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Diffstat (limited to 'Documentation/trace/rv')
| -rw-r--r-- | Documentation/trace/rv/da_monitor_instrumentation.rst | 171 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | Documentation/trace/rv/da_monitor_synthesis.rst | 147 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | Documentation/trace/rv/deterministic_automata.rst | 184 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | Documentation/trace/rv/index.rst | 14 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | Documentation/trace/rv/monitor_wip.rst | 55 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | Documentation/trace/rv/monitor_wwnr.rst | 45 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | Documentation/trace/rv/runtime-verification.rst | 231 |
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diff --git a/Documentation/trace/rv/da_monitor_instrumentation.rst b/Documentation/trace/rv/da_monitor_instrumentation.rst new file mode 100644 index 000000000000..6c67c7b57811 --- /dev/null +++ b/Documentation/trace/rv/da_monitor_instrumentation.rst @@ -0,0 +1,171 @@ +Deterministic Automata Instrumentation +====================================== + +The RV monitor file created by dot2k, with the name "$MODEL_NAME.c" +includes a section dedicated to instrumentation. + +In the example of the wip.dot monitor created on [1], it will look like:: + + /* + * This is the instrumentation part of the monitor. + * + * This is the section where manual work is required. Here the kernel events + * are translated into model's event. + * + */ + static void handle_preempt_disable(void *data, /* XXX: fill header */) + { + da_handle_event_wip(preempt_disable_wip); + } + + static void handle_preempt_enable(void *data, /* XXX: fill header */) + { + da_handle_event_wip(preempt_enable_wip); + } + + static void handle_sched_waking(void *data, /* XXX: fill header */) + { + da_handle_event_wip(sched_waking_wip); + } + + static int enable_wip(void) + { + int retval; + + retval = da_monitor_init_wip(); + if (retval) + return retval; + + rv_attach_trace_probe("wip", /* XXX: tracepoint */, handle_preempt_disable); + rv_attach_trace_probe("wip", /* XXX: tracepoint */, handle_preempt_enable); + rv_attach_trace_probe("wip", /* XXX: tracepoint */, handle_sched_waking); + + return 0; + } + +The comment at the top of the section explains the general idea: the +instrumentation section translates *kernel events* into the *model's +event*. + +Tracing callback functions +-------------------------- + +The first three functions are the starting point of the callback *handler +functions* for each of the three events from the wip model. The developer +does not necessarily need to use them: they are just starting points. + +Using the example of:: + + void handle_preempt_disable(void *data, /* XXX: fill header */) + { + da_handle_event_wip(preempt_disable_wip); + } + +The preempt_disable event from the model connects directly to the +preemptirq:preempt_disable. The preemptirq:preempt_disable event +has the following signature, from include/trace/events/preemptirq.h:: + + TP_PROTO(unsigned long ip, unsigned long parent_ip) + +Hence, the handle_preempt_disable() function will look like:: + + void handle_preempt_disable(void *data, unsigned long ip, unsigned long parent_ip) + +In this case, the kernel event translates one to one with the automata +event, and indeed, no other change is required for this function. + +The next handler function, handle_preempt_enable() has the same argument +list from the handle_preempt_disable(). The difference is that the +preempt_enable event will be used to synchronize the system to the model. + +Initially, the *model* is placed in the initial state. However, the *system* +might or might not be in the initial state. The monitor cannot start +processing events until it knows that the system has reached the initial state. +Otherwise, the monitor and the system could be out-of-sync. + +Looking at the automata definition, it is possible to see that the system +and the model are expected to return to the initial state after the +preempt_enable execution. Hence, it can be used to synchronize the +system and the model at the initialization of the monitoring section. + +The start is informed via a special handle function, the +"da_handle_start_event_$(MONITOR_NAME)(event)", in this