docs/reference/traced_probes.md

# TRACED_PROBES(8)

## NAME

traced_probes - System & OS Probes

## DESCRIPTION

`traced_probes` is a specialized daemon that acts as a privileged
[Producer](/docs/concepts/service-model.md#producer) in the Perfetto
architecture. While any application can act as a producer to contribute its own
trace data, `traced_probes` is specifically responsible for collecting
system-level and kernel-level data that typically requires elevated privileges.

## Relationship with `traced`

`traced_probes` is a client of the [`traced`](/docs/reference/traced.md)
service. It connects to `traced`'s producer socket and registers a set of data
sources. `traced` then sends requests to `traced_probes` to start or stop these
data sources as part of a tracing session.

This separation of concerns is a key part of Perfetto's design. `traced` is the
central manager, while `traced_probes` is a specialized data provider. This
decoupled architecture allows for multiple, independent producers and consumers
to interact with the tracing system simultaneously without interfering with each
other.

![traced_probes and traced](/docs/images/platform-tracing.png)

## Security and Privileges

`traced_probes` often needs to run with elevated privileges (e.g., `root` or
`system` user on Android) to access kernel interfaces like `debugfs` or `/proc`.
Separating these high-privilege probes into their own daemon is a key part of
Perfetto's security model. It ensures that only a minimal amount of code runs
with high privileges, adhering to the principle of least privilege.

## Configuration

The data sources provided by `traced_probes` are configured within the main
trace configuration protobuf that is sent to `traced`. For example, to enable
ftrace, you would include an `FtraceConfig` within the `DataSourceConfig` for
the `linux.ftrace` data source.

## Data Sources

`traced_probes` provides a wide range of data sources, collecting system-level
and kernel-level data. The configuration for these data sources is specified in
the `data_sources` section of the overall trace configuration. Each data source
has its own configuration message within a `data_source_config` block.

Here is an example of the general structure:

```protobuf
data_sources: {
    config {
        name: "linux.ftrace"
        ftrace_config {
            # ... ftrace-specific settings
        }
    }
}
data_sources: {
    config {
        name: "linux.process_stats"
        process_stats_config {
            # ... process_stats-specific settings
        }
    }
}
```

Below is a detailed list of the main data sources provided by `traced_probes`,
separated by platform.

## Linux Data Sources

These data sources are available on Linux-based systems, including Android.

Here is an example of a trace config enabling several Linux data sources:
```protobuf
# Example of a trace config enabling several Linux data sources.
data_sources: {
    config {
        name: "linux.ftrace"
        ftrace_config {
          ftrace_events: "sched/sched_switch"
          ftrace_events: "power/cpu_idle"
        }
    }
}
data_sources: {
    config {
        name: "linux.process_stats"
        process_stats_config {
          scan_all_processes_on_start: true
          proc_stats_poll_ms: 1000
        }
    }
}
data_sources: {
    config {
        name: "linux.sys_stats"
        sys_stats_config {
          meminfo_period_ms: 1000
          vmstat_period_ms: 1000
        }
    }
}
```

### `linux.ftrace` (Kernel Tracing)

*   **Description**: This is the primary data source for high-frequency kernel
    events. It enables and reads raw ftrace data from the Linux kernel's ftrace
    interface, providing insights into process scheduling, system calls,
    interrupts, and other kernel activities.
*   **Configuration Example**:
    ```protobuf
    data_sources: {
      config {
        name: "linux.ftrace"
        ftrace_config {
          ftrace_events: "sched/sched_switch"
          ftrace_events: "power/cpu_idle"
          ftrace_events: "sched/sched_waking"
        }
      }
    }
    ```
*   **Configuration**: Configured via `FtraceConfig` within the
    `DataSourceConfig`. Key options include:
    *   `ftrace_events`: List of ftrace events to enable (e.g.,
        `sched/sched_switch`).
    *   `atrace_categories`, `atrace_apps`: For Android, enables userspace
        Atrace categories and apps.
    *   `syscall_events`: Specific syscalls to trace.
    *   `enable_function_graph`: Enables kernel function graph tracing.
    *   `compact_sched`: Enables compact encoding for scheduler events.
    *   `symbolize_ksyms`: Enables kernel symbolization.
    *   `print_filter`: Filters `ftrace/print` events based on content.

