From 849369d6c66d3054688672f97d31fceb8e8230fb Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: root Date: Fri, 25 Dec 2015 04:40:36 +0000 Subject: initial_commit --- Documentation/rtc.txt | 467 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 467 insertions(+) create mode 100644 Documentation/rtc.txt (limited to 'Documentation/rtc.txt') diff --git a/Documentation/rtc.txt b/Documentation/rtc.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..25016046 --- /dev/null +++ b/Documentation/rtc.txt @@ -0,0 +1,467 @@ + + Real Time Clock (RTC) Drivers for Linux + ======================================= + +When Linux developers talk about a "Real Time Clock", they usually mean +something that tracks wall clock time and is battery backed so that it +works even with system power off. Such clocks will normally not track +the local time zone or daylight savings time -- unless they dual boot +with MS-Windows -- but will instead be set to Coordinated Universal Time +(UTC, formerly "Greenwich Mean Time"). + +The newest non-PC hardware tends to just count seconds, like the time(2) +system call reports, but RTCs also very commonly represent time using +the Gregorian calendar and 24 hour time, as reported by gmtime(3). + +Linux has two largely-compatible userspace RTC API families you may +need to know about: + + * /dev/rtc ... is the RTC provided by PC compatible systems, + so it's not very portable to non-x86 systems. + + * /dev/rtc0, /dev/rtc1 ... are part of a framework that's + supported by a wide variety of RTC chips on all systems. + +Programmers need to understand that the PC/AT functionality is not +always available, and some systems can do much more. That is, the +RTCs use the same API to make requests in both RTC frameworks (using +different filenames of course), but the hardware may not offer the +same functionality. For example, not every RTC is hooked up to an +IRQ, so they can't all issue alarms; and where standard PC RTCs can +only issue an alarm up to 24 hours in the future, other hardware may +be able to schedule one any time in the upcoming century. + + + Old PC/AT-Compatible driver: /dev/rtc + -------------------------------------- + +All PCs (even Alpha machines) have a Real Time Clock built into them. +Usually they are built into the chipset of the computer, but some may +actually have a Motorola MC146818 (or clone) on the board. This is the +clock that keeps the date and time while your computer is turned off. + +ACPI has standardized that MC146818 functionality, and extended it in +a few ways (enabling longer alarm periods, and wake-from-hibernate). +That functionality is NOT exposed in the old driver. + +However it can also be used to generate signals from a slow 2Hz to a +relatively fast 8192Hz, in increments of powers of two. These signals +are reported by interrupt number 8. (Oh! So *that* is what IRQ 8 is +for...) It can also function as a 24hr alarm, raising IRQ 8 when the +alarm goes off. The alarm can also be programmed to only check any +subset of the three programmable values, meaning that it could be set to +ring on the 30th second of the 30th minute of every hour, for example. +The clock can also be set to generate an interrupt upon every clock +update, thus generating a 1Hz signal. + +The interrupts are reported via /dev/rtc (major 10, minor 135, read only +character device) in the form of an unsigned long. The low byte contains +the type of interrupt (update-done, alarm-rang, or periodic) that was +raised, and the remaining bytes contain the number of interrupts since +the last read. Status information is reported through the pseudo-file +/proc/driver/rtc if the /proc filesystem was enabled. The driver has +built in locking so that only one process is allowed to have the /dev/rtc +interface open at a time. + +A user process can monitor these interrupts by doing a read(2) or a +select(2) on /dev/rtc -- either will block/stop the user process until +the next interrupt is received. This is useful for things like +reasonably high frequency data acquisition where one doesn't want to +burn up 100% CPU by polling