On Mon, Apr 29, 2019 at 09:26:02AM -0400, Joel Fernandes wrote: > On Sat, Apr 27, 2019 at 03:38:44PM +0200, Greg KH wrote: > > On Fri, Apr 26, 2019 at 03:04:29PM -0400, Joel Fernandes (Google) wrote: > > > Introduce in-kernel headers which are made available as an archive > > > through proc (/proc/kheaders.tar.xz file). This archive makes it > > > possible to run eBPF and other tracing programs that need to extend the > > > kernel for tracing purposes without any dependency on the file system > > > having headers. > > > > > > A github PR is sent for the corresponding BCC patch at: > > > https://github.com/iovisor/bcc/pull/2312 > > > > > > On Android and embedded systems, it is common to switch kernels but not > > > have kernel headers available on the file system. Further once a > > > different kernel is booted, any headers stored on the file system will > > > no longer be useful. This is an issue even well known to distros. > > > By storing the headers as a compressed archive within the kernel, we can > > > avoid these issues that have been a hindrance for a long time. > > > > > > The best way to use this feature is by building it in. Several users > > > have a need for this, when they switch debug kernels, they do not want to > > > update the filesystem or worry about it where to store the headers on > > > it. However, the feature is also buildable as a module in case the user > > > desires it not being part of the kernel image. This makes it possible to > > > load and unload the headers from memory on demand. A tracing program can > > > load the module, do its operations, and then unload the module to save > > > kernel memory. The total memory needed is 3.3MB. > > > > > > By having the archive available at a fixed location independent of > > > filesystem dependencies and conventions, all debugging tools can > > > directly refer to the fixed location for the archive, without concerning > > > with where the headers on a typical filesystem which significantly > > > simplifies tooling that needs kernel headers. > > > > > > The code to read the headers is based on /proc/config.gz code and uses > > > the same technique to embed the headers. > > > > > > Other approaches were discussed such as having an in-memory mountable > > > filesystem, but that has drawbacks such as requiring an in-kernel xz > > > decompressor which we don't have today, and requiring usage of 42 MB of > > > kernel memory to host the decompressed headers at anytime. Also this > > > approach is simpler than such approaches. > > > > > > Reviewed-by: Masahiro Yamada <yamada.masahiro@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > > > Signed-off-by: Joel Fernandes (Google) <joel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > > > > Reviewed-by: Greg Kroah-Hartman <gregkh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > > Thanks for the Reviewed-by tag. I believe there are still 2 logistical things > to merge this. > 1. Location of the header archive: > Olof and Steve did not like it to be in /proc and instead /sys seemed a better > choice they are Ok with. Me and Greg were Ok with it being in /sys/kernel/. > Alexei, Greg and me are Ok with either proc or Sys. As you say, either is fine with me. > 2. Who is going to pull this patch: This seems a matter of where the header > archive resides. If it is in /sys/kernel/ then I am assuming Greg will pull > it. Masahiro has given his Reviewed-by tag, is he the one to pull it? I can take it, but it probably should just go through the kbuild tree, as that makes more sense to me. thanks, greg k-h
