linux/kernel
Paul Mackerras 53cfbf5937 perf_counter: record time running and time enabled for each counter
Impact: new functionality

Currently, if there are more counters enabled than can fit on the CPU,
the kernel will multiplex the counters on to the hardware using
round-robin scheduling.  That isn't too bad for sampling counters, but
for counting counters it means that the value read from a counter
represents some unknown fraction of the true count of events that
occurred while the counter was enabled.

This remedies the situation by keeping track of how long each counter
is enabled for, and how long it is actually on the cpu and counting
events.  These times are recorded in nanoseconds using the task clock
for per-task counters and the cpu clock for per-cpu counters.

These values can be supplied to userspace on a read from the counter.
Userspace requests that they be supplied after the counter value by
setting the PERF_FORMAT_TOTAL_TIME_ENABLED and/or
PERF_FORMAT_TOTAL_TIME_RUNNING bits in the hw_event.read_format field
when creating the counter.  (There is no way to change the read format
after the counter is created, though it would be possible to add some
way to do that.)

Using this information it is possible for userspace to scale the count
it reads from the counter to get an estimate of the true count:

true_count_estimate = count * total_time_enabled / total_time_running

This also lets userspace detect the situation where the counter never
got to go on the cpu: total_time_running == 0.

This functionality has been requested by the PAPI developers, and will
be generally needed for interpreting the count values from counting
counters correctly.

In the implementation, this keeps 5 time values (in nanoseconds) for
each counter: total_time_enabled and total_time_running are used when
the counter is in state OFF or ERROR and for reporting back to
userspace.  When the counter is in state INACTIVE or ACTIVE, it is the
tstamp_enabled, tstamp_running and tstamp_stopped values that are
relevant, and total_time_enabled and total_time_running are determined
from them.  (tstamp_stopped is only used in INACTIVE state.)  The
reason for doing it like this is that it means that only counters
being enabled or disabled at sched-in and sched-out time need to be
updated.  There are no new loops that iterate over all counters to
update total_time_enabled or total_time_running.

This also keeps separate child_total_time_running and
child_total_time_enabled fields that get added in when reporting the
totals to userspace.  They are separate fields so that they can be
atomic.  We don't want to use atomics for total_time_running,
total_time_enabled etc., because then we would have to use atomic
sequences to update them, which are slower than regular arithmetic and
memory accesses.

It is possible to measure total_time_running by adding a task_clock
counter to each group of counters, and total_time_enabled can be
measured approximately with a top-level task_clock counter (though
inaccuracies will creep in if you need to disable and enable groups
since it is not possible in general to disable/enable the top-level
task_clock counter simultaneously with another group).  However, that
adds extra overhead - I measured around 15% increase in the context
switch latency reported by lat_ctx (from lmbench) when a task_clock
counter was added to each of 2 groups, and around 25% increase when a
task_clock counter was added to each of 4 groups.  (In both cases a
top-level task-clock counter was also added.)

In contrast, the code added in this commit gives better information
with no overhead that I could measure (in fact in some cases I
measured lower times with this code, but the differences were all less
than one standard deviation).

[ v2: address review comments by Andrew Morton. ]

