diff mbox series

[37/40] plugins: add an API to read registers

Message ID 20231221103818.1633766-38-alex.bennee@linaro.org
State Superseded
Headers show
Series testing and plugin updates for 9.0 | expand

Commit Message

Alex Bennée Dec. 21, 2023, 10:38 a.m. UTC
We can only request a list of registers once the vCPU has been
initialised so the user needs to use either call the get function on
vCPU initialisation or during the translation phase.

We don't expose the reg number to the plugin instead hiding it behind
an opaque handle. This allows for a bit of future proofing should the
internals need to be changed while also being hashed against the
CPUClass so we can handle different register sets per-vCPU in
hetrogenous situations.

Having an internal state within the plugins also allows us to expand
the interface in future (for example providing callbacks on register
change if the translator can track changes).

Resolves: https://gitlab.com/qemu-project/qemu/-/issues/1706
Cc: Akihiko Odaki <akihiko.odaki@daynix.com>
Based-on: <20231025093128.33116-18-akihiko.odaki@daynix.com>
Signed-off-by: Alex Bennée <alex.bennee@linaro.org>

---
v2
  - use new get whole list api, and expose upwards

vAJB:

The main difference to Akikio's version is hiding the gdb register
detail from the plugin for the reasons described above.
---
 include/qemu/qemu-plugin.h   |  53 +++++++++++++++++-
 plugins/api.c                | 102 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 plugins/qemu-plugins.symbols |   2 +
 3 files changed, 155 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

Comments

Akihiko Odaki Dec. 21, 2023, 1:19 p.m. UTC | #1
On 2023/12/21 19:38, Alex Bennée wrote:
> We can only request a list of registers once the vCPU has been
> initialised so the user needs to use either call the get function on
> vCPU initialisation or during the translation phase.
> 
> We don't expose the reg number to the plugin instead hiding it behind
> an opaque handle. This allows for a bit of future proofing should the
> internals need to be changed while also being hashed against the
> CPUClass so we can handle different register sets per-vCPU in
> hetrogenous situations.
> 
> Having an internal state within the plugins also allows us to expand
> the interface in future (for example providing callbacks on register
> change if the translator can track changes).
> 
> Resolves: https://gitlab.com/qemu-project/qemu/-/issues/1706
> Cc: Akihiko Odaki <akihiko.odaki@daynix.com>
> Based-on: <20231025093128.33116-18-akihiko.odaki@daynix.com>
> Signed-off-by: Alex Bennée <alex.bennee@linaro.org>
> 
> ---
> v2
>    - use new get whole list api, and expose upwards
> 
> vAJB:
> 
> The main difference to Akikio's version is hiding the gdb register
> detail from the plugin for the reasons described above.
> ---
>   include/qemu/qemu-plugin.h   |  53 +++++++++++++++++-
>   plugins/api.c                | 102 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>   plugins/qemu-plugins.symbols |   2 +
>   3 files changed, 155 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)
> 
> diff --git a/include/qemu/qemu-plugin.h b/include/qemu/qemu-plugin.h
> index 4daab6efd29..e3b35c6ee81 100644
> --- a/include/qemu/qemu-plugin.h
> +++ b/include/qemu/qemu-plugin.h
> @@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
>   #ifndef QEMU_QEMU_PLUGIN_H
>   #define QEMU_QEMU_PLUGIN_H
>   
> +#include <glib.h>
>   #include <inttypes.h>
>   #include <stdbool.h>
>   #include <stddef.h>
> @@ -227,8 +228,8 @@ struct qemu_plugin_insn;
>    * @QEMU_PLUGIN_CB_R_REGS: callback reads the CPU's regs
>    * @QEMU_PLUGIN_CB_RW_REGS: callback reads and writes the CPU's regs
>    *
> - * Note: currently unused, plugins cannot read or change system
> - * register state.
> + * Note: currently QEMU_PLUGIN_CB_RW_REGS is unused, plugins cannot change
> + * system register state.
>    */
>   enum qemu_plugin_cb_flags {
>       QEMU_PLUGIN_CB_NO_REGS,
> @@ -708,4 +709,52 @@ uint64_t qemu_plugin_end_code(void);
>   QEMU_PLUGIN_API
>   uint64_t qemu_plugin_entry_code(void);
>   
> +/** struct qemu_plugin_register - Opaque handle for a translated instruction */
> +struct qemu_plugin_register;

What about identifying a register with an index in an array returned by 
qemu_plugin_get_registers(). That saves troubles having the handle 
member in qemu_plugin_reg_descriptor.

> +
> +/**
> + * typedef qemu_plugin_reg_descriptor - register descriptions
> + *
> + * @name: register name
> + * @handle: opaque handle for retrieving value with qemu_plugin_read_register
> + * @feature: optional feature descriptor, can be NULL

Why can it be NULL?

