYMS --insn-trace --xed -F+ipc | grep -C10 vmresume | head -21
1314 CPU 0/KVM 1440 ffffffff82133cdd __vm 1310 CPU 0/KVM 1440 ffffffff82133cdd __vmx_vcpu_run+0x3d ([kernel.kallsyms]) movq 0x48(%rax), %r9
1315 CPU 0/KVM 1440 ffffffff82133ce1 __vm 1311 CPU 0/KVM 1440 ffffffff82133ce1 __vmx_vcpu_run+0x41 ([kernel.kallsyms]) movq 0x50(%rax), %r10
1316 CPU 0/KVM 1440 ffffffff82133ce5 __vm 1312 CPU 0/KVM 1440 ffffffff82133ce5 __vmx_vcpu_run+0x45 ([kernel.kallsyms]) movq 0x58(%rax), %r11
1317 CPU 0/KVM 1440 ffffffff82133ce9 __vm 1313 CPU 0/KVM 1440 ffffffff82133ce9 __vmx_vcpu_run+0x49 ([kernel.kallsyms]) movq 0x60(%rax), %r12
1318 CPU 0/KVM 1440 ffffffff82133ced __vm 1314 CPU 0/KVM 1440 ffffffff82133ced __vmx_vcpu_run+0x4d ([kernel.kallsyms]) movq 0x68(%rax), %r13
1319 CPU 0/KVM 1440 ffffffff82133cf1 __vm 1315 CPU 0/KVM 1440 ffffffff82133cf1 __vmx_vcpu_run+0x51 ([kernel.kallsyms]) movq 0x70(%rax), %r14
1320 CPU 0/KVM 1440 ffffffff82133cf5 __vm 1316 CPU 0/KVM 1440 ffffffff82133cf5 __vmx_vcpu_run+0x55 ([kernel.kallsyms]) movq 0x78(%rax), %r15
1321 CPU 0/KVM 1440 ffffffff82133cf9 __vm 1317 CPU 0/KVM 1440 ffffffff82133cf9 __vmx_vcpu_run+0x59 ([kernel.kallsyms]) movq (%rax), %rax
1322 CPU 0/KVM 1440 ffffffff82133cfc __vm 1318 CPU 0/KVM 1440 ffffffff82133cfc __vmx_vcpu_run+0x5c ([kernel.kallsyms]) callq 0xffffffff82133c40
1323 CPU 0/KVM 1440 ffffffff82133c40 vmx_ 1319 CPU 0/KVM 1440 ffffffff82133c40 vmx_vmenter+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms]) jz 0xffffffff82133c46
1324 CPU 0/KVM 1440 ffffffff82133c42 vmx_ 1320 CPU 0/KVM 1440 ffffffff82133c42 vmx_vmenter+0x2 ([kernel.kallsyms]) vmresume IPC: 0.11 (50/445)
1325 :1440 1440 ffffffffbb678b06 nati 1321 :1440 1440 ffffffffbb678b06 native_write_msr+0x6 ([guest.kernel.kallsyms]) nopl %eax, (%rax,%rax,1)
1326 :1440 1440 ffffffffbb678b0b nati 1322 :1440 1440 ffffffffbb678b0b native_write_msr+0xb ([guest.kernel.kallsyms]) retq IPC: 0.04 (2/41)
1327 :1440 1440 ffffffffbb666646 lapi 1323 :1440 1440 ffffffffbb666646 lapic_next_deadline+0x26 ([guest.kernel.kallsyms]) data16 nop
1328 :1440 1440 ffffffffbb666648 lapi 1324 :1440 1440 ffffffffbb666648 lapic_next_deadline+0x28 ([guest.kernel.kallsyms]) xor %eax, %eax
1329 :1440 1440 ffffffffbb66664a lapi 1325 :1440 1440 ffffffffbb66664a lapic_next_deadline+0x2a ([guest.kernel.kallsyms]) popq %rbp
1330 :1440 1440 ffffffffbb66664b lapi 1326 :1440 1440 ffffffffbb66664b lapic_next_deadline+0x2b ([guest.kernel.kallsyms]) retq IPC: 0.16 (4/25)
1331 :1440 1440 ffffffffbb74607f cloc 1327 :1440 1440 ffffffffbb74607f clockevents_program_event+0x8f ([guest.kernel.kallsyms]) test %eax, %eax
1332 :1440 1440 ffffffffbb746081 cloc 1328 :1440 1440 ffffffffbb746081 clockevents_program_event+0x91 ([guest.kernel.kallsyms]) jz 0xffffffffbb74603c IPC: 0.06 (2/30)
1333 :1440 1440 ffffffffbb74603c cloc 1329 :1440 1440 ffffffffbb74603c clockevents_program_event+0x4c ([guest.kernel.kallsyms]) popq %rbx
1334 :1440 1440 ffffffffbb74603d cloc 1330 :1440 1440 ffffffffbb74603d clockevents_program_event+0x4d ([guest.kernel.kallsyms]) popq %r12
1335 1331
1336 Example using VM Time Correlation 1332 Example using VM Time Correlation
1337 1333
1338 Start VM 1334 Start VM
1339 1335
1340 $ sudo virsh start kubuntu20.04 1336 $ sudo virsh start kubuntu20.04
1341 Domain kubuntu20.04 started 1337 Domain kubuntu20.04 started
1342 1338
1343 Mount the guest file system. Note sshfs need 1339 Mount the guest file system. Note sshfs needs -o direct_io to enable reading of proc files. root access is needed to read /proc/kcore.
1344 1340
1345 $ mkdir -p vm0 1341 $ mkdir -p vm0
1346 $ sshfs -o direct_io root@vm0:/ vm0 1342 $ sshfs -o direct_io root@vm0:/ vm0
1347 1343
1348 Copy the guest /proc/kallsyms, /proc/modules 1344 Copy the guest /proc/kallsyms, /proc/modules and /proc/kcore
1349 1345
1350 $ perf buildid-cache -v --kcore vm0/proc/kco 1346 $ perf buildid-cache -v --kcore vm0/proc/kcore
1351 same kcore found in /home/user/.debug/[kerne 1347 same kcore found in /home/user/.debug/[kernel.kcore]/cc9c55a98c5e4ec0aeda69302554aabed5cd6491/2021021312450777
1352 $ KALLSYMS=/home/user/.debug/\[kernel.kcore\ 1348 $ KALLSYMS=/home/user/.debug/\[kernel.kcore\]/cc9c55a98c5e4ec0aeda69302554aabed5cd6491/2021021312450777/kallsyms
1353 1349
1354 Find the VM process 1350 Find the VM process
1355 1351
1356 $ ps -eLl | grep 'KVM\|PID' 1352 $ ps -eLl | grep 'KVM\|PID'
1357 F S UID PID PPID LWP C PRI NI 1353 F S UID PID PPID LWP C PRI NI ADDR SZ WCHAN TTY TIME CMD
1358 3 S 64055 16998 1 17005 13 80 0 1354 3 S 64055 16998 1 17005 13 80 0 - 1818189 - ? 00:00:16 CPU 0/KVM
1359 3 S 64055 16998 1 17006 4 80 0 1355 3 S 64055 16998 1 17006 4 80 0 - 1818189 - ? 00:00:05 CPU 1/KVM
1360 3 S 64055 16998 1 17007 3 80 0 1356 3 S 64055 16998 1 17007 3 80 0 - 1818189 - ? 00:00:04 CPU 2/KVM
1361 3 S 64055 16998 1 17008 4 80 0 1357 3 S 64055 16998 1 17008 4 80 0 - 1818189 - ? 00:00:05 CPU 3/KVM
1362 1358
1363 Start an open-ended perf record, tracing the 1359 Start an open-ended perf record, tracing the VM process, do something on the VM, and then ctrl-C to stop.
1364 IPC can be determined, hence cyc=1 can be add 1360 IPC can be determined, hence cyc=1 can be added.
1365 Only kernel decoding is supported, so 'k' mus 1361 Only kernel decoding is supported, so 'k' must be specified.
1366 Intel PT traces both the host and the guest s 1362 Intel PT traces both the host and the guest so --guest and --host need to be specified.
