From: Ian Rogers <irogers@google.com>
To: irogers@google.com, acme@kernel.org, namhyung@kernel.org
Cc: adrian.hunter@intel.com, james.clark@linaro.org,
jolsa@kernel.org, linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org,
linux-perf-users@vger.kernel.org, mingo@redhat.com,
peterz@infradead.org, eranian@google.com, ddhariwal@google.com,
rcu@vger.kernel.org
Subject: [PATCH v4 0/7] perf bpf-filter / lock contention: Add lock_held() sample filter and RCU/SRCU support
Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2026 15:09:08 -0700 [thread overview]
Message-ID: <20261019220915.3943592-1-irogers@google.com> (raw)
In-Reply-To: <20261018053710.2572636-1-irogers@google.com>
This series adds a new BPF sample filter predicate, `lock_held(<lock>)`
(along with `lock_held_read(<lock>)` / `lock_held_shared(<lock>)`,
`lock_held_write(<lock>)` / `lock_held_exclusive(<lock>)`, and `:R` / `:W`
mode suffixes), to `perf record --filter`, allowing perf event samples to
be recorded only when a specified kernel lock is held (or not held with
`!`) by the running kernel thread or CPU. It also fixes a pre-existing
`lock_stat` filtering bug in `perf lock contention`, enables BPF sample
filters on tracepoint events (`PERF_TYPE_TRACEPOINT`), and extends both
`lock_held()` and `perf lock contention --use-bpf` to support RCU and
SRCU.
For example:
# perf record -a -g -e cycles --filter 'lock_held(cgroup_mutex)' -- ...
# perf record -a -g -e cycles --filter 'lock_held_read(mmap_lock)' -- ...
# perf record -a -g -e cycles --filter 'lock_held(mmap_lock:W)' -- ...
# perf record -a -g -e cycles --filter 'lock_held_read(rcu)' -- ...
# perf lock contention -a -b -Y rcu,srcu -- sleep 1
An important use-case is detecting memory allocations or direct memory
reclaim occurring while kernel locks are held, which can stall lock
waiters for extended periods under memory pressure:
# Direct memory reclaim triggered while holding any mutex or rwsem:
# perf record -a -g -e vmscan:mm_vmscan_direct_reclaim_begin \
--filter 'lock_held(mutex) || lock_held(rwsem)' -- ...
# Page allocations permitted to enter direct reclaim (__GFP_DIRECT_RECLAIM)
# while holding a mutex or rwsem:
# perf record -a -g -e kmem:mm_page_alloc \
--filter 'gfp_flags & 0x400' \
--filter 'lock_held(mutex) || lock_held(rwsem)' -- ...
# Major page faults occurring while holding a mutex or rwsem:
# perf record -a -g -e major-faults \
--filter 'lock_held(mutex) || lock_held(rwsem)' -- ...
Supported `<lock>` specifications match `perf lock contention`:
- Global/static kernel lock symbols (e.g. `lock_held(cgroup_mutex)`)
- Hexadecimal kernel lock addresses
- Slab cache names prefixed with `&` (e.g. `lock_held(&dentry)`,
`lock_held_read(&dentry)`)
- Well-known per-process, semi-global, and RCU locks: `mmap_lock`,
`siglock`, `rq_lock`, `zone_lock`, `rcu`, `rcu-trace`
- Lock types and flags: `mutex`, `spinlock`, `rwsem`, `rwsem:R`,
`rwsem:W`, `rwlock`, `rwlock:R`, `rwlock:W`, `rt-mutex`,
`percpu-rwsem`, `pcpu-sem:W`, `srcu`, `srcu:R`, `srcu:W`, `rcu:R`,
`rcu:W`, `semaphore`
Limitations and weaknesses in determining whether a lock is held:
- Inlined lock/unlock operations:
- When the kernel is configured to inline spinlock or rwlock operations
(`CONFIG_INLINE_SPIN_LOCK`, `CONFIG_INLINE_READ_LOCK`,
`CONFIG_INLINE_WRITE_LOCK`, `!CONFIG_UNINLINE_SPIN_UNLOCK`,
`CONFIG_INLINE_*_UNLOCK*`, etc.), `_raw_spin_lock*` /
`_raw_spin_unlock*` and `_raw_read_lock*` / `_raw_write_lock*` are
inlined into callers and have no BTF function entry points for
`fentry`/`fexit` to attach to. `configure_lock_progs()` verifies that
both acquire and release entry points exist in BTF before enabling a
lock family.
