docs: livepatch: convert docs to ReST and rename to *.rst

Convert livepatch documentation to ReST format. The changes
are mostly trivial, as the documents are already on a good
shape. Just a few markup changes are needed for Sphinx to
properly parse the docs.

The conversion is actually:
  - add blank lines and identation in order to identify paragraphs;
  - fix tables markups;
  - add some lists markups;
  - mark literal blocks;
  - The in-file TOC becomes a comment, in order to skip it from the
    output, as Sphinx already generates an index there.
  - adjust title markups.

At its new index.rst, let's add a :orphan: while this is not linked to
the main index.rst file, in order to avoid build warnings.

Signed-off-by: Mauro Carvalho Chehab <mchehab+samsung@kernel.org>
Signed-off-by: Petr Mladek <pmladek@suse.com>
Acked-by: Miroslav Benes <mbenes@suse.cz>
Acked-by: Josh Poimboeuf <jpoimboe@redhat.com>
Acked-by: Joe Lawrence <joe.lawrence@redhat.com>
Reviewed-by: Kamalesh Babulal <kamalesh@linux.vnet.ibm.com>
Signed-off-by: Jonathan Corbet <corbet@lwn.net>
This commit is contained in:
Mauro Carvalho Chehab 2019-05-03 16:30:23 +02:00 committed by Jonathan Corbet
parent 894ee5ff83
commit 89e33ea732
8 changed files with 224 additions and 163 deletions

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@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ Description:
use this feature without a clearance from a patch
distributor. Removal (rmmod) of patch modules is permanently
disabled when the feature is used. See
Documentation/livepatch/livepatch.txt for more information.
Documentation/livepatch/livepatch.rst for more information.
What: /sys/kernel/livepatch/<patch>/<object>
Date: Nov 2014

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@ -30,16 +30,20 @@ be patched, irrespective of the target klp_object's current state.
Callbacks can be registered for the following livepatch actions:
* Pre-patch - before a klp_object is patched
* Pre-patch
- before a klp_object is patched
* Post-patch - after a klp_object has been patched and is active
* Post-patch
- after a klp_object has been patched and is active
across all tasks
* Pre-unpatch - before a klp_object is unpatched (ie, patched code is
* Pre-unpatch
- before a klp_object is unpatched (ie, patched code is
active), used to clean up post-patch callback
resources
* Post-unpatch - after a klp_object has been patched, all code has
* Post-unpatch
- after a klp_object has been patched, all code has
been restored and no tasks are running patched code,
used to cleanup pre-patch callback resources

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@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ Usage
-----
The atomic replace can be enabled by setting "replace" flag in struct klp_patch,
for example:
for example::
static struct klp_patch patch = {
.mod = THIS_MODULE,
@ -49,19 +49,19 @@ Features
The atomic replace allows:
+ Atomically revert some functions in a previous patch while
- Atomically revert some functions in a previous patch while
upgrading other functions.
+ Remove eventual performance impact caused by core redirection
- Remove eventual performance impact caused by core redirection
for functions that are no longer patched.
+ Decrease user confusion about dependencies between livepatches.
- Decrease user confusion about dependencies between livepatches.
Limitations:
------------
+ Once the operation finishes, there is no straightforward way
- Once the operation finishes, there is no straightforward way
to reverse it and restore the replaced patches atomically.
A good practice is to set .replace flag in any released livepatch.
@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ Limitations:
only when the transition was not forced.
+ Only the (un)patching callbacks from the _new_ cumulative livepatch are
- Only the (un)patching callbacks from the _new_ cumulative livepatch are
executed. Any callbacks from the replaced patches are ignored.
In other words, the cumulative patch is responsible for doing any actions
@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ Limitations:
enabled patches were called.
+ There is no special handling of shadow variables. Livepatch authors
- There is no special handling of shadow variables. Livepatch authors
must create their own rules how to pass them from one cumulative
patch to the other. Especially that they should not blindly remove
them in module_exit() functions.

