linux-kernel - [PATCH 10/10] coresight: documenting range and start/stop filtering

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Date:	Mon, 18 Jul 2016 13:51:31 -0600
From:	Mathieu Poirier <mathieu.poirier@...aro.org>
To:	linux-arm-kernel@...ts.infradead.org
Cc:	linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org, alexander.shishkin@...ux.intel.com,
	Mathieu Poirier <mathieu.poirier@...aro.org>,
	linux-doc@...r.kernel.org
Subject: [PATCH 10/10] coresight: documenting range and start/stop filtering

To reduce the amount of traces generated by tracers range
and start/stop address filtering has been implemented.  This
patch provides example on how to use the various options
currently supported.

Signed-off-by: Mathieu Poirier <mathieu.poirier@...aro.org>
Cc: linux-doc@...r.kernel.org
---
 Documentation/trace/coresight.txt | 48 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 1 file changed, 48 insertions(+)

diff --git a/Documentation/trace/coresight.txt b/Documentation/trace/coresight.txt
index a2e7ccb62c2b..a19d7e60937a 100644
--- a/Documentation/trace/coresight.txt
+++ b/Documentation/trace/coresight.txt
@@ -408,6 +408,54 @@ Instruction     13570831        0x8026B584      E28DD00C        false   ADD
 Instruction     0       0x8026B588      E8BD8000        true    LDM      sp!,{pc}
 Timestamp                                       Timestamp: 17107041535
 
+Address filtering
+-----------------
+
+CoreSight tracers produce an astonishing amount of traces, more often than not
+much more than trace buffers can handle, and definilty far beyond the
+processing capabilities of humans.  To trim down the amount of trace generated
+address filters can be specified from the perf command line.
+
+Currently supported filters include range and start/stop address.  When a
+range is specified traces will be collected when the instruction pointer falls
+within the specified addresses.  For start and stop filters, traces collection
+start when the instuction pointer matches the start address, and stop when
+the stop address has been reached.
+
+Filters can be specified from the perf command line as follow:
+
+- To start trace collection when the IP equal a specific function in a binary
+  executable or library:
+
+	perf record -e cs_etm// --filter 'start 0x72c@...t/lib/libcstest.so.1.0' --per-thread ./main
+
+- To stop trace collection when the IP equal a specific function in a binary
+  executable of library:
+
+	perf record -e cs_etm// --filter 'stop 0x790@...t/lib/libcstest.so.1.0' --per-thread ./main
+
+- To start and stop tracing at various stages of kernel execution:
+
+	perf record -e cs_etm// --filter 'start 0xffffff800856bc50,stop 0xffffff800856bcb0,start 0xffffff8008562d0c,stop 0xffffff8008562d30' --per-thread uname
+
+The only requirement on the number of start/stop filters is that they don't go
+beyond the amount of comparator implemented on the system.  Range filters are
+specified using a slightly different syntax:
+
+- To collect traces in a specific range in a binary executable or a library:
+
+	perf record -e cs_etm// --filter 'filter 0x72c/0x40@...t/lib/libcstest.so.1.0' --per-thread ./main
+
+- To collect traces in a specific range in kernel space:
+
+	perf record -e cs_etm// --filter 'filter 0xffffff8008562d0c/0x48' --per-thread  uname
+
+This time the number of comparator _pairs_ implemented in the trace engine is
+the only restriction on the amount of filters that can be specified.
+
+It is possible to mix user and kernel space filters, as long as they are the
+same type.  Mixing range and start/stop filters is currently not supported.
+
 How to use the STM module
 -------------------------
 
-- 
2.7.4