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authorDave Barach <dave@barachs.net>2017-09-25 08:47:59 -0400
committerDave Barach <dave@barachs.net>2017-09-25 09:17:33 -0400
commit905c14af2b1464840cea201daed005cb30513683 (patch)
tree2e7dc77fa34d635ad77b1da67642dd4b1cba0e76 /src/vlibapi
parent41fef50d5db5e7deb3cfd901c3108abbc4406813 (diff)
Add binary API documentation
Change-Id: Id1a5da12b13d87bacfa81094f471b95db40c39be Signed-off-by: Dave Barach <dave@barachs.net>
Diffstat (limited to 'src/vlibapi')
-rw-r--r--src/vlibapi/api_common.h192
-rw-r--r--src/vlibapi/api_doc.md349
2 files changed, 471 insertions, 70 deletions
diff --git a/src/vlibapi/api_common.h b/src/vlibapi/api_common.h
index dc6761bc308..770cf47d188 100644
--- a/src/vlibapi/api_common.h
+++ b/src/vlibapi/api_common.h
@@ -20,71 +20,74 @@
#ifndef included_api_common_h
#define included_api_common_h
+/** \file API common definitions
+ * See api_doc.md for more info
+ */
+
#include <vppinfra/clib_error.h>
#include <svm/svm_common.h>
#include <vlibmemory/unix_shared_memory_queue.h>
+/** API registration types
+ */
typedef enum
{
REGISTRATION_TYPE_FREE = 0,
- REGISTRATION_TYPE_SHMEM,
- REGISTRATION_TYPE_SOCKET_LISTEN,
- REGISTRATION_TYPE_SOCKET_SERVER,
- REGISTRATION_TYPE_SOCKET_CLIENT,
+ REGISTRATION_TYPE_SHMEM, /**< Shared memory connection */
+ REGISTRATION_TYPE_SOCKET_LISTEN, /**< Socket listener */
+ REGISTRATION_TYPE_SOCKET_SERVER, /**< Socket server */
+ REGISTRATION_TYPE_SOCKET_CLIENT, /**< Socket client */
} vl_registration_type_t;
+/** An API client registration, only in vpp/vlib */
+
typedef struct vl_api_registration_
{
- vl_registration_type_t registration_type;
+ vl_registration_type_t registration_type; /**< type */
- /* Index in VLIB's brain (not shared memory). */
+ /** Index in VLIB's brain (not shared memory). */
u32 vl_api_registration_pool_index;
- u8 *name;
+ u8 *name; /**< Client name */
- /*
- * The following groups of data could be unioned, but my fingers are
- * going to be sore enough.
- */
-
- /* shared memory only */
+ /** shared memory only: pointer to client input queue */
unix_shared_memory_queue_t *vl_input_queue;
/* socket server and client */
- u32 clib_file_index;
- i8 *unprocessed_input;
- u32 unprocessed_msg_length;
- u8 *output_vector;
+ u32 clib_file_index; /**< Socket only: file index */
+ i8 *unprocessed_input; /**< Socket only: pending input */
+ u32 unprocessed_msg_length; /**< Socket only: unprocssed length */
+ u8 *output_vector; /**< Socket only: output vecto */
/* socket client only */
- u32 server_handle;
- u32 server_index;
-
+ u32 server_handle; /**< Socket client only: server handle */
+ u32 server_index; /**< Socket client only: server index */
} vl_api_registration_t;
-/* Trace configuration for a single message */
+/** Trace configuration for a single message */
typedef struct
{
- int size;
- int trace_enable;
- int replay_enable;
+ int size; /**< for sanity checking */
+ int trace_enable; /**< trace this message */
+ int replay_enable; /**< This message can be replayed */
} trace_cfg_t;
-/*
- * API recording
+/**
+ * API trace state
*/
typedef struct
{
- u8 endian;
- u8 enabled;
- u8 wrapped;
+ u8 endian; /**< trace endianness */
+ u8 enabled; /**< trace is enabled */
+ u8 wrapped; /**< trace has wrapped */
u8 pad;
- u32 nitems;
- u32 curindex;
- u8 **traces;
+ u32 nitems; /**< Number of trace records */
+ u32 curindex; /**< Current index in circular buffer */
+ u8 **traces; /**< Trace ring */
} vl_api_trace_t;
+/** Trace RX / TX enum */
typedef enum
{
VL_API_TRACE_TX,
@@ -94,35 +97,38 @@ typedef enum
#define VL_API_LITTLE_ENDIAN 0x00
#define VL_API_BIG_ENDIAN 0x01
+/** Message range (belonging to a plugin) */
typedef struct
{
- u8 *name;
- u16 first_msg_id;
- u16 last_msg_id;
+ u8 *name; /**< name of the plugin */
+ u16 first_msg_id; /**< first assigned message ID */
+ u16 last_msg_id; /**< last assigned message ID */
} vl_api_msg_range_t;
+/** Message configuration definition */
typedef struct
{
- int id;
- char *name;
- u32 crc;
- void *handler;
- void *cleanup;
- void *endian;
- void *print;
- int size;
- int traced;
- int replay;
- int message_bounce;
- int is_mp_safe;
+ int id; /**< the message ID */
