Re: [PATCH V5 6/7] arm64/perf: Add BRBE driver

[Anshuman Khandual <anshuman.khandual@arm.com>]

On 11/17/22 15:39, James Clark wrote:
> 
> 
> On 17/11/2022 05:45, Anshuman Khandual wrote:
>>
>>
>> On 11/16/22 22:12, James Clark wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> On 07/11/2022 06:25, Anshuman Khandual wrote:
>>> [...]
>>>
>>>> +static void perf_branch_to_brbcr(struct pmu_hw_events *cpuc, int branch_type)
>>>> +{
>>>> +	cpuc->brbcr = (BRBCR_EL1_CC | BRBCR_EL1_MPRED);
>>>> +
>>>> +	if (branch_type & PERF_SAMPLE_BRANCH_USER)
>>>> +		cpuc->brbcr |= BRBCR_EL1_E0BRE;
>>>> +
>>>> +	if (branch_type & PERF_SAMPLE_BRANCH_NO_CYCLES)
>>>> +		cpuc->brbcr &= ~BRBCR_EL1_CC;
>>>> +
>>>> +	if (branch_type & PERF_SAMPLE_BRANCH_NO_FLAGS)
>>>> +		cpuc->brbcr &= ~BRBCR_EL1_MPRED;
>>>> +
>>>> +	if (branch_type & PERF_SAMPLE_BRANCH_KERNEL)
>>>> +		cpuc->brbcr |= BRBCR_EL1_E1BRE;
>>>> +	else
>>>> +		return;
>>>> +
>>>> +	/*
>>>> +	 * The exception and exception return branches could be
>>>> +	 * captured only when the event has necessary privilege
>>>> +	 * indicated via branch type PERF_SAMPLE_BRANCH_KERNEL,
>>>> +	 * which has been ascertained in generic perf. Please
>>>> +	 * refer perf_copy_attr() for more details.
>>>> +	 */
>>>> +	if (branch_type & PERF_SAMPLE_BRANCH_ANY) {
>>>> +		cpuc->brbcr |= BRBCR_EL1_EXCEPTION;
>>>> +		cpuc->brbcr |= BRBCR_EL1_ERTN;
>>>
>>> Because this comes after the PERF_SAMPLE_BRANCH_KERNEL check, it's
>>> impossible to get syscall records from userspace. When you enable kernel
>>> branch records, the buffer always fills up before it gets to userspace.
>>
>> Just to summerize.
>>
>> System call [user_addr -> kernel_addr] and return [kernel_addr -> user_addr]
>> records are impossible to be captured, because
>>
>> - Without PERF_SAMPLE_BRANCH_KERNEL, BRBCR_EL1_EXCEPTION/ERTN are not set
>> - With PERF_SAMPLE_BRANCH_KERNEL, buffer fills up with in kernel branches
>>
> 
> Yep that's it
> 
>> Did you try with latest fix, that clears the paused BRBE after reading branch
>> records during PMU interrupt ? That fix creates much more samples than before.
>>
> 
> Yes that's with the latest fix. It may even make the problem more
> obvious with the fix rather than without.

Okay.

> 
>>>
>>> Can you move this to the top so that it can be set if either
>>> PERF_SAMPLE_BRANCH_USER or PERF_SAMPLE_BRANCH_KERNEL is set. The
>>
>> Why should they depend on privilege filters i.e PERF_SAMPLE_BRANCH_USER/KERNEL
>> rather than just branch filters PERF_SAMPLE_BRANCH_ANY/ANY_CALL/ANY_RETURN ?
>>
> 
> Exactly, I don't think they should depend on the privilege level. But at
> the moment we return before setting them unless
> PERF_SAMPLE_BRANCH_KERNEL is set.

Okay.

> 
>>> hardware already handles the security by giving partial records with the
>>> kernel part zeroed out so I don't think the driver needs to add any
>>> additional rules other than setting BRBCR_EL1_E1BRE or BRBCR_EL1_E0BRE.
>>
>> Basically BRBCR_EL1_EXCEPTION/BRBCR_EL1_ERTN should be treated like any other
>> branch filter rather than privilege filters as is the case now ?
> 
> I think so yes
> 
>>
>>>
>>> For example I moved it to the top, removed the return below and then I
>>> get syscall partial records:
>>>
>>> ....  5: 0000000000745d0c -> 0000000000000000 0 cycles  P   9fbfbfbf SYSCALL
>>>
>>> I also get ERETS but with only the userspace part set:
>>>
>>> .....  4: 0000000000000000 -> 0000000000745d10 0 cycles  P   9fbfbfbf ERET
>> But with both user and kernel privilege filters being set, these should have
>> been complete branch records containing both user and kernel addresses ?
> 
> Yes, but I only set PERF_SAMPLE_BRANCH_USER, I should have given the
> perf command as well:
> 
>   perf record -j any,save_type,u -- syscall_loop
> 
> Where syscall_loop obviously generates lots of SYSCALLS and ERETS. But
> with both user and kernel you just don't get to that point before the
> buffer fills up. At least in per process mode, maybe with -a the timings
> are different.

Fair enough, will change BRBCR_EL1_EXCEPTION/BRBCR_EL1_ERTN as discussed.