> + */
> +typedef struct {
> +    char name[32];

Why not const char *?

> +    struct qemu_plugin_register *handle;
> +    const char *feature;
> +} qemu_plugin_reg_descriptor;
> +
> +/**
> + * qemu_plugin_get_registers() - return register list for vCPU
> + * @vcpu_index: vcpu to query
> + *
> + * Returns a GArray of qemu_plugin_reg_descriptor or NULL. Caller
> + * frees the array (but not the const strings).
> + *
> + * As the register set of a given vCPU is only available once
> + * the vCPU is initialised if you want to monitor registers from the
> + * start you should call this from a qemu_plugin_register_vcpu_init_cb()
> + * callback.

Is this note really necessary? You won't know vcpu_index before 
qemu_plugin_register_vcpu_init_cb() anyway.

> + */
> +GArray * qemu_plugin_get_registers(unsigned int vcpu_index);

Spurious space after *.

> +
> +/**
> + * qemu_plugin_read_register() - read register
> + *
> + * @vcpu: vcpu index
> + * @handle: a @qemu_plugin_reg_handle handle
> + * @buf: A GByteArray for the data owned by the plugin
> + *
> + * This function is only available in a context that register read access is
> + * explicitly requested.
> + *
> + * Returns the size of the read register. The content of @buf is in target byte
> + * order. On failure returns -1
> + */
> +int qemu_plugin_read_register(unsigned int vcpu,
> +                              struct qemu_plugin_register *handle,
> +                              GByteArray *buf);

Indention is not correct. docs/devel/style.rst says:

 > In case of function, there are several variants:
 >
 > * 4 spaces indent from the beginning
 > * align the secondary lines just after the opening parenthesis of the 
first
Alex Bennée Dec. 22, 2023, 1:45 p.m. UTC | #2
Akihiko Odaki <akihiko.odaki@daynix.com> writes:

> On 2023/12/21 19:38, Alex Bennée wrote:
>> We can only request a list of registers once the vCPU has been
>> initialised so the user needs to use either call the get function on
>> vCPU initialisation or during the translation phase.
>> We don't expose the reg number to the plugin instead hiding it
>> behind
>> an opaque handle. This allows for a bit of future proofing should the
>> internals need to be changed while also being hashed against the
>> CPUClass so we can handle different register sets per-vCPU in
>> hetrogenous situations.
>> Having an internal state within the plugins also allows us to expand
>> the interface in future (for example providing callbacks on register
>> change if the translator can track changes).
>> Resolves: https://gitlab.com/qemu-project/qemu/-/issues/1706
>> Cc: Akihiko Odaki <akihiko.odaki@daynix.com>
>> Based-on: <20231025093128.33116-18-akihiko.odaki@daynix.com>
>> Signed-off-by: Alex Bennée <alex.bennee@linaro.org>
>> ---
>> v2
>>    - use new get whole list api, and expose upwards
>> vAJB:
>> The main difference to Akikio's version is hiding the gdb register
>> detail from the plugin for the reasons described above.
>> ---
>>   include/qemu/qemu-plugin.h   |  53 +++++++++++++++++-
>>   plugins/api.c                | 102 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>>   plugins/qemu-plugins.symbols |   2 +
>>   3 files changed, 155 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)
>> diff --git a/include/qemu/qemu-plugin.h b/include/qemu/qemu-plugin.h
>> index 4daab6efd29..e3b35c6ee81 100644
>> --- a/include/qemu/qemu-plugin.h
>> +++ b/include/qemu/qemu-plugin.h
>> @@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
>>   #ifndef QEMU_QEMU_PLUGIN_H
>>   #define QEMU_QEMU_PLUGIN_H
>>   +#include <glib.h>
>>   #include <inttypes.h>
>>   #include <stdbool.h>
>>   #include <stddef.h>
>> @@ -227,8 +228,8 @@ struct qemu_plugin_insn;
>>    * @QEMU_PLUGIN_CB_R_REGS: callback reads the CPU's regs
>>    * @QEMU_PLUGIN_CB_RW_REGS: callback reads and writes the CPU's regs
>>    *
>> - * Note: currently unused, plugins cannot read or change system
>> - * register state.
>> + * Note: currently QEMU_PLUGIN_CB_RW_REGS is unused, plugins cannot change
>> + * system register state.
>>    */
>>   enum qemu_plugin_cb_flags {
>>       QEMU_PLUGIN_CB_NO_REGS,
>> @@ -708,4 +709,52 @@ uint64_t qemu_plugin_end_code(void);
>>   QEMU_PLUGIN_API
>>   uint64_t qemu_plugin_entry_code(void);
>>   +/** struct qemu_plugin_register - Opaque handle for a translated
>> instruction */
>> +struct qemu_plugin_register;
>
> What about identifying a register with an index in an array returned
> by qemu_plugin_get_registers(). That saves troubles having the handle
> member in qemu_plugin_reg_descriptor.
>
>> +
>> +/**
>> + * typedef qemu_plugin_reg_descriptor - register descriptions
>> + *
>> + * @name: register name
>> + * @handle: opaque handle for retrieving value with qemu_plugin_read_register
>> + * @feature: optional feature descriptor, can be NULL
>
> Why can it be NULL?
>
>> + */
>> +typedef struct {
>> +    char name[32];
>
> Why not const char *?