gettimeofday etc. etc. + +At high frequencies, or under high loads, the user process should check +the number of interrupts received since the last read to determine if +there has been any interrupt "pileup" so to speak. Just for reference, a +typical 486-33 running a tight read loop on /dev/rtc will start to suffer +occasional interrupt pileup (i.e. > 1 IRQ event since last read) for +frequencies above 1024Hz. So you really should check the high bytes +of the value you read, especially at frequencies above that of the +normal timer interrupt, which is 100Hz. + +Programming and/or enabling interrupt frequencies greater than 64Hz is +only allowed by root. This is perhaps a bit conservative, but we don't want +an evil user generating lots of IRQs on a slow 386sx-16, where it might have +a negative impact on performance. This 64Hz limit can be changed by writing +a different value to /proc/sys/dev/rtc/max-user-freq. Note that the +interrupt handler is only a few lines of code to minimize any possibility +of this effect. + +Also, if the kernel time is synchronized with an external source, the +kernel will write the time back to the CMOS clock every 11 minutes. In +the process of doing this, the kernel briefly turns off RTC periodic +interrupts, so be aware of this if you are doing serious work. If you +don't synchronize the kernel time with an external source (via ntp or +whatever) then the kernel will keep its hands off the RTC, allowing you +exclusive access to the device for your applications. + +The alarm and/or interrupt frequency are programmed into the RTC via +various ioctl(2) calls as listed in ./include/linux/rtc.h +Rather than write 50 pages describing the ioctl() and so on, it is +perhaps more useful to include a small test program that demonstrates +how to use them, and demonstrates the features of the driver. This is +probably a lot more useful to people interested in writing applications +that will be using this driver. See the code at the end of this document. + +(The original /dev/rtc driver was written by Paul Gortmaker.) + + + New portable "RTC Class" drivers: /dev/rtcN + -------------------------------------------- + +Because Linux supports many non-ACPI and non-PC platforms, some of which +have more than one RTC style clock, it needed a more portable solution +than expecting a single battery-backed MC146818 clone on every system. +Accordingly, a new "RTC Class" framework has been defined. It offers +three different userspace interfaces: + + * /dev/rtcN ... much the same as the older /dev/rtc interface + + * /sys/class/rtc/rtcN ... sysfs attributes support readonly + access to some RTC attributes. + + * /proc/driver/rtc ... the first RTC (rtc0) may expose itself + using a procfs interface. More information is (currently) shown + here than through sysfs. + +The RTC Class framework supports a wide variety of RTCs, ranging from those +integrated into embeddable system-on-chip (SOC) processors to discrete chips +using I2C, SPI, or some other bus to communicate with the host CPU. There's +even support for PC-style RTCs ... including the features exposed on newer PCs +through ACPI. + +The new framework also removes the "one RTC per system" restriction. For +example, maybe the low-power battery-backed RTC is a discrete I2C chip, but +a high functionality RTC is integrated into the SOC. That system might read +the system clock from the discrete RTC, but use the integrated one for all +other tasks, because of its greater functionality. + +SYSFS INTERFACE +--------------- + +The sysfs interface under /sys/class/rtc/rtcN provides access to various +rtc attributes without requiring the use of ioctls. All dates and times +are in the RTC's timezone, rather than in system time. + +date: RTC-provided date +hctosys: 1 if the RTC provided the system time at boot via the + CONFIG_RTC_HCTOSYS kernel option, 0 otherwise +max_user_freq: The maximum interrupt rate an unprivileged user may request + from this RTC. +name: The name of the RTC corresponding to this sysfs directory +since_epoch: The number of seconds since the epoch according