1367 1363
1368 $ sudo perf kvm --guest --host --guestkallsy 1364 $ sudo perf kvm --guest --host --guestkallsyms $KALLSYMS record --kcore -e intel_pt/cyc=1/k -p 16998
1369 ^C[ perf record: Woken up 1 times to write d 1365 ^C[ perf record: Woken up 1 times to write data ]
1370 [ perf record: Captured and wrote 9.041 MB p 1366 [ perf record: Captured and wrote 9.041 MB perf.data.kvm ]
1371 1367
1372 Now 'perf inject' can be used to determine th 1368 Now 'perf inject' can be used to determine the VMX TCS Offset. Note, Intel PT TSC packets are
1373 only 7-bytes, so the TSC Offset might differ 1369 only 7-bytes, so the TSC Offset might differ from the actual value in the 8th byte. That will
1374 have no effect i.e. the resulting timestamps 1370 have no effect i.e. the resulting timestamps will be correct anyway.
1375 1371
1376 $ perf inject -i perf.data.kvm --vm-time-cor 1372 $ perf inject -i perf.data.kvm --vm-time-correlation=dry-run
1377 ERROR: Unknown TSC Offset for VMCS 0x1bff6a 1373 ERROR: Unknown TSC Offset for VMCS 0x1bff6a
1378 VMCS: 0x1bff6a TSC Offset 0xffffe42722c64c4 1374 VMCS: 0x1bff6a TSC Offset 0xffffe42722c64c41
1379 ERROR: Unknown TSC Offset for VMCS 0x1cbc08 1375 ERROR: Unknown TSC Offset for VMCS 0x1cbc08
1380 VMCS: 0x1cbc08 TSC Offset 0xffffe42722c64c4 1376 VMCS: 0x1cbc08 TSC Offset 0xffffe42722c64c41
1381 ERROR: Unknown TSC Offset for VMCS 0x1c3ce8 1377 ERROR: Unknown TSC Offset for VMCS 0x1c3ce8
1382 VMCS: 0x1c3ce8 TSC Offset 0xffffe42722c64c4 1378 VMCS: 0x1c3ce8 TSC Offset 0xffffe42722c64c41
1383 ERROR: Unknown TSC Offset for VMCS 0x1cbce9 1379 ERROR: Unknown TSC Offset for VMCS 0x1cbce9
1384 VMCS: 0x1cbce9 TSC Offset 0xffffe42722c64c4 1380 VMCS: 0x1cbce9 TSC Offset 0xffffe42722c64c41
1385 1381
1386 Each virtual CPU has a different Virtual Mach 1382 Each virtual CPU has a different Virtual Machine Control Structure (VMCS)
1387 shown above with the calculated TSC Offset. F 1383 shown above with the calculated TSC Offset. For an unchanging TSC Offset
1388 they should all be the same for the same virt 1384 they should all be the same for the same virtual machine.
1389 1385
1390 Now that the TSC Offset is known, it can be p 1386 Now that the TSC Offset is known, it can be provided to 'perf inject'
1391 1387
1392 $ perf inject -i perf.data.kvm --vm-time-cor 1388 $ perf inject -i perf.data.kvm --vm-time-correlation="dry-run 0xffffe42722c64c41"
1393 1389
1394 Note the options for 'perf inject' --vm-time- 1390 Note the options for 'perf inject' --vm-time-correlation are:
1395 1391
1396 [ dry-run ] [ <TSC Offset> [ : <VMCS> [ , <V 1392 [ dry-run ] [ <TSC Offset> [ : <VMCS> [ , <VMCS> ]... ] ]...
1397 1393
1398 So it is possible to specify different TSC Of 1394 So it is possible to specify different TSC Offsets for different VMCS.
1399 The option "dry-run" will cause the file to b 1395 The option "dry-run" will cause the file to be processed but without updating it.
1400 Note it is also possible to get a intel_pt.lo 1396 Note it is also possible to get a intel_pt.log file by adding option --itrace=d
1401 1397
1402 There were no errors so, do it for real 1398 There were no errors so, do it for real
1403 1399
1404 $ perf inject -i perf.data.kvm --vm-time-cor 1400 $ perf inject -i perf.data.kvm --vm-time-correlation=0xffffe42722c64c41 --force
1405 1401
1406 'perf script' can be used to see if there are 1402 'perf script' can be used to see if there are any decoder errors
1407 1403
1408 $ perf script -i perf.data.kvm --guestkallsy 1404 $ perf script -i perf.data.kvm --guestkallsyms $KALLSYMS --itrace=e-o
1409 1405
1410 There were none. 1406 There were none.
1411 1407
1412 'perf script' can be used to provide an instr 1408 'perf script' can be used to provide an instruction trace showing timestamps
1413 1409
1414 $ perf script -i perf.data.kvm --guestkallsy !! 1410 $ perf script -i perf.data.kvm --guestkallsyms $KALLSYMS --insn-trace --xed -F+ipc | grep -C10 vmresume | head -21
1415 CPU 1/KVM 17006 [001] 11500.262865593: 1411 CPU 1/KVM 17006 [001] 11500.262865593: ffffffff82133cdd __vmx_vcpu_run+0x3d ([kernel.kallsyms]) movq 0x48(%rax), %r9
1416 CPU 1/KVM 17006 [001] 11500.262865593: 1412 CPU 1/KVM 17006 [001] 11500.262865593: ffffffff82133ce1 __vmx_vcpu_run+0x41 ([kernel.kallsyms]) movq 0x50(%rax), %r10
1417 CPU 1/KVM 17006 [001] 11500.262865593: 1413 CPU 1/KVM 17006 [001] 11500.262865593: ffffffff82133ce5 __vmx_vcpu_run+0x45 ([kernel.kallsyms]) movq 0x58(%rax), %r11
1418 CPU 1/KVM 17006 [001] 11500.262865593: 1414 CPU 1/KVM 17006 [001] 11500.262865593: ffffffff82133ce9 __vmx_vcpu_run+0x49 ([kernel.kallsyms]) movq 0x60(%rax), %r12
1419 CPU 1/KVM 17006 [001] 11500.262865593: 1415 CPU 1/KVM 17006 [001] 11500.262865593: ffffffff82133ced __vmx_vcpu_run+0x4d ([kernel.kallsyms]) movq 0x68(%rax), %r13
1420 CPU 1/KVM 17006 [001] 11500.262865593: 1416 CPU 1/KVM 17006 [001] 11500.262865593: ffffffff82133cf1 __vmx_vcpu_run+0x51 ([kernel.kallsyms]) movq 0x70(%rax), %r14
1421 CPU 1/KVM 17006 [001] 11500.262865593: 1417 CPU 1/KVM 17006 [001] 11500.262865593: ffffffff82133cf5 __vmx_vcpu_run+0x55 ([kernel.kallsyms]) movq 0x78(%rax), %r15
1422 CPU 1/KVM 17006 [001] 11500.262865593: 1418 CPU 1/KVM 17006 [001] 11500.262865593: ffffffff82133cf9 __vmx_vcpu_run+0x59 ([kernel.kallsyms]) movq (%rax), %rax
1423 CPU 1/KVM 17006 [001] 11500.262865593: 1419 CPU 1/KVM 17006 [001] 11500.262865593: ffffffff82133cfc __vmx_vcpu_run+0x5c ([kernel.kallsyms]) callq 0xffffffff82133c40
1424 CPU 1/KVM 17006 [001] 11500.262865593: 1420 CPU 1/KVM 17006 [001] 11500.262865593: ffffffff82133c40 vmx_vmenter+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms]) jz 0xffffffff82133c46
1425 CPU 1/KVM 17006 [001] 11500.262866075: 1421 CPU 1/KVM 17006 [001] 11500.262866075: ffffffff82133c42 vmx_vmenter+0x2 ([kernel.kallsyms]) vmresume IPC: 0.05 (40/769)
1426 :17006 17006 [001] 11500.262869216: 1422 :17006 17006 [001] 11500.262869216: ffffffff82200cb0 asm_sysvec_apic_timer_interrupt+0x0 ([guest.kernel.kallsyms]) clac
1427 :17006 17006 [001] 11500.262869216: 1423 :17006 17006 [001] 11500.262869216: ffffffff82200cb3 asm_sysvec_apic_timer_interrupt+0x3 ([guest.kernel.kallsyms]) pushq $0xffffffffffffffff
1428 :17006 17006 [001] 11500.262869216: 1424 :17006 17006 [001] 11500.262869216: ffffffff82200cb5 asm_sysvec_apic_timer_interrupt+0x5 ([guest.kernel.kallsyms]) callq 0xffffffff82201160
1429 :17006 17006 [001] 11500.262869216: 1425 :17006 17006 [001] 11500.262869216: ffffffff82201160 error_entry+0x0 ([guest.kernel.kallsyms]) cld
1430 :17006 17006 [001] 11500.262869216: 1426 :17006 17006 [001] 11500.262869216: ffffffff82201161 error_entry+0x1 ([guest.kernel.kallsyms]) pushq %rsi
1431 :17006 17006 [001] 11500.262869216: 1427 :17006 17006 [001] 11500.262869216: ffffffff82201162 error_entry+0x2 ([guest.kernel.kallsyms]) movq 0x8(%rsp), %rsi
1432 :17006 17006 [001] 11500.262869216: 1428 :17006 17006 [001] 11500.262869216: ffffffff82201167 error_entry+0x7 ([guest.kernel.kallsyms]) movq %rdi, 0x8(%rsp)
1433 :17006 17006 [001] 11500.262869216: 1429 :17006 17006 [001] 11500.262869216: ffffffff8220116c error_entry+0xc ([guest.kernel.kallsyms]) pushq %rdx
1434 :17006 17006 [001] 11500.262869216: 1430 :17006 17006 [001] 11500.262869216: ffffffff8220116d error_entry+0xd ([guest.kernel.kallsyms]) pushq %rcx
1435 :17006 17006 [001] 11500.262869216: 1431 :17006 17006 [001] 11500.262869216: ffffffff8220116e error_entry+0xe ([guest.kernel.kallsyms]) pushq %rax
1436 1432
1437 1433
1438 Tracing Virtual Machines (including user spac 1434 Tracing Virtual Machines (including user space)
1439 --------------------------------------------- 1435 -----------------------------------------------
1440 1436
1441 It is possible to use perf record to record s 1437 It is possible to use perf record to record sideband events within a virtual machine, so that an Intel PT trace on the host can be decoded.