+ char *name; /**< the message name */
+ u32 crc; /**< message definition CRC */
+ void *handler; /**< the message handler */
+ void *cleanup; /**< non-default message cleanup handler */
+ void *endian; /**< message endian function */
+ void *print; /**< message print function */
+ int size; /**< message size */
+ int traced; /**< is this message to be traced? */
+ int replay; /**< is this message to be replayed? */
+ int message_bounce; /**< do not free message after processing */
+ int is_mp_safe; /**< worker thread barrier required? */
} vl_msg_api_msg_config_t;
+/** Message header structure */
typedef struct msgbuf_
{
- unix_shared_memory_queue_t *q;
- u32 data_len;
- u32 gc_mark_timestamp;
- u8 data[0];
+ unix_shared_memory_queue_t *q; /**< message allocated in this shmem ring */
+ u32 data_len; /**< message length not including header */
+ u32 gc_mark_timestamp; /**< message garbage collector mark TS */
+ u8 data[0]; /**< actual message begins here */
} msgbuf_t;
/* api_shared.c prototypes */
@@ -171,101 +177,147 @@ typedef struct _vl_msg_api_init_function_list_elt
vl_msg_api_init_function_t *f;
} _vl_msg_api_function_list_elt_t;
+/** API main structure, used by both vpp and binary API clients */
typedef struct
{
+ /** Message handler vector */
void (**msg_handlers) (void *);
+ /** Plaform-dependent (aka hardware) message handler vector */
int (**pd_msg_handlers) (void *, int);
+
+ /** non-default message cleanup handler vector */
void (**msg_cleanup_handlers) (void *);
+
+ /** Message endian handler vector */
void (**msg_endian_handlers) (void *);
+
+ /** Message print function vector */
void (**msg_print_handlers) (void *, void *);
+
+ /** Message name vector */
const char **msg_names;
+
+ /** Don't automatically free message buffer vetor */
u8 *message_bounce;
+
+ /** Message is mp safe vector */
u8 *is_mp_safe;
+
+ /** Allocator ring vectors (in shared memory) */
struct ring_alloc_ *arings;
+
+ /** Number of times that the ring allocator failed */
u32 ring_misses;
+
+ /** Number of garbage-collected message buffers */
u32 garbage_collects;
+
+ /** Number of missing clients / failed message sends */
u32 missing_clients;
+
+ /** Received message trace configuration */
vl_api_trace_t *rx_trace;
+
+ /** Sent message trace configuration */
vl_api_trace_t *tx_trace;
+
+ /** Print every received message */
int msg_print_flag;
+
+ /** Current trace configuration */
trace_cfg_t *api_trace_cfg;
+
+ /** Current process PID */
int our_pid;
+
+ /** Binary api segment descriptor */
svm_region_t *vlib_rp;
+
+ /** Vector of all mapped shared-VM segments */
svm_region_t **mapped_shmem_regions;
+
+ /** Binary API shared-memory segment header pointer */
struct vl_shmem_hdr_ *shmem_hdr;
+
+ /** vlib/vpp only: vector of client registrations */
vl_api_registration_t **vl_clients;
+ /** vlib/vpp only: serialized (message, name, crc) table */
u8 *serialized_message_table_in_shmem;
- /* For plugin msg allocator */
+ /** First available message ID, for theplugin msg allocator */
u16 first_available_msg_id;
- /* message range by name hash */
+ /** Message range by name hash */
uword *msg_range_by_name;
- /* vector of message ranges */
+ /** vector of message ranges */
vl_api_msg_range_t *msg_ranges;
- /* uid for the api shared memory region */
+ /** uid for the api shared memory region */
int api_uid;
- /* gid for the api shared memory region */
+
+ /** gid for the api shared memory region */
int api_gid;
- /* base virtual address for global VM region */
+ /** base virtual address for global VM region */
u64 global_baseva;
- /* size of the global VM region */
+ /** size of the global VM region */
u64 global_size;
- /* size of the API region */
+ /** size of the API region */
u64 api_size;
- /* size of the global VM private mheap */
+ /** size of the global VM private mheap */
u64 global_pvt_heap_size;
- /* size of the api private mheap */
+ /** size of the api private mheap */
u64 api_pvt_heap_size;
- /* Client-only data structures */
+ /** Peer input queue pointer */
unix_shared_memory_queue_t *vl_input_queue;
- /*
+ /**
* All VLIB-side message handlers use my_client_index to identify
* the queue / client. This works in sim replay.
