[RFC v3] function_graph: Support recording and outputing the return value of function

From: Donglin Peng
Date: Sun Mar 12 2023 - 06:52:29 EST


When using function_graph to analyze the reasons for system call failures,
we need to spend a considerable amount of time analyzing the logs and
cannot quickly locate the error. This modification aims to make this
process easier by recording the return values of each traced function.
When outputting trace logs, the tracing option funcgraph-retval can be
used to control whether to display the return values. If the return value
looks like an error code, it will be output in both hexadecimal and signed
decimal, otherwise only hexadecimal.

Currently, this modification supports the following commonly used processor
architectures: x64, x86, arm64, arm, riscv.

One drawback is that even if a function's return type is void, the value
stored in the return value register will still be recorded and output.

I think the BTF file can be used to obtain the return type of kernel
functions, but the search cost is a bit high. Therefore, we can
implement a tool to process the trace logs based on BTF information.

For example:

I want to attach the demo process to a cpu cgroup, but it failed:

echo `pidof demo` > /sys/fs/cgroup/cpu/test/tasks
-bash: echo: write error: Invalid argument

The strace logs tells that the write system call returned -EINVAL(-22):
...
write(1, "273\n", 4) = -1 EINVAL (Invalid argument)
...

Use the following commands to capture trace logs when calling the write
system call:

cd /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/
echo 0 > tracing_on
echo > trace
echo *sys_write > set_graph_function
echo *spin* > set_graph_notrace
echo *rcu* >> set_graph_notrace
echo *alloc* >> set_graph_notrace
echo preempt* >> set_graph_notrace
echo kfree* >> set_graph_notrace
echo $$ > set_ftrace_pid
echo function_graph > current_tracer
echo 1 > tracing_on
echo `pidof demo` > /sys/fs/cgroup/cpu/test/tasks
echo 0 > tracing_on
echo 1 > options/funcgraph-retval
cat trace > ~/trace.log

Search -22 directly in the trace.log and find that the function
cpu_cgroup_can_attach returned -22 first, then read the code of this
function to get the root cause.

...
0) | cgroup_migrate() {
0) 0.521 us | cgroup_migrate_add_task(); /* => ffff88800cbaa000 */
0) 0.500 us | cgroup_migrate_add_task(); /* => ffff88800cbaa000 */
0) 0.441 us | cgroup_migrate_add_task(); /* => ffff88800cbaa000 */
0) 0.521 us | cgroup_migrate_add_task(); /* => ffff88800cbaa000 */
0) 0.421 us | cgroup_migrate_add_task(); /* => ffff88800cbaa000 */
0) 0.431 us | cgroup_migrate_add_task(); /* => ffff88800cbaa000 */
0) | cgroup_migrate_execute() {
0) | cpu_cgroup_can_attach() {
0) | cgroup_taskset_first() {
0) 0.221 us | cgroup_taskset_next(); /* => ffff88800e13c000 */
0) 0.641 us | } /* cgroup_taskset_first => ffff88800e13c000 */
0) 0.320 us | sched_rt_can_attach(); /* => 0 */
0) 1.713 us | } /* cpu_cgroup_can_attach => ffffffea -22 */
0) 3.717 us | } /* cgroup_migrate_execute => ffffffea -22 */
0) 9.959 us | } /* cgroup_migrate => ffffffea -22 */
...

After processing the trace.log above with the btf tool:

...
0) | cgroup_migrate() {
0) 0.521 us | cgroup_migrate_add_task();
0) 0.500 us | cgroup_migrate_add_task();
0) 0.441 us | cgroup_migrate_add_task();
0) 0.521 us | cgroup_migrate_add_task();
0) 0.421 us | cgroup_migrate_add_task();
0) 0.431 us | cgroup_migrate_add_task();
0) | cgroup_migrate_execute() {
0) | cpu_cgroup_can_attach() {
0) | cgroup_taskset_first() {
0) 0.221 us | cgroup_taskset_next(); /* => ffff88800e13c000 */
0) 0.641 us | } /* cgroup_taskset_first => ffff88800e13c000 */
0) 0.320 us | sched_rt_can_attach(); /* => 0 */
0) 1.713 us | } /* cpu_cgroup_can_attach => -22 */
0) 3.717 us | } /* cgroup_migrate_execute => -22 */
0) 9.959 us | } /* cgroup_migrate => -22 */
...