case:: + + da_handle_start_event_wip(preempt_enable_wip); + +So, the callback function will look like:: + + void handle_preempt_enable(void *data, unsigned long ip, unsigned long parent_ip) + { + da_handle_start_event_wip(preempt_enable_wip); + } + +Finally, the "handle_sched_waking()" will look like:: + + void handle_sched_waking(void *data, struct task_struct *task) + { + da_handle_event_wip(sched_waking_wip); + } + +And the explanation is left for the reader as an exercise. + +enable and disable functions +---------------------------- + +dot2k automatically creates two special functions:: + + enable_$(MONITOR_NAME)() + disable_$(MONITOR_NAME)() + +These functions are called when the monitor is enabled and disabled, +respectively. + +They should be used to *attach* and *detach* the instrumentation to the running +system. The developer must add to the relative function all that is needed to +*attach* and *detach* its monitor to the system. + +For the wip case, these functions were named:: + + enable_wip() + disable_wip() + +But no change was required because: by default, these functions *attach* and +*detach* the tracepoints_to_attach, which was enough for this case. + +Instrumentation helpers +----------------------- + +To complete the instrumentation, the *handler functions* need to be attached to a +kernel event, at the monitoring enable phase. + +The RV interface also facilitates this step. For example, the macro "rv_attach_trace_probe()" +is used to connect the wip model events to the relative kernel event. dot2k automatically +adds "rv_attach_trace_probe()" function call for each model event in the enable phase, as +a suggestion. + +For example, from the wip sample model:: + + static int enable_wip(void) + { + int retval; + + retval = da_monitor_init_wip(); + if (retval) + return retval; + + rv_attach_trace_probe("wip", /* XXX: tracepoint */, handle_preempt_enable); + rv_attach_trace_probe("wip", /* XXX: tracepoint */, handle_sched_waking); + rv_attach_trace_probe("wip", /* XXX: tracepoint */, handle_preempt_disable); + + return 0; + } + +The probes then need to be detached at the disable phase. + +[1] The wip model is presented in:: + + Documentation/trace/rv/deterministic_automata.rst + +The wip monitor is presented in:: + + Documentation/trace/rv/da_monitor_synthesis.rst diff --git a/Documentation/trace/rv/da_monitor_synthesis.rst b/Documentation/trace/rv/da_monitor_synthesis.rst new file mode 100644 index 000000000000..0a92729c8a9b --- /dev/null +++ b/Documentation/trace/rv/da_monitor_synthesis.rst @@ -0,0 +1,147 @@ +Deterministic Automata Monitor Synthesis +======================================== + +The starting point for the application of runtime verification (RV) techniques +is the *specification* or *modeling* of the desired (or undesired) behavior +of the system under scrutiny. + +The formal representation needs to be then *synthesized* into a *monitor* +that can then be used in the analysis of the trace of the system. The +*monitor* connects to the system via an *instrumentation* that converts +the events from the *system* to the events of the *specification*. + + +In Linux terms, the runtime verification monitors are encapsulated inside +the *RV monitor* abstraction. The RV monitor includes a set of instances +of the monitor (per-cpu monitor, per-task monitor, and so on), the helper +functions that glue the monitor to the system reference model, and the +trace output as a reaction to event parsing and exceptions, as depicted +below:: + + Linux +----- RV Monitor ----------------------------------+ Formal + Realm | | Realm + +-------------------+ +----------------+ +-----------------+ + | Linux kernel | | Monitor | | Reference | + | Tracing | -> | Instance(s) | <- | Model | + | (instrumentation) | | (verification) | | (specification) | + +-------------------+ +----------------+ +-----------------+ + | | | + | V | + | +----------+ | + | | Reaction | | + | +--+--+--+-+ | + | | | | | + | | | +-> trace output ? | + +------------------------|--|----------------------+ + | +----> panic ? + +-------> <user-specified> + +DA monitor synthesis +-------------------- + +The synthesis of automata-based models into the Linux *RV monitor* abstraction +is automated by the dot2k tool and the rv/da_monitor.h header file that +contains a set of macros that automatically generate the monitor's code. + +dot2k +----- + +The