1442 Sideband events from the guest perf.data file 1438 Sideband events from the guest perf.data file can be injected into the host perf.data file using perf inject.
1443 1439
1444 Here is an example of the steps needed: 1440 Here is an example of the steps needed:
1445 1441
1446 On the guest machine: 1442 On the guest machine:
1447 1443
1448 Check that no-kvmclock kernel command line op 1444 Check that no-kvmclock kernel command line option was used to boot:
1449 1445
1450 Note, this is essential to enable time correl 1446 Note, this is essential to enable time correlation between host and guest machines.
1451 1447
1452 $ cat /proc/cmdline 1448 $ cat /proc/cmdline
1453 BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-5.10.0-16-amd64 roo 1449 BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-5.10.0-16-amd64 root=UUID=cb49c910-e573-47e0-bce7-79e293df8e1d ro no-kvmclock
1454 1450
1455 There is no BPF support at present so, if pos 1451 There is no BPF support at present so, if possible, disable JIT compiling:
1456 1452
1457 $ echo 0 | sudo tee /proc/sys/net/core/bpf_j 1453 $ echo 0 | sudo tee /proc/sys/net/core/bpf_jit_enable
1458 0 1454 0
1459 1455
1460 Start perf record to collect sideband events: 1456 Start perf record to collect sideband events:
1461 1457
1462 $ sudo perf record -o guest-sideband-testing 1458 $ sudo perf record -o guest-sideband-testing-guest-perf.data --sample-identifier --buildid-all --switch-events --kcore -a -e dummy
1463 1459
1464 On the host machine: 1460 On the host machine:
1465 1461
1466 Start perf record to collect Intel PT trace: 1462 Start perf record to collect Intel PT trace:
1467 1463
1468 Note, the host trace will get very big, very 1464 Note, the host trace will get very big, very fast, so the steps from starting to stopping the host trace really need to be done so that they happen in the shortest time possible.
1469 1465
1470 $ sudo perf record -o guest-sideband-testing 1466 $ sudo perf record -o guest-sideband-testing-host-perf.data -m,64M --kcore -a -e intel_pt/cyc/
1471 1467
1472 On the guest machine: 1468 On the guest machine:
1473 1469
1474 Run a small test case, just 'uname' in this e 1470 Run a small test case, just 'uname' in this example:
1475 1471
1476 $ uname 1472 $ uname
1477 Linux 1473 Linux
1478 1474
1479 On the host machine: 1475 On the host machine:
1480 1476
1481 Stop the Intel PT trace: 1477 Stop the Intel PT trace:
1482 1478
1483 ^C 1479 ^C
1484 [ perf record: Woken up 1 times to write dat 1480 [ perf record: Woken up 1 times to write data ]
1485 [ perf record: Captured and wrote 76.122 MB 1481 [ perf record: Captured and wrote 76.122 MB guest-sideband-testing-host-perf.data ]
1486 1482
1487 On the guest machine: 1483 On the guest machine:
1488 1484
1489 Stop the Intel PT trace: 1485 Stop the Intel PT trace:
1490 1486
1491 ^C 1487 ^C
1492 [ perf record: Woken up 1 times to write dat 1488 [ perf record: Woken up 1 times to write data ]
1493 [ perf record: Captured and wrote 1.247 MB g 1489 [ perf record: Captured and wrote 1.247 MB guest-sideband-testing-guest-perf.data ]
1494 1490
1495 And then copy guest-sideband-testing-guest-pe 1491 And then copy guest-sideband-testing-guest-perf.data to the host (not shown here).
1496 1492
1497 On the host machine: 1493 On the host machine:
1498 1494
1499 With the 2 perf.data recordings, and with the 1495 With the 2 perf.data recordings, and with their ownership changed to the user.
1500 1496
1501 Identify the TSC Offset: 1497 Identify the TSC Offset:
1502 1498
1503 $ perf inject -i guest-sideband-testing-host 1499 $ perf inject -i guest-sideband-testing-host-perf.data --vm-time-correlation=dry-run
1504 VMCS: 0x103fc6 TSC Offset 0xfffffa6ae070cb2 1500 VMCS: 0x103fc6 TSC Offset 0xfffffa6ae070cb20
1505 VMCS: 0x103ff2 TSC Offset 0xfffffa6ae070cb2 1501 VMCS: 0x103ff2 TSC Offset 0xfffffa6ae070cb20
1506 VMCS: 0x10fdaa TSC Offset 0xfffffa6ae070cb2 1502 VMCS: 0x10fdaa TSC Offset 0xfffffa6ae070cb20
1507 VMCS: 0x24d57c TSC Offset 0xfffffa6ae070cb2 1503 VMCS: 0x24d57c TSC Offset 0xfffffa6ae070cb20
1508 1504
1509 Correct Intel PT TSC timestamps for the guest 1505 Correct Intel PT TSC timestamps for the guest machine:
1510 1506
1511 $ perf inject -i guest-sideband-testing-host 1507 $ perf inject -i guest-sideband-testing-host-perf.data --vm-time-correlation=0xfffffa6ae070cb20 --force
1512 1508
1513 Identify the guest machine PID: 1509 Identify the guest machine PID:
1514 1510
1515 $ perf script -i guest-sideband-testing-host 1511 $ perf script -i guest-sideband-testing-host-perf.data --no-itrace --show-task-events | grep KVM
1516 CPU 0/KVM 0 [000] 0.000000: PE 1512 CPU 0/KVM 0 [000] 0.000000: PERF_RECORD_COMM: CPU 0/KVM:13376/13381
1517 CPU 1/KVM 0 [000] 0.000000: PE 1513 CPU 1/KVM 0 [000] 0.000000: PERF_RECORD_COMM: CPU 1/KVM:13376/13382
1518 CPU 2/KVM 0 [000] 0.000000: PE 1514 CPU 2/KVM 0 [000] 0.000000: PERF_RECORD_COMM: CPU 2/KVM:13376/13383
1519 CPU 3/KVM 0 [000] 0.000000: PE 1515 CPU 3/KVM 0 [000] 0.000000: PERF_RECORD_COMM: CPU 3/KVM:13376/13384
1520 1516
1521 Note, the QEMU option -name debug-threads=on 1517 Note, the QEMU option -name debug-threads=on is needed so that thread names
1522 can be used to determine which thread is runn 1518 can be used to determine which thread is running which VCPU as above. libvirt seems to use this by default.