Signed-off-by: Donglin Peng <pengdonglin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
---
v3:
- modify the commit message: add trace logs processed with the btf tool

v2:
- modify the commit message: use BTF to get the return type of function
---
arch/arm/kernel/entry-ftrace.S | 1 +
arch/arm64/kernel/entry-ftrace.S | 1 +
arch/riscv/kernel/mcount.S | 2 +
arch/x86/kernel/ftrace_32.S | 1 +
arch/x86/kernel/ftrace_64.S | 2 +
include/linux/ftrace.h | 1 +
kernel/trace/fgraph.c | 3 +-
kernel/trace/trace.h | 1 +
kernel/trace/trace_entries.h | 5 +-
kernel/trace/trace_functions_graph.c | 70 ++++++++++++++++++++++++----
10 files changed, 74 insertions(+), 13 deletions(-)

diff --git a/arch/arm/kernel/entry-ftrace.S b/arch/arm/kernel/entry-ftrace.S
index 3e7bcaca5e07..c6666c0d909c 100644
--- a/arch/arm/kernel/entry-ftrace.S
+++ b/arch/arm/kernel/entry-ftrace.S
@@ -258,6 +258,7 @@ ENDPROC(ftrace_graph_regs_caller)
#ifdef CONFIG_FUNCTION_GRAPH_TRACER
ENTRY(return_to_handler)
stmdb sp!, {r0-r3}
+ mov r1, r0 @ pass the return value
add r0, sp, #16 @ sp at exit of instrumented routine
bl ftrace_return_to_handler
mov lr, r0 @ r0 has real ret addr
diff --git a/arch/arm64/kernel/entry-ftrace.S b/arch/arm64/kernel/entry-ftrace.S
index 350ed81324ac..0eb9a0e3ba3d 100644
--- a/arch/arm64/kernel/entry-ftrace.S
+++ b/arch/arm64/kernel/entry-ftrace.S
@@ -276,6 +276,7 @@ SYM_CODE_START(return_to_handler)
stp x4, x5, [sp, #32]
stp x6, x7, [sp, #48]

+ mov x1, x0 // pass the return value
mov x0, x29 // parent's fp
bl ftrace_return_to_handler// addr = ftrace_return_to_hander(fp);
mov x30, x0 // restore the original return address
diff --git a/arch/riscv/kernel/mcount.S b/arch/riscv/kernel/mcount.S
index 30102aadc4d7..afce5abcbcd2 100644
--- a/arch/riscv/kernel/mcount.S
+++ b/arch/riscv/kernel/mcount.S
@@ -69,6 +69,8 @@ ENTRY(return_to_handler)
mv t6, s0
#endif
SAVE_RET_ABI_STATE
+ /* pass the return value to ftrace_return_to_handler */
+ mv a1, a0
#ifdef HAVE_FUNCTION_GRAPH_FP_TEST
mv a0, t6
#endif
diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/ftrace_32.S b/arch/x86/kernel/ftrace_32.S
index a0ed0e4a2c0c..7611374ccce8 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/ftrace_32.S
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/ftrace_32.S
@@ -184,6 +184,7 @@ SYM_CODE_END(ftrace_graph_caller)
return_to_handler:
pushl %eax
pushl %edx
+ movl %eax, %edx # 2nd argument: the return value
movl $0, %eax
call ftrace_return_to_handler
movl %eax, %ecx
diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/ftrace_64.S b/arch/x86/kernel/ftrace_64.S
index 1265ad519249..d685b773e7ad 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/ftrace_64.S
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/ftrace_64.S
@@ -348,6 +348,8 @@ SYM_CODE_START(return_to_handler)
movq %rax, (%rsp)
movq %rdx, 8(%rsp)
movq %rbp, %rdi
+ /* Pass the return value to ftrace_return_to_handler */
+ movq %rax, %rsi