- Fast-path `percpu_down_read()` / `percpu_up_read()` and
`srcu_read_lock_fast()` / `srcu_read_unlock_fast()` are inlined
per-CPU counter increments without function calls, so only
`percpu_down_write()` / `percpu_up_write()` and out-of-line
`__srcu_read_lock*()` / `__srcu_read_unlock*()` can be hooked.
- On `!CONFIG_PREEMPT_RCU` kernels, `rcu_read_lock()` compiles to
`preempt_disable()` and does not maintain
`current->rcu_read_lock_nesting` in `task_struct`, so `lock_held(rcu)`
read-side inspection requires `CONFIG_PREEMPT_RCU`.
- Lack of an inspectable owner field on non-exclusive / spinning locks:
- While `struct mutex`, `struct rt_mutex`, and write-locked
`struct rw_semaphore` store the owning `task_struct *` in `lock->owner`
(allowing `perf_sample_filter` to inspect kernel memory directly on
sample overflow when filtering by lock address without attaching any
`fentry`/`fexit` hooks for `*_mutex`, `*_rt_mutex`, and `mmap_lock:W`),
spinlocks, rwlocks, semaphores, SRCU, and reader-locked
`rw_semaphore`s (where `__up_read()` does not clear `sem->owner` when
`!CONFIG_DEBUG_RWSEMS`) do not maintain an authoritative per-task
owner pointer.
- Tracking these locks (as well as slab-cache and lock-type filters)
relies on `fexit` (acquire) and `fentry` (release) BPF hooks
maintaining the `held_locks` BPF LRU hash map:
- Any such lock already held before `perf record` attaches its BPF
programs will not be present in `held_locks` until it is released
and re-acquired.
- The attached `fentry`/`fexit` hooks execute on every kernel lock
acquire and release for the hooked lock family across the system,
adding tracing overhead outside of perf sample handling.
- Cross-task semaphore signaling (`down*()` / `up()`):
- Counting `struct semaphore`s do not enforce same-task ownership in the
kernel: when a semaphore is used as a completion/signaling mechanism
(`down()` in one task woken by `up()` in another task or interrupt
handler, which proposed kernel dependency trackers like `CONFIG_DEPT`
model as wait/event dependencies bounded by execution context rather
than lock ownership), `fexit/down` and `fentry/up` do not pair on the
same task ID. Semaphore hooks are therefore only enabled when
`semaphore` or a `*_sem` symbol (such as `console_sem`) is explicitly
specified, and `held_locks` uses `BPF_MAP_TYPE_LRU_HASH` so any
unpaired cross-task entries are automatically evicted.
Patch overview (patches 1 and 2 are standalone fixes independent of the
rest of the series):
1. "perf lock contention: Filter events before creating lock_stat":
Fixes `report_lock_contention_begin_event()` in `builtin-lock.c` to
apply `-Y`, `-L`, and `-S` filters before calling
`lock_stat_findnew()`.
2. "perf bpf-filter: Support BPF sample filters on tracepoint events":
Adds `SEC("tracepoint") int perf_tp_sample_filter(void *ctx)` so BPF
sample filters can attach to `PERF_TYPE_TRACEPOINT` events (where
`__perf_event_set_bpf_prog()` in `kernel/events/core.c` requires
`BPF_PROG_TYPE_TRACEPOINT` rather than `BPF_PROG_TYPE_PERF_EVENT`).
