I was going through a Linux KERNEL configuration file wherein function_trace is enabled but debugfs is disabled. If i load this kernel onto the target is there any way, I can make use of the function_tracer ? if debugfs is disabled is it that the function tracer is not enabled by default ?
1 Answers
Technically it's not possible to select function_trace without debugfs enabled. As per tracing configuration file (https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/kernel/trace/Kconfig#n140), it suggest that - if you select FUNCTION_TRACER, it'll automatically select GENERIC_TRACER and when GENERIC_TRACER is selected this will automatically select TRACING (https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/kernel/trace/Kconfig#n112) and when TRACING is selected it'll select DEBUG_FS (https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/kernel/trace/Kconfig#n101).
So, it's a linked list of selection procedure and you do not need to select each option every time. Until unless you've modified config file by hand and it's not recommended.

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