call ftrace_return_to_handler

diff --git a/include/linux/ftrace.h b/include/linux/ftrace.h
index 366c730beaa3..157fd25be2b7 100644
--- a/include/linux/ftrace.h
+++ b/include/linux/ftrace.h
@@ -1032,6 +1032,7 @@ struct ftrace_graph_ent {
*/
struct ftrace_graph_ret {
unsigned long func; /* Current function */
+ unsigned long retval;
int depth;
/* Number of functions that overran the depth limit for current task */
unsigned int overrun;
diff --git a/kernel/trace/fgraph.c b/kernel/trace/fgraph.c
index 218cd95bf8e4..006b39a98dc3 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/fgraph.c
+++ b/kernel/trace/fgraph.c
@@ -240,12 +240,13 @@ static struct notifier_block ftrace_suspend_notifier = {
* Send the trace to the ring-buffer.
* @return the original return address.
*/
-unsigned long ftrace_return_to_handler(unsigned long frame_pointer)
+unsigned long ftrace_return_to_handler(unsigned long frame_pointer, unsigned long retval)
{
struct ftrace_graph_ret trace;
unsigned long ret;

ftrace_pop_return_trace(&trace, &ret, frame_pointer);
+ trace.retval = retval;
trace.rettime = trace_clock_local();
ftrace_graph_return(&trace);
/*
diff --git a/kernel/trace/trace.h b/kernel/trace/trace.h
index 616e1aa1c4da..5ef32c6e1d45 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/trace.h
+++ b/kernel/trace/trace.h
@@ -831,6 +831,7 @@ static __always_inline bool ftrace_hash_empty(struct ftrace_hash *hash)
#define TRACE_GRAPH_PRINT_TAIL 0x100
#define TRACE_GRAPH_SLEEP_TIME 0x200
#define TRACE_GRAPH_GRAPH_TIME 0x400
+#define TRACE_GRAPH_PRINT_RETVAL 0x800
#define TRACE_GRAPH_PRINT_FILL_SHIFT 28
#define TRACE_GRAPH_PRINT_FILL_MASK (0x3 << TRACE_GRAPH_PRINT_FILL_SHIFT)

diff --git a/kernel/trace/trace_entries.h b/kernel/trace/trace_entries.h
index cd41e863b51c..d798cb17546f 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/trace_entries.h
+++ b/kernel/trace/trace_entries.h
@@ -93,16 +93,17 @@ FTRACE_ENTRY_PACKED(funcgraph_exit, ftrace_graph_ret_entry,
F_STRUCT(
__field_struct( struct ftrace_graph_ret, ret )
__field_packed( unsigned long, ret, func )
+ __field_packed( unsigned long, ret, retval )
__field_packed( int, ret, depth )
__field_packed( unsigned int, ret, overrun )
__field_packed( unsigned long long, ret, calltime)
__field_packed( unsigned long long, ret, rettime )
),

- F_printk("<-- %ps (%d) (start: %llx end: %llx) over: %d",
+ F_printk("<-- %ps (%d) (start: %llx end: %llx) over: %d retval: %lx",
(void *)__entry->func, __entry->depth,
__entry->calltime, __entry->rettime,
- __entry->depth)
+ __entry->depth, __entry->retval)
);

/*
diff --git a/kernel/trace/trace_functions_graph.c b/kernel/trace/trace_functions_graph.c
index 203204cadf92..706d3e5c2156 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/trace_functions_graph.c
+++ b/kernel/trace/trace_functions_graph.c
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@ static struct tracer_opt trace_opts[] = {
{ TRACER_OPT(funcgraph-irqs, TRACE_GRAPH_PRINT_IRQS) },
/* Display function name after trailing } */
{ TRACER_OPT(funcgraph-tail, TRACE_GRAPH_PRINT_TAIL) },
+ /* Display function return value */
+ { TRACER_OPT(funcgraph-retval, TRACE_GRAPH_PRINT_RETVAL) },
/* Include sleep time (scheduled out) between entry and return */
{ TRACER_OPT(sleep-time, TRACE_GRAPH_SLEEP_TIME) },