1523 1519
1524 Create a guestmount, assuming the guest machi 1520 Create a guestmount, assuming the guest machine is 'vm_to_test':
1525 1521
1526 $ mkdir -p ~/guestmount/13376 1522 $ mkdir -p ~/guestmount/13376
1527 $ sshfs -o direct_io vm_to_test:/ ~/guestmou 1523 $ sshfs -o direct_io vm_to_test:/ ~/guestmount/13376
1528 1524
1529 Inject the guest perf.data file into the host 1525 Inject the guest perf.data file into the host perf.data file:
1530 1526
1531 Note, due to the guestmount option, guest obj 1527 Note, due to the guestmount option, guest object files and debug files will be copied into the build ID cache from the guest machine, with the notable exception of VDSO.
1532 If needed, VDSO can be copied manually in a f 1528 If needed, VDSO can be copied manually in a fashion similar to that used by the perf-archive script.
1533 1529
1534 $ perf inject -i guest-sideband-testing-host 1530 $ perf inject -i guest-sideband-testing-host-perf.data -o inj --guestmount ~/guestmount --guest-data=guest-sideband-testing-guest-perf.data,13376,0xfffffa6ae070cb20
1535 1531
1536 Show an excerpt from the result. In this cas 1532 Show an excerpt from the result. In this case the CPU and time range have been to chosen to show interaction between guest and host when 'uname' is starting to run on the guest machine:
1537 1533
1538 Notes: 1534 Notes:
1539 1535
1540 - the CPU displayed, [002] in this ca 1536 - the CPU displayed, [002] in this case, is always the host CPU
1541 - events happening in the virtual mac 1537 - events happening in the virtual machine start with VM:13376 VCPU:003, which shows the hypervisor PID 13376 and the VCPU number
1542 - only calls and errors are displayed 1538 - only calls and errors are displayed i.e. --itrace=ce
1543 - branches entering and exiting the v 1539 - branches entering and exiting the virtual machine are split, and show as 2 branches to/from "0 [unknown] ([unknown])"
1544 1540
1545 $ perf script -i inj --itrace=ce -F+machine_ 1541 $ perf script -i inj --itrace=ce -F+machine_pid,+vcpu,+addr,+pid,+tid,-period --ns --time 7919.408803365,7919.408804631 -C 2
1546 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1542 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408803365: branches: ffffffffc0f8ebe0 vmx_vcpu_enter_exit+0xc0 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc0f8edc0 __vmx_vcpu_run+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1547 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1543 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408803365: branches: ffffffffc0f8edd5 __vmx_vcpu_run+0x15 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc0f8eca0 vmx_update_host_rsp+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1548 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1544 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408803365: branches: ffffffffc0f8ee1b __vmx_vcpu_run+0x5b ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc0f8ed60 vmx_vmenter+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1549 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1545 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408803461: branches: ffffffffc0f8ed62 vmx_vmenter+0x2 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => 0 [unknown] ([unknown])
1550 VM:13376 VCPU:003 uname 3404/340 1546 VM:13376 VCPU:003 uname 3404/3404 [002] 7919.408803461: branches: 0 [unknown] ([unknown]) => 7f851c9b5a5c init_cacheinfo+0x3ac (/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc-2.31.so)
1551 VM:13376 VCPU:003 uname 3404/340 1547 VM:13376 VCPU:003 uname 3404/3404 [002] 7919.408803567: branches: 7f851c9b5a5a init_cacheinfo+0x3aa (/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc-2.31.so) => 0 [unknown] ([unknown])
1552 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1548 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408803567: branches: 0 [unknown] ([unknown]) => ffffffffc0f8ed80 vmx_vmexit+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1553 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1549 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408803596: branches: ffffffffc0f6619a vmx_vcpu_run+0x26a ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffb2255c60 x86_virt_spec_ctrl+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1554 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1550 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408803801: branches: ffffffffc0f66445 vmx_vcpu_run+0x515 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffb2290b30 native_write_msr+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1555 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1551 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408803850: branches: ffffffffc0f661f8 vmx_vcpu_run+0x2c8 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc1092300 kvm_load_host_xsave_state+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1556 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1552 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408803850: branches: ffffffffc1092327 kvm_load_host_xsave_state+0x27 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc1092220 kvm_load_host_xsave_state.part.0+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1557 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1553 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408803862: branches: ffffffffc0f662cf vmx_vcpu_run+0x39f ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc0f63f90 vmx_recover_nmi_blocking+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1558 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1554 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408803862: branches: ffffffffc0f662e9 vmx_vcpu_run+0x3b9 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc0f619a0 __vmx_complete_interrupts+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1559 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1555 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408803872: branches: ffffffffc109cfb2 vcpu_enter_guest+0x752 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc0f5f570 vmx_handle_exit_irqoff+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1560 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1556 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408803881: branches: ffffffffc109d028 vcpu_enter_guest+0x7c8 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffb234f900 __srcu_read_lock+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1561 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1557 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408803897: branches: ffffffffc109d06f vcpu_enter_guest+0x80f ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc0f72e30 vmx_handle_exit+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1562 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1558 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408803897: branches: ffffffffc0f72e3d vmx_handle_exit+0xd ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc0f727c0 __vmx_handle_exit+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1563 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1559 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408803897: branches: ffffffffc0f72b15 __vmx_handle_exit+0x355 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc0f60ae0 vmx_flush_pml_buffer+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1564 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1560 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408803903: branches: ffffffffc0f72994 __vmx_handle_exit+0x1d4 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc10b7090 kvm_emulate_cpuid+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1565 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1561 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408803903: branches: ffffffffc10b70f1 kvm_emulate_cpuid+0x61 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc10b6e10 kvm_cpuid+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1566 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1562 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408803941: branches: ffffffffc10b7125 kvm_emulate_cpuid+0x95 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc1093110 kvm_skip_emulated_instruction+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1567 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1563 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408803941: branches: ffffffffc109311f kvm_skip_emulated_instruction+0xf ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc0f5e180 vmx_get_rflags+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1568 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1564 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408803951: branches: ffffffffc109312a kvm_skip_emulated_instruction+0x1a ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc0f5fd30 vmx_skip_emulated_instruction+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1569 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1565 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408803951: branches: ffffffffc0f5fd79 vmx_skip_emulated_instruction+0x49 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc0f5fb50 skip_emulated_instruction+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1570 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1566 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408803956: branches: ffffffffc0f5fc68 skip_emulated_instruction+0x118 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc0f6a940 vmx_cache_reg+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1571 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1567 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408803964: branches: ffffffffc0f5fc11 skip_emulated_instruction+0xc1 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc0f5f9e0 vmx_set_interrupt_shadow+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1572 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1568 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408803980: branches: ffffffffc109f8b1 vcpu_run+0x71 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc10ad2f0 kvm_cpu_has_pending_timer+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1573 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1569 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408803980: branches: ffffffffc10ad2fb kvm_cpu_has_pending_timer+0xb ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc10b0490 apic_has_pending_timer+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1574 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1570 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408803991: branches: ffffffffc109f899 vcpu_run+0x59 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc109c860 vcpu_enter_guest+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1575 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1571 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408803993: branches: ffffffffc109cd4c