Re: [PATCH v3 0/9] klp-convert livepatch build tooling

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On 4/16/19 1:24 AM, Balbir Singh wrote:

Could we get some details with examples or a sample, sorry I might be dense
and missing simple information. The problem being solved is not clear to
me from the changelog.


Hi Balbir,

I see that Miroslav has already pointed to documentation, samples and self-tests for the patchset, but here is a summary in my own words:

kpatch-build constructs livepatch kernel modules by comparing a reference build with a patched build, combing through ELF object sections and extracting new and changed sections that include patched code.

An alternative approach is "source-based", in which a livepatch kernel module is built (mostly entirely) using the kernel's build infrastructure. Sources for a livepatch are gathered ahead of time and then built like an ordinary kernel module.

In either approach, there lies the problem of symbol visibility: how can a livepatch resolve symbols that a kernel module ordinarily can't. For example, file local or simply unexported symbols in across the kernel and other modules. Enter the concept of "livepatch symbols" described in module-elf-format.txt.

kpatch-build already creates such "livepatch symbols" (see its create_klp_relasecs_and_syms()) and the livepatching core kernel code already knows how resolve such symbols at klp_object patch time (see klp_write_object_relocations()).

The klp-convert tool and this supporting patchset would empower source-based-constructed livepatch modules to do the same.

-- Joe



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