On 8/7/25 7:06 PM, Pierrick Bouvier wrote:
This plugin generates a binary trace compatible with the excellent uftrace:
https://github.com/namhyung/uftrace
In short, it tracks all function calls performed during execution, based on
frame pointer analysis. A big advantage over "uftrace record" is that it works
in system mode, allowing to trace a full system execution, which was the
original goal. It works as well in user mode, but uftrace itself already does
this. It's implemented for aarch64 and x86_64.
Let's start with concrete examples of the result.
First, in system mode, booting a stack using TF-A + U-boot + Linux:
- Two first stages of boot sequence in Arm Trusted Firmware (EL3 and S-EL1)
https://fileserver.linaro.org/s/kkxBS552W7nYESX/preview
- Stat and open syscalls in kernel
https://fileserver.linaro.org/s/dXe4MfraKg2F476/preview
- Poweroff sequence (from kernel back to firmware, NS-EL2 to EL3)
https://fileserver.linaro.org/s/oR2PtyGKJrqnfRf/preview
Full trace is available here:
https://fileserver.linaro.org/s/WsemLboPEzo24nw/download/aarch64_boot.json.gz
You can download and open it on https://ui.perfetto.dev/ to explore it.
Second, in user mode, tracing qemu-aarch64 (itself) running git --help:
- Loading program and its interpreter
https://fileserver.linaro.org/s/fie8JgX76yyL5cq/preview
- TB creation
https://fileserver.linaro.org/s/GXY6NKMw5EeRCew/preview
Full trace is available here:
https://fileserver.linaro.org/s/N8X8fnZ5yGRZLsT/download/qemu_aarch64_git_help.json.gz
If you had curiosity and now you're ready to give some attention, most of the
details you want to read are included in the documentation patch (final one).
Overhead is around x5-x15, and long traces can be directly filtered with uftrace
if needed.
I hope this plugin can help people trying to understand what happens out of the
user space, and get a better grasp of how firmwares, bootloader, and kernel
interact behind the curtain.
v2
--
- trace active stacks on exit
- do not erase map generated in system_emulation
- add documentation to generate restricted visual traces around specific events
of execution
v3
--
- fix missing include unistd.h (build failed on MacOS only)
v4
--
- add support for x64
v5
--
- addressed Alex comments
- split plugin implementation in several commits
- removed instruction based timestamps (only use time based timestamps)
- removed sampling implementation
Pierrick Bouvier (9):
contrib/plugins/uftrace: skeleton file
contrib/plugins/uftrace: define cpu operations and implement aarch64
contrib/plugins/uftrace: track callstack
contrib/plugins/uftrace: implement tracing
contrib/plugins/uftrace: implement privilege level tracing
contrib/plugins/uftrace: generate additional files for uftrace
contrib/plugins/uftrace: implement x64 support
contrib/plugins/uftrace_symbols.py
contrib/plugins/uftrace: add documentation
docs/about/emulation.rst | 197 +++++++
contrib/plugins/uftrace.c | 871 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
contrib/plugins/meson.build | 3 +-
contrib/plugins/uftrace_symbols.py | 152 +++++
4 files changed, 1222 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
create mode 100644 contrib/plugins/uftrace.c
create mode 100755 contrib/plugins/uftrace_symbols.py
Sent v6:
https://lore.kernel.org/qemu-devel/20250808204156.659715-1-pierrick.bouv...@linaro.org/
