RE: BTF compatibility issue across builds

[David Laight <David.Laight@ACULAB.COM>]

From: Yonghong Song
> Sent: 15 February 2022 17:47
...
> > Let me try take a jab at it. Say here's a hypothetical BTF for a kernel
> > module which only type information for `struct something *`:
> >
> >    [5] PTR '(anon)' type_id=4
> >
> > Which is built upon the follow base BTF:
> >
> >    [1] INT 'unsigned char' size=1 bits_offset=0 nr_bits=8 encoding=(none)
> >    [2] PTR '(anon)' type_id=3
> >    [3] STRUCT 'list_head' size=16 vlen=2
> >          'next' type_id=2 bits_offset=0
> >          'prev' type_id=2 bits_offset=64
> >    [4] STRUCT 'something' size=2 vlen=2
> >          'locked' type_id=1 bits_offset=0
> >          'pending' type_id=1 bits_offset=8
> >
> > Due to the situation mentioned in the beginning of the thread, the *runtime*
> > kernel have a different base BTF, in this case type IDs are offset by 1 due
> > to an additional typedef entry:
> >
> >    [1] TYPEDEF 'u8' type_id=1
> >    [2] INT 'unsigned char' size=1 bits_offset=0 nr_bits=8 encoding=(none)
> >    [3] PTR '(anon)' type_id=3
> >    [4] STRUCT 'list_head' size=16 vlen=2
> >          'next' type_id=2 bits_offset=0
> >          'prev' type_id=2 bits_offset=64
> >    [5] STRUCT 'something' size=2 vlen=2
> >          'locked' type_id=1 bits_offset=0
> >          'pending' type_id=1 bits_offset=8
> >
> > Then when loading the BTF on kernel module on the runtime, the kernel will
> > mistakenly interprets "PTR '(anon)' type_id=4" as `struct list_head *`
> > rather than `struct something *`.
> >
> > Does this should possible? (at least theoretically)
> 
> Thanks for explanation. Yes, from BTF type resolution point of view,
> yes it is possible.

This looks so much like the old 'shared library function number'
ordinals from pre-SYSV and early windows shared libraries.
There is a good reason why it isn't done that way any more.

Has someone re-invented the square wheel??

	David

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