Re: [PATCH V7 13/17] perf, x86: enable LBR callstack when recording callchain

From: Andi Kleen
Date: Wed Nov 05 2014 - 12:55:29 EST


On Wed, Nov 05, 2014 at 05:29:32PM +0100, Peter Zijlstra wrote:
> On Wed, Nov 05, 2014 at 03:53:34PM +0000, Liang, Kan wrote:
> > > I don't think it would be very hard to modify the patch set to make that 3rd
> > > mode visible. Just need to make that new PERF_RECORD_* type visible to
> > > user and modify the compatibility checks.
> >
> > It's not hard. But LBR is not an independent callchain options. It's better to be
> > a supplement of FP. Otherwise, it may confuse the user. He enables the
> > BRANCH_CALL_STACK, but the data is partly or even not at all from hardware.
>
> What the user sees is up to userspace. It should not be forced by the
> kernel/user interface.

The original idea was to abstract it inside the kernel. Unlike dwarf the
LBR callstack is simple enough that it can be easily abstracted. If you don't
want to do that yes then handling it in the user tools is the right way.

-Andi
--
ak@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx -- Speaking for myself only
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