to the RTC +time: RTC-provided time +wakealarm: The time at which the clock will generate a system wakeup + event. This is a one shot wakeup event, so must be reset + after wake if a daily wakeup is required. Format is either + seconds since the epoch or, if there's a leading +, seconds + in the future. + +IOCTL INTERFACE +--------------- + +The ioctl() calls supported by /dev/rtc are also supported by the RTC class +framework. However, because the chips and systems are not standardized, +some PC/AT functionality might not be provided. And in the same way, some +newer features -- including those enabled by ACPI -- are exposed by the +RTC class framework, but can't be supported by the older driver. + + * RTC_RD_TIME, RTC_SET_TIME ... every RTC supports at least reading + time, returning the result as a Gregorian calendar date and 24 hour + wall clock time. To be most useful, this time may also be updated. + + * RTC_AIE_ON, RTC_AIE_OFF, RTC_ALM_SET, RTC_ALM_READ ... when the RTC + is connected to an IRQ line, it can often issue an alarm IRQ up to + 24 hours in the future. (Use RTC_WKALM_* by preference.) + + * RTC_WKALM_SET, RTC_WKALM_RD ... RTCs that can issue alarms beyond + the next 24 hours use a slightly more powerful API, which supports + setting the longer alarm time and enabling its IRQ using a single + request (using the same model as EFI firmware). + + * RTC_UIE_ON, RTC_UIE_OFF ... if the RTC offers IRQs, the RTC framework + will emulate this mechanism. + + * RTC_PIE_ON, RTC_PIE_OFF, RTC_IRQP_SET, RTC_IRQP_READ ... these icotls + are emulated via a kernel hrtimer. + +In many cases, the RTC alarm can be a system wake event, used to force +Linux out of a low power sleep state (or hibernation) back to a fully +operational state. For example, a system could enter a deep power saving +state until it's time to execute some scheduled tasks. + +Note that many of these ioctls are handled by the common rtc-dev interface. +Some common examples: + + * RTC_RD_TIME, RTC_SET_TIME: the read_time/set_time functions will be + called with appropriate values. + + * RTC_ALM_SET, RTC_ALM_READ, RTC_WKALM_SET, RTC_WKALM_RD: gets or sets + the alarm rtc_timer. May call the set_alarm driver function. + + * RTC_IRQP_SET, RTC_IRQP_READ: These are emulated by the generic code. + + * RTC_PIE_ON, RTC_PIE_OFF: These are also emulated by the generic code. + +If all else fails, check out the rtc-test.c driver! + + +-------------------- 8< ---------------- 8< ----------------------------- + +/* + * Real Time Clock Driver Test/Example Program + * + * Compile with: + * gcc -s -Wall -Wstrict-prototypes rtctest.c -o rtctest + * + * Copyright (C) 1996, Paul Gortmaker. + * + * Released under the GNU General Public License, version 2, + * included herein by reference. + * + */ + +#include +#include +#include +#include +#include +#include +#include +#include +#include + + +/* + * This expects the new RTC class driver framework, working with + * clocks that will often not be clones of what the PC-AT had. + * Use the command line to specify another RTC if you need one. + */ +static const char default_rtc[] = "/dev/rtc0"; + + +int main(int argc, char **argv) +{ + int i, fd, retval, irqcount = 0; + unsigned long tmp, data; + struct rtc_time rtc_tm; + const char *rtc = default_rtc; + + switch (argc) { + case 2: + rtc = argv[1]; + /* FALLTHROUGH */ + case 1: + break; + default: + fprintf(stderr, "usage: rtctest [rtcdev]\n"); + return 1; + } + + fd = open(rtc, O_RDONLY); + + if (fd == -1) { + perror(rtc); + exit(errno); + } + + fprintf(stderr, "\n\t\t\tRTC Driver Test Example.\n\n"); + + /* Turn on update interrupts (one per second) */ + retval = ioctl(fd, RTC_UIE_ON, 0); + if (retval == -1) { + if (errno == ENOTTY) { + fprintf(stderr, + "\n...Update IRQs not supported.