dot2k utility leverages dot2c by converting an automaton model in +the DOT format into the C representation [1] and creating the skeleton of +a kernel monitor in C. + +For example, it is possible to transform the wip.dot model present in +[1] into a per-cpu monitor with the following command:: + + $ dot2k -d wip.dot -t per_cpu + +This will create a directory named wip/ with the following files: + +- wip.h: the wip model in C +- wip.c: the RV monitor + +The wip.c file contains the monitor declaration and the starting point for +the system instrumentation. + +Monitor macros +-------------- + +The rv/da_monitor.h enables automatic code generation for the *Monitor +Instance(s)* using C macros. + +The benefits of the usage of macro for monitor synthesis are 3-fold as it: + +- Reduces the code duplication; +- Facilitates the bug fix/improvement; +- Avoids the case of developers changing the core of the monitor code + to manipulate the model in a (let's say) non-standard way. + +This initial implementation presents three different types of monitor instances: + +- ``#define DECLARE_DA_MON_GLOBAL(name, type)`` +- ``#define DECLARE_DA_MON_PER_CPU(name, type)`` +- ``#define DECLARE_DA_MON_PER_TASK(name, type)`` + +The first declares the functions for a global deterministic automata monitor, +the second for monitors with per-cpu instances, and the third with per-task +instances. + +In all cases, the 'name' argument is a string that identifies the monitor, and +the 'type' argument is the data type used by dot2k on the representation of +the model in C. + +For example, the wip model with two states and three events can be +stored in an 'unsigned char' type. Considering that the preemption control +is a per-cpu behavior, the monitor declaration in the 'wip.c' file is:: + + DECLARE_DA_MON_PER_CPU(wip, unsigned char); + +The monitor is executed by sending events to be processed via the functions +presented below:: + + da_handle_event_$(MONITOR_NAME)($(event from event enum)); + da_handle_start_event_$(MONITOR_NAME)($(event from event enum)); + da_handle_start_run_event_$(MONITOR_NAME)($(event from event enum)); + +The function ``da_handle_event_$(MONITOR_NAME)()`` is the regular case where +the event will be processed if the monitor is processing events. + +When a monitor is enabled, it is placed in the initial state of the automata. +However, the monitor does not know if the system is in the *initial state*. + +The ``da_handle_start_event_$(MONITOR_NAME)()`` function is used to notify the +monitor that the system is returning to the initial state, so the monitor can +start monitoring the next event. + +The ``da_handle_start_run_event_$(MONITOR_NAME)()`` function is used to notify +the monitor that the system is known to be in the initial state, so the +monitor can start monitoring and monitor the current event. + +Using the wip model as example, the events "preempt_disable" and +"sched_waking" should be sent to monitor, respectively, via [2]:: + + da_handle_event_wip(preempt_disable_wip); + da_handle_event_wip(sched_waking_wip); + +While the event "preempt_enabled" will use:: + + da_handle_start_event_wip(preempt_enable_wip); + +To notify the monitor that the system will be returning to the initial state, +so the system and the monitor should be in sync. + +Final remarks +------------- + +With the monitor synthesis in place using the rv/da_monitor.h and +dot2k, the developer's work should be limited to the instrumentation +of the system, increasing the confidence in the overall approach. + +[1] For details about deterministic automata format and the translation +from one representation to another, see:: + + Documentation/trace/rv/deterministic_automata.rst + +[2] dot2k appends the monitor's name suffix to the events enums to +avoid conflicting variables when exporting the global vmlinux.h +use by BPF programs. diff --git a/Documentation/trace/rv/deterministic_automata.rst b/Documentation/trace/rv/deterministic_automata.rst new file mode 100644 index 000000000000..d0638f95a455 --- /dev/null +++ b/Documentation/trace/rv/deterministic_automata.rst @@ -0,0 +1,184 @@ +Deterministic Automata +====================== + +Formally, a deterministic automaton, denoted by G, is defined as a quintuple: + + *G* = { *X*, *E*, *f*, x\ :subscript:`0`, X\ :subscript:`m` } + +where: + +- *X* is the set of states; +- *E* is the finite set