*/
int my_client_index;
- /*
+ /**
* This is the (shared VM) address of the registration,
* don't use it to id the connection since it can't possibly
* work in simulator replay.
*/
vl_api_registration_t *my_registration;
+ /** (Historical) signal-based queue non-empty signal, to be removed */
i32 vlib_signal;
- /* vlib input queue length */
+ /** vpp/vlib input queue length */
u32 vlib_input_queue_length;
- /* client side message index hash table */
+ /** client message index hash table */
uword *msg_index_by_name_and_crc;
+ /** Shared VM binary API region name */
const char *region_name;
+
+ /** Chroot path to the shared memory API files */
const char *root_path;
- /* Replay in progress? */
+ /** Replay in progress? */
int replay_in_progress;
- /* Dump (msg-name, crc) snapshot here at startup */
+ /** Dump (msg-name, crc) snapshot here at startup */
u8 *save_msg_table_filename;
- /* List of API client reaper functions */
+ /** List of API client reaper functions */
_vl_msg_api_function_list_elt_t *reaper_function_registrations;
} api_main_t;
extern api_main_t api_main;
-
#endif /* included_api_common_h */
/*
diff --git a/src/vlibapi/api_doc.md b/src/vlibapi/api_doc.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e620ee12728
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/vlibapi/api_doc.md
@@ -0,0 +1,349 @@
+# Binary API support {#api_doc}
+
+VPP provides a binary API scheme to allow a wide variety of client codes to
+program data-plane tables. As of this writing, there are hundreds of binary
+APIs.
+
+Messages are defined in `*.api` files. Today, there are about 50 api files,
+with more arriving as folks add programmable features. The API file compiler
+sources reside in @ref src/tools/vppapigen .
+
+Here's a typical request/response message definition, from
+@ref src/vnet/interface.api :
+
+```
+ autoreply define sw_interface_set_flags
+ {
+ u32 client_index;
+ u32 context;
+ u32 sw_if_index;
+ /* 1 = up, 0 = down */
+ u8 admin_up_down;
+ };
+```
+
+To a first approximation, the API compiler renders this definition as
+follows:
+
+```
+ /****** Message ID / handler enum ******/
+ #ifdef vl_msg_id
+ vl_msg_id(VL_API_SW_INTERFACE_SET_FLAGS, vl_api_sw_interface_set_flags_t_handler)
+ vl_msg_id(VL_API_SW_INTERFACE_SET_FLAGS_REPLY, vl_api_sw_interface_set_flags_reply_t_handler)
+ #endif
+
+ /****** Message names ******/
+ #ifdef vl_msg_name
+ vl_msg_name(vl_api_sw_interface_set_flags_t, 1)
+ vl_msg_name(vl_api_sw_interface_set_flags_reply_t, 1)
+ #endif
+
+ /****** Message name, crc list ******/
+ #ifdef vl_msg_name_crc_list
+ #define foreach_vl_msg_name_crc_interface \
+ _(VL_API_SW_INTERFACE_SET_FLAGS, sw_interface_set_flags, f890584a) \
+ _(VL_API_SW_INTERFACE_SET_FLAGS_REPLY, sw_interface_set_flags_reply, dfbf3afa) \
+ #endif
+
+ /****** Typedefs *****/
+ #ifdef vl_typedefs
+ typedef VL_API_PACKED(struct _vl_api_sw_interface_set_flags {
+ u16 _vl_msg_id;
+ u32 client_index;
+ u32 context;
+ u32 sw_if_index;
+ u8 admin_up_down;
+ }) vl_api_sw_interface_set_flags_t;
+
+ typedef VL_API_PACKED(struct _vl_api_sw_interface_set_flags_reply {
+ u16 _vl_msg_id;
+ u32 context;
+ i32 retval;
+ }) vl_api_sw_interface_set_flags_reply_t;
+```
+
+To change the admin state of an interface, a binary api client sends a
+@ref vl_api_sw_interface_set_flags_t to vpp, which will respond with a
+@ref vl_api_sw_interface_set_flags_reply_t message.