vcpu_enter_guest+0x4ec ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc0f69140 vmx_prepare_switch_to_guest+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1576 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1572 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408803996: branches: ffffffffc109cd7d vcpu_enter_guest+0x51d ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffb234f930 __srcu_read_unlock+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1577 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1573 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408803996: branches: ffffffffc109cd9c vcpu_enter_guest+0x53c ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc0f609b0 vmx_sync_pir_to_irr+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1578 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1574 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408803996: branches: ffffffffc0f60a6d vmx_sync_pir_to_irr+0xbd ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc10adc20 kvm_lapic_find_highest_irr+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1579 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1575 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408804010: branches: ffffffffc0f60abd vmx_sync_pir_to_irr+0x10d ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc0f60820 vmx_set_rvi+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1580 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1576 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408804019: branches: ffffffffc109ceca vcpu_enter_guest+0x66a ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffb2249840 fpregs_assert_state_consistent+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1581 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1577 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408804021: branches: ffffffffc109cf10 vcpu_enter_guest+0x6b0 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc0f65f30 vmx_vcpu_run+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1582 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1578 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408804024: branches: ffffffffc0f6603b vmx_vcpu_run+0x10b ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffb229bed0 __get_current_cr3_fast+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1583 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1579 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408804024: branches: ffffffffc0f66055 vmx_vcpu_run+0x125 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffb2253050 cr4_read_shadow+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1584 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1580 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408804030: branches: ffffffffc0f6608d vmx_vcpu_run+0x15d ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc10921e0 kvm_load_guest_xsave_state+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1585 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1581 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408804030: branches: ffffffffc1092207 kvm_load_guest_xsave_state+0x27 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc1092110 kvm_load_guest_xsave_state.part.0+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1586 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1582 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408804032: branches: ffffffffc0f660c6 vmx_vcpu_run+0x196 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffb22061a0 perf_guest_get_msrs+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1587 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1583 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408804032: branches: ffffffffb22061a9 perf_guest_get_msrs+0x9 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffb220cda0 intel_guest_get_msrs+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1588 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1584 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408804039: branches: ffffffffc0f66109 vmx_vcpu_run+0x1d9 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc0f652c0 clear_atomic_switch_msr+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1589 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1585 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408804040: branches: ffffffffc0f66119 vmx_vcpu_run+0x1e9 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc0f73f60 intel_pmu_lbr_is_enabled+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1590 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1586 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408804042: branches: ffffffffc0f73f81 intel_pmu_lbr_is_enabled+0x21 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc10b68e0 kvm_find_cpuid_entry+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1591 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1587 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408804045: branches: ffffffffc0f66454 vmx_vcpu_run+0x524 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc0f61ff0 vmx_update_hv_timer+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1592 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1588 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408804057: branches: ffffffffc0f66142 vmx_vcpu_run+0x212 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc10af100 kvm_wait_lapic_expire+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1593 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1589 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408804057: branches: ffffffffc0f66156 vmx_vcpu_run+0x226 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffb2255c60 x86_virt_spec_ctrl+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1594 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1590 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408804057: branches: ffffffffc0f66161 vmx_vcpu_run+0x231 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc0f8eb20 vmx_vcpu_enter_exit+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1595 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1591 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408804057: branches: ffffffffc0f8eb44 vmx_vcpu_enter_exit+0x24 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffb2353e10 rcu_note_context_switch+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1596 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1592 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408804057: branches: ffffffffb2353e1c rcu_note_context_switch+0xc ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffb2353db0 rcu_qs+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1597 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1593 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408804066: branches: ffffffffc0f8ebe0 vmx_vcpu_enter_exit+0xc0 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc0f8edc0 __vmx_vcpu_run+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1598 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1594 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408804066: branches: ffffffffc0f8edd5 __vmx_vcpu_run+0x15 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc0f8eca0 vmx_update_host_rsp+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1599 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1595 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408804066: branches: ffffffffc0f8ee1b __vmx_vcpu_run+0x5b ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffffc0f8ed60 vmx_vmenter+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1600 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.4088 1596 CPU 3/KVM 13376/13384 [002] 7919.408804162: branches: ffffffffc0f8ed62 vmx_vmenter+0x2 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => 0 [unknown] ([unknown])
1601 VM:13376 VCPU:003 uname 3404/340 1597 VM:13376 VCPU:003 uname 3404/3404 [002] 7919.408804162: branches: 0 [unknown] ([unknown]) => 7f851c9b5a5c init_cacheinfo+0x3ac (/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc-2.31.so)
1602 VM:13376 VCPU:003 uname 3404/340 1598 VM:13376 VCPU:003 uname 3404/3404 [002] 7919.408804273: branches: 7f851cb7c0e4 _dl_init+0x74 (/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/ld-2.31.so) => 7f851cb7bf50 call_init.part.0+0x0 (/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/ld-2.31.so)
1603 VM:13376 VCPU:003 uname 3404/340 1599 VM:13376 VCPU:003 uname 3404/3404 [002] 7919.408804526: branches: 55e0c00136f0 _start+0x0 (/usr/bin/uname) => ffffffff83200ac0 asm_exc_page_fault+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1604 VM:13376 VCPU:003 uname 3404/340 1600 VM:13376 VCPU:003 uname 3404/3404 [002] 7919.408804526: branches: ffffffff83200ac3 asm_exc_page_fault+0x3 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffff83201290 error_entry+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1605 VM:13376 VCPU:003 uname 3404/340 1601 VM:13376 VCPU:003 uname 3404/3404 [002] 7919.408804534: branches: ffffffff832012fa error_entry+0x6a ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffff830b59a0 sync_regs+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1606 VM:13376 VCPU:003 uname 3404/340 1602 VM:13376 VCPU:003 uname 3404/3404 [002] 7919.408804631: branches: ffffffff83200ad9 asm_exc_page_fault+0x19 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffff830b8210 exc_page_fault+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1607 VM:13376 VCPU:003 uname 3404/340 1603 VM:13376 VCPU:003 uname 3404/3404 [002] 7919.408804631: branches: ffffffff830b82a4 exc_page_fault+0x94 ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffff830b80e0 __kvm_handle_async_pf+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1608 VM:13376 VCPU:003 uname 3404/340 1604 VM:13376 VCPU:003 uname 3404/3404 [002] 7919.408804631: branches: ffffffff830b80ed __kvm_handle_async_pf+0xd ([kernel.kallsyms]) => ffffffff830b80c0 kvm_read_and_reset_apf_flags+0x0 ([kernel.kallsyms])
1609 1605
1610 1606
1611 Tracing Virtual Machines - Guest Code 1607 Tracing Virtual Machines - Guest Code
1612 ------------------------------------- 1608 -------------------------------------
1613 1609
1614 A common case for KVM test programs is that t 1610 A common case for KVM test programs is that the test program acts as the
1615 hypervisor, creating, running and destroying 1611 hypervisor, creating, running and destroying the virtual machine, and
1616 providing the guest object code from its own 1612 providing the guest object code from its own object code. In this case,
1617 the VM is not running an OS, but only the fun 1613 the VM is not running an OS, but only the functions loaded into it by the
1618 hypervisor test program, and conveniently, lo 1614 hypervisor test program, and conveniently, loaded at the same virtual
1619 addresses. To support that, option "--guest-c 1615 addresses. To support that, option "--guest-code" has been added to perf script
1620 and perf kvm report. 1616 and perf kvm report.