of events; +- x\ :subscript:`0` is the initial state; +- X\ :subscript:`m` (subset of *X*) is the set of marked (or final) states. +- *f* : *X* x *E* -> *X* $ is the transition function. It defines the state + transition in the occurrence of an event from *E* in the state *X*. In the + special case of deterministic automata, the occurrence of the event in *E* + in a state in *X* has a deterministic next state from *X*. + +For example, a given automaton named 'wip' (wakeup in preemptive) can +be defined as: + +- *X* = { ``preemptive``, ``non_preemptive``} +- *E* = { ``preempt_enable``, ``preempt_disable``, ``sched_waking``} +- x\ :subscript:`0` = ``preemptive`` +- X\ :subscript:`m` = {``preemptive``} +- *f* = + - *f*\ (``preemptive``, ``preempt_disable``) = ``non_preemptive`` + - *f*\ (``non_preemptive``, ``sched_waking``) = ``non_preemptive`` + - *f*\ (``non_preemptive``, ``preempt_enable``) = ``preemptive`` + +One of the benefits of this formal definition is that it can be presented +in multiple formats. For example, using a *graphical representation*, using +vertices (nodes) and edges, which is very intuitive for *operating system* +practitioners, without any loss. + +The previous 'wip' automaton can also be represented as:: + + preempt_enable + +---------------------------------+ + v | + #============# preempt_disable +------------------+ + --> H preemptive H -----------------> | non_preemptive | + #============# +------------------+ + ^ | + | sched_waking | + +--------------+ + +Deterministic Automaton in C +---------------------------- + +In the paper "Efficient formal verification for the Linux kernel", +the authors present a simple way to represent an automaton in C that can +be used as regular code in the Linux kernel. + +For example, the 'wip' automata can be presented as (augmented with comments):: + + /* enum representation of X (set of states) to be used as index */ + enum states { + preemptive = 0, + non_preemptive, + state_max + }; + + #define INVALID_STATE state_max + + /* enum representation of E (set of events) to be used as index */ + enum events { + preempt_disable = 0, + preempt_enable, + sched_waking, + event_max + }; + + struct automaton { + char *state_names[state_max]; // X: the set of states + char *event_names[event_max]; // E: the finite set of events + unsigned char function[state_max][event_max]; // f: transition function + unsigned char initial_state; // x_0: the initial state + bool final_states[state_max]; // X_m: the set of marked states + }; + + struct automaton aut = { + .state_names = { + "preemptive", + "non_preemptive" + }, + .event_names = { + "preempt_disable", + "preempt_enable", + "sched_waking" + }, + .function = { + { non_preemptive, INVALID_STATE, INVALID_STATE }, + { INVALID_STATE, preemptive, non_preemptive }, + }, + .initial_state = preemptive, + .final_states = { 1, 0 }, + }; + +The *transition function* is represented as a matrix of states (lines) and +events (columns), and so the function *f* : *X* x *E* -> *X* can be solved +in O(1). For example:: + + next_state = automaton_wip.function[curr_state][event]; + +Graphviz .dot format +-------------------- + +The Graphviz open-source tool can produce the graphical representation +of an automaton using the (textual) DOT language as the source code. +The DOT format is widely used and can be converted to many other formats. + +For example, this is the 'wip' model in DOT:: + + digraph state_automaton { + {node [shape = circle] "non_preemptive"}; + {node [shape = plaintext, style=invis, label=""] "__init_preemptive"}; + {node [shape = doublecircle] "preemptive"}; + {node [shape = circle] "preemptive"}; + "__init_preemptive" -> "preemptive"; + "non_preemptive" [label = "non_preemptive"]; + "non_preemptive" -> "non_preemptive" [ label = "sched_waking" ]; + "non_preemptive" -> "preemptive" [ label = "preempt_enable" ]; + "preemptive" [label = "preemptive"]; + "preemptive" -> "non_preemptive" [ label = "preempt_disable" ]; + { rank = min ; + "__init_preemptive"; + "preemptive"; + } + } + +This DOT format can be transformed into a bitmap or vectorial image +using the dot utility, or into an ASCII art using graph-easy. For +instance:: + + $ dot -Tsvg -o wip.svg wip.dot + $ graph-easy wip.dot > wip.txt + +dot2c +----- + +dot2c is a utility that can parse a .dot file containing an automaton as +in the example above and