3. "perf lock contention: Share common BPF and lock type definitions in
lock_data.h": Moves `lock_type_table` to `util/lock-contention.c` and
`LCB_F_*` flags, CO-RE structs, and common BPF lock helpers
(`get_lock_owner`, `get_current_mmap_lock`, `get_current_siglock`,
`get_lock_addr`, `check_lock_type`, `do_collect_lock_syms`,
`do_slab_cache_iter`) into `tools/perf/util/bpf_skel/lock_data.h`.
4. "perf bpf-filter: Add lock_held() sample filter": Implements
`lock_held()`, `lock_held_read()`/`lock_held_shared()`,
`lock_held_write()`/`lock_held_exclusive()`, and `:R`/`:W` mode
suffixes using direct lock owner inspection where possible (`mutex`,
`rt_mutex`, write-locked `rw_semaphore`) and a `held_locks` BPF LRU
hash map updated by selectively attached `fentry`/`fexit` hooks.
5. "perf test: Add tests for lock_held() BPF sample filter": Adds unit
tests in `tests/parse-events.c` and shell tests in
`tests/shell/record_bpf_filter.sh`.
6. "perf bpf-filter: Extend lock_held() to support RCU, Tasks Trace RCU,
and SRCU": Supports `rcu` (`rcu:R` via direct
`current->rcu_read_lock_nesting` inspection with zero tracing hooks;
`rcu:W` via `synchronize_rcu*()` / `rcu_barrier()` hooks),
`rcu-trace` (via `current->trc_reader_nesting`), and `srcu`
(`srcu:R` via `__srcu_read_lock*` / `__srcu_read_unlock*`; `srcu:W`
via `synchronize_srcu*()` / `srcu_barrier()`).
7. "perf lock contention: Extend BPF lock contention to RCU and SRCU":
Extends `perf lock contention --use-bpf` to track RCU and SRCU
grace-period and barrier waits (`-Y rcu`, `-Y srcu`, `-L rcu`).
Changes in v4:
- Move the two bugfix commits (`Filter events before creating lock_stat`
and `Support BPF sample filters on tracepoint events`) to patches 1
and 2 at the start of the series for easier cherry-picking.
- Reserve leading `&` strictly for slab cache locks (e.g.
`lock_held(&dentry)`) so global/static lock symbols and well-known
locks do not use `&` (e.g. `lock_held(cgroup_mutex)`,
`lock_held_read(mmap_lock)`), matching `perf lock contention`
(Namhyung).
- Skip attaching `fentry`/`fexit` hooks when filtering on a specific
`mutex` symbol (`*_mutex`), `rt_mutex` symbol (`*_rt_mutex`), or
write-locked `mmap_lock` (`mmap_lock:W` / `lock_held_write(mmap_lock)`),
evaluating them purely via direct `owner` inspection (Namhyung).
- Use a CO-RE flavor struct `struct mutex___non_rt` in `get_lock_owner()`
in `lock_data.h` so `GEN_VMLINUX_H=1` builds succeed on
`CONFIG_PREEMPT_RT=y` kernels.
- Switch `held_locks` to `BPF_MAP_TYPE_LRU_HASH`, exclude `LOCK_PROG_SEM`
from `LOCK_PROG_ALL` unless `semaphore` or a `*_sem` symbol is
explicitly requested, and document cross-task semaphore signaling
limitations (and comparison with `CONFIG_DEPT`).
- Skip `LCB_F_MUTEX | LCB_F_SPIN` in `parse_lock_type_name()`, reject
read-only mode on exclusive-only lock symbol suffixes in
`resolve_lock_expr()`, check `needed_groups & supported_groups` before
masking `needed_groups` in `configure_lock_progs()`, and store
`skel->links.perf_tp_sample_filter` so `sample_filter_bpf__destroy()`
cleans up the tracepoint BPF link.