1621 1617
1622 Here is an example tracing a test program fro 1618 Here is an example tracing a test program from the kernel's KVM selftests:
1623 1619
1624 # perf record --kcore -e intel_pt/cyc/ -- to 1620 # perf record --kcore -e intel_pt/cyc/ -- tools/testing/selftests/kselftest_install/kvm/tsc_msrs_test
1625 [ perf record: Woken up 1 times to write dat 1621 [ perf record: Woken up 1 times to write data ]
1626 [ perf record: Captured and wrote 0.280 MB p 1622 [ perf record: Captured and wrote 0.280 MB perf.data ]
1627 # perf script --guest-code --itrace=bep --ns 1623 # perf script --guest-code --itrace=bep --ns -F-period,+addr,+flags
1628 [SNIP] 1624 [SNIP]
1629 tsc_msrs_test 18436 [007] 10897.962087733: 1625 tsc_msrs_test 18436 [007] 10897.962087733: branches: call ffffffffc13b2ff5 __vmx_vcpu_run+0x15 (vmlinux) => ffffffffc13b2f50 vmx_update_host_rsp+0x0 (vmlinux)
1630 tsc_msrs_test 18436 [007] 10897.962087733: 1626 tsc_msrs_test 18436 [007] 10897.962087733: branches: return ffffffffc13b2f5d vmx_update_host_rsp+0xd (vmlinux) => ffffffffc13b2ffa __vmx_vcpu_run+0x1a (vmlinux)
1631 tsc_msrs_test 18436 [007] 10897.962087733: 1627 tsc_msrs_test 18436 [007] 10897.962087733: branches: call ffffffffc13b303b __vmx_vcpu_run+0x5b (vmlinux) => ffffffffc13b2f80 vmx_vmenter+0x0 (vmlinux)
1632 tsc_msrs_test 18436 [007] 10897.962087836: 1628 tsc_msrs_test 18436 [007] 10897.962087836: branches: vmentry ffffffffc13b2f82 vmx_vmenter+0x2 (vmlinux) => 0 [unknown] ([unknown])
1633 [guest/18436] 18436 [007] 10897.962087836: 1629 [guest/18436] 18436 [007] 10897.962087836: branches: vmentry 0 [unknown] ([unknown]) => 402c81 guest_code+0x131 (/home/user/git/work/tools/testing/selftests/kselftest_install/kvm/tsc_msrs_test)
1634 [guest/18436] 18436 [007] 10897.962087836: 1630 [guest/18436] 18436 [007] 10897.962087836: branches: call 402c81 guest_code+0x131 (/home/user/git/work/tools/testing/selftests/kselftest_install/kvm/tsc_msrs_test) => 40dba0 ucall+0x0 (/home/user/git/work/tools/testing/selftests/kselftest_install/kvm/tsc_msrs_test)
1635 [guest/18436] 18436 [007] 10897.962088248: 1631 [guest/18436] 18436 [007] 10897.962088248: branches: vmexit 40dba0 ucall+0x0 (/home/user/git/work/tools/testing/selftests/kselftest_install/kvm/tsc_msrs_test) => 0 [unknown] ([unknown])
1636 tsc_msrs_test 18436 [007] 10897.962088248: 1632 tsc_msrs_test 18436 [007] 10897.962088248: branches: vmexit 0 [unknown] ([unknown]) => ffffffffc13b2fa0 vmx_vmexit+0x0 (vmlinux)
1637 tsc_msrs_test 18436 [007] 10897.962088248: 1633 tsc_msrs_test 18436 [007] 10897.962088248: branches: jmp ffffffffc13b2fa0 vmx_vmexit+0x0 (vmlinux) => ffffffffc13b2fd2 vmx_vmexit+0x32 (vmlinux)
1638 tsc_msrs_test 18436 [007] 10897.962088256: 1634 tsc_msrs_test 18436 [007] 10897.962088256: branches: return ffffffffc13b2fd2 vmx_vmexit+0x32 (vmlinux) => ffffffffc13b3040 __vmx_vcpu_run+0x60 (vmlinux)
1639 tsc_msrs_test 18436 [007] 10897.962088270: 1635 tsc_msrs_test 18436 [007] 10897.962088270: branches: return ffffffffc13b30b6 __vmx_vcpu_run+0xd6 (vmlinux) => ffffffffc13b2f2e vmx_vcpu_enter_exit+0x4e (vmlinux)
1640 [SNIP] 1636 [SNIP]
1641 tsc_msrs_test 18436 [007] 10897.962089321: 1637 tsc_msrs_test 18436 [007] 10897.962089321: branches: call ffffffffc13b2ff5 __vmx_vcpu_run+0x15 (vmlinux) => ffffffffc13b2f50 vmx_update_host_rsp+0x0 (vmlinux)
1642 tsc_msrs_test 18436 [007] 10897.962089321: 1638 tsc_msrs_test 18436 [007] 10897.962089321: branches: return ffffffffc13b2f5d vmx_update_host_rsp+0xd (vmlinux) => ffffffffc13b2ffa __vmx_vcpu_run+0x1a (vmlinux)
1643 tsc_msrs_test 18436 [007] 10897.962089321: 1639 tsc_msrs_test 18436 [007] 10897.962089321: branches: call ffffffffc13b303b __vmx_vcpu_run+0x5b (vmlinux) => ffffffffc13b2f80 vmx_vmenter+0x0 (vmlinux)
1644 tsc_msrs_test 18436 [007] 10897.962089424: 1640 tsc_msrs_test 18436 [007] 10897.962089424: branches: vmentry ffffffffc13b2f82 vmx_vmenter+0x2 (vmlinux) => 0 [unknown] ([unknown])
1645 [guest/18436] 18436 [007] 10897.962089424: 1641 [guest/18436] 18436 [007] 10897.962089424: branches: vmentry 0 [unknown] ([unknown]) => 40dba0 ucall+0x0 (/home/user/git/work/tools/testing/selftests/kselftest_install/kvm/tsc_msrs_test)
1646 [guest/18436] 18436 [007] 10897.962089701: 1642 [guest/18436] 18436 [007] 10897.962089701: branches: jmp 40dc1b ucall+0x7b (/home/user/git/work/tools/testing/selftests/kselftest_install/kvm/tsc_msrs_test) => 40dc39 ucall+0x99 (/home/user/git/work/tools/testing/selftests/kselftest_install/kvm/tsc_msrs_test)
1647 [guest/18436] 18436 [007] 10897.962089701: 1643 [guest/18436] 18436 [007] 10897.962089701: branches: jcc 40dc3c ucall+0x9c (/home/user/git/work/tools/testing/selftests/kselftest_install/kvm/tsc_msrs_test) => 40dc20 ucall+0x80 (/home/user/git/work/tools/testing/selftests/kselftest_install/kvm/tsc_msrs_test)
1648 [guest/18436] 18436 [007] 10897.962089701: 1644 [guest/18436] 18436 [007] 10897.962089701: branches: jcc 40dc3c ucall+0x9c (/home/user/git/work/tools/testing/selftests/kselftest_install/kvm/tsc_msrs_test) => 40dc20 ucall+0x80 (/home/user/git/work/tools/testing/selftests/kselftest_install/kvm/tsc_msrs_test)
1649 [guest/18436] 18436 [007] 10897.962089701: 1645 [guest/18436] 18436 [007] 10897.962089701: branches: jcc 40dc37 ucall+0x97 (/home/user/git/work/tools/testing/selftests/kselftest_install/kvm/tsc_msrs_test) => 40dc50 ucall+0xb0 (/home/user/git/work/tools/testing/selftests/kselftest_install/kvm/tsc_msrs_test)
1650 [guest/18436] 18436 [007] 10897.962089878: 1646 [guest/18436] 18436 [007] 10897.962089878: branches: vmexit 40dc55 ucall+0xb5 (/home/user/git/work/tools/testing/selftests/kselftest_install/kvm/tsc_msrs_test) => 0 [unknown] ([unknown])
1651 tsc_msrs_test 18436 [007] 10897.962089878: 1647 tsc_msrs_test 18436 [007] 10897.962089878: branches: vmexit 0 [unknown] ([unknown]) => ffffffffc13b2fa0 vmx_vmexit+0x0 (vmlinux)
1652 tsc_msrs_test 18436 [007] 10897.962089878: 1648 tsc_msrs_test 18436 [007] 10897.962089878: branches: jmp ffffffffc13b2fa0 vmx_vmexit+0x0 (vmlinux) => ffffffffc13b2fd2 vmx_vmexit+0x32 (vmlinux)
1653 tsc_msrs_test 18436 [007] 10897.962089887: 1649 tsc_msrs_test 18436 [007] 10897.962089887: branches: return ffffffffc13b2fd2 vmx_vmexit+0x32 (vmlinux) => ffffffffc13b3040 __vmx_vcpu_run+0x60 (vmlinux)
1654 tsc_msrs_test 18436 [007] 10897.962089901: 1650 tsc_msrs_test 18436 [007] 10897.962089901: branches: return ffffffffc13b30b6 __vmx_vcpu_run+0xd6 (vmlinux) => ffffffffc13b2f2e vmx_vcpu_enter_exit+0x4e (vmlinux)
1655 [SNIP] 1651 [SNIP]
1656 1652
1657 # perf kvm --guest-code --guest --host repor 1653 # perf kvm --guest-code --guest --host report -i perf.data --stdio | head -20
1658 1654
1659 # To display the perf.data header info, plea 1655 # To display the perf.data header info, please use --header/--header-only options.
