[PATCH] perf/x86/intel: Allow to setup LBR for counting event for BPF

[PATCH] perf/x86/intel: Allow to setup LBR for counting event for BPF

[kan.liang]

From: Kan Liang <kan.liang@linux.intel.com>

The BPF subsystem may capture LBR data on a counting event. However, the
current implementation assumes that LBR can/should only be used with
sampling events.

For instance, retsnoop tool ([0]) makes an extensive use of this
functionality and sets up perf event as follows:

	struct perf_event_attr attr;

	memset(&attr, 0, sizeof(attr));
	attr.size = sizeof(attr);
	attr.type = PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE;
	attr.config = PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES;
	attr.sample_type = PERF_SAMPLE_BRANCH_STACK;
	attr.branch_sample_type = PERF_SAMPLE_BRANCH_KERNEL;

To limit the LBR for a sampling event is to avoid unnecessary branch
stack setup for a counting event in the sample read. Because LBR is only
read in the sampling event's overflow.

Although in most cases LBR is used in sampling, there is no HW limit to
bind LBR to the sampling mode. Allow an LBR setup for a counting event
unless in the sample read mode.

Fixes: 85846b27072d ("perf/x86: Add PERF_X86_EVENT_NEEDS_BRANCH_STACK flag")
Reported-by: Andrii Nakryiko <andrii.nakryiko@gmail.com>
Closes: https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20240905180055.1221620-1-andrii@kernel.org/
Signed-off-by: Kan Liang <kan.liang@linux.intel.com>
Cc: stable@vger.kernel.org
---
 arch/x86/events/intel/core.c | 8 ++++++--
 1 file changed, 6 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/arch/x86/events/intel/core.c b/arch/x86/events/intel/core.c
index 605ed19043ed..2b5ff112d8d1 100644
--- a/arch/x86/events/intel/core.c
+++ b/arch/x86/events/intel/core.c
@@ -3981,8 +3981,12 @@ static int intel_pmu_hw_config(struct perf_event *event)
 			x86_pmu.pebs_aliases(event);
 	}
 
-	if (needs_branch_stack(event) && is_sampling_event(event))
-		event->hw.flags  |= PERF_X86_EVENT_NEEDS_BRANCH_STACK;
+	if (needs_branch_stack(event)) {
+		/* Avoid branch stack setup for counting events in SAMPLE READ */
+		if (is_sampling_event(event) ||
+		    !(event->attr.sample_type & PERF_SAMPLE_READ))
+			event->hw.flags |= PERF_X86_EVENT_NEEDS_BRANCH_STACK;
+	}
 
 	if (branch_sample_counters(event)) {
 		struct perf_event *leader, *sibling;
-- 
2.38.1

Re: [PATCH] perf/x86/intel: Allow to setup LBR for counting event for BPF

[Andrii Nakryiko]

On Mon, Sep 9, 2024 at 8:58 AM <kan.liang@linux.intel.com> wrote:
>
> From: Kan Liang <kan.liang@linux.intel.com>
>
> The BPF subsystem may capture LBR data on a counting event. However, the
> current implementation assumes that LBR can/should only be used with
> sampling events.
>
> For instance, retsnoop tool ([0]) makes an extensive use of this
> functionality and sets up perf event as follows:
>
>         struct perf_event_attr attr;
>
>         memset(&attr, 0, sizeof(attr));
>         attr.size = sizeof(attr);
>         attr.type = PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE;
>         attr.config = PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES;
>         attr.sample_type = PERF_SAMPLE_BRANCH_STACK;
>         attr.branch_sample_type = PERF_SAMPLE_BRANCH_KERNEL;
>
> To limit the LBR for a sampling event is to avoid unnecessary branch
> stack setup for a counting event in the sample read. Because LBR is only
> read in the sampling event's overflow.
>
> Although in most cases LBR is used in sampling, there is no HW limit to
> bind LBR to the sampling mode. Allow an LBR setup for a counting event
> unless in the sample read mode.
>
> Fixes: 85846b27072d ("perf/x86: Add PERF_X86_EVENT_NEEDS_BRANCH_STACK flag")
> Reported-by: Andrii Nakryiko <andrii.nakryiko@gmail.com>
> Closes: https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20240905180055.1221620-1-andrii@kernel.org/
> Signed-off-by: Kan Liang <kan.liang@linux.intel.com>
> Cc: stable@vger.kernel.org
> ---
>  arch/x86/events/intel/core.c | 8 ++++++--
>  1 file changed, 6 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)
>

LGTM, thanks! Tested and verified that this fixes the issue:

Acked-by: Andrii Nakryiko <andrii@kernel.org>
Tested-by: Andrii Nakryiko <andrii@kernel.org>

> diff --git a/arch/x86/events/intel/core.c b/arch/x86/events/intel/core.c
> index 605ed19043ed..2b5ff112d8d1 100644
> --- a/arch/x86/events/intel/core.c
> +++ b/arch/x86/events/intel/core.c
> @@ -3981,8 +3981,12 @@ static int intel_pmu_hw_config(struct perf_event *event)
>                         x86_pmu.pebs_aliases(event);
>         }
>
> -       if (needs_branch_stack(event) && is_sampling_event(event))
> -               event->hw.flags  |= PERF_X86_EVENT_NEEDS_BRANCH_STACK;
> +       if (needs_branch_stack(event)) {
> +               /* Avoid branch stack setup for counting events in SAMPLE READ */
> +               if (is_sampling_event(event) ||
> +                   !(event->attr.sample_type & PERF_SAMPLE_READ))
> +                       event->hw.flags |= PERF_X86_EVENT_NEEDS_BRANCH_STACK;
> +       }
>
>         if (branch_sample_counters(event)) {
>                 struct perf_event *leader, *sibling;
> --
> 2.38.1
>