[PATCH v2] docs: ftrace: Specifies when buffers get clear

From: Frank A. Cancio Bello
Date: Wed Dec 18 2019 - 14:16:00 EST


Clarify a few places where the ring buffer and the "snapshot" buffer
are cleared as a side effect of an operation.

This will avoid users lost of tracing data because of these so far
undocumented behavior.

Signed-off-by: Frank A. Cancio Bello <frank@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
---
Changes in v2:
- Per Steven comment correct the fact that the "snapshot" buffer is
not touched when writing in the "trace" file.
- Use tab instead of spaces for alignment.

Documentation/trace/ftrace.rst | 9 +++++++--
1 file changed, 7 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/Documentation/trace/ftrace.rst b/Documentation/trace/ftrace.rst
index d2b5657ed33e..46df39300d22 100644
--- a/Documentation/trace/ftrace.rst
+++ b/Documentation/trace/ftrace.rst
@@ -95,7 +95,8 @@ of ftrace. Here is a list of some of the key files:
current_tracer:

This is used to set or display the current tracer
- that is configured.
+ that is configured. Changing the current tracer clears
+ the ring buffer content as well as the "snapshot" buffer.

available_tracers:

@@ -126,7 +127,8 @@ of ftrace. Here is a list of some of the key files:
This file holds the output of the trace in a human
readable format (described below). Note, tracing is temporarily
disabled when the file is open for reading. Once all readers
- are closed, tracing is re-enabled.
+ are closed, tracing is re-enabled. Opening this file for
+ writing with the O_TRUNC flag clears the ring buffer content.

trace_pipe:

@@ -490,6 +492,9 @@ of ftrace. Here is a list of some of the key files:

# echo global > trace_clock

+ Setting a clock clears the ring buffer content as well as the
+ "snapshot" buffer.
+
trace_marker:

This is a very useful file for synchronizing user space
--
2.17.1