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@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
:orphan:
===================
Kernel Livepatching
===================
.. toctree::
:maxdepth: 1
livepatch
callbacks
cumulative-patches
module-elf-format
shadow-vars
.. only:: subproject and html
Indices
=======
* :ref:`genindex`

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@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ Livepatch
This document outlines basic information about kernel livepatching.
Table of Contents:
.. Table of Contents:
1. Motivation
2. Kprobes, Ftrace, Livepatching
@ -40,14 +40,14 @@ There are multiple mechanisms in the Linux kernel that are directly related
to redirection of code execution; namely: kernel probes, function tracing,
and livepatching:
+ The kernel probes are the most generic. The code can be redirected by
- The kernel probes are the most generic. The code can be redirected by
putting a breakpoint instruction instead of any instruction.
+ The function tracer calls the code from a predefined location that is
- The function tracer calls the code from a predefined location that is
close to the function entry point. This location is generated by the
compiler using the '-pg' gcc option.
+ Livepatching typically needs to redirect the code at the very beginning
- Livepatching typically needs to redirect the code at the very beginning
of the function entry before the function parameters or the stack
are in any way modified.
@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ The patch contains only functions that are really modified. But they
might want to access functions or data from the original source file
that may only be locally accessible. This can be solved by a special
relocation section in the generated livepatch module, see
Documentation/livepatch/module-elf-format.txt for more details.
Documentation/livepatch/module-elf-format.rst for more details.
4.2. Metadata
@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ Documentation/livepatch/module-elf-format.txt for more details.
The patch is described by several structures that split the information
into three levels:
+ struct klp_func is defined for each patched function. It describes
- struct klp_func is defined for each patched function. It describes
the relation between the original and the new implementation of a
particular function.
@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ into three levels:
only for a particular object ( vmlinux or a kernel module ). Note that
kallsyms allows for searching symbols according to the object name.
+ struct klp_object defines an array of patched functions (struct
- struct klp_object defines an array of patched functions (struct
klp_func) in the same object. Where the object is either vmlinux
(NULL) or a module name.
@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ into three levels:
only when they are available.
+ struct klp_patch defines an array of patched objects (struct
- struct klp_patch defines an array of patched objects (struct
klp_object).
This structure handles all patched functions consistently and eventually,
@ -337,14 +337,16 @@ operation fails.
Second, livepatch enters into a transition state where tasks are converging
to the patched state. If an original function is patched for the first
time, a function specific struct klp_ops is created and an universal
ftrace handler is registered[*]. This stage is indicated by a value of '1'
ftrace handler is registered\ [#]_. This stage is indicated by a value of '1'
in /sys/kernel/livepatch/<name>/transition. For more information about
this process, see the "Consistency model" section.
Finally, once all tasks have been patched, the 'transition' value changes
to '0'.
[*] Note that functions might be patched multiple times. The ftrace handler
.. [#]
Note that functions might be patched multiple times. The ftrace handler
is registered only once for a given function. Further patches just add
an entry to the list (see field `func_stack`) of the struct klp_ops.
The right implementation is selected by the ftrace handler, see
@ -368,7 +370,7 @@ the ftrace handler is unregistered and the struct klp_ops is
freed when the related function is not modified by the new patch
and func_stack list becomes empty.
See Documentation/livepatch/cumulative-patches.txt for more details.
See Documentation/livepatch/cumulative-patches.rst for more details.
5.4. Disabling
@ -421,7 +423,7 @@ See Documentation/ABI/testing/sysfs-kernel-livepatch for more details.
The current Livepatch implementation has several limitations:
+ Only functions that can be traced could be patched.
- Only functions that can be traced could be patched.
Livepatch is based on the dynamic ftrace. In particular, functions
implementing ftrace or the livepatch ftrace handler could not be
@ -431,7 +433,7 @@ The current Livepatch implementation has several limitations:
+ Livepatch works reliably only when the dynamic ftrace is located at
- Livepatch works reliably only when the dynamic ftrace is located at
the very beginning of the function.
The function need to be redirected before the stack or the function
@ -445,7 +447,7 @@ The current Livepatch implementation has several limitations:
this is handled on the ftrace level.
+ Kretprobes using the ftrace framework conflict with the patched
- Kretprobes using the ftrace framework conflict with the patched
functions.
Both kretprobes and livepatches use a ftrace handler that modifies
@ -453,7 +455,7 @@ The current Livepatch implementation has several limitations:
is rejected when the handler is already in use by the other.
+ Kprobes in the original function are ignored when the code is
- Kprobes in the original function are ignored when the code is
redirected to the new implementation.
There is a work in progress to add warnings about this situation.

