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bpf, docs: Document BPF_MAP_TYPE_ARRAY

PATCH In review Dave Tucker 4 participants 7 messages Jun 30, 2022 – Jul 4, 2022

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#0 lore raw

v4 cover bpf, docs: Document BPF_MAP_TYPE_ARRAY

This series is the beginning of my attempt to improve the BPF map and program type documentation. It expands the template from map_cgroup_storage to include the kernel version it was introduced. I then used this template to document BPF_MAP_TYPE_ARRAY and BPF_MAP_TYPE_PERCPU_ARRAY

v3->v4:
- fix doctest failure due to missing newline

v2->v3:
- wrap text to 80 chars and add newline at end of file

v1->v2:
- point to selftests for functional examples
- update examples to follow kernel style
- add docs for BPF_F_MMAPABLE

Dave Tucker (2):
bpf, docs: add kernel version to map_cgroup_storage bpf, docs: document BPF_MAP_TYPE_ARRAY

 Documentation/bpf/map_array.rst          | 183 +++++++++++++++++++++++
 Documentation/bpf/map_cgroup_storage.rst |   2 +
 2 files changed, 185 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 Documentation/bpf/map_array.rst
Signature · 1 line
2.37.0
#1 lore raw

PATCH v4 1/2 bpf, docs: add kernel version to map_cgroup_storage

This adds the version at which this map became available to use in the documentation

---
 Documentation/bpf/map_cgroup_storage.rst | 2 ++
 1 file changed, 2 insertions(+)
Documentation/bpf/map_cgroup_storage.rst +2 -0
index cab9543017bf..b626cb068846 100644
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
 BPF_MAP_TYPE_CGROUP_STORAGE
 ===========================
 
+.. note:: Introduced in Kernel version 4.19
+
 The ``BPF_MAP_TYPE_CGROUP_STORAGE`` map type represents a local fix-sized
 storage. It is only available with ``CONFIG_CGROUP_BPF``, and to programs that
 attach to cgroups; the programs are made available by the same Kconfig. The
Signature · 1 line
2.37.0
#2 lore raw

Re: [PATCH v4 bpf-next 1/2] bpf, docs: add kernel version to map_cgroup_storage

Quoted 3 lines · Dave Tucker

This adds the version at which this map became available to use in the documentation

Shouldn't this be separated from [2/2]? Because I see cover letter ([0/2])
only mentioning documenting BPF_MAP_TYPE_ARRAY, so I expect that only [2/2] is included in this series.

Signature · 1 line
An old man doll... just what I always wanted! - Clara
#3 lore raw

PATCH v4 2/2 bpf, docs: document BPF_MAP_TYPE_ARRAY

In reply to Dave Tucker

This commit adds documentation for the BPF_MAP_TYPE_ARRAY including kernel version introduced, usage and examples.
It also documents BPF_MAP_TYPE_PERCPU_ARRAY since this is similar.