### `linux.process_stats` (Process and Thread Statistics)

*   **Description**: Collects detailed process and thread-level statistics from
    the `/proc` filesystem. It provides both a snapshot of the process tree and
    periodic memory/CPU counters.
*   **Configuration Example**:
    ```protobuf
    data_sources: {
      config {
        name: "linux.process_stats"
        process_stats_config {
          scan_all_processes_on_start: true
          proc_stats_poll_ms: 1000
        }
      }
    }
    ```
*   **Configuration**: Configured via `ProcessStatsConfig`. Key options include:
    *   `record_thread_names`: Record thread names.
    *   `scan_all_processes_on_start`: Dump the entire process tree at the
        start.
    *   `resolve_process_fds`: Resolve file descriptor paths.
    *   `scan_smaps_rollup`: Read `/proc/[pid]/smaps_rollup`.
    *   `record_process_age`: Record process start time.
    *   `record_process_runtime`: Record user and kernel mode CPU times.
    *   `record_process_dmabuf_rss`: Record DMA buffer RSS.
    *   `proc_stats_poll_ms`: Polling interval for periodic stats.
    *   `proc_stats_cache_ttl_ms`: Time-to-live for cached stats.
    *   `quirks`: Special behaviors (e.g., `DISABLE_ON_DEMAND`).

### `linux.sys_stats` (System-Wide Statistics)

*   **Description**: Collects system-wide statistics by periodically polling
    various files in `/proc` and `/sys`.
*   **Configuration Example**:
    ```protobuf
    data_sources: {
      config {
        name: "linux.sys_stats"
        sys_stats_config {
          meminfo_period_ms: 1000
          vmstat_period_ms: 1000
          stat_period_ms: 1000
        }
      }
    }
    ```
*   **Configuration**: Configured via `SysStatsConfig`. Allows fine-grained
    control over which counters to collect and their polling frequencies (e.g.,
    `meminfo_period_ms`, `vmstat_period_ms`, `stat_counters`).

### `linux.sysfs_power` (Power and Battery Information)

*   **Description**: Collects power and battery statistics using the Linux sysfs
    interface.
*   **Configuration Example**:
    ```protobuf
    data_sources: {
      config {
        name: "linux.sysfs_power"
      }
    }
    ```
*   **Configuration**: This data source does not have a specific configuration
    proto.

### `linux.inode_file_map` (Inode to File Path Mapping)

*   **Description**: Maps inode numbers to file paths, which is useful for
    correlating I/O events with the files being accessed.
*   **Configuration Example**:
    ```protobuf
    data_sources: {
      config {
        name: "linux.inode_file_map"
        inode_file_config {
          scan_interval_ms: 10000
          scan_delay_ms: 5000
          scan_batch_size: 1000
        }
      }
    }
    ```
*   **Configuration**: `InodeFileConfig` allows specifying `scan_mount_points`,
    `mount_point_mapping` (to remap scan roots), `scan_interval_ms`,
    `scan_delay_ms`, `scan_batch_size`, and `do_not_scan`.

### `perfetto.metatrace` (Perfetto Self-Tracing)

*   **Description**: A self-tracing data source that records events within
    Perfetto itself, useful for debugging and performance analysis of the
    tracing system.
*   **Configuration Example**:
    ```protobuf
    data_sources: {
      config {
        name: "perfetto.metatrace"
      }
    }
    ```
*   **Configuration**: No specific configuration in `DataSourceConfig`.

### `linux.system_info` (System Information)

*   **Description**: Records general information about the system, such as CPU
    details and kernel version.
*   **Configuration Example**:
    ```protobuf
    data_sources: {
      config {
        name: "linux.system_info"
      }
    }
    ```
*   **Configuration**: `SystemInfoConfig` allows enabling `irq_names` to record
    hardware interrupt ID-to-name mappings from `/proc/interrupts`.

## Android Data Sources

These data sources are available only on Android.

Here is an example of a trace config enabling several Android data sources:
```protobuf
# Example of a trace config enabling several Android data sources.
data_sources: {
    config {
        name: "android.power"
        android_power_config {
          battery_poll_ms: 1000
          battery_counters: BATTERY_COUNTER_CHARGE
          collect_power_rails: true
        }
    }
}
data_sources: {
    config {
        name: "android.log"
        android_log_config {
          log_ids: LID_DEFAULT
          log_ids: LID_SYSTEM
        }
    }
}
data_sources: {
    config {
        name: "android.packages_list"
    }
}
```

### `android.power` (Power and Battery Information)

*   **Description**: Collects power and battery statistics using Android-specific
    HALs.
*   **Configuration Example**:
    ```protobuf
    data_sources: {
      config {
        name: "android.power"
        android_power_config {
          battery_poll_ms: 1000
          battery_counters: BATTERY_COUNTER_CHARGE
          battery_counters: BATTERY_COUNTER_CAPACITY_PERCENT
          collect_power_rails: true
        }
      }
    }
    ```
*   **Configuration**: `AndroidPowerConfig` allows enabling specific battery
    counters (`battery_counters`), power rails (`collect_power_rails`), energy
    estimation breakdown (`collect_energy_estimation_breakdown`), and entity
    state residency (`collect_entity_state_residency`).