\n"); + goto test_READ; + } + perror("RTC_UIE_ON ioctl"); + exit(errno); + } + + fprintf(stderr, "Counting 5 update (1/sec) interrupts from reading %s:", + rtc); + fflush(stderr); + for (i=1; i<6; i++) { + /* This read will block */ + retval = read(fd, &data, sizeof(unsigned long)); + if (retval == -1) { + perror("read"); + exit(errno); + } + fprintf(stderr, " %d",i); + fflush(stderr); + irqcount++; + } + + fprintf(stderr, "\nAgain, from using select(2) on /dev/rtc:"); + fflush(stderr); + for (i=1; i<6; i++) { + struct timeval tv = {5, 0}; /* 5 second timeout on select */ + fd_set readfds; + + FD_ZERO(&readfds); + FD_SET(fd, &readfds); + /* The select will wait until an RTC interrupt happens. */ + retval = select(fd+1, &readfds, NULL, NULL, &tv); + if (retval == -1) { + perror("select"); + exit(errno); + } + /* This read won't block unlike the select-less case above. */ + retval = read(fd, &data, sizeof(unsigned long)); + if (retval == -1) { + perror("read"); + exit(errno); + } + fprintf(stderr, " %d",i); + fflush(stderr); + irqcount++; + } + + /* Turn off update interrupts */ + retval = ioctl(fd, RTC_UIE_OFF, 0); + if (retval == -1) { + perror("RTC_UIE_OFF ioctl"); + exit(errno); + } + +test_READ: + /* Read the RTC time/date */ + retval = ioctl(fd, RTC_RD_TIME, &rtc_tm); + if (retval == -1) { + perror("RTC_RD_TIME ioctl"); + exit(errno); + } + + fprintf(stderr, "\n\nCurrent RTC date/time is %d-%d-%d, %02d:%02d:%02d.\n", + rtc_tm.tm_mday, rtc_tm.tm_mon + 1, rtc_tm.tm_year + 1900, + rtc_tm.tm_hour, rtc_tm.tm_min, rtc_tm.tm_sec); + + /* Set the alarm to 5 sec in the future, and check for rollover */ + rtc_tm.tm_sec += 5; + if (rtc_tm.tm_sec >= 60) { + rtc_tm.tm_sec %= 60; + rtc_tm.tm_min++; + } + if (rtc_tm.tm_min == 60) { + rtc_tm.tm_min = 0; + rtc_tm.tm_hour++; + } + if (rtc_tm.tm_hour == 24) + rtc_tm.tm_hour = 0; + + retval = ioctl(fd, RTC_ALM_SET, &rtc_tm); + if (retval == -1) { + if (errno == ENOTTY) { + fprintf(stderr, + "\n...Alarm IRQs not supported.\n"); + goto test_PIE; + } + perror("RTC_ALM_SET ioctl"); + exit(errno); + } + + /* Read the current alarm settings */ + retval = ioctl(fd, RTC_ALM_READ, &rtc_tm); + if (retval == -1) { + perror("RTC_ALM_READ ioctl"); + exit(errno); + } + + fprintf(stderr, "Alarm time now set to %02d:%02d:%02d.\n", + rtc_tm.tm_hour, rtc_tm.tm_min, rtc_tm.tm_sec); + + /* Enable alarm interrupts */ + retval = ioctl(fd, RTC_AIE_ON, 0); + if (retval == -1) { + perror("RTC_AIE_ON ioctl"); + exit(errno); + } + + fprintf(stderr, "Waiting 5 seconds for alarm..."); + fflush(stderr); + /* This blocks until the alarm ring causes an interrupt */ + retval = read(fd, &data, sizeof(unsigned long)); + if (retval == -1) { + perror("read"); + exit(errno); + } + irqcount++; + fprintf(stderr, " okay. Alarm rang.\n"); + + /* Disable alarm interrupts */ + retval = ioctl(fd, RTC_AIE_OFF, 0); + if (retval == -1) { + perror("RTC_AIE_OFF ioctl"); + exit(errno); + } + +test_PIE: + /* Read periodic IRQ rate */ + retval = ioctl(fd, RTC_IRQP_READ, &tmp); + if (retval == -1) { + /* not all RTCs support periodic IRQs */ + if (errno == ENOTTY) { + fprintf(stderr, "\nNo periodic IRQ support\n"); + goto done; + } + perror("RTC_IRQP_READ ioctl"); + exit(errno); + } + fprintf(stderr, "\nPeriodic IRQ rate is %ldHz.\n", tmp); + + fprintf(stderr, "Counting 20 interrupts at:"); + fflush(stderr); + + /* The frequencies 128Hz, 256Hz, ... 8192Hz are only allowed for root. */ + for (tmp=2; tmp<=64; tmp*=2) { + + retval = ioctl(fd, RTC_IRQP_SET, tmp); + if (retval == -1) { + /* not all RTCs can change their periodic IRQ rate */ + if (errno == ENOTTY) { + fprintf(stderr, + "\n...Periodic IRQ rate is fixed\n"); + goto done; + } + perror("RTC_IRQP_SET ioctl"); + exit(errno); + } + + fprintf(stderr, "\n%ldHz:\t", tmp); + fflush(stderr); + + /* Enable periodic interrupts */ + retval = ioctl(fd, RTC_PIE_ON, 0); + if (retval == -1) { + perror("RTC_PIE_ON ioctl"); + exit(errno); + } + + for (i=1; i<21; i++) { + /* This blocks */ + retval = read(fd, &data, sizeof(unsigned long)); + if (retval == -1) { + perror("read"); + exit(errno); + } + fprintf(stderr, " %d",i); + fflush(stderr); + irqcount++; + } + + /* Disable periodic interrupts */ + retval = ioctl(fd, RTC_PIE_OFF, 0); + if (retval == -1) { + perror("RTC_PIE_OFF ioctl"); + exit(errno); + } + } + +done: + fprintf(stderr, "\n\n\t\t\t *** Test complete ***\n"); + + close(fd); + + return 0; +} -- cgit v1.2.3