---
 Documentation/bpf/map_array.rst | 183 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 1 file changed, 183 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 Documentation/bpf/map_array.rst
Documentation/bpf/map_array.rst new file +183 -0
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..eadc714591d2
@@ -0,0 +1,183 @@
+.. SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-only
+.. Copyright (C) 2021 Red Hat, Inc.
+
+================================================
+BPF_MAP_TYPE_ARRAY and BPF_MAP_TYPE_PERCPU_ARRAY
+================================================
+
+.. note:: ``BPF_MAP_TYPE_ARRAY`` was introduced in Kernel version 3.19 and
+   ``BPF_MAP_TYPE_PERCPU_ARRAY`` in version 4.6
+
+``BPF_MAP_TYPE_ARRAY`` and ``BPF_MAP_TYPE_PERCPU_ARRAY`` provide generic array
+storage.  The key type is an unsigned 32-bit integer (4 bytes) and the map is of
+constant size. All array elements are pre-allocated and zero initialized when
+created. ``BPF_MAP_TYPE_PERCPU_ARRAY`` uses a different memory region for each
+CPU whereas ``BPF_MAP_TYPE_ARRAY`` uses the same memory region. The maximum
+size of an array, defined in max_entries, is limited to 2^32. The value stored
+can be of any size, however, small values will be rounded up to 8 bytes.
+
+Since Kernel 5.4, memory mapping may be enabled for ``BPF_MAP_TYPE_ARRAY`` by
+setting the flag ``BPF_F_MMAPABLE``.  The map definition is page-aligned and
+starts on the first page.  Sufficient page-sized and page-aligned blocks of
+memory are allocated to store all array values, starting on the second page,
+which in some cases will result in over-allocation of memory. The benefit of
+using this is increased performance and ease of use since userspace programs
+would not be required to use helper functions to access and mutate data.
+
+Usage
+=====
+
+Array elements can be retrieved using the ``bpf_map_lookup_elem()`` helper.
+This helper returns a pointer into the array element, so to avoid data races
+with userspace reading the value, the user must use primitives like
+``__sync_fetch_and_add()`` when updating the value in-place.  Access from
+userspace uses the libbpf API of the same name.
+
+Array elements can also be added using the ``bpf_map_update_elem()`` helper or
+libbpf API.
+
+Since the array is of constant size, ``bpf_map_delete_elem()`` is not supported.
+To clear an array element, you may use ``bpf_map_update_eleme()`` to insert a
+zero value to that index.
+
+Values stored in ``BPF_MAP_TYPE_ARRAY`` can be accessed by multiple programs
+across different CPUs.  To restrict storage to a single CPU, you may use a
+``BPF_MAP_TYPE_PERCPU_ARRAY``.  Since Kernel version 5.1, the BPF infrastructure
+provides ``struct bpf_spin_lock`` to synchronize access.
+
+``bpf_map_get_next_key()`` can be used to iterate over array values.
+
+Examples
+========
+
+Please see the `tools/testing/selftests/bpf`_ directory for functional examples.
+This sample code simply demonstrates the API.
+
+.. section links
+.. _tools/testing/selftests/bpf:
+   https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/tools/testing/selftests/bpf
+
+Kernel
+------
+
+.. code-block:: c
+
+    struct {
+        __uint(type, BPF_MAP_TYPE_ARRAY);
+        __type(key, u32);
+        __type(value, long);
+        __uint(max_entries, 256);
+    } my_map SEC(".maps");
+
+    int bpf_prog(struct __sk_buff *skb)
+    {
+        int index = load_byte(skb,
+                              ETH_HLEN + offsetof(struct iphdr, protocol));
+        long *value;
+
+        if (skb->pkt_type != PACKET_OUTGOING)
+            return 0;
+
+        value = bpf_map_lookup_elem(&my_map, &index);
+        if (value)
+            __sync_fetch_and_add(value, skb->len);
+
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+Userspace
+---------
+
+BPF_MAP_TYPE_ARRAY
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+.. code-block:: c
+
+    #include <assert.h>
+    #include <bpf/libbpf.h>
+    #include <bpf/bpf.h>
+
+    int main(int argc, char **argv)
+    {
+        int fd;
+        int ret = 0;
+        __u32 i, j;
+        __u32 index = 42;
+        long v, value;
+
+        fd = bpf_create_map(BPF_MAP_TYPE_ARRAY, sizeof(__u32), sizeof(long),
+                            256, 0);
+        if (fd < 0)
+            return fd;
+
+        /* fill the map with values from 0-255 */
+        for (i = 0; i < 256 ; i++) {
+            ret = bpf_map_update_elem(fd, &i, &v, BPF_ANY);
+            if (ret < 0)
+                return ret;
+        }
+
+        ret = bpf_map_lookup_elem(fd, &index, &value);
+        if (ret < 0)
+            return ret;
+
+        assert(value == 42);
+
+        return ret;
+    }
+
+BPF_MAP_TYPE_PERCPU_ARRAY
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+.. code-block:: c
+
+    #include <assert.h>
+    #include <bpf/libbpf.h>
+    #include <bpf/bpf.h>
+
+    int main(int argc, char **argv)
+    {
+        int ncpus = libbpf_num_possible_cpus();
+        if (ncpus < 0)
+            return ncpus;
+
+        int fd;
+        int ret = 0;
+        __u32 i, j;
+        __u32 index = 42;
+        long v[ncpus], value[ncpus];
+
+
+        fd = bpf_create_map(BPF_MAP_TYPE_PERCPU_ARRAY, sizeof(__u32),
+                            sizeof(long), 256, 0);
+        if (fd < 0)
+            return -1;
+
+        /* fill the map with values from 0-255 for each cpu */
+        for (i = 0; i < 256 ; i++) {
+            for (j = 0; j < ncpus; j++)
+                v[j] = i;
+            ret = bpf_map_update_elem(fd, &i, &v, BPF_ANY);
+            if (ret < 0)
+                return ret;
+        }
+
+        ret = bpf_map_lookup_elem(fd, &index, &value);
+        if (ret < 0)
+            return ret;
+
+        for (j = 0; j < ncpus; j++)
+            assert(value[j] == 42);
+
+        return ret;
+    }
+
+Semantics
+=========
+
+As illustrated in the example above, when using a ``BPF_MAP_TYPE_PERCPU_ARRAY``
+in userspace, the values are an array with ``ncpus`` elements.
+
+When calling ``bpf_map_update_elem()`` the flags ``BPF_NOEXIST`` can not be used
+for these maps.
+
Signature · 1 line
2.37.0
maintainer
#4 lore raw

Re: [PATCH v4 bpf-next 2/2] bpf, docs: document BPF_MAP_TYPE_ARRAY

Quoted 9 lines · Dave Tucker

This commit adds documentation for the BPF_MAP_TYPE_ARRAY including kernel version introduced, usage and examples.
It also documents BPF_MAP_TYPE_PERCPU_ARRAY since this is similar.