### `android.log` (Android Logcat)

*   **Description**: Streams log messages from Android's logcat buffer into the
    trace.
*   **Configuration Example**:
    ```protobuf
    data_sources: {
      config {
        name: "android.log"
        android_log_config {
          log_ids: LID_DEFAULT
          log_ids: LID_SYSTEM
          min_prio: PRIO_INFO
          filter_tags: "ActivityManager"
        }
      }
    }
    ```
*   **Configuration**: `AndroidLogConfig` allows filtering by log IDs
    (`log_ids`) and tags (`filter_tags`), and setting a minimum priority
    (`min_prio`).

### `android.system_property` (Android System Properties)

*   **Description**: Collects the state of Android system properties.
*   **Configuration Example**:
    ```protobuf
    data_sources: {
      config {
        name: "android.system_property"
        android_system_property_config {
          poll_ms: 1000
          property_name: "debug.tracing.screen_state"
        }
      }
    }
    ```
*   **Configuration**: `AndroidSystemPropertyConfig` allows specifying
    `property_name`s to monitor and a `poll_ms` interval.

### `android.packages_list` (Android Package Information)

*   **Description**: Dumps information about installed packages on Android.
*   **Configuration Example**:
    ```protobuf
    data_sources: {
      config {
        name: "android.packages_list"
        packages_list_config {
          package_name_filter: "com.android.systemui"
          package_name_filter: "com.google.android.apps.nexuslauncher"
        }
      }
    }
    ```
*   **Configuration**: `PackagesListConfig` allows filtering by
    `package_name_filter` and can be configured to
    `only_write_on_cpu_use_every_ms` (polling mode) or dump all at start.

### `android.game_interventions` (Android Game Intervention List)

*   **Description**: Dumps the game intervention list from the package manager
    on Android.
*   **Configuration Example**:
    ```protobuf
    data_sources: {
      config {
        name: "android.game_interventions"
        android_game_intervention_list_config {
          package_name_filter: "com.example.mygame"
        }
      }
    }
    ```
*   **Configuration**: `AndroidGameInterventionListConfig` allows filtering by
    `package_name_filter`.

### `android.cpu_per_uid` (Per-UID CPU Time)

*   **Description**: Collects per-UID CPU time from the kernel.
*   **Configuration Example**:
    ```protobuf
    data_sources: {
      config {
        name: "android.cpu_per_uid"
        cpu_per_uid_config {
          poll_ms: 1000
        }
      }
    }
    ```
*   **Configuration**: `CpuPerUidConfig` allows setting the `poll_ms` interval.

### `android.kernel_wakelocks` (Kernel Wakelocks)

*   **Description**: Collects kernel wakelock information.
*   **Configuration Example**:
    ```protobuf
    data_sources: {
      config {
        name: "android.kernel_wakelocks"
        kernel_wakelocks_config {
          poll_ms: 1000
        }
      }
    }
    ```
*   **Configuration**: `KernelWakelocksConfig` allows setting the `poll_ms`
    interval.

### `android.polled_state` (Android Initial Display State)

*   **Description**: Records the initial display state (e.g., screen on/off,
    brightness) on Android.
*   **Configuration Example**:
    ```protobuf
    data_sources: {
      config {
        name: "android.polled_state"
        android_polled_state_config {
          poll_ms: 500
        }
      }
    }
    ```
*   **Configuration**: `AndroidPolledStateConfig` allows setting a `poll_ms`
    interval.

### `android.statsd` (Android StatsD Atoms)

*   **Description**: Collects StatsD atoms from the binder interface on Android.
*   **Configuration Example**:
    ```protobuf
    data_sources: {
      config {
        name: "android.statsd"
        statsd_tracing_config {
          pull_config {
            pull_atom_id: ATOM_SYSTEM_UPTIME # Example pull atom
            pull_frequency_ms: 1000
          }
          push_atom_id: ATOM_FLASHLIGHT_STATE_CHANGED # Example push atom
        }
      }
    }
    ```
*   **Configuration**: `StatsdTracingConfig` allows specifying `pull_config`
    (for pull atoms with frequency and packages) and `push_atom_id` (for push
    atoms).