1660 # 1656 #
1661 # 1657 #
1662 # Total Lost Samples: 0 1658 # Total Lost Samples: 0
1663 # 1659 #
1664 # Samples: 12 of event 'instructions' 1660 # Samples: 12 of event 'instructions'
1665 # Event count (approx.): 2274583 1661 # Event count (approx.): 2274583
1666 # 1662 #
1667 # Children Self Command Shared 1663 # Children Self Command Shared Object Symbol
1668 # ........ ........ ............. ....... 1664 # ........ ........ ............. .................... ...........................................
1669 # 1665 #
1670 54.70% 0.00% tsc_msrs_test [kernel. 1666 54.70% 0.00% tsc_msrs_test [kernel.vmlinux] [k] entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe
1671 | 1667 |
1672 ---entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe 1668 ---entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe
1673 do_syscall_64 1669 do_syscall_64
1674 | 1670 |
1675 |--29.44%--syscall_exit_to_use 1671 |--29.44%--syscall_exit_to_user_mode
1676 | exit_to_user_mode_p 1672 | exit_to_user_mode_prepare
1677 | task_work_run 1673 | task_work_run
1678 | __fput 1674 | __fput
1679 1675
1680 1676
1681 Event Trace 1677 Event Trace
1682 ----------- 1678 -----------
1683 1679
1684 Event Trace records information about asynchr 1680 Event Trace records information about asynchronous events, for example interrupts,
1685 faults, VM exits and entries. The informatio 1681 faults, VM exits and entries. The information is recorded in CFE and EVD packets,
1686 and also the Interrupt Flag is recorded on th 1682 and also the Interrupt Flag is recorded on the MODE.Exec packet. The CFE packet
1687 contains a type field to identify one of the 1683 contains a type field to identify one of the following:
1688 1684
1689 1 INTR interrupt, fa 1685 1 INTR interrupt, fault, exception, NMI
1690 2 IRET interrupt ret 1686 2 IRET interrupt return
1691 3 SMI system manage 1687 3 SMI system management interrupt
1692 4 RSM resume from s 1688 4 RSM resume from system management mode
1693 5 SIPI startup inter 1689 5 SIPI startup interprocessor interrupt
1694 6 INIT INIT signal 1690 6 INIT INIT signal
1695 7 VMENTRY VM-Entry 1691 7 VMENTRY VM-Entry
1696 8 VMEXIT VM-Entry 1692 8 VMEXIT VM-Entry
1697 9 VMEXIT_INTR VM-Exit due t 1693 9 VMEXIT_INTR VM-Exit due to interrupt
1698 10 SHUTDOWN Shutdown 1694 10 SHUTDOWN Shutdown
1699 1695
1700 For more details, refer to the Intel 64 and I 1696 For more details, refer to the Intel 64 and IA-32 Architectures Software
1701 Developer Manuals (version 076 or later). 1697 Developer Manuals (version 076 or later).
1702 1698
1703 The capability to do Event Trace is indicated 1699 The capability to do Event Trace is indicated by the
1704 /sys/bus/event_source/devices/intel_pt/caps/e 1700 /sys/bus/event_source/devices/intel_pt/caps/event_trace file.
1705 1701
1706 Event trace is selected for recording using t 1702 Event trace is selected for recording using the "event" config term. e.g.
1707 1703
1708 perf record -e intel_pt/event/u uname 1704 perf record -e intel_pt/event/u uname
1709 1705
1710 Event trace events are output using the --itr 1706 Event trace events are output using the --itrace I option. e.g.
1711 1707
1712 perf script --itrace=Ie 1708 perf script --itrace=Ie
1713 1709
1714 perf script displays events containing CFE ty 1710 perf script displays events containing CFE type, vector and event data,
1715 in the form: 1711 in the form:
1716 1712
1717 evt: hw int (t) cfe: 1713 evt: hw int (t) cfe: INTR IP: 1 vector: 3 PFA: 0x8877665544332211
1718 1714
1719 The IP flag indicates if the event binds to a 1715 The IP flag indicates if the event binds to an IP, which includes any case where
1720 flow control packet generation is enabled, as 1716 flow control packet generation is enabled, as well as when CFE packet IP bit is
1721 set. 1717 set.
1722 1718
1723 perf script displays events containing change 1719 perf script displays events containing changes to the Interrupt Flag in the form:
1724 1720
1725 iflag: t IFLAG 1721 iflag: t IFLAG: 1->0 via branch
1726 1722
1727 where "via branch" indicates a branch (interr 1723 where "via branch" indicates a branch (interrupt or return from interrupt) and
1728 "non branch" indicates an instruction such as 1724 "non branch" indicates an instruction such as CFI, STI or POPF).
1729 1725
1730 In addition, the current state of the interru 1726 In addition, the current state of the interrupt flag is indicated by the presence
1731 or absence of the "D" (interrupt disabled) pe 1727 or absence of the "D" (interrupt disabled) perf script flag. If the interrupt
1732 flag is changed, then the "t" flag is also in 1728 flag is changed, then the "t" flag is also included i.e.
1733 1729
1734 no flag, interrupts enabled I 1730 no flag, interrupts enabled IF=1
1735 t interrupts become disabled IF 1731 t interrupts become disabled IF=1 -> IF=0
1736 D interrupts are disabled IF=0 1732 D interrupts are disabled IF=0
1737 Dt interrupts become enabled IF 1733 Dt interrupts become enabled IF=0 -> IF=1
1738 1734
1739 The intel-pt-events.py script illustrates how 1735 The intel-pt-events.py script illustrates how to access Event Trace information
1740 using a Python script. 1736 using a Python script.
1741 1737
1742 1738
1743 TNT Disable 1739 TNT Disable
1744 ----------- 1740 -----------
1745 1741
1746 TNT packets are disabled using the "notnt" co 1742 TNT packets are disabled using the "notnt" config term. e.g.
1747 1743
1748 perf record -e intel_pt/notnt/u uname 1744 perf record -e intel_pt/notnt/u uname
1749 1745
1750 In that case the --itrace q option is forced 1746 In that case the --itrace q option is forced because walking executable code
1751 to reconstruct the control flow is not possib 1747 to reconstruct the control flow is not possible.
1752 1748
1753 1749
1754 Emulated PTWRITE 1750 Emulated PTWRITE
1755 ---------------- 1751 ----------------
1756 1752
1757 Later perf tools support a method to emulate 1753 Later perf tools support a method to emulate the ptwrite instruction, which
1758 can be useful if hardware does not support th 1754 can be useful if hardware does not support the ptwrite instruction.