automatically convert it to the C representation +presented in [3]. + +For example, having the previous 'wip' model into a file named 'wip.dot', +the following command will transform the .dot file into the C +representation (previously shown) in the 'wip.h' file:: + + $ dot2c wip.dot > wip.h + +The 'wip.h' content is the code sample in section 'Deterministic Automaton +in C'. + +Remarks +------- + +The automata formalism allows modeling discrete event systems (DES) in +multiple formats, suitable for different applications/users. + +For example, the formal description using set theory is better suitable +for automata operations, while the graphical format for human interpretation; +and computer languages for machine execution. + +References +---------- + +Many textbooks cover automata formalism. For a brief introduction see:: + + O'Regan, Gerard. Concise guide to software engineering. Springer, + Cham, 2017. + +For a detailed description, including operations, and application on Discrete +Event Systems (DES), see:: + + Cassandras, Christos G., and Stephane Lafortune, eds. Introduction to discrete + event systems. Boston, MA: Springer US, 2008. + +For the C representation in kernel, see:: + + De Oliveira, Daniel Bristot; Cucinotta, Tommaso; De Oliveira, Romulo + Silva. Efficient formal verification for the Linux kernel. In: + International Conference on Software Engineering and Formal Methods. + Springer, Cham, 2019. p. 315-332. diff --git a/Documentation/trace/rv/index.rst b/Documentation/trace/rv/index.rst new file mode 100644 index 000000000000..15fa966102c0 --- /dev/null +++ b/Documentation/trace/rv/index.rst @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +==================== +Runtime Verification +==================== + +.. toctree:: + :maxdepth: 2 + :glob: + + runtime-verification.rst + deterministic_automata.rst + da_monitor_synthesis.rst + da_monitor_instrumentation.rst + monitor_wip.rst + monitor_wwnr.rst diff --git a/Documentation/trace/rv/monitor_wip.rst b/Documentation/trace/rv/monitor_wip.rst new file mode 100644 index 000000000000..a95763438c48 --- /dev/null +++ b/Documentation/trace/rv/monitor_wip.rst @@ -0,0 +1,55 @@ +Monitor wip +=========== + +- Name: wip - wakeup in preemptive +- Type: per-cpu deterministic automaton +- Author: Daniel Bristot de Oliveira <bristot@kernel.org> + +Description +----------- + +The wakeup in preemptive (wip) monitor is a sample per-cpu monitor +that verifies if the wakeup events always take place with +preemption disabled:: + + | + | + v + #==================# + H preemptive H <+ + #==================# | + | | + | preempt_disable | preempt_enable + v | + sched_waking +------------------+ | + +--------------- | | | + | | non_preemptive | | + +--------------> | | -+ + +------------------+ + +The wakeup event always takes place with preemption disabled because +of the scheduler synchronization. However, because the preempt_count +and its trace event are not atomic with regard to interrupts, some +inconsistencies might happen. For example:: + + preempt_disable() { + __preempt_count_add(1) + -------> smp_apic_timer_interrupt() { + preempt_disable() + do not trace (preempt count >= 1) + + wake up a thread + + preempt_enable() + do not trace (preempt count >= 1) + } + <------ + trace_preempt_disable(); + } + +This problem was reported and discussed here: + https://lore.kernel.org/r/cover.1559051152.git.bristot@redhat.com/ + +Specification +------------- +Grapviz Dot file in tools/verification/models/wip.dot diff --git a/Documentation/trace/rv/monitor_wwnr.rst b/Documentation/trace/rv/monitor_wwnr.rst new file mode 100644 index 000000000000..9f739030f826 --- /dev/null +++ b/Documentation/trace/rv/monitor_wwnr.rst @@ -0,0 +1,45 @@ +Monitor wwnr +============ + +- Name: wwrn - wakeup while not running +- Type: per-task deterministic automaton +- Author: Daniel Bristot de Oliveira <bristot@kernel.org> + +Description +----------- + +This is a per-task sample monitor, with the following +definition:: + + | + | + v + wakeup +-------------+ + +--------- | | + | | not_running | + +--------> | | <+ + +-------------+ | + | | + | switch_in | switch_out + v | + +-------------+ | + | running | -+ + +-------------+ + +This model is broken, the reason is that a task can be running +in the processor without being set as RUNNABLE. Think about a +task about to sleep:: + + 1: