linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH net-next v2 1/1] net: bridge: switchdev: Improve error message clarity for switchdev_port_obj_add/del

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Date: Sat, 09 Mar 2024 06:26:28 -0800
From: Joe Perches <joe@...ches.com>
To: Oleksij Rempel <o.rempel@...gutronix.de>, Jiri Pirko <jiri@...nulli.us>,
  Ivan Vecera <ivecera@...hat.com>, "David S. Miller" <davem@...emloft.net>,
 Andrew Lunn <andrew@...n.ch>,  Eric Dumazet <edumazet@...gle.com>, Florian
 Fainelli <f.fainelli@...il.com>, Jakub Kicinski <kuba@...nel.org>,  Paolo
 Abeni <pabeni@...hat.com>, Vladimir Oltean <olteanv@...il.com>
Cc: Simon Horman <horms@...nel.org>, kernel@...gutronix.de, 
	linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org, netdev@...r.kernel.org
Subject: Re: [PATCH net-next v2 1/1] net: bridge: switchdev: Improve error
 message clarity for switchdev_port_obj_add/del_deffered operations

On Fri, 2024-03-08 at 11:47 +0100, Oleksij Rempel wrote:
> Enhance the error reporting mechanism in the switchdev framework to
> provide more informative and user-friendly error messages.
> 
> Following feedback from users struggling to understand the implications
> of error messages like "failed (err=-28) to add object (id=2)", this
> update aims to clarify what operation failed and how this might impact
> the system or network.
> 
> With this change, error messages now include a description of the failed
> operation, the specific object involved, and a brief explanation of the
> potential impact on the system. This approach helps administrators and
> developers better understand the context and severity of errors,
> facilitating quicker and more effective troubleshooting.
> 
> Example of the improved logging:
> 
> [   70.516446] ksz-switch spi0.0 uplink: Failed to add Port Multicast
>                Database entry (object id=2) with error: -ENOSPC (-28).
> [   70.516446] Failure in updating the port's Multicast Database could
>                lead to multicast forwarding issues.
> [   70.516446] Current HW/SW setup lacks sufficient resources.

In general, I think the "problem" is being written with 80
columns in mind in the source and is not well thought out
how someone might read the log.

Generally, I think it's better to have single line statements
in the log.

[]

> diff --git a/net/switchdev/switchdev.c b/net/switchdev/switchdev.c
[]
> @@ -244,6 +244,106 @@ static int switchdev_port_obj_notify(enum switchdev_notifier_type nt,
>  	return 0;
>  }

> 
> +static void switchdev_obj_id_to_helpful_msg(struct net_device *dev,
> +					    enum switchdev_obj_id obj_id,
> +					    int err, bool add)
> +{
> +	const char *action = add ? "add" : "del";
> +	const char *reason = "";
> +	const char *problem;
> +	const char *obj_str;
> +
> +	switch (obj_id) {
> +	case SWITCHDEV_OBJ_ID_UNDEFINED:
> +		obj_str = "Undefined object";
> +		problem = "Attempted operation is undefined, indicating a "
> +			  "possible programming error.\n";

My preference would be to write
		problem = "Attempted operation is undefined indicating a possible programming error\n";

> +		break;
> +	case SWITCHDEV_OBJ_ID_PORT_VLAN:
> +		obj_str = "VLAN entry";
> +		problem = "Failure in VLAN settings on this port might disrupt "
> +		          "network segmentation or traffic isolation, affecting\n"
> +		          "network partitioning.\n";
> +		break;
> +	case SWITCHDEV_OBJ_ID_PORT_MDB:
> +		obj_str = "Port Multicast Database entry";
> +		problem = "Failure in updating the port's Multicast Database "
> +			  "could lead to multicast forwarding issues.\n";
> +		break;
> +	case SWITCHDEV_OBJ_ID_HOST_MDB:
> +		obj_str = "Host Multicast Database entry";
> +		problem = "Failure in updating the host's Multicast Database"
> +		          "may impact multicast group memberships or\n"

No space after Database makes the output "Databasemay"

> +			  "traffic delivery, affecting multicast communication.\n";
> +		break;
> +	case SWITCHDEV_OBJ_ID_MRP:
> +		obj_str = "Media Redundancy Protocol configuration for port";
> +		problem = "Failure to set MRP ring ID on this port prevents"
> +			  "communication with the specified redundancy ring,\n"

portcommunication

> +			  "resulting in an inability to engage in MRP-based "
> +			  "network operations.\n";
> +		break;
> +	case SWITCHDEV_OBJ_ID_RING_TEST_MRP:
> +		obj_str = "MRP Test Frame Operations for port";
> +		problem = "Failure to generate/monitor MRP test frames may lead"
> +			  "to inability to assess the ring's operational\n"

leadto

> +			  "integrity and fault response, hindering proactive "
> +			  "network management.\n";
> +		break;
> +	case SWITCHDEV_OBJ_ID_RING_ROLE_MRP:
> +		obj_str = "MRP Ring Role Configuration";
> +		problem = "Improper MRP ring role configuration may create "
> +		          "conflicts in the ring, disrupting communication\n"
> +			  "for all participants, or isolate the local system "
> +			  "from the ring, hindering its ability to communicate "
> +			  "with other participants.\n";

A bunch of unnecessary commas.

> +		break;
> +	case SWITCHDEV_OBJ_ID_RING_STATE_MRP:
> +		obj_str = "MRP Ring State Configuration";
> +		problem = "Failure to correctly set the MRP ring state can "
> +		          "result in network loops or leave segments without\n"
> +			  "communication. In a Closed state, it maintains loop "
> +			  "prevention by blocking one MRM port, while an Open\n"
> +			  "state activates in response to failures, changing "
> +			  "port states to preserve network connectivity.\n";
> +		break;
> +	case SWITCHDEV_OBJ_ID_IN_TEST_MRP:
> +		obj_str = "MRP_InTest Frame Generation Configuration";
> +		problem = "Failure in managing MRP_InTest frame generation can "
> +			  "misjudge the interconnection ring's state, leading\n"
> +			  "to incorrect blocking or unblocking of the I/C port."
> +			  "This misconfiguration might result in unintended\n"
> +			  "network loops or isolate critical network segments, "
> +			  "compromising network integrity and reliability.\n";
> +		break;
> +	case SWITCHDEV_OBJ_ID_IN_ROLE_MRP:
> +		obj_str = "Interconnection Ring Role Configuration";
> +		problem = "Failure in incorrect assignment of interconnection "
> +			  "ring roles (MIM/MIC) can impair the formation of the\n"
> +			  "interconnection rings.\n";
> +		break;
> +	case SWITCHDEV_OBJ_ID_IN_STATE_MRP:
> +		obj_str = "Interconnection Ring State Configuration";
> +		problem = "Failure in updating the interconnection ring state "
> +			  "can lead in case of Open state to incorrect blocking\n"
> +			  "or unblocking of the I/C port, resulting in unintended"
> +			  "network loops or isolation of critical network\n";
> +		break;
> +	default:
> +		obj_str = "Unknown object";
> +		problem	= "Indicating a possible programming error.\n";
> +	}
> +
> +	switch (err) {
> +	case -ENOSPC:
> +		reason = "Current HW/SW setup lacks sufficient resources.\n";

And adding a newline here puts an unnecessary newline between
logging output as the format also has a trailing newline.


> +		break;
> +	}
> +
> +	netdev_err(dev, "Failed to %s %s (object id=%d) with error: %pe (%d).\n%s%s\n",
> +		   action, obj_str, obj_id, ERR_PTR(err), err, problem, reason);
> +}
> +