Re: [PATCH v2] samples: bpf: fix: error handling regarding kprobe_events

On 11/22/2018 11:14 PM, Daniel T. Lee wrote:

Currently, kprobe_events failure won't be handled properly.
Due to calling system() indirectly to write to kprobe_events,
it can't be identified whether an error is derived from kprobe or system.

    // buf = "echo '%c:%s %s' >> /s/k/d/t/kprobe_events"
    err = system(buf);
    if (err < 0) {
        printf("failed to create kprobe ..");
        return -1;
    }

For example, running ./tracex7 sample in ext4 partition,
"echo p:open_ctree open_ctree >> /s/k/d/t/kprobe_events"
gets 256 error code system() failure.
=> The error comes from kprobe, but it's not handled correctly.

According to man of system(3), it's return value
just passes the termination status of the child shell
rather than treating the error as -1. (don't care success)

Which means, currently it's not working as desired.
(According to the upper code snippet)

    ex) running ./tracex7 with ext4 env.
    # Current Output
    sh: echo: I/O error
    failed to open event open_ctree

    # Desired Output
    failed to create kprobe 'open_ctree' error 'No such file or directory'

The problem is, error can't be verified whether from child ps or system.

But using write() directly can verify the command failure,
and it will treat all error as -1.

So I suggest using write() directly to 'kprobe_events'
rather than calling system().

Signed-off-by: Daniel T. Lee <redacted>

Applied to bpf-next, thanks!