Introduce a sysfs interface for the Live Update Orchestrator
under /sys/kernel/liveupdate/. This interface provides a way for
userspace tools and scripts to monitor the current state of the LUO
state machine.
The main feature is a read-only file, state, which displays the
current LUO state as a string ("normal", "prepared", "frozen",
"updated"). The interface uses sysfs_notify to allow userspace
listeners (e.g., via poll) to be efficiently notified of state changes.
ABI documentation for this new sysfs interface is added in
Documentation/ABI/testing/sysfs-kernel-liveupdate.
This read-only sysfs interface complements the main ioctl interface
provided by /dev/liveupdate, which handles LUO control operations and
resource management.
Signed-off-by: Pasha Tatashin <pasha.tatashin@xxxxxxxxxx>
---
.../ABI/testing/sysfs-kernel-liveupdate | 51 ++++++++++
kernel/liveupdate/Kconfig | 18 ++++
kernel/liveupdate/Makefile | 1 +
kernel/liveupdate/luo_core.c | 1 +
kernel/liveupdate/luo_internal.h | 6 ++
kernel/liveupdate/luo_sysfs.c | 92 +++++++++++++++++++
6 files changed, 169 insertions(+)
create mode 100644 Documentation/ABI/testing/sysfs-kernel-liveupdate
create mode 100644 kernel/liveupdate/luo_sysfs.c
diff --git a/Documentation/ABI/testing/sysfs-kernel-liveupdate b/Documentation/ABI/testing/sysfs-kernel-liveupdate
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..4cd4a4fe2f93
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Documentation/ABI/testing/sysfs-kernel-liveupdate
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+What: /sys/kernel/liveupdate/
+Date: May 2025
+KernelVersion: 6.16.0
+Contact: pasha.tatashin@xxxxxxxxxx
+Description: Directory containing interfaces to query the live
+ update orchestrator. Live update is the ability to reboot the
+ host kernel (e.g., via kexec, without a full power cycle) while
+ keeping specifically designated devices operational ("alive")
+ across the transition. After the new kernel boots, these devices
+ can be re-attached to their original workloads (e.g., virtual
+ machines) with their state preserved. This is particularly
+ useful, for example, for quick hypervisor updates without
+ terminating running virtual machines.
+
+
+What: /sys/kernel/liveupdate/state
+Date: May 2025
+KernelVersion: 6.16.0
+Contact: pasha.tatashin@xxxxxxxxxx
+Description: Read-only file that displays the current state of the live
+ update orchestrator as a string. Possible values are:
+
+ "normal": No live update operation is in progress. This is
+ the default operational state.
+
+ "prepared": The live update preparation phase has completed
+ successfully (e.g., triggered via the
+ /dev/liveupdate event). Kernel subsystems have
+ been notified via the %LIVEUPDATE_PREPARE
+ event/callback and should have initiated state
+ saving. User workloads (e.g., VMs) are generally
+ still running, but some operations (like device
+ unbinding or new DMA mappings) might be
+ restricted. The system is ready for the reboot
+ trigger.
+
+ "frozen": The final reboot notification has been sent
+ (e.g., triggered via the 'reboot()' syscall),
+ corresponding to the %LIVEUPDATE_REBOOT kernel
+ event. Subsystems have had their final chance to
+ save state. User workloads must be suspended.
+ The system is about to execute the reboot into
+ the new kernel (imminent kexec). This state
+ corresponds to the "blackout window".
+
+ "updated": The system has successfully rebooted into the
+ new kernel via live update. Restoration of
+ preserved resources can now occur (typically via
+ ioctl commands). The system is awaiting the
+ final 'finish' signal after user space completes
+ restoration tasks.
diff --git a/kernel/liveupdate/Kconfig b/kernel/liveupdate/Kconfig
index f6b0bde188d9..75a17ca8a592 100644
--- a/kernel/liveupdate/Kconfig
+++ b/kernel/liveupdate/Kconfig
@@ -29,6 +29,24 @@ config LIVEUPDATE
If unsure, say N.
+config LIVEUPDATE_SYSFS_API
+ bool "Live Update sysfs monitoring interface"
+ depends on SYSFS
+ depends on LIVEUPDATE
+ help
+ Enable a sysfs interface for the Live Update Orchestrator
+ at /sys/kernel/liveupdate/.
+
+ This allows monitoring the LUO state ('normal', 'prepared',
+ 'frozen', 'updated') via the read-only 'state' file.
+
+ This interface complements the primary /dev/liveupdate ioctl
+ interface, which handles the full update process.
+ This sysfs API may be useful for scripting, or userspace monitoring
+ needed to coordinate application restarts and minimize downtime.
+
+ If unsure, say N.