---
 Documentation/bpf/map_array.rst | 183 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 1 file changed, 183 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 Documentation/bpf/map_array.rst

Don't forget to add your new file to index.rst so that it's part of the docs build.

Thanks,

jon

#5 lore raw

Re: [PATCH v4 bpf-next 2/2] bpf, docs: document BPF_MAP_TYPE_ARRAY

In reply to Dave Tucker
Quoted 4 lines · Dave Tucker

This commit adds documentation for the BPF_MAP_TYPE_ARRAY including kernel version introduced, usage and examples.
It also documents BPF_MAP_TYPE_PERCPU_ARRAY since this is similar.

Use imperative mood instead of descriptive one for patch description.

Quoted 12 lines
---
 Documentation/bpf/map_array.rst | 183 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 1 file changed, 183 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 Documentation/bpf/map_array.rst
Documentation/bpf/map_array.rst new file +0 -0
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..eadc714591d2

Documentation/bpf/map_array.rst line 10

Quoted 10 lines
Documentation/bpf/map_array.rst new file +10 -0
@@ -0,0 +1,183 @@
+.. SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-only
+.. Copyright (C) 2021 Red Hat, Inc.
+
+================================================
+BPF_MAP_TYPE_ARRAY and BPF_MAP_TYPE_PERCPU_ARRAY
+================================================
+
+.. note:: ``BPF_MAP_TYPE_ARRAY`` was introduced in Kernel version 3.19 and
+   ``BPF_MAP_TYPE_PERCPU_ARRAY`` in version 4.6
+

nit: s/Kernel/kernel/

Documentation/bpf/map_array.rst line 26

Quoted 8 lines
Documentation/bpf/map_array.rst new file +8 -0
+Since Kernel 5.4, memory mapping may be enabled for ``BPF_MAP_TYPE_ARRAY`` by
+setting the flag ``BPF_F_MMAPABLE``.  The map definition is page-aligned and
+starts on the first page.  Sufficient page-sized and page-aligned blocks of
+memory are allocated to store all array values, starting on the second page,
+which in some cases will result in over-allocation of memory. The benefit of
+using this is increased performance and ease of use since userspace programs
+would not be required to use helper functions to access and mutate data.
+

same nit above

Documentation/bpf/map_array.rst line 54

Quoted 5 lines
Documentation/bpf/map_array.rst new file +5 -0
+Examples
+========
+
+Please see the `tools/testing/selftests/bpf`_ directory for functional examples.
+This sample code simply demonstrates the API.

Shouldn't the examples in this doc be put somewhere else in the tree? Or where do they come from?

Documentation/bpf/map_array.rst line 58

Quoted 4 lines
Documentation/bpf/map_array.rst new file +4 -0
+
+.. section links
+.. _tools/testing/selftests/bpf:
+   https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/tools/testing/selftests/bpf

I think the link isn't needed, since kernel developers will simply look at their own tree instead.

Thanks.

Signature · 1 line
An old man doll... just what I always wanted! - Clara
#6 lore raw

Re: [PATCH v4 bpf-next 2/2] bpf, docs: document BPF_MAP_TYPE_ARRAY

In reply to Dave Tucker
Quoted 1 line · Dave Tucker

+Since Kernel 5.4, memory mapping may be enabled for ``BPF_MAP_TYPE_ARRAY`` by

It looks to be 5.5 according to bootlin:

https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v5.4.203/A/ident/BPF_F_MMAPABLE
https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v5.5/A/ident/BPF_F_MMAPABLE

Documentation/bpf/map_array.rst line 41

Quoted 6 lines
Documentation/bpf/map_array.rst new file +6 -0
+Array elements can also be added using the ``bpf_map_update_elem()`` helper or
+libbpf API.
+
+Since the array is of constant size, ``bpf_map_delete_elem()`` is not supported.
+To clear an array element, you may use ``bpf_map_update_eleme()`` to insert a
+zero value to that index.

Typo in bpf_map_update_elem().

Thanks!
--
Donald Hunter