========================================= How to get printk format specifiers right ========================================= :Author: Randy Dunlap :Author: Andrew Murray Integer types ============= :: If variable is of Type, use printk format specifier: ------------------------------------------------------------ char %d or %x unsigned char %u or %x short int %d or %x unsigned short int %u or %x int %d or %x unsigned int %u or %x long %ld or %lx unsigned long %lu or %lx long long %lld or %llx unsigned long long %llu or %llx size_t %zu or %zx ssize_t %zd or %zx s8 %d or %x u8 %u or %x s16 %d or %x u16 %u or %x s32 %d or %x u32 %u or %x s64 %lld or %llx u64 %llu or %llx If is dependent on a config option for its size (e.g., sector_t, blkcnt_t) or is architecture-dependent for its size (e.g., tcflag_t), use a format specifier of its largest possible type and explicitly cast to it. Example:: printk("test: sector number/total blocks: %llu/%llu\n", (unsigned long long)sector, (unsigned long long)blockcount); Reminder: sizeof() returns type size_t. The kernel's printf does not support %n. Floating point formats (%e, %f, %g, %a) are also not recognized, for obvious reasons. Use of any unsupported specifier or length qualifier results in a WARN and early return from vsnprintf(). Pointer types ============= A raw pointer value may be printed with %p which will hash the address before printing. The kernel also supports extended specifiers for printing pointers of different types. Some of the extended specifiers print the data on the given address instead of printing the address itself. In this case, the following error messages might be printed instead of the unreachable information:: (null) data on plain NULL address (efault) data on invalid address (einval) invalid data on a valid address Plain Pointers -------------- :: %p abcdef12 or 00000000abcdef12 Pointers printed without a specifier extension (i.e unadorned %p) are hashed to prevent leaking information about the kernel memory layout. This has the added benefit of providing a unique identifier. On 64-bit machines the first 32 bits are zeroed. The kernel will print ``(ptrval)`` until it gathers enough entropy. If you *really* want the address see %px below. Symbols/Function Pointers ------------------------- :: %pS versatile_init+0x0/0x110 %ps versatile_init %pF versatile_init+0x0/0x110 %pf versatile_init %pSR versatile_init+0x9/0x110 (with __builtin_extract_return_addr() translation) %pB prev_fn_of_versatile_init+0x88/0x88 The ``S`` and ``s`` specifiers are used for printing a pointer in symbolic format. They result in the symbol name with (S) or without (s) offsets. If KALLSYMS are disabled then the symbol address is printed instead. Note, that the ``F`` and ``f`` specifiers are identical to ``S`` (``s``) and thus deprecated. We have ``F`` and ``f`` because on ia64, ppc64 and parisc64 function pointers are indirect and, in fact, are function descriptors, which require additional dereferencing before we can lookup the symbol. As of now, ``S`` and ``s`` perform dereferencing on those platforms (when needed), so ``F`` and ``f`` exist for compatibility reasons only. The ``B`` specifier results in the symbol name with offsets and should be used when printing stack backtraces. The specifier takes into consideration the effect of compiler optimisations which may occur when tail-calls are used and marked with the noreturn GCC attribute. Kernel Pointers --------------- :: %pK 01234567 or 0123456789abcdef For printing kernel pointers which should be hidden from unprivileged users. The behaviour of %pK depends on the kptr_restrict sysctl - see Documentation/admin-guide/sysctl/kernel.rst for more details. Unmodified Addresses -------------------- :: %px 01234567 or 0123456789abcdef For printing pointers when you *really* want to print the address. Please consider whether or not you are leaking sensitive information about the kernel memory layout before printing pointers with %px. %px is functionally equivalent to %lx (or %lu). %px is preferred because it is more uniquely grep'able. If in the future we need to modify the way the kernel handles printing pointers we will be better equipped to find the call sites. Struct Resources ---------------- :: %pr [mem 0x60000000-0x6fffffff flags 0x2200] or [mem 0x0000000060000000-0x000000006fffffff flags 0x2200] %pR [mem 0x60000000-0x6fffffff pref] or [mem 0x0000000060000000-0x000000006fffffff pref] For printing struct resources. The ``R`` and ``r`` specifiers