Signed-off-by: Paul Mackerras <paulus@samba.org>
Acked-by: Peter Zijlstra <a.p.zijlstra@chello.nl>
Cc: Andrew Morton <akpm@linux-foundation.org>
Orig-LKML-Reference: <18890.6578.728637.139402@cargo.ozlabs.ibm.com>
Signed-off-by: Ingo Molnar <mingo@elte.hu>
2009-04-06 09:30:36 +02:00
..
irq Merge branch 'tracing/core-v2' into tracing-for-linus 2009-04-02 00:49:02 +02:00
power Merge branch 'for-linus' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/jikos/trivial 2009-04-03 15:24:35 -07:00
time Merge branch 'timers-for-linus' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/tip/linux-2.6-tip 2009-03-26 16:05:42 -07:00
trace Merge branch 'tracing-for-linus' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/tip/linux-2.6-tip 2009-04-05 11:04:19 -07:00
.gitignore
Kconfig.freezer container freezer: implement freezer cgroup subsystem 2008-10-20 08:52:34 -07:00
Kconfig.hz sched: fix SCHED_HRTICK dependency 2008-07-28 14:37:38 +02:00
Kconfig.preempt rcu: provide RCU options on non-preempt architectures too 2008-12-25 09:31:28 +01:00
Makefile Merge branch 'linus' into perfcounters/core-v2 2009-04-06 09:02:57 +02:00
acct.c [CVE-2009-0029] System call wrappers part 04 2009-01-14 14:15:19 +01:00
async.c async: remove the temporary (2.6.29) "async is off by default" code 2009-03-28 13:05:30 -07:00
audit.c Audit: remove spaces from audit_log_d_path 2009-04-05 13:49:04 -04:00
audit.h fixing audit rule ordering mess, part 1 2009-01-04 15:14:41 -05:00
audit_tree.c audit: incorrect ref counting in audit tree tag_chunk 2009-04-05 13:48:26 -04:00
auditfilter.c make the e->rule.xxx shorter in kernel auditfilter.c 2009-04-05 13:40:33 -04:00
auditsc.c Audit: remove spaces from audit_log_d_path 2009-04-05 13:49:04 -04:00
backtracetest.c
bounds.c
capability.c [CVE-2009-0029] System call wrappers part 04 2009-01-14 14:15:19 +01:00
cgroup.c memcg: fix OOM killer under memcg 2009-04-02 19:04:55 -07:00
cgroup_debug.c debug cgroup: remove unneeded cgroup_lock 2009-04-02 19:04:54 -07:00
cgroup_freezer.c freezer_cg: disable writing freezer.state of root cgroup 2008-11-12 17:17:16 -08:00
compat.c Allow times and time system calls to return small negative values 2009-01-06 15:59:13 -08:00
configs.c kernel/configs.c: remove useless comments 2008-10-20 08:52:34 -07:00
cpu.c cpumask: use set_cpu_active in init/main.c 2009-03-30 22:05:12 +10:30
cpuset.c cpusets: prevent PF_THREAD_BOUND tasks from attaching to non-root cpusets 2009-04-02 19:04:57 -07:00
cred-internals.h CRED: Inaugurate COW credentials 2008-11-14 10:39:23 +11:00
cred.c Merge branch 'for-linus' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/jmorris/security-testing-2.6 2009-01-09 13:59:25 -08:00
delayacct.c schedstat: consolidate per-task cpu runtime stats 2008-12-18 13:54:01 +01:00
dma-coherent.c dma-coherent: Restore dma_alloc_from_coherent() large alloc fall back policy. 2009-01-21 18:51:53 +09:00
dma.c kernel/dma.c: remove a CVS keyword 2008-10-16 11:21:30 -07:00
exec_domain.c Get rid of indirect include of fs_struct.h 2009-03-31 23:00:27 -04:00
exit.c Merge branch 'linus' into perfcounters/core-v2 2009-04-06 09:02:57 +02:00
extable.c Merge branch 'tracing-for-linus' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/tip/linux-2.6-tip 2009-04-05 11:04:19 -07:00
fork.c Merge branch 'linus' into perfcounters/core-v2 2009-04-06 09:02:57 +02:00
freezer.c freezer_cg: use thaw_process() in unfreeze_cgroup() 2008-10-30 11:38:45 -07:00
futex.c futex: remove the pointer math from double_unlock_hb, fix 2009-03-13 10:32:07 +01:00
futex_compat.c CRED: Use RCU to access another task's creds and to release a task's own creds 2008-11-14 10:39:19 +11:00
hrtimer.c hrtimer: prevent negative expiry value after clock_was_set() 2009-01-30 22:35:34 +01:00
itimer.c timers: split process wide cpu clocks/timers 2009-02-05 13:04:33 +01:00