+
+Multiple layers of software, transport types, and shared libraries
+implement a variety of features:
+
+* API message allocation, tracing, pretty-printing, and replay.
+* Message transport via global shared memory, pairwise/private shared
+ memory, and sockets.
+* Barrier synchronization of worker threads across thread-unsafe
+ message handlers.
+
+Correctly-coded message handlers know nothing about the transport used to
+deliver messages to/from vpp. It's reasonably straighforward to use multiple
+API message transport types simultaneously.
+
+For historical reasons, binary api messages are (putatively) sent in network
+byte order. As of this writing, we're seriously considering whether that
+choice makes sense.
+
+
+## Message Allocation
+
+Since binary API messages are always processed in order, we allocate messages
+using a ring allocator whenever possible. This scheme is extremely fast when
+compared with a traditional memory allocator, and doesn't cause heap
+fragmentation. See
+@ref src/vlibmemory/memory_shared.c @ref vl_msg_api_alloc_internal() .
+
+Regardless of transport, binary api messages always follow a @ref msgbuf_t
+header:
+
+```
+ typedef struct msgbuf_
+ {
+ unix_shared_memory_queue_t *q;
+ u32 data_len;
+ u32 gc_mark_timestamp;
+ u8 data[0];
+ } msgbuf_t;
+```
+
+This structure makes it easy to trace messages without having to
+decode them - simply save data_len bytes - and allows
+@ref vl_msg_api_free() to rapidly dispose of message buffers:
+
+```
+ void
+ vl_msg_api_free (void *a)
+ {
+ msgbuf_t *rv;
+ api_main_t *am = &api_main;
+
+ rv = (msgbuf_t *) (((u8 *) a) - offsetof (msgbuf_t, data));
+
+ /*
+ * Here's the beauty of the scheme. Only one proc/thread has
+ * control of a given message buffer. To free a buffer, we just
+ * clear the queue field, and leave. No locks, no hits, no errors...
+ */
+ if (rv->q)
+ {
+ rv->q = 0;
+ rv->gc_mark_timestamp = 0;
+ return;
+ }
+ <snip>
+ }
+```
+
+## Message Tracing and Replay
+
+It's extremely important that vpp can capture and replay sizeable binary API
+traces. System-level issues involving hundreds of thousands of API
+transactions can be re-run in a second or less. Partial replay allows one to
+binary-search for the point where the wheels fall off. One can add scaffolding
+to the data plane, to trigger when complex conditions obtain.
+
+With binary API trace, print, and replay, system-level bug reports of the form
+"after 300,000 API transactions, the vpp data-plane stopped forwarding
+traffic, FIX IT!" can be solved offline.
+
+More often than not, one discovers that a control-plane client
+misprograms the data plane after a long time or under complex
+circumstances. Without direct evidence, "it's a data-plane problem!"
+
+See @ref src/vlibmemory/memory_vlib.c @ref vl_msg_api_process_file() ,
+and @ref src/vlibapi/api_shared.c . See also the debug CLI command "api trace"
+
+## Client connection details
+
+Establishing a binary API connection to vpp from a C-language client
+is easy:
+
+```
+ int
+ connect_to_vpe (char *client_name, int client_message_queue_length)
+ {
+ vat_main_t *vam = &vat_main;
+ api_main_t *am = &api_main;
+
+ if (vl_client_connect_to_vlib ("/vpe-api", client_name,
+ client_message_queue_length) < 0)
+ return -1;
+
+ /* Memorize vpp's binary API message input queue address */
+ vam->vl_input_queue = am->shmem_hdr->vl_input_queue;
+ /* And our client index */
+ vam->my_client_index = am->my_client_index;
+ return 0;
+ }
+```
+
+32 is a typical value for client_message_queue_length. Vpp cannot
+block when it needs to send an API message to a binary API client, and
+the vpp-side binary API message handlers are very fast. When sending
+asynchronous messages, make sure to scrape the binary API rx ring with
+some enthusiasm.
+
+### binary API message RX pthread
+
+Calling @ref vl_client_connect_to_vlib spins up a binary API message RX
+pthread:
+
+```
+ static void *
+ rx_thread_fn (void *arg)
+ {
+ unix_shared_memory_queue_t *q;
+ memory_client_main_t *mm = &memory_client_main;
+ api_main_t *am = &api_main;
+
+ q = am->vl_input_queue;
+
+ /* So we can make the rx thread terminate cleanly */
+ if (setjmp (mm->rx_thread_jmpbuf) == 0)
+ {
+ mm->rx_thread_jmpbuf_valid = 1;
+ while (1)
+ {
+ vl_msg_api_queue_handler (q);
+ }
+ }
+ pthread_exit (0);
+ }
+```
+
+To handle the binary API message queue yourself, use
+@ref vl_client_connect_to_vlib_no_rx_pthread.