- Recursively traverse anonymous structs/unions in `btf_has_task_field()`
so `lock_held(rcu)` and `lock_held(rcu-trace)` work on
`CONFIG_RANDSTRUCT` kernels.
Changes in v3:
- Move the writer-only `rw_semaphore` check out of `get_lock_owner()` in
`lock_data.h` into `is_rwsem_writer_owner()` in `sample_filter.bpf.c`
so `perf lock contention -b -o` still reports reader owners when a
writer contends on a reader-owned `rw_semaphore`, and scope
`is_direct_lock_owner()` by lock type (`PBF_LOCK_DIRECT_MUTEX`,
`PBF_LOCK_DIRECT_RWSEM`, `PBF_LOCK_DIRECT_RTMUTEX`).
- Add `SEC("tracepoint") int perf_tp_sample_filter(void *ctx)` so BPF
sample filters (`lock_held()`, `uid`, `gid`, etc.) can attach to
`PERF_TYPE_TRACEPOINT` events (such as `kmem:mm_page_alloc` and
`vmscan:mm_vmscan_direct_reclaim_begin`), check `libbpf_get_error()`
when attaching, and document memory allocation / direct reclaim
filtering with `lock_held()`.
- Return early in `init_numa_data()` in `bpf-filter.c` when `node_data`
cannot be resolved and check `node_data_addr != 0` in
`do_collect_zone_lock()`.
- Avoid double-counting `_raw_read_lock_irq` / `_raw_read_lock_bh` in
`sample_filter.bpf.c` on `CONFIG_GENERIC_LOCKBREAK=y &&
!CONFIG_DEBUG_LOCK_ALLOC` kernels where they call
`_raw_read_lock_irqsave()`.
- Offset `rcu_state_addr` by 1 byte so it is distinct from
`&rcu_state.node[0].lock` at offset 0 of `rcu_state`, and pass `bool
is_rcu` to `do_contention_end()` in `lock_contention.bpf.c` so
`tp_btf/contention_end` and RCU/SRCU `fexit` hooks never cross-match
timestamp maps.
Changes in v2:
- Guard `BPF_CORE_READ(mutex, owner.counter)` with `bpf_core_field_exists`
and fall back to `struct rt_mutex_base` in `get_lock_owner()` so CO-RE
relocation succeeds on `CONFIG_PREEMPT_RT=y` kernels.
- Add `CONFIG_DEBUG_LOCK_ALLOC=y` lock entry points
(`_mutex_lock_nest_lock`, `_mutex_lock_killable`,
`_mutex_trylock_nest_lock`, `_down_write_nest_lock`,
`_raw_spin_lock_nest_lock`, `_rt_mutex_lock_nest_lock`) to
`sample_filter.bpf.c` and `lock_progs[]`.
- Verify in `supported_lock_prog_groups()` that both acquire and all
unlock BTF entry points exist for a lock family before enabling its
tracing hooks, preventing acquire-only attachment when spinlock/rwlock
unlock functions are inlined.
- Enable `LOCK_PROG_PERCPU_RWSEM` alongside `LOCK_PROG_RWSEM_WRITE` when
a symbol name ends in `rwsem` (such as `cgroup_threadgroup_rwsem`).
- Gate `record_lock_acquired(ctx, LCB_F_READ)` in `fexit_downgrade_write`
on `track_rwsem_read` and verify non-zero read/write counts in
`record_lock_released_addr()` before decrementing aggregate slab/type
counts.
- Adjust stack skip depth by 2 for `fentry` RCU/SRCU programs in
`lock_contention.bpf.c` and recognize `synchronize_rcu*`,
`synchronize_srcu*`, `rcu_barrier`, and `srcu_barrier` in
`machine__is_lock_function()`.
- Add patch fixing `report_lock_contention_begin_event()` to check
type, address, and callstack filters before creating `lock_stat`
entries.