kallsyms.c Ksplice: Add functions for walking kallsyms symbols 2009-03-31 13:05:32 +10:30
kexec.c kexec: vmcoreinfo_data[] can become static 2009-04-02 19:05:04 -07:00
kfifo.c
kgdb.c kgdb: call touch_softlockup_watchdog on resume 2008-10-06 13:50:59 -05:00
kmod.c module: create a request_module_nowait() 2009-03-31 13:05:35 +10:30
kprobes.c kprobes: Fix locking imbalance in kretprobes 2009-03-18 12:51:16 +01:00
ksysfs.c kernel/ksysfs.c:fix dependence on CONFIG_NET 2009-01-06 10:44:31 -08:00
kthread.c cpumask: remove dangerous CPU_MASK_ALL_PTR, &CPU_MASK_ALL 2009-03-30 22:05:11 +10:30
latencytop.c sched, latencytop: incorporate review feedback from Andrew Morton 2009-02-11 10:18:04 +01:00
lockdep.c Merge branch 'tracing/core-v2' into tracing-for-linus 2009-04-02 00:49:02 +02:00
lockdep_internals.h lockdep: get_user_chars() redo 2009-02-14 23:28:22 +01:00
lockdep_proc.c lockstat: warn about disabled lock debugging 2009-02-14 23:28:28 +01:00
lockdep_states.h lockdep: move state bit definitions around 2009-02-14 23:27:59 +01:00
marker.c markers/tracpoints: fix non-modular build 2008-11-16 09:52:03 +01:00
module.c Merge branch 'tracing-for-linus' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/tip/linux-2.6-tip 2009-04-05 11:04:19 -07:00
mutex-debug.c mutex: implement adaptive spinning 2009-01-14 18:09:02 +01:00
mutex-debug.h mutex: implement adaptive spinning 2009-01-14 18:09:02 +01:00
mutex.c mutex: drop "inline" from mutex_lock() inside kernel/mutex.c 2009-04-06 09:30:27 +02:00
mutex.h mutex: implement adaptive spinning 2009-01-14 18:09:02 +01:00
notifier.c Merge commit 'v2.6.28-rc6' into core/debug 2008-11-26 08:22:50 +01:00
ns_cgroup.c cgroups: relax ns_can_attach checks to allow attaching to grandchild cgroups 2009-04-02 19:04:53 -07:00
nsproxy.c User namespaces: set of cleanups (v2) 2008-11-24 18:57:41 -05:00
panic.c panic: clean up kernel/panic.c 2009-03-13 11:25:53 +01:00
params.c param: fix charp parameters set via sysfs 2009-03-31 13:05:30 +10:30
perf_counter.c perf_counter: record time running and time enabled for each counter 2009-04-06 09:30:36 +02:00
pid.c pids: refactor vnr/nr_ns helpers to make them safe 2009-04-02 19:05:02 -07:00
pid_namespace.c signals: zap_pid_ns_process() should use force_sig() 2009-04-02 19:04:58 -07:00
pm_qos_params.c pm_qos_requirement might sleep 2008-09-02 19:21:40 -07:00
posix-cpu-timers.c posix timers: fix RLIMIT_CPU && fork() 2009-03-23 20:43:35 +01:00
posix-timers.c [CVE-2009-0029] System call wrappers part 05 2009-01-14 14:15:20 +01:00
printk.c Merge branch 'printk-for-linus' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/tip/linux-2.6-tip 2009-04-05 10:23:25 -07:00
profile.c profiling: fix broken profiling regression 2009-02-10 00:50:37 +01:00
ptrace.c Merge branch 'core-cleanups-for-linus' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/tip/linux-2.6-tip 2009-04-03 17:35:06 -07:00
rcuclassic.c rcu: Teach RCU that idle task is not quiscent state at boot 2009-02-26 04:08:14 +01:00
rcupdate.c rcu: rcu_barrier VS cpu_hotplug: Ensure callbacks in dead cpu are migrated to online cpu 2009-03-31 00:09:37 +02:00
rcupreempt.c rcu: Teach RCU that idle task is not quiscent state at boot 2009-02-26 04:08:14 +01:00
rcupreempt_trace.c "Tree RCU": scalable classic RCU implementation 2008-12-18 21:56:04 +01:00
rcutorture.c cpumask: convert rcutorture.c 2009-03-30 22:05:16 +10:30
rcutree.c rcu: Teach RCU that idle task is not quiscent state at boot 2009-02-26 04:08:14 +01:00
rcutree_trace.c "Tree RCU": scalable classic RCU implementation 2008-12-18 21:56:04 +01:00
relay.c Merge branch 'tracing-for-linus' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/tip/linux-2.6-tip 2009-04-05 11:04:19 -07:00
res_counter.c memcg: memory cgroup resource counters for hierarchy 2009-01-08 08:31:05 -08:00