result in a printed resource with (R) or without (r) a decoded flags member. Passed by reference. Physical address types phys_addr_t ---------------------------------- :: %pa[p] 0x01234567 or 0x0123456789abcdef For printing a phys_addr_t type (and its derivatives, such as resource_size_t) which can vary based on build options, regardless of the width of the CPU data path. Passed by reference. DMA address types dma_addr_t ---------------------------- :: %pad 0x01234567 or 0x0123456789abcdef For printing a dma_addr_t type which can vary based on build options, regardless of the width of the CPU data path. Passed by reference. Raw buffer as an escaped string ------------------------------- :: %*pE[achnops] For printing raw buffer as an escaped string. For the following buffer:: 1b 62 20 5c 43 07 22 90 0d 5d A few examples show how the conversion would be done (excluding surrounding quotes):: %*pE "\eb \C\a"\220\r]" %*pEhp "\x1bb \C\x07"\x90\x0d]" %*pEa "\e\142\040\\\103\a\042\220\r\135" The conversion rules are applied according to an optional combination of flags (see :c:func:`string_escape_mem` kernel documentation for the details): - a - ESCAPE_ANY - c - ESCAPE_SPECIAL - h - ESCAPE_HEX - n - ESCAPE_NULL - o - ESCAPE_OCTAL - p - ESCAPE_NP - s - ESCAPE_SPACE By default ESCAPE_ANY_NP is used. ESCAPE_ANY_NP is the sane choice for many cases, in particularly for printing SSIDs. If field width is omitted then 1 byte only will be escaped. Raw buffer as a hex string -------------------------- :: %*ph 00 01 02 ... 3f %*phC 00:01:02: ... :3f %*phD 00-01-02- ... -3f %*phN 000102 ... 3f For printing small buffers (up to 64 bytes long) as a hex string with a certain separator. For larger buffers consider using :c:func:`print_hex_dump`. MAC/FDDI addresses ------------------ :: %pM 00:01:02:03:04:05 %pMR 05:04:03:02:01:00 %pMF 00-01-02-03-04-05 %pm 000102030405 %pmR 050403020100 For printing 6-byte MAC/FDDI addresses in hex notation. The ``M`` and ``m`` specifiers result in a printed address with (M) or without (m) byte separators. The default byte separator is the colon (:). Where FDDI addresses are concerned the ``F`` specifier can be used after the ``M`` specifier to use dash (-) separators instead of the default separator. For Bluetooth addresses the ``R`` specifier shall be used after the ``M`` specifier to use reversed byte order suitable for visual interpretation of Bluetooth addresses which are in the little endian order. Passed by reference. IPv4 addresses -------------- :: %pI4 1.2.3.4 %pi4 001.002.003.004 %p[Ii]4[hnbl] For printing IPv4 dot-separated decimal addresses. The ``I4`` and ``i4`` specifiers result in a printed address with (i4) or without (I4) leading zeros. The additional ``h``, ``n``, ``b``, and ``l`` specifiers are used to specify host, network, big or little endian order addresses respectively. Where no specifier is provided the default network/big endian order is used. Passed by reference. IPv6 addresses -------------- :: %pI6 0001:0002:0003:0004:0005:0006:0007:0008 %pi6 00010002000300040005000600070008 %pI6c 1:2:3:4:5:6:7:8 For printing IPv6 network-order 16-bit hex addresses. The ``I6`` and ``i6`` specifiers result in a printed address with (I6) or without (i6) colon-separators. Leading zeros are always used. The additional ``c`` specifier can be used with the ``I`` specifier to print a compressed IPv6 address as described by http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc5952 Passed by reference. IPv4/IPv6 addresses (generic, with port, flowinfo, scope) --------------------------------------------------------- :: %pIS 1.2.3.4 or 0001:0002:0003:0004:0005:0006:0007:0008 %piS 001.002.003.004 or 00010002000300040005000600070008 %pISc 1.2.3.4 or 1:2:3:4:5:6:7:8 %pISpc 1.2.3.4:12345 or [1:2:3:4:5:6:7:8]:12345 %p[Ii]S[pfschnbl] For printing an IP address without the need to distinguish whether it's of type AF_INET or AF_INET6. A pointer to a valid struct sockaddr, specified through ``IS`` or ``iS``, can be passed to this format specifier. The additional ``p``, ``f``, and ``s`` specifiers are used to specify port (IPv4, IPv6), flowinfo (IPv6) and scope (IPv6). Ports have a ``:`` prefix, flowinfo a ``/`` and scope a ``%``, each followed by the actual value. In case of an IPv6 address the compressed IPv6 address as described by http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc5952 is being used if the additional specifier ``c`` is given. The IPv6 address is surrounded by ``[``, ``]`` in case of additional specifiers ``p``, ``f`` or ``s`` as suggested by https://tools.ietf.org/html/draft-ietf-6man-text-addr-representation-07 In case of IPv4 addresses, the additional ``h``, ``n``, ``b``, and ``l`` specifiers can be used as well and are ignored in case of an IPv6 address. Passed by reference. Further examples:: %pISfc 1.2.3.4 or [1:2:3:4:5:6:7:8]/123456789 %pISsc 1.2.3.4 or [1:2:3:4:5:6:7:8]%1234567890 %pISpfc 1.2.3.4:12345 or [1:2:3:4:5:6:7:8]:12345/123456789 UUID/GUID addresses ------------------- :: %pUb 00010203-0405-0607-0809-0a0b0c0d0e0f %pUB 00010203-0405-0607-0809-0A0B0C0D0E0F %pUl 03020100-0504-0706-0809-0a0b0c0e0e0f %pUL 03020100-0504-0706-0809-0A0B0C0E0E0F For printing 16-byte UUID/GUIDs addresses. The additional ``l``, ``L``, ``b`` and ``B`` specifiers are used to specify a little endian order in lower (l) or upper case (L) hex notation - and big endian order in lower (b) or upper case (B) hex notation. Where no additional specifiers are used the default big endian order with lower case hex notation will be printed. Passed by reference. dentry names ------------ :: %pd{,2,3,4} %pD{,2,3,4} For printing dentry name; if we race with :c:func:`d_move`, the name might be a mix of old and new ones, but it won't oops. %pd dentry is a safer equivalent of %s dentry->d_name.name we used to use, %pd prints ``n`` last components. %pD does the same thing for struct file. Passed by reference. block_device names ------------------ :: %pg sda, sda1 or loop0p1 For printing name of block_device pointers. struct va_format ---------------- :: %pV For printing struct va_format structures. These contain a format string and va_list as follows:: struct va_format { const char *fmt; va_list *va; }; Implements a "recursive vsnprintf". Do not use this feature without some mechanism to verify the correctness of the format string and va_list arguments. Passed by reference. Device tree nodes ----------------- :: %pOF[fnpPcCF] For printing device tree node structures. Default behaviour is equivalent to %pOFf. - f - device node full_name - n - device node name - p - device node phandle - P - device node path spec (name + @unit) - F - device node flags - c - major compatible string - C - full compatible string The separator when using multiple arguments is ':' Examples:: %pOF /foo/bar@0 - Node full name %pOFf /foo/bar@0 - Same as above %pOFfp /foo/bar@0:10 - Node full name + phandle %pOFfcF /foo/bar@0:foo,device:--P- - Node full name + major compatible string + node flags D - dynamic d - detached P - Populated B - Populated bus Passed by reference. Time and date (struct rtc_time) ------------------------------- :: %ptR YYYY-mm-ddTHH:MM:SS %ptRd YYYY-mm-dd %ptRt HH:MM:SS %ptR[dt][r] For printing date and time as represented by struct rtc_time structure in human readable format. By default year will be incremented by 1900 and month by 1. Use %ptRr (raw) to suppress this behaviour. Passed by reference. struct clk ---------- :: %pC pll1 %pCn pll1 For printing struct clk structures. %pC and %pCn print the name of the clock (Common Clock Framework) or a unique 32-bit ID (legacy clock framework). Passed by reference. bitmap and its derivatives such as cpumask and nodemask ------------------------------------------------------- :: %*pb 0779 %*pbl 0,3-6,8-10 For printing bitmap and its derivatives such as cpumask and nodemask, %*pb outputs the bitmap with field width as the number of bits and %*pbl output the bitmap as range list with field width as the number of bits. Passed by reference. Flags bitfields such as page flags, gfp_flags --------------------------------------------- :: %pGp referenced|uptodate|lru|active|private %pGg GFP_USER|GFP_DMA32|GFP_NOWARN %pGv read|exec|mayread|maywrite|mayexec|denywrite For printing flags bitfields as a collection of symbolic constants that would construct the value. The type of flags is given by the third character. Currently supported are [p]age flags, [v]ma_flags (both expect ``unsigned long *``) and [g]fp_flags (expects ``gfp_t *``). The flag names and print order depends on the particular type. Note that this format should not be used directly in the :c:func:`TP_printk()` part of a tracepoint. Instead, use the show_*_flags() functions from . Passed by reference. Network device features ----------------------- :: %pNF 0x000000000000c000 For printing netdev_features_t. Passed by reference. Thanks ====== If you add other %p extensions, please extend with one or more test cases, if at all feasible. Thank you for your cooperation and attention.