Kernel subsystem for handling performance counters and events

A method, implemented by a computing system programmed to perform the following, comprising:

• receiving, by an operating system of the computing system, a first request of a first application for task data associated with a type of event, the first request specifying a task to be performed by a second application;
• causing, by the operating system, a first hardware counter pertaining to the event type to be activated, the first hardware counter being on a first processor;
• tracking, by the operating system, a migration of the task from the first processor to a second processor;
• causing, by the operating system, a second hardware counter pertaining to the event type to be activated, the second hardware counter being on the second processor;
• and
• after the task is completed, returning a cumulative value of the first hardware counter and the second hardware counter to the first application.

A computer readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to perform a set of operations comprising:

• receiving, by an operating system of the computing system, a first request of a first application for performance data associated with a type of event to be performed by a second application;
• causing, by the operating system, a hardware counter pertaining to the event type to be activated;
• providing, by the operating system, a file descriptor corresponding to the hardware counter to the first application;
• receiving, by the operating system, a second request of the first application for a value of the hardware counter, the second request including the file descriptor;
• and
• providing, by the operating system, the value of the hardware counter to the first application.

A system comprising:

• a memory;
• at least one processor, coupled to the memory;
• and
• a kernel performance counter and event (PCE) subsystem, executed from the memory by the processor, to
• receive a first request of a first application for performance data associated with a type of event to be performed by a second application,
• cause a hardware counter pertaining to the event type to be activated,
• provide a file descriptor corresponding to the hardware counter to the first application,
• receive a second request of the first application for a value of the hardware counter, the second request including the file descriptor, and
• provide the value of the hardware counter to the first application.