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bpf: Add overwrite mode for BPF ring buffer #6170

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subject: bpf: Add overwrite mode for BPF ring buffer
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url: https://patchwork.kernel.org/project/netdevbpf/list/?series=1013112

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Upstream branch: ff88079
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version: 3

Xu Kuohai added 3 commits October 27, 2025 10:06
bpf: Add overwrite mode for BPF ring buffer
56bcb72 
When the BPF ring buffer is full, a new event cannot be recorded until one
or more old events are consumed to make enough space for it. In cases such
as fault diagnostics, where recent events are more useful than older ones,
this mechanism may lead to critical events being lost.

So add overwrite mode for BPF ring buffer to address it. In this mode, the
new event overwrites the oldest event when the buffer is full.

The basic idea is as follows:

1. producer_pos tracks the next position to record new event. When there
   is enough free space, producer_pos is simply advanced by producer to
   make space for the new event.

2. To avoid waiting for consumer when the buffer is full, a new variable,
   overwrite_pos, is introduced for producer. It points to the oldest event
   committed in the buffer. It is advanced by producer to discard one or more
   oldest events to make space for the new event when the buffer is full.

3. pending_pos tracks the oldest event to be committed. pending_pos is never
   passed by producer_pos, so multiple producers never write to the same
   position at the same time.

The following example diagrams show how it works in a 4096-byte ring buffer.

1. At first, {producer,overwrite,pending,consumer}_pos are all set to 0.

   0       512      1024    1536     2048     2560     3072     3584       4096
   +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
   |                                                                       |
   |                                                                       |
   |                                                                       |
   +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
   ^
   |
   |
producer_pos = 0
overwrite_pos = 0
pending_pos = 0
consumer_pos = 0

2. Now reserve a 512-byte event A.

   There is enough free space, so A is allocated at offset 0. And producer_pos
   is advanced to 512, the end of A. Since A is not submitted, the BUSY bit is
   set.

   0       512      1024    1536     2048     2560     3072     3584       4096
   +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
   |        |                                                              |
   |   A    |                                                              |
   | [BUSY] |                                                              |
   +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
   ^        ^
   |        |
   |        |
   |    producer_pos = 512
   |
overwrite_pos = 0
pending_pos = 0
consumer_pos = 0

3. Reserve event B, size 1024.

   B is allocated at offset 512 with BUSY bit set, and producer_pos is advanced
   to the end of B.

   0       512      1024    1536     2048     2560     3072     3584       4096
   +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
   |        |                 |                                            |
   |   A    |        B        |                                            |
   | [BUSY] |      [BUSY]     |                                            |
   +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
   ^                          ^
   |                          |
   |                          |
   |                   producer_pos = 1536
   |
overwrite_pos = 0
pending_pos = 0
consumer_pos = 0

4. Reserve event C, size 2048.

   C is allocated at offset 1536, and producer_pos is advanced to 3584.

   0       512      1024    1536     2048     2560     3072     3584       4096
   +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
   |        |                 |                                   |        |
   |    A   |        B        |                 C                 |        |
   | [BUSY] |      [BUSY]     |               [BUSY]              |        |
   +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
   ^                                                              ^
   |                                                              |
   |                                                              |
   |                                                    producer_pos = 3584
   |
overwrite_pos = 0
pending_pos = 0
consumer_pos = 0

5. Submit event A.

   The BUSY bit of A is cleared. B becomes the oldest event to be committed, so
   pending_pos is advanced to 512, the start of B.

   0       512      1024    1536     2048     2560     3072     3584       4096
   +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
   |        |                 |                                   |        |
   |    A   |        B        |                 C                 |        |
   |        |      [BUSY]     |               [BUSY]              |        |
   +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
   ^        ^                                                     ^
   |        |                                                     |
   |        |                                                     |
   |   pending_pos = 512                                  producer_pos = 3584
   |
overwrite_pos = 0
consumer_pos = 0

6. Submit event B.

   The BUSY bit of B is cleared, and pending_pos is advanced to the start of C,
   which is now the oldest event to be committed.