+
+In turn, vl_msg_api_queue_handler(...) uses mutex/condvar signalling
+to wake up, process vpp -> client traffic, then sleep. Vpp supplies a
+condvar broadcast when the vpp -> client API message queue transitions
+from empty to nonempty.
+
+Vpp checks its own binary API input queue at a very high rate. Vpp
+invokes message handlers in "process" context [aka cooperative
+multitasking thread context] at a variable rate, depending on
+data-plane packet processing requirements.
+
+## Client disconnection details
+
+To disconnect from vpp, call @ref vl_client_disconnect_from_vlib
+. Please arrange to call this function if the client application
+terminates abnormally. Vpp makes every effort to hold a decent funeral
+for dead clients, but vpp can't guarantee to free leaked memory in the
+shared binary API segment.
+
+## Sending binary API messages to vpp
+
+The point of the exercise is to send binary API messages to vpp, and
+to receive replies from vpp. Many vpp binary APIs comprise a client
+request message, and a simple status reply. For example, to
+set the admin status of an interface, one codes:
+
+```
+ vl_api_sw_interface_set_flags_t *mp;
+
+ mp = vl_msg_api_alloc (sizeof (*mp));
+ memset (mp, 0, sizeof (*mp));
+ mp->_vl_msg_id = clib_host_to_net_u16 (VL_API_SW_INTERFACE_SET_FLAGS);
+ mp->client_index = api_main.my_client_index;
+ mp->sw_if_index = clib_host_to_net_u32 (<interface-sw-if-index>);
+ vl_msg_api_send (api_main.shmem_hdr->vl_input_queue, (u8 *)mp);
+```
+
+Key points:
+
+* Use @ref vl_msg_api_alloc to allocate message buffers
+
+* Allocated message buffers are not initialized, and must be presumed
+ to contain trash.
+
+* Don't forget to set the _vl_msg_id field!
+
+* As of this writing, binary API message IDs and data are sent in
+ network byte order
+
+* The client-library global data structure @ref api_main keeps track
+ of sufficient pointers and handles used to communicate with vpp
+
+## Receiving binary API messages from vpp
+
+Unless you've made other arrangements (see @ref
+vl_client_connect_to_vlib_no_rx_pthread), *messages are received on a
+separate rx pthread*. Synchronization with the client application main
+thread is the responsibility of the application!
+
+Set up message handlers about as follows:
+
+```
+ #define vl_typedefs /* define message structures */
+ #include <vpp/api/vpe_all_api_h.h>
+ #undef vl_typedefs
+
+ /* declare message handlers for each api */
+
+ #define vl_endianfun /* define message structures */
+ #include <vpp/api/vpe_all_api_h.h>
+ #undef vl_endianfun
+
+ /* instantiate all the print functions we know about */
+ #define vl_print(handle, ...)
+ #define vl_printfun
+ #include <vpp/api/vpe_all_api_h.h>
+ #undef vl_printfun
+
+ /* Define a list of all message that the client handles */
+ #define foreach_vpe_api_reply_msg \
+ _(SW_INTERFACE_SET_FLAGS_REPLY, sw_interface_set_flags_reply)
+
+ static clib_error_t *
+ my_api_hookup (vlib_main_t * vm)
+ {
+ api_main_t *am = &api_main;
+
+ #define _(N,n) \
+ vl_msg_api_set_handlers(VL_API_##N, #n, \
+ vl_api_##n##_t_handler, \
+ vl_noop_handler, \
+ vl_api_##n##_t_endian, \
+ vl_api_##n##_t_print, \
+ sizeof(vl_api_##n##_t), 1);
+ foreach_vpe_api_msg;
+ #undef _
+
+ return 0;
+ }
+```
+
+The key API used to establish message handlers is @ref
+vl_msg_api_set_handlers , which sets values in multiple parallel
+vectors in the @ref api_main_t structure. As of this writing: not all
+vector element values can be set through the API. You'll see sporadic
+API message registrations followed by minor adjustments of this form:
+
+```
+ /*
+ * Thread-safe API messages
+ */
+ am->is_mp_safe[VL_API_IP_ADD_DEL_ROUTE] = 1;
+ am->is_mp_safe[VL_API_GET_NODE_GRAPH] = 1;
+```
+
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