Assisted-by: Antigravity:gemini-3.1-pro
Ian Rogers (7):
perf lock contention: Filter events before creating lock_stat
perf bpf-filter: Support BPF sample filters on tracepoint events
perf lock contention: Share common BPF and lock type definitions in
lock_data.h
perf bpf-filter: Add lock_held() sample filter
perf test: Add tests for lock_held() BPF sample filter
perf bpf-filter: Extend lock_held() to support RCU, Tasks Trace RCU,
and SRCU
perf lock contention: Extend BPF lock contention to RCU and SRCU
tools/perf/Documentation/perf-lock.txt | 7 +-
tools/perf/Documentation/perf-record.txt | 66 +-
tools/perf/builtin-lock.c | 88 +-
tools/perf/tests/parse-events.c | 121 ++
tools/perf/tests/shell/lock_contention.sh | 14 +
tools/perf/tests/shell/record_bpf_filter.sh | 142 ++
tools/perf/util/bpf-filter.c | 1300 ++++++++++++++++-
tools/perf/util/bpf-filter.h | 13 +
tools/perf/util/bpf-filter.l | 31 +-
tools/perf/util/bpf-filter.y | 46 +-
tools/perf/util/bpf_lock_contention.c | 171 ++-
.../perf/util/bpf_skel/lock_contention.bpf.c | 448 +++---
tools/perf/util/bpf_skel/lock_data.h | 364 ++++-
tools/perf/util/bpf_skel/sample-filter.h | 77 +
tools/perf/util/bpf_skel/sample_filter.bpf.c | 1231 ++++++++++++++++
tools/perf/util/bpf_skel/vmlinux/vmlinux.h | 7 +
tools/perf/util/lock-contention.c | 22 +
tools/perf/util/lock-contention.h | 15 +
tools/perf/util/machine.c | 11 +
tools/perf/util/parse-events.c | 3 +-
20 files changed, 3790 insertions(+), 387 deletions(-)
--
2.56.0.212.g129ede20d9-goog
next prev parent reply other threads:[~2026-10-19 22:09 UTC|newest]
Thread overview: 56+ messages / expand[flat|nested] mbox.gz Atom feed top
2026-10-17 5:45 [PATCH v1 0/5] perf bpf-filter / lock contention: Add lock_held() sample filter and RCU/SRCU support Ian Rogers
2026-10-17 5:45 ` [PATCH v1 1/5] perf lock contention: Share common BPF and lock type definitions in lock_data.h Ian Rogers
2026-10-17 5:52 ` sashiko-bot
2026-10-17 5:45 ` [PATCH v1 2/5] perf bpf-filter: Add lock_held() sample filter Ian Rogers
2026-10-17 6:09 ` sashiko-bot
2026-10-17 5:45 ` [PATCH v1 3/5] perf test: Add tests for lock_held() BPF " Ian Rogers
2026-10-17 5:49 ` sashiko-bot
2026-10-17 5:45 ` [PATCH v1 4/5] perf bpf-filter: Extend lock_held() to support RCU, Tasks Trace RCU, and SRCU Ian Rogers
2026-10-17 5:56 ` sashiko-bot
2026-10-17 5:45 ` [PATCH v1 5/5] perf lock contention: Extend BPF lock contention to RCU " Ian Rogers
2026-10-17 6:08 ` sashiko-bot
2026-10-17 17:14 ` [PATCH v2 0/6] perf bpf-filter / lock contention: Add lock_held() sample filter and RCU/SRCU support Ian Rogers
2026-10-17 17:14 ` [PATCH v2 1/6] perf lock contention: Share common BPF and lock type definitions in lock_data.h Ian Rogers
2026-10-17 17:31 ` sashiko-bot
2026-10-17 17:14 ` [PATCH v2 2/6] perf bpf-filter: Add lock_held() sample filter Ian Rogers