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@ -4,9 +4,9 @@ Livepatch module Elf format
This document outlines the Elf format requirements that livepatch modules must follow.
-----------------
Table of Contents
-----------------
.. Table of Contents
0. Background and motivation
1. Livepatch modinfo field
2. Livepatch relocation sections
@ -89,6 +89,9 @@ used by the kernel module loader to identify livepatch modules.
Example modinfo output:
-----------------------
::
% modinfo livepatch-meminfo.ko
filename: livepatch-meminfo.ko
livepatch: Y
@ -142,7 +145,8 @@ be copied into memory along with the other SHF_ALLOC sections).
2.2.2 Required name format
--------------------------
The name of a livepatch relocation section must conform to the following format:
The name of a livepatch relocation section must conform to the following
format::
.klp.rela.objname.section_name
^ ^^ ^ ^ ^
@ -162,6 +166,9 @@ The name of a livepatch relocation section must conform to the following format:
2.2.4 Example `readelf --sections` output for a patch
module that patches vmlinux and modules 9p, btrfs, ext4:
--------------------------------------------------------
::
Section Headers:
[Nr] Name Type Address Off Size ES Flg Lk Inf Al
[ snip ]
@ -182,6 +189,9 @@ SHF_RELA_LIVEPATCH flag ("o" - for OS-specific).
2.2.5 Example `readelf --relocs` output for a patch module:
-----------------------------------------------------------
::
Relocation section '.klp.rela.btrfs.text.btrfs_feature_attr_show' at offset 0x2ba0 contains 4 entries:
Offset Info Type Symbol's Value Symbol's Name + Addend
000000000000001f 0000005e00000002 R_X86_64_PC32 0000000000000000 .klp.sym.vmlinux.printk,0 - 4
@ -231,7 +241,8 @@ relocation section refer to their respective symbols with their symbol indices,
and the original symbol indices (and thus the symtab ordering) must be
preserved in order for apply_relocate_add() to find the right symbol.
For example, take this particular rela from a livepatch module:
For example, take this particular rela from a livepatch module:::
Relocation section '.klp.rela.btrfs.text.btrfs_feature_attr_show' at offset 0x2ba0 contains 4 entries:
Offset Info Type Symbol's Value Symbol's Name + Addend
000000000000001f 0000005e00000002 R_X86_64_PC32 0000000000000000 .klp.sym.vmlinux.printk,0 - 4
@ -256,7 +267,7 @@ See include/uapi/linux/elf.h for the actual definitions.
3.3.2 Required name format
--------------------------
Livepatch symbol names must conform to the following format:
Livepatch symbol names must conform to the following format::
.klp.sym.objname.symbol_name,sympos
^ ^^ ^ ^ ^ ^
@ -274,12 +285,18 @@ Livepatch symbol names must conform to the following format:
3.3.3 Example livepatch symbol names:
-------------------------------------
::
.klp.sym.vmlinux.snprintf,0
.klp.sym.vmlinux.printk,0
.klp.sym.btrfs.btrfs_ktype,0
3.3.4 Example `readelf --symbols` output for a patch module:
------------------------------------------------------------
::
Symbol table '.symtab' contains 127 entries:
Num: Value Size Type Bind Vis Ndx Name
[ snip ]
@ -313,7 +330,7 @@ Since apply_relocate_add() requires access to a module's section headers,
symbol table, and relocation section indices, Elf information is preserved for
livepatch modules and is made accessible by the module loader through
module->klp_info, which is a klp_modinfo struct. When a livepatch module loads,
this struct is filled in by the module loader. Its fields are documented below:
this struct is filled in by the module loader. Its fields are documented below::
struct klp_modinfo {
Elf_Ehdr hdr; /* Elf header */