resource.c resources: fix parameter name and kernel-doc 2009-01-15 16:39:38 -08:00
rtmutex-debug.c
rtmutex-debug.h
rtmutex-tester.c
rtmutex.c hrtimer: convert kernel/* to the new hrtimer apis 2008-09-05 21:35:13 -07:00
rtmutex.h
rtmutex_common.h
rwsem.c
sched.c perf_counter: generic context switch event 2009-04-06 09:30:15 +02:00
sched_clock.c Merge branch 'tracing/core-v2' into tracing-for-linus 2009-04-02 00:49:02 +02:00
sched_cpupri.c sched: fix section mismatch 2009-01-06 11:07:15 +01:00
sched_cpupri.h cpumask: remove cpumask_t from core 2009-03-30 22:05:17 +10:30
sched_debug.c sched: remove unused fields from struct rq 2009-03-24 23:16:51 +01:00
sched_fair.c Merge branch 'sched/urgent'; commit 'v2.6.29-rc5' into sched/core 2009-02-15 21:15:16 +01:00
sched_features.h Merge branch 'locking-for-linus' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/tip/linux-2.6-tip 2009-03-30 17:17:35 -07:00
sched_idletask.c sched: add CONFIG_SMP consistency 2008-10-22 10:01:52 +02:00
sched_rt.c Merge branch 'core/percpu' into percpu-cpumask-x86-for-linus-2 2009-03-27 17:28:43 +01:00
sched_stats.h sched: remove unused fields from struct rq 2009-03-24 23:16:51 +01:00
seccomp.c x86-64: seccomp: fix 32/64 syscall hole 2009-03-02 15:41:30 -08:00
semaphore.c semaphore: __down_common: use signal_pending_state() 2008-08-05 14:33:47 -07:00
signal.c signals: SI_USER: Masquerade si_pid when crossing pid ns boundary 2009-04-02 19:04:58 -07:00
slow-work.c Document the slow work thread pool 2009-04-03 16:42:35 +01:00
smp.c generic-ipi: eliminate WARN_ON()s during oops/panic 2009-03-13 10:47:34 +01:00
softirq.c Merge branch 'tracing-for-linus' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/tip/linux-2.6-tip 2009-04-05 11:04:19 -07:00
softlockup.c softlock: fix false panic which can occur if softlockup_thresh is reduced 2009-01-14 11:48:07 +01:00
spinlock.c Allow rwlocks to re-enable interrupts 2009-04-02 19:05:11 -07:00
srcu.c
stacktrace.c stacktrace: provide save_stack_trace_tsk() weak alias 2008-12-25 11:44:43 +01:00
stop_machine.c cpumask: remove cpumask_t from core 2009-03-30 22:05:17 +10:30
sys.c Merge branch 'linus' into perfcounters/core-v2 2009-04-06 09:02:57 +02:00
sys_ni.c Merge commit 'v2.6.29-rc2' into perfcounters/core 2009-01-21 16:37:27 +01:00
sysctl.c Make the slow work pool configurable 2009-04-03 16:42:35 +01:00
sysctl_check.c net: add ARP notify option for devices 2009-02-01 01:04:33 -08:00
taskstats.c cpumask: convert rest of files in kernel/ 2009-01-01 10:12:28 +10:30
test_kprobes.c kprobes: add tests for register_kprobes 2009-01-06 15:59:20 -08:00
time.c [CVE-2009-0029] System call wrappers part 01 2009-01-14 14:15:18 +01:00
timeconst.pl
timer.c Merge branch 'locking-for-linus' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/tip/linux-2.6-tip 2009-03-30 17:17:35 -07:00
tracepoint.c tracepoints: dont update zero-sized tracepoint sections 2009-03-18 19:55:00 +01:00
tsacct.c Fix fixpoint divide exception in acct_update_integrals 2009-03-09 08:13:35 -07:00
uid16.c [CVE-2009-0029] System call wrappers part 19 2009-01-14 14:15:26 +01:00
up.c smp_call_function_single(): be slightly less stupid, fix #2 2009-01-12 16:04:37 +01:00
user.c Merge branch 'master' into next 2009-03-24 10:52:46 +11:00
user_namespace.c Fix recursive lock in free_uid()/free_user_ns() 2009-02-27 16:26:21 -08:00
utsname.c removed unused #include <linux/version.h>'s 2008-08-23 12:14:12 -07:00
utsname_sysctl.c proc_sysctl: use CONFIG_PROC_SYSCTL around ipc and utsname proc_handlers 2009-04-02 19:05:01 -07:00
wait.c wait: prevent exclusive waiter starvation 2009-02-05 12:56:48 -08:00
workqueue.c Merge branch 'tracing-for-linus' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/tip/linux-2.6-tip 2009-04-05 11:04:19 -07:00