1759 1755
1760 Instead of using the ptwrite instruction, a f 1756 Instead of using the ptwrite instruction, a function is used which produces
1761 a trace that encodes the payload data into TN 1757 a trace that encodes the payload data into TNT packets. Here is an example
1762 of the function: 1758 of the function:
1763 1759
1764 #include <stdint.h> 1760 #include <stdint.h>
1765 1761
1766 void perf_emulate_ptwrite(uint64_t x) 1762 void perf_emulate_ptwrite(uint64_t x)
1767 __attribute__((externally_visible, noipa, no 1763 __attribute__((externally_visible, noipa, no_instrument_function, naked));
1768 1764
1769 #define PERF_EMULATE_PTWRITE_8_BITS \ 1765 #define PERF_EMULATE_PTWRITE_8_BITS \
1770 "1: shl %rax\n" \ 1766 "1: shl %rax\n" \
1771 " jc 1f\n" \ 1767 " jc 1f\n" \
1772 "1: shl %rax\n" \ 1768 "1: shl %rax\n" \
1773 " jc 1f\n" \ 1769 " jc 1f\n" \
1774 "1: shl %rax\n" \ 1770 "1: shl %rax\n" \
1775 " jc 1f\n" \ 1771 " jc 1f\n" \
1776 "1: shl %rax\n" \ 1772 "1: shl %rax\n" \
1777 " jc 1f\n" \ 1773 " jc 1f\n" \
1778 "1: shl %rax\n" \ 1774 "1: shl %rax\n" \
1779 " jc 1f\n" \ 1775 " jc 1f\n" \
1780 "1: shl %rax\n" \ 1776 "1: shl %rax\n" \
1781 " jc 1f\n" \ 1777 " jc 1f\n" \
1782 "1: shl %rax\n" \ 1778 "1: shl %rax\n" \
1783 " jc 1f\n" \ 1779 " jc 1f\n" \
1784 "1: shl %rax\n" \ 1780 "1: shl %rax\n" \
1785 " jc 1f\n" 1781 " jc 1f\n"
1786 1782
1787 /* Undefined instruction */ 1783 /* Undefined instruction */
1788 #define PERF_EMULATE_PTWRITE_UD2 ".by 1784 #define PERF_EMULATE_PTWRITE_UD2 ".byte 0x0f, 0x0b\n"
1789 1785
1790 #define PERF_EMULATE_PTWRITE_MAGIC PE 1786 #define PERF_EMULATE_PTWRITE_MAGIC PERF_EMULATE_PTWRITE_UD2 ".ascii \"perf,ptwrite \"\n"
1791 1787
1792 void perf_emulate_ptwrite(uint64_t x __attri 1788 void perf_emulate_ptwrite(uint64_t x __attribute__ ((__unused__)))
1793 { 1789 {
1794 /* Assumes SysV ABI : x passed in r 1790 /* Assumes SysV ABI : x passed in rdi */
1795 __asm__ volatile ( 1791 __asm__ volatile (
1796 "jmp 1f\n" 1792 "jmp 1f\n"
1797 PERF_EMULATE_PTWRITE_MAGIC 1793 PERF_EMULATE_PTWRITE_MAGIC
1798 "1: mov %rdi, %rax\n" 1794 "1: mov %rdi, %rax\n"
1799 PERF_EMULATE_PTWRITE_8_BITS 1795 PERF_EMULATE_PTWRITE_8_BITS
1800 PERF_EMULATE_PTWRITE_8_BITS 1796 PERF_EMULATE_PTWRITE_8_BITS
1801 PERF_EMULATE_PTWRITE_8_BITS 1797 PERF_EMULATE_PTWRITE_8_BITS
1802 PERF_EMULATE_PTWRITE_8_BITS 1798 PERF_EMULATE_PTWRITE_8_BITS
1803 PERF_EMULATE_PTWRITE_8_BITS 1799 PERF_EMULATE_PTWRITE_8_BITS
1804 PERF_EMULATE_PTWRITE_8_BITS 1800 PERF_EMULATE_PTWRITE_8_BITS
1805 PERF_EMULATE_PTWRITE_8_BITS 1801 PERF_EMULATE_PTWRITE_8_BITS
1806 PERF_EMULATE_PTWRITE_8_BITS 1802 PERF_EMULATE_PTWRITE_8_BITS
1807 "1: ret\n" 1803 "1: ret\n"
1808 ); 1804 );
1809 } 1805 }
1810 1806
1811 For example, a test program with the function 1807 For example, a test program with the function above:
1812 1808
1813 #include <stdio.h> 1809 #include <stdio.h>
1814 #include <stdint.h> 1810 #include <stdint.h>
1815 #include <stdlib.h> 1811 #include <stdlib.h>
1816 1812
1817 #include "perf_emulate_ptwrite.h" 1813 #include "perf_emulate_ptwrite.h"
1818 1814
1819 int main(int argc, char *argv[]) 1815 int main(int argc, char *argv[])
1820 { 1816 {
1821 uint64_t x = 0; 1817 uint64_t x = 0;
1822 1818
1823 if (argc > 1) 1819 if (argc > 1)
1824 x = strtoull(argv[1], NULL, 1820 x = strtoull(argv[1], NULL, 0);
1825 perf_emulate_ptwrite(x); 1821 perf_emulate_ptwrite(x);
1826 return 0; 1822 return 0;
1827 } 1823 }
1828 1824
1829 Can be compiled and traced: 1825 Can be compiled and traced:
1830 1826
1831 $ gcc -Wall -Wextra -O3 -g -o eg_ptw eg_ptw. 1827 $ gcc -Wall -Wextra -O3 -g -o eg_ptw eg_ptw.c
1832 $ perf record -e intel_pt//u ./eg_ptw 0x1234 1828 $ perf record -e intel_pt//u ./eg_ptw 0x1234567890abcdef
1833 [ perf record: Woken up 1 times to write dat 1829 [ perf record: Woken up 1 times to write data ]
1834 [ perf record: Captured and wrote 0.017 MB p 1830 [ perf record: Captured and wrote 0.017 MB perf.data ]
1835 $ perf script --itrace=ew 1831 $ perf script --itrace=ew
1836 eg_ptw 19875 [007] 8061.235912: 1832 eg_ptw 19875 [007] 8061.235912: ptwrite: IP: 0 payload: 0x1234567890abcdef 55701249a196 perf_emulate_ptwrite+0x16 (/home/user/eg_ptw)
1837 $ 1833 $
1838 1834
1839 1835
1840 Pipe mode 1836 Pipe mode
1841 --------- 1837 ---------
1842 Pipe mode is a problem for Intel PT and possi 1838 Pipe mode is a problem for Intel PT and possibly other auxtrace users.
1843 It's not recommended to use a pipe as data ou 1839 It's not recommended to use a pipe as data output with Intel PT because
1844 of the following reason. 1840 of the following reason.
1845 1841
1846 Essentially the auxtrace buffers do not behav 1842 Essentially the auxtrace buffers do not behave like the regular perf
1847 event buffers. That is because the head and 1843 event buffers. That is because the head and tail are updated by
1848 software, but in the auxtrace case the data i 1844 software, but in the auxtrace case the data is written by hardware.
1849 So the head and tail do not get updated as da 1845 So the head and tail do not get updated as data is written.
1850 1846
1851 In the Intel PT case, the head and tail are u 1847 In the Intel PT case, the head and tail are updated only when the trace
1852 is disabled by software, for example: 1848 is disabled by software, for example:
1853 - full-trace, system wide : when buffer p 1849 - full-trace, system wide : when buffer passes watermark
1854 - full-trace, not system-wide : when buff 1850 - full-trace, not system-wide : when buffer passes watermark or
1855 context s 1851 context switches
1856 - snapshot mode : as above but also when 1852 - snapshot mode : as above but also when a snapshot is made
1857 - sample mode : as above but also when a 1853 - sample mode : as above but also when a sample is made
1858 1854
1859 That means finished-round ordering doesn't wo 1855 That means finished-round ordering doesn't work. An auxtrace buffer
1860 can turn up that has data that extends back i 1856 can turn up that has data that extends back in time, possibly to the
1861 very beginning of tracing. 1857 very beginning of tracing.
1862 1858
1863 For a perf.data file, that problem is solved 1859 For a perf.data file, that problem is solved by going through the trace
1864 and queuing up the auxtrace buffers in advanc 1860 and queuing up the auxtrace buffers in advance.
1865 1861
1866 For pipe mode, the order of events and timest 1862 For pipe mode, the order of events and timestamps can presumably
1867 be messed up. 1863 be messed up.
1868 1864
1869 1865
1870 EXAMPLE 1866 EXAMPLE
1871 ------- 1867 -------
1872 1868
1873 Examples can be found on perf wiki page "Perf 1869 Examples can be found on perf wiki page "Perf tools support for Intel® Processor Trace":
1874 1870
1875 https://perf.wiki.kernel.org/index.php/Perf_t 1871 https://perf.wiki.kernel.org/index.php/Perf_tools_support_for_Intel%C2%AE_Processor_Trace
1876 1872
1877 1873
1878 SEE ALSO 1874 SEE ALSO
1879 -------- 1875 --------
1880 1876
1881 linkperf:perf-record[1], linkperf:perf-script 1877 linkperf:perf-record[1], linkperf:perf-script[1], linkperf:perf-report[1],
1882 linkperf:perf-inject[1] 1878 linkperf:perf-inject[1]
Linux® is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the United States and other countries.
TOMOYO® is a registered trademark of NTT DATA CORPORATION.