set_current_state(TASK_UNINTERRUPTIBLE); + 2: schedule(); + +And then imagine an IRQ happening in between the lines one and two, +waking the task up. BOOM, the wakeup will happen while the task is +running. + +- Why do we need this model, so? +- To test the reactors. + +Specification +------------- +Grapviz Dot file in tools/verification/models/wwnr.dot diff --git a/Documentation/trace/rv/runtime-verification.rst b/Documentation/trace/rv/runtime-verification.rst new file mode 100644 index 000000000000..dae78dfa7cdc --- /dev/null +++ b/Documentation/trace/rv/runtime-verification.rst @@ -0,0 +1,231 @@ +==================== +Runtime Verification +==================== + +Runtime Verification (RV) is a lightweight (yet rigorous) method that +complements classical exhaustive verification techniques (such as *model +checking* and *theorem proving*) with a more practical approach for complex +systems. + +Instead of relying on a fine-grained model of a system (e.g., a +re-implementation a instruction level), RV works by analyzing the trace of the +system's actual execution, comparing it against a formal specification of +the system behavior. + +The main advantage is that RV can give precise information on the runtime +behavior of the monitored system, without the pitfalls of developing models +that require a re-implementation of the entire system in a modeling language. +Moreover, given an efficient monitoring method, it is possible execute an +*online* verification of a system, enabling the *reaction* for unexpected +events, avoiding, for example, the propagation of a failure on safety-critical +systems. + +Runtime Monitors and Reactors +============================= + +A monitor is the central part of the runtime verification of a system. The +monitor stands in between the formal specification of the desired (or +undesired) behavior, and the trace of the actual system. + +In Linux terms, the runtime verification monitors are encapsulated inside the +*RV monitor* abstraction. A *RV monitor* includes a reference model of the +system, a set of instances of the monitor (per-cpu monitor, per-task monitor, +and so on), and the helper functions that glue the monitor to the system via +trace, as depicted below:: + + Linux +---- RV Monitor ----------------------------------+ Formal + Realm | | Realm + +-------------------+ +----------------+ +-----------------+ + | Linux kernel | | Monitor | | Reference | + | Tracing | -> | Instance(s) | <- | Model | + | (instrumentation) | | (verification) | | (specification) | + +-------------------+ +----------------+ +-----------------+ + | | | + | V | + | +----------+ | + | | Reaction | | + | +--+--+--+-+ | + | | | | | + | | | +-> trace output ? | + +------------------------|--|----------------------+ + | +----> panic ? + +-------> <user-specified> + +In addition to the verification and monitoring of the system, a monitor can +react to an unexpected event. The forms of reaction can vary from logging the +event occurrence to the enforcement of the correct behavior to the extreme +action of taking a system down to avoid the propagation of a failure. + +In Linux terms, a *reactor* is an reaction method available for *RV monitors*. +By default, all monitors should provide a trace output of their actions, +which is already a reaction. In addition, other reactions will be available +so the user can enable them as needed. + +For further information about the principles of runtime verification and +RV applied to Linux: + + Bartocci, Ezio, et al. *Introduction to runtime verification.* In: Lectures on + Runtime Verification. Springer, Cham, 2018. p. 1-33. + + Falcone, Ylies, et al. *A taxonomy for classifying runtime verification tools.* + In: International Conference on Runtime Verification. Springer, Cham, 2018. p. + 241-262. + + De Oliveira, Daniel Bristot. *Automata-based formal analysis and + verification of the real-time Linux kernel.