+
config KEXEC_HANDOVER
bool "kexec handover"
depends on ARCH_SUPPORTS_KEXEC_HANDOVER && ARCH_SUPPORTS_KEXEC_FILE
diff --git a/kernel/liveupdate/Makefile b/kernel/liveupdate/Makefile
index cb3ea380f6b9..e35ddc51ab2b 100644
--- a/kernel/liveupdate/Makefile
+++ b/kernel/liveupdate/Makefile
@@ -9,3 +9,4 @@ obj-$(CONFIG_LIVEUPDATE) += luo_core.o
obj-$(CONFIG_LIVEUPDATE) += luo_files.o
obj-$(CONFIG_LIVEUPDATE) += luo_ioctl.o
obj-$(CONFIG_LIVEUPDATE) += luo_subsystems.o
+obj-$(CONFIG_LIVEUPDATE_SYSFS_API) += luo_sysfs.o
diff --git a/kernel/liveupdate/luo_core.c b/kernel/liveupdate/luo_core.c
index fff84c51d986..41dbe784445e 100644
--- a/kernel/liveupdate/luo_core.c
+++ b/kernel/liveupdate/luo_core.c
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ static inline bool is_current_luo_state(enum liveupdate_state expected_state)
static void __luo_set_state(enum liveupdate_state state)
{
WRITE_ONCE(luo_state, state);
+ luo_sysfs_notify();
}
static inline void luo_set_state(enum liveupdate_state state)
diff --git a/kernel/liveupdate/luo_internal.h b/kernel/liveupdate/luo_internal.h
index f77e8b3044f9..05cd861ed2a8 100644
--- a/kernel/liveupdate/luo_internal.h
+++ b/kernel/liveupdate/luo_internal.h
@@ -29,4 +29,10 @@ int luo_retrieve_file(u64 token, struct file **filep);
int luo_register_file(u64 token, int fd);
int luo_unregister_file(u64 token);
+#ifdef CONFIG_LIVEUPDATE_SYSFS_API
+void luo_sysfs_notify(void);
+#else
+static inline void luo_sysfs_notify(void) {}
+#endif
+
#endif /* _LINUX_LUO_INTERNAL_H */
diff --git a/kernel/liveupdate/luo_sysfs.c b/kernel/liveupdate/luo_sysfs.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..935946bb741b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/kernel/liveupdate/luo_sysfs.c
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
+
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2025, Google LLC.
+ * Pasha Tatashin <pasha.tatashin@xxxxxxxxxx>
+ */
+
+/**
+ * DOC: LUO sysfs interface
+ *
+ * Provides a sysfs interface at ``/sys/kernel/liveupdate/`` for monitoring LUO
+ * state. Live update allows rebooting the kernel (via kexec) while preserving
+ * designated device state for attached workloads (e.g., VMs), useful for
+ * minimizing downtime during hypervisor updates.
+ *
+ * /sys/kernel/liveupdate/state
+ * ----------------------------
+ * - Permissions: Read-only
+ * - Description: Displays the current LUO state string.
+ * - Valid States:
+ * @normal
+ * Idle state.
+ * @prepared
+ * Preparation phase complete (triggered via '/dev/liveupdate'). Resources
+ * checked, state saving initiated via %LIVEUPDATE_PREPARE event.
+ * Workloads mostly running but may be restricted. Ready forreboot
+ * trigger.
+ * @frozen
+ * Final reboot notification sent (triggered via 'reboot'). Corresponds to
+ * %LIVEUPDATE_REBOOT event. Final state saving. Workloads must be
+ * suspended. System about to kexec ("blackout window").
+ * @updated
+ * New kernel booted via live update. Awaiting 'finish' signal.
+ *
+ * Userspace Interaction & Blackout Window Reduction
+ * -------------------------------------------------
+ * Userspace monitors the ``state`` file to coordinate actions:
+ * - Suspend workloads before @frozen state is entered.
+ * - Initiate resource restoration upon entering @updated state.
+ * - Resume workloads after restoration, minimizing downtime.
+ */
+
+#include <linux/kobject.h>
+#include <linux/liveupdate.h>
+#include <linux/sysfs.h>
+#include "luo_internal.h"
+
+static bool luo_sysfs_initialized;
+
+#define LUO_DIR_NAME "liveupdate"
+
+void luo_sysfs_notify(void)
+{
+ if (luo_sysfs_initialized)
+ sysfs_notify(kernel_kobj, LUO_DIR_NAME, "state");
+}
+
+/* Show the current live update state */
+static ssize_t state_show(struct kobject *kobj, struct kobj_attribute *attr,
+ char *buf)
+{
+ return sysfs_emit(buf, "%s\n", luo_current_state_str());
+}
+
+static struct kobj_attribute state_attribute = __ATTR_RO(state);
+
+static struct attribute *luo_attrs[] = {
+ &state_attribute.attr,
+ NULL
+};
+
+static struct attribute_group luo_attr_group = {
+ .attrs = luo_attrs,
+ .name = LUO_DIR_NAME,
+};
+
+static int __init luo_init(void)
+{
+ int ret;
+
+ ret = sysfs_create_group(kernel_kobj, &luo_attr_group);
+ if (ret) {
+ pr_err("Failed to create group\n");
+ return ret;
+ }
+
+ luo_sysfs_initialized = true;
+ pr_info("Initialized\n");
+
+ return 0;
+}
+subsys_initcall(luo_init);
--
2.50.0.727.gbf7dc18ff4-goog
