[PATCH bpf-next v4] bpf, docs: Explain helper functions

[PATCH bpf-next v4] bpf, docs: Explain helper functions

[Dave Thaler]

From: Dave Thaler <dthaler@microsoft.com>

Add brief text about existence of helper functions, with details to go in
separate psABI text.

Note that text about runtime functions (kfuncs) is part of a separate patch,
not this one.

Signed-off-by: Dave Thaler <dthaler@microsoft.com>
---
V1 -> V2: addressed comments from Alexei and Stanislav

V2 -> V3: addressed comments from David Vernet

V3 -> V4: removed text that should be in psABI
---
 Documentation/bpf/clang-notes.rst     | 6 ++++++
 Documentation/bpf/instruction-set.rst | 9 ++++++++-
 Documentation/bpf/linux-notes.rst     | 8 ++++++++
 3 files changed, 22 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/Documentation/bpf/clang-notes.rst b/Documentation/bpf/clang-notes.rst
index 528feddf2db..2c872a1ee08 100644
--- a/Documentation/bpf/clang-notes.rst
+++ b/Documentation/bpf/clang-notes.rst
@@ -20,6 +20,12 @@ Arithmetic instructions
 For CPU versions prior to 3, Clang v7.0 and later can enable ``BPF_ALU`` support with
 ``-Xclang -target-feature -Xclang +alu32``.  In CPU version 3, support is automatically included.
 
+Jump instructions
+=================
+
+If ``-O0`` is used, Clang will generate the ``BPF_CALL | BPF_X | BPF_JMP`` (0x8d)
+instruction, which is not supported by the Linux kernel verifier.
+
 Atomic operations
 =================
 
diff --git a/Documentation/bpf/instruction-set.rst b/Documentation/bpf/instruction-set.rst
index db8789e6969..5e43e14abe8 100644
--- a/Documentation/bpf/instruction-set.rst
+++ b/Documentation/bpf/instruction-set.rst
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ BPF_JSET  0x40   PC += off if dst & src
 BPF_JNE   0x50   PC += off if dst != src
 BPF_JSGT  0x60   PC += off if dst > src     signed
 BPF_JSGE  0x70   PC += off if dst >= src    signed
-BPF_CALL  0x80   function call
+BPF_CALL  0x80   function call              see `Helper functions`_
 BPF_EXIT  0x90   function / program return  BPF_JMP only
 BPF_JLT   0xa0   PC += off if dst < src     unsigned
 BPF_JLE   0xb0   PC += off if dst <= src    unsigned
@@ -264,6 +264,13 @@ BPF_JSLE  0xd0   PC += off if dst <= src    signed
 The eBPF program needs to store the return value into register R0 before doing a
 BPF_EXIT.
 
+Helper functions
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+Helper functions are a concept whereby BPF programs can call into a
+set of function calls exposed by the runtime.  Each helper
+function is identified by an integer used in a ``BPF_CALL`` instruction.
+The available helper functions may differ for each program type.
 
 Load and store instructions
 ===========================
diff --git a/Documentation/bpf/linux-notes.rst b/Documentation/bpf/linux-notes.rst
index 956b0c86699..f43b9c797bc 100644
--- a/Documentation/bpf/linux-notes.rst
+++ b/Documentation/bpf/linux-notes.rst
@@ -12,6 +12,14 @@ Byte swap instructions
 
 ``BPF_FROM_LE`` and ``BPF_FROM_BE`` exist as aliases for ``BPF_TO_LE`` and ``BPF_TO_BE`` respectively.
 
+Jump instructions
+=================
+
+``BPF_CALL | BPF_X | BPF_JMP`` (0x8d), where the helper function
+integer would be read from a specified register, is not currently supported
+by the verifier.  Any programs with this instruction will fail to load
+until such support is added.
+
 Legacy BPF Packet access instructions
 =====================================
 
-- 
2.33.4

Re: [PATCH bpf-next v4] bpf, docs: Explain helper functions

[patchwork-bot+netdevbpf]

Hello:

This patch was applied to bpf/bpf-next.git (master)
by Alexei Starovoitov <ast@kernel.org>:

On Wed,  8 Mar 2023 20:53:03 +0000 you wrote:
> From: Dave Thaler <dthaler@microsoft.com>
> 
> Add brief text about existence of helper functions, with details to go in
> separate psABI text.
> 
> Note that text about runtime functions (kfuncs) is part of a separate patch,
> not this one.
> 
> [...]

Here is the summary with links:
  - [bpf-next,v4] bpf, docs: Explain helper functions
    https://git.kernel.org/bpf/bpf-next/c/c1f9e14e3b67

You are awesome, thank you!
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