2026-10-17 17:35 ` sashiko-bot
2026-10-17 17:14 ` [PATCH v2 3/6] perf test: Add tests for lock_held() BPF " Ian Rogers
2026-10-17 17:17 ` sashiko-bot
2026-10-17 17:14 ` [PATCH v2 4/6] perf bpf-filter: Extend lock_held() to support RCU, Tasks Trace RCU, and SRCU Ian Rogers
2026-10-17 17:25 ` sashiko-bot
2026-10-17 17:14 ` [PATCH v2 5/6] perf lock contention: Extend BPF lock contention to RCU " Ian Rogers
2026-10-17 17:30 ` sashiko-bot
2026-10-17 17:14 ` [PATCH v2 6/6] perf lock contention: Filter events before creating lock_stat Ian Rogers
2026-10-17 17:17 ` sashiko-bot
2026-10-18 5:37 ` [PATCH v3 0/6] perf bpf-filter / lock contention: Add lock_held() sample filter and RCU/SRCU support Ian Rogers
2026-10-18 5:37 ` [PATCH v3 1/6] perf lock contention: Share common BPF and lock type definitions in lock_data.h Ian Rogers
2026-10-18 5:50 ` sashiko-bot
2026-10-18 5:37 ` [PATCH v3 2/6] perf bpf-filter: Add lock_held() sample filter Ian Rogers
2026-10-18 6:12 ` sashiko-bot
2026-10-18 5:37 ` [PATCH v3 3/6] perf test: Add tests for lock_held() BPF " Ian Rogers
2026-10-18 5:41 ` sashiko-bot
2026-10-18 5:37 ` [PATCH v3 4/6] perf bpf-filter: Extend lock_held() to support RCU, Tasks Trace RCU, and SRCU Ian Rogers
2026-10-18 5:51 ` sashiko-bot
2026-10-18 5:37 ` [PATCH v3 5/6] perf lock contention: Extend BPF lock contention to RCU " Ian Rogers
2026-10-18 5:48 ` sashiko-bot
2026-10-18 5:37 ` [PATCH v3 6/6] perf lock contention: Filter events before creating lock_stat Ian Rogers
2026-10-18 5:40 ` sashiko-bot
2026-10-19 7:00 ` [PATCH v3 0/6] perf bpf-filter / lock contention: Add lock_held() sample filter and RCU/SRCU support Namhyung Kim
2026-10-19 19:08 ` Ian Rogers
2026-10-19 22:09 ` Ian Rogers [this message]
2026-10-19 22:09 ` [PATCH v4 1/7] perf lock contention: Filter events before creating lock_stat Ian Rogers
2026-10-19 22:14 ` sashiko-bot
2026-10-20 4:34 ` Namhyung Kim
2026-10-19 22:09 ` [PATCH v4 2/7] perf bpf-filter: Support BPF sample filters on tracepoint events Ian Rogers
2026-10-19 22:26 ` sashiko-bot
2026-10-20 5:41 ` Namhyung Kim
2026-10-19 22:09 ` [PATCH v4 3/7] perf lock contention: Share common BPF and lock type definitions in lock_data.h Ian Rogers
2026-10-19 22:17 ` sashiko-bot
2026-10-19 22:09 ` [PATCH v4 4/7] perf bpf-filter: Add lock_held() sample filter Ian Rogers
2026-10-19 22:28 ` sashiko-bot
2026-10-19 22:09 ` [PATCH v4 5/7] perf test: Add tests for lock_held() BPF " Ian Rogers
2026-10-19 22:12 ` sashiko-bot
2026-10-19 22:09 ` [PATCH v4 6/7] perf bpf-filter: Extend lock_held() to support RCU, Tasks Trace RCU, and SRCU Ian Rogers
2026-10-19 22:19 ` sashiko-bot
2026-10-19 22:09 ` [PATCH v4 7/7] perf lock contention: Extend BPF lock contention to RCU " Ian Rogers
2026-10-19 22:19 ` sashiko-bot
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