   0       512      1024    1536     2048     2560     3072     3584       4096
   +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
   |        |                 |                                   |        |
   |    A   |        B        |                 C                 |        |
   |        |                 |               [BUSY]              |        |
   +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
   ^                          ^                                   ^
   |                          |                                   |
   |                          |                                   |
   |                     pending_pos = 1536               producer_pos = 3584
   |
overwrite_pos = 0
consumer_pos = 0

7. Reserve event D, size 1536 (3 * 512).

   There are 2048 bytes not being written between producer_pos (currently 3584)
   and pending_pos, so D is allocated at offset 3584, and producer_pos is advanced
   by 1536 (from 3584 to 5120).

   Since event D will overwrite all bytes of event A and the first 512 bytes of
   event B, overwrite_pos is advanced to the start of event C, the oldest event
   that is not overwritten.

   0       512      1024    1536     2048     2560     3072     3584       4096
   +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
   |                 |        |                                   |        |
   |      D End      |        |                 C                 | D Begin|
   |      [BUSY]     |        |               [BUSY]              | [BUSY] |
   +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
   ^                 ^        ^
   |                 |        |
   |                 |   pending_pos = 1536
   |                 |   overwrite_pos = 1536
   |                 |
   |             producer_pos=5120
   |
consumer_pos = 0

8. Reserve event E, size 1024.

   Although there are 512 bytes not being written between producer_pos and
   pending_pos, E cannot be reserved, as it would overwrite the first 512
   bytes of event C, which is still being written.

9. Submit event C and D.

   pending_pos is advanced to the end of D.

   0       512      1024    1536     2048     2560     3072     3584       4096
   +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
   |                 |        |                                   |        |
   |      D End      |        |                 C                 | D Begin|
   |                 |        |                                   |        |
   +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
   ^                 ^        ^
   |                 |        |
   |                 |   overwrite_pos = 1536
   |                 |
   |             producer_pos=5120
   |             pending_pos=5120
   |
consumer_pos = 0

The performance data for overwrite mode will be provided in a follow-up
patch that adds overwrite-mode benchmarks.

A sample of performance data for non-overwrite mode, collected on an x86_64
CPU and an arm64 CPU, before and after this patch, is shown below. As we can
see, no obvious performance regression occurs.

- x86_64 (AMD EPYC 9654)

Before:

Ringbuf, multi-producer contention
==================================
rb-libbpf nr_prod 1  11.623 ± 0.027M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 2  15.812 ± 0.014M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 3  7.871 ± 0.003M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 4  6.703 ± 0.001M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 8  2.896 ± 0.002M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 12 2.054 ± 0.002M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 16 1.864 ± 0.002M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 20 1.580 ± 0.002M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 24 1.484 ± 0.002M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 28 1.369 ± 0.002M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 32 1.316 ± 0.001M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 36 1.272 ± 0.002M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 40 1.239 ± 0.001M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 44 1.226 ± 0.002M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 48 1.213 ± 0.001M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 52 1.193 ± 0.001M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)

After:

Ringbuf, multi-producer contention
==================================
rb-libbpf nr_prod 1  11.845 ± 0.036M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 2  15.889 ± 0.006M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 3  8.155 ± 0.002M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 4  6.708 ± 0.001M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 8  2.918 ± 0.001M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 12 2.065 ± 0.002M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 16 1.870 ± 0.002M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 20 1.582 ± 0.002M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 24 1.482 ± 0.001M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 28 1.372 ± 0.002M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 32 1.323 ± 0.002M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 36 1.264 ± 0.001M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 40 1.236 ± 0.002M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 44 1.209 ± 0.002M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 48 1.189 ± 0.001M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 52 1.165 ± 0.002M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)

- arm64 (HiSilicon Kunpeng 920)

Before:

Ringbuf, multi-producer contention
==================================
rb-libbpf nr_prod 1  11.310 ± 0.623M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 2  9.947 ± 0.004M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 3  6.634 ± 0.011M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 4  4.502 ± 0.003M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 8  3.888 ± 0.003M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 12 3.372 ± 0.005M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 16 3.189 ± 0.010M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 20 2.998 ± 0.006M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 24 3.086 ± 0.018M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 28 2.845 ± 0.004M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 32 2.815 ± 0.008M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 36 2.771 ± 0.009M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 40 2.814 ± 0.011M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 44 2.752 ± 0.006M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 48 2.695 ± 0.006M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 52 2.710 ± 0.006M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)

After:

Ringbuf, multi-producer contention
==================================
rb-libbpf nr_prod 1  11.283 ± 0.550M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 2  9.993 ± 0.003M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 3  6.898 ± 0.006M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 4  5.257 ± 0.001M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 8  3.830 ± 0.005M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 12 3.528 ± 0.013M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 16 3.265 ± 0.018M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 20 2.990 ± 0.007M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 24 2.929 ± 0.014M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 28 2.898 ± 0.010M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 32 2.818 ± 0.006M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 36 2.789 ± 0.012M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 40 2.770 ± 0.006M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 44 2.651 ± 0.007M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 48 2.669 ± 0.005M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-libbpf nr_prod 52 2.695 ± 0.009M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)

Signed-off-by: Xu Kuohai <[email protected]>
selftests/bpf: Add overwrite mode test for BPF ring buffer
2946218 
Add overwrite mode test for BPF ring buffer. The test creates a BPF ring
buffer in overwrite mode, then repeatedly reserves and commits records
to check if the ring buffer works as expected both before and after
overwriting occurs.

Signed-off-by: Xu Kuohai <[email protected]>
selftests/bpf/benchs: Add overwrite mode benchmark for BPF ring buffer
8fcd1df 
Add --rb-overwrite option to benchmark BPF ring buffer in overwrite mode.
Since overwrite mode is not yet supported by libbpf for consumer, also add
--rb-bench-producer option to benchmark producer directly without a consumer.

Benchmarks on an x86_64 and an arm64 CPU are shown below for reference.

- AMD EPYC 9654 (x86_64)

Ringbuf, multi-producer contention in overwrite mode, no consumer
=================================================================
rb-prod nr_prod 1    32.180 ± 0.033M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-prod nr_prod 2    9.617 ± 0.003M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-prod nr_prod 3    8.810 ± 0.002M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-prod nr_prod 4    9.272 ± 0.001M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-prod nr_prod 8    9.173 ± 0.001M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-prod nr_prod 12   3.086 ± 0.032M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-prod nr_prod 16   2.945 ± 0.021M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-prod nr_prod 20   2.519 ± 0.021M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-prod nr_prod 24   2.545 ± 0.021M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-prod nr_prod 28   2.363 ± 0.024M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-prod nr_prod 32   2.357 ± 0.021M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-prod nr_prod 36   2.267 ± 0.011M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-prod nr_prod 40   2.284 ± 0.020M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-prod nr_prod 44   2.215 ± 0.025M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-prod nr_prod 48   2.193 ± 0.023M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-prod nr_prod 52   2.208 ± 0.024M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)

- HiSilicon Kunpeng 920 (arm64)

Ringbuf, multi-producer contention in overwrite mode, no consumer
=================================================================
rb-prod nr_prod 1    14.478 ± 0.006M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-prod nr_prod 2    21.787 ± 0.010M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-prod nr_prod 3    6.045 ± 0.001M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-prod nr_prod 4    5.352 ± 0.003M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-prod nr_prod 8    4.850 ± 0.002M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-prod nr_prod 12   3.542 ± 0.016M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-prod nr_prod 16   3.509 ± 0.021M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-prod nr_prod 20   3.171 ± 0.010M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-prod nr_prod 24   3.154 ± 0.014M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-prod nr_prod 28   2.974 ± 0.015M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-prod nr_prod 32   3.167 ± 0.014M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-prod nr_prod 36   2.903 ± 0.010M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-prod nr_prod 40   2.866 ± 0.010M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-prod nr_prod 44   2.914 ± 0.010M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
rb-prod nr_prod 48   2.806 ± 0.012M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)
Rb-prod nr_prod 52   2.840 ± 0.012M/s (drops 0.000 ± 0.000M/s)

Signed-off-by: Xu Kuohai <[email protected]>
@kernel-patches-daemon-bpf-rc kernel-patches-daemon-bpf-rc bot force-pushed the bpf-next_base branch 3 times, most recently from 583dec7 to e224139 Compare October 28, 2025 16:27
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At least one diff in series https://patchwork.kernel.org/project/netdevbpf/list/?series=1013112 irrelevant now. Closing PR.

@kernel-patches-daemon-bpf-rc kernel-patches-daemon-bpf-rc bot deleted the series/1013112=>bpf-next branch October 28, 2025 17:30
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