@@ -619,6 +621,43 @@ print_graph_duration(struct trace_array *tr, unsigned long long duration,
trace_seq_puts(s, "| ");
}

+static void print_graph_retval(struct trace_seq *s, unsigned long retval,
+ bool leaf, void *func)
+{
+ unsigned long err_code = 0;
+
+ if (retval == 0)
+ goto done;
+
+ /* Guess whether the retval looks like an error code */
+ if ((retval & BIT(7)) && (retval >> 8) == 0)
+ err_code = (unsigned long)(s8)retval;
+ else if ((retval & BIT(15)) && (retval >> 16) == 0)
+ err_code = (unsigned long)(s16)retval;
+ else if ((retval & BIT(31)) && (((u64)retval) >> 32) == 0)
+ err_code = (unsigned long)(s32)retval;
+ else
+ err_code = retval;
+
+ if (!IS_ERR_VALUE(err_code))
+ err_code = 0;
+
+done:
+ if (leaf) {
+ if (err_code != 0)
+ trace_seq_printf(s, "%ps(); /* => %lx %ld */\n",
+ func, retval, err_code);
+ else
+ trace_seq_printf(s, "%ps(); /* => %lx */\n", func, retval);
+ } else {
+ if (err_code != 0)
+ trace_seq_printf(s, "} /* %ps => %lx %ld */\n",
+ func, retval, err_code);
+ else
+ trace_seq_printf(s, "} /* %ps => %lx */\n", func, retval);
+ }
+}
+
/* Case of a leaf function on its call entry */
static enum print_line_t
print_graph_entry_leaf(struct trace_iterator *iter,
@@ -663,7 +702,10 @@ print_graph_entry_leaf(struct trace_iterator *iter,
for (i = 0; i < call->depth * TRACE_GRAPH_INDENT; i++)
trace_seq_putc(s, ' ');

- trace_seq_printf(s, "%ps();\n", (void *)call->func);
+ if (flags & TRACE_GRAPH_PRINT_RETVAL)
+ print_graph_retval(s, graph_ret->retval, true, (void *)call->func);
+ else
+ trace_seq_printf(s, "%ps();\n", (void *)call->func);

print_graph_irq(iter, graph_ret->func, TRACE_GRAPH_RET,
cpu, iter->ent->pid, flags);
@@ -942,16 +984,24 @@ print_graph_return(struct ftrace_graph_ret *trace, struct trace_seq *s,
trace_seq_putc(s, ' ');

/*
- * If the return function does not have a matching entry,
- * then the entry was lost. Instead of just printing
- * the '}' and letting the user guess what function this
- * belongs to, write out the function name. Always do
- * that if the funcgraph-tail option is enabled.
+ * Always write out the function name and its return value if the
+ * function-retval option is enabled.
*/
- if (func_match && !(flags & TRACE_GRAPH_PRINT_TAIL))
- trace_seq_puts(s, "}\n");
- else
- trace_seq_printf(s, "} /* %ps */\n", (void *)trace->func);
+ if (flags & TRACE_GRAPH_PRINT_RETVAL) {
+ print_graph_retval(s, trace->retval, false, (void *)trace->func);
+ } else {
+ /*
+ * If the return function does not have a matching entry,
+ * then the entry was lost. Instead of just printing
+ * the '}' and letting the user guess what function this
+ * belongs to, write out the function name. Always do
+ * that if the funcgraph-tail option is enabled.
+ */
+ if (func_match && !(flags & TRACE_GRAPH_PRINT_TAIL))
+ trace_seq_puts(s, "}\n");
+ else
+ trace_seq_printf(s, "} /* %ps */\n", (void *)trace->func);
+ }

/* Overrun */
if (flags & TRACE_GRAPH_PRINT_OVERRUN)
--
2.25.1