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@ -28,9 +28,12 @@ stored and retrieved through a <obj, id> pair.
* The klp_shadow variable data structure encapsulates both tracking
meta-data and shadow-data:
- meta-data
- obj - pointer to parent object
- id - data identifier
- data[] - storage for shadow data
It is important to note that the klp_shadow_alloc() and
@ -47,31 +50,43 @@ to do actions that can be done only once when a new variable is allocated.
* klp_shadow_alloc() - allocate and add a new shadow variable
- search hashtable for <obj, id> pair
- if exists
- WARN and return NULL
- if <obj, id> doesn't already exist
- allocate a new shadow variable
- initialize the variable using a custom constructor and data when provided
- add <obj, id> to the global hashtable
* klp_shadow_get_or_alloc() - get existing or alloc a new shadow variable
- search hashtable for <obj, id> pair
- if exists
- return existing shadow variable
- if <obj, id> doesn't already exist
- allocate a new shadow variable
- initialize the variable using a custom constructor and data when provided
- add <obj, id> pair to the global hashtable
* klp_shadow_free() - detach and free a <obj, id> shadow variable
- find and remove a <obj, id> reference from global hashtable
- if found
- call destructor function if defined
- free shadow variable
* klp_shadow_free_all() - detach and free all <*, id> shadow variables
- find and remove any <*, id> references from global hashtable
- if found
- call destructor function if defined
- free shadow variable
@ -102,7 +117,7 @@ parent "goes live" (ie, any shadow variable get-API requests are made
for this <obj, id> pair.)
For commit 1d147bfa6429, when a parent sta_info structure is allocated,
allocate a shadow copy of the ps_lock pointer, then initialize it:
allocate a shadow copy of the ps_lock pointer, then initialize it::
#define PS_LOCK 1
struct sta_info *sta_info_alloc(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata,
@ -123,7 +138,7 @@ struct sta_info *sta_info_alloc(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata,
...
When requiring a ps_lock, query the shadow variable API to retrieve one
for a specific struct sta_info:
for a specific struct sta_info:::
void ieee80211_sta_ps_deliver_wakeup(struct sta_info *sta)
{
@ -136,7 +151,7 @@ void ieee80211_sta_ps_deliver_wakeup(struct sta_info *sta)
...
When the parent sta_info structure is freed, first free the shadow
variable:
variable::
void sta_info_free(struct ieee80211_local *local, struct sta_info *sta)
{
@ -155,7 +170,7 @@ these cases, the klp_shadow_get_or_alloc() call can be used to attach
shadow variables to parents already in-flight.
For commit 1d147bfa6429, a good spot to allocate a shadow spinlock is
inside ieee80211_sta_ps_deliver_wakeup():
inside ieee80211_sta_ps_deliver_wakeup()::
int ps_lock_shadow_ctor(void *obj, void *shadow_data, void *ctor_data)
{
@ -200,10 +215,12 @@ suggests how to handle the parent object.
=============
* https://github.com/dynup/kpatch
The livepatch implementation is based on the kpatch version of shadow
variables.
* http://files.mkgnu.net/files/dynamos/doc/papers/dynamos_eurosys_07.pdf
Dynamic and Adaptive Updates of Non-Quiescent Subsystems in Commodity
Operating System Kernels (Kritis Makris, Kyung Dong Ryu 2007) presented
a datatype update technique called "shadow data structures".

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@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ c) Higher live patching compatibility rate
be detectable). Objtool makes that possible.
For more details, see the livepatch documentation in the Linux kernel
source tree at Documentation/livepatch/livepatch.txt.
source tree at Documentation/livepatch/livepatch.rst.
Rules
-----