* Ph.D. Thesis, 2020. + +Online RV monitors +================== + +Monitors can be classified as *offline* and *online* monitors. *Offline* +monitor process the traces generated by a system after the events, generally by +reading the trace execution from a permanent storage system. *Online* monitors +process the trace during the execution of the system. Online monitors are said +to be *synchronous* if the processing of an event is attached to the system +execution, blocking the system during the event monitoring. On the other hand, +an *asynchronous* monitor has its execution detached from the system. Each type +of monitor has a set of advantages. For example, *offline* monitors can be +executed on different machines but require operations to save the log to a +file. In contrast, *synchronous online* method can react at the exact moment +a violation occurs. + +Another important aspect regarding monitors is the overhead associated with the +event analysis. If the system generates events at a frequency higher than the +monitor's ability to process them in the same system, only the *offline* +methods are viable. On the other hand, if the tracing of the events incurs +on higher overhead than the simple handling of an event by a monitor, then a +*synchronous online* monitors will incur on lower overhead. + +Indeed, the research presented in: + + De Oliveira, Daniel Bristot; Cucinotta, Tommaso; De Oliveira, Romulo Silva. + *Efficient formal verification for the Linux kernel.* In: International + Conference on Software Engineering and Formal Methods. Springer, Cham, 2019. + p. 315-332. + +Shows that for Deterministic Automata models, the synchronous processing of +events in-kernel causes lower overhead than saving the same events to the trace +buffer, not even considering collecting the trace for user-space analysis. +This motivated the development of an in-kernel interface for online monitors. + +For further information about modeling of Linux kernel behavior using automata, +see: + + De Oliveira, Daniel B.; De Oliveira, Romulo S.; Cucinotta, Tommaso. *A thread + synchronization model for the PREEMPT_RT Linux kernel.* Journal of Systems + Architecture, 2020, 107: 101729. + +The user interface +================== + +The user interface resembles the tracing interface (on purpose). It is +currently at "/sys/kernel/tracing/rv/". + +The following files/folders are currently available: + +**available_monitors** + +- Reading list the available monitors, one per line + +For example:: + + # cat available_monitors + wip + wwnr + +**available_reactors** + +- Reading shows the available reactors, one per line. + +For example:: + + # cat available_reactors + nop + panic + printk + +**enabled_monitors**: + +- Reading lists the enabled monitors, one per line +- Writing to it enables a given monitor +- Writing a monitor name with a '!' prefix disables it +- Truncating the file disables all enabled monitors + +For example:: + + # cat enabled_monitors + # echo wip > enabled_monitors + # echo wwnr >> enabled_monitors + # cat enabled_monitors + wip + wwnr + # echo '!wip' >> enabled_monitors + # cat enabled_monitors + wwnr + # echo > enabled_monitors + # cat enabled_monitors + # + +Note that it is possible to enable more than one monitor concurrently. + +**monitoring_on** + +This is an on/off general switcher for monitoring. It resembles the +"tracing_on" switcher in the trace interface. + +- Writing "0" stops the monitoring +- Writing "1" continues the monitoring +- Reading returns the current status of the monitoring + +Note that it does not disable enabled monitors but stop the per-entity +monitors monitoring the events received from the system. + +**reacting_on** + +- Writing "0" prevents reactions for happening +- Writing "1" enable reactions +- Reading returns the current status of the reaction + +**monitors/** + +Each monitor will have its own directory inside "monitors/". There the +monitor-specific files will be presented. The "monitors/" directory resembles +the "events" directory on tracefs. + +For example:: + + # cd monitors/wip/ + # ls + desc enable + # cat desc + wakeup in preemptive per-cpu testing monitor. + # cat enable + 0 + +**monitors/MONITOR/desc** + +- Reading shows a description of the monitor *MONITOR* + +**monitors/MONITOR/enable** + +- Writing "0" disables the *MONITOR* +- Writing "1" enables the *MONITOR* +- Reading return the current status of the *MONITOR* + +**monitors/MONITOR/reactors** + +- List available reactors, with the select reaction for the given *MONITOR* + inside "[]". The default one is the nop (no operation) reactor. +- Writing the name of a reactor enables it to the given MONITOR. + +For example:: + + # cat monitors/wip/reactors + [nop] + panic + printk + # echo panic > monitors/wip/reactors + # cat monitors/wip/reactors + nop + [panic] + printk |