I was trying to avoid too many free floating strings. I could intern it
in the API though.

>
>> +    struct qemu_plugin_register *handle;
>> +    const char *feature;
>> +} qemu_plugin_reg_descriptor;
>> +
>> +/**
>> + * qemu_plugin_get_registers() - return register list for vCPU
>> + * @vcpu_index: vcpu to query
>> + *
>> + * Returns a GArray of qemu_plugin_reg_descriptor or NULL. Caller
>> + * frees the array (but not the const strings).
>> + *
>> + * As the register set of a given vCPU is only available once
>> + * the vCPU is initialised if you want to monitor registers from the
>> + * start you should call this from a qemu_plugin_register_vcpu_init_cb()
>> + * callback.
>
> Is this note really necessary? You won't know vcpu_index before
> qemu_plugin_register_vcpu_init_cb() anyway.

Best to be clear I think.

>
>> + */
>> +GArray * qemu_plugin_get_registers(unsigned int vcpu_index);
>
> Spurious space after *.
>
>> +
>> +/**
>> + * qemu_plugin_read_register() - read register
>> + *
>> + * @vcpu: vcpu index
>> + * @handle: a @qemu_plugin_reg_handle handle
>> + * @buf: A GByteArray for the data owned by the plugin
>> + *
>> + * This function is only available in a context that register read access is
>> + * explicitly requested.
>> + *
>> + * Returns the size of the read register. The content of @buf is in target byte
>> + * order. On failure returns -1
>> + */
>> +int qemu_plugin_read_register(unsigned int vcpu,
>> +                              struct qemu_plugin_register *handle,
>> +                              GByteArray *buf);
>
> Indention is not correct. docs/devel/style.rst says:
>
>> In case of function, there are several variants:
>>
>> * 4 spaces indent from the beginning
>> * align the secondary lines just after the opening parenthesis of
>     the first

Isn't that what it does?
Akihiko Odaki Dec. 23, 2023, 7:17 a.m. UTC | #3
On 2023/12/22 22:45, Alex Bennée wrote:
> Akihiko Odaki <akihiko.odaki@daynix.com> writes:
> 
>> On 2023/12/21 19:38, Alex Bennée wrote:
>>> We can only request a list of registers once the vCPU has been
>>> initialised so the user needs to use either call the get function on
>>> vCPU initialisation or during the translation phase.
>>> We don't expose the reg number to the plugin instead hiding it
>>> behind
>>> an opaque handle. This allows for a bit of future proofing should the
>>> internals need to be changed while also being hashed against the
>>> CPUClass so we can handle different register sets per-vCPU in
>>> hetrogenous situations.
>>> Having an internal state within the plugins also allows us to expand
>>> the interface in future (for example providing callbacks on register
>>> change if the translator can track changes).
>>> Resolves: https://gitlab.com/qemu-project/qemu/-/issues/1706
>>> Cc: Akihiko Odaki <akihiko.odaki@daynix.com>
>>> Based-on: <20231025093128.33116-18-akihiko.odaki@daynix.com>
>>> Signed-off-by: Alex Bennée <alex.bennee@linaro.org>
>>> ---
>>> v2
>>>     - use new get whole list api, and expose upwards
>>> vAJB:
>>> The main difference to Akikio's version is hiding the gdb register
>>> detail from the plugin for the reasons described above.
>>> ---
>>>    include/qemu/qemu-plugin.h   |  53 +++++++++++++++++-
>>>    plugins/api.c                | 102 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>>>    plugins/qemu-plugins.symbols |   2 +
>>>    3 files changed, 155 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)
>>> diff --git a/include/qemu/qemu-plugin.h b/include/qemu/qemu-plugin.h
>>> index 4daab6efd29..e3b35c6ee81 100644
>>> --- a/include/qemu/qemu-plugin.h
>>> +++ b/include/qemu/qemu-plugin.h
>>> @@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
>>>    #ifndef QEMU_QEMU_PLUGIN_H
>>>    #define QEMU_QEMU_PLUGIN_H
>>>    +#include <glib.h>
>>>    #include <inttypes.h>
>>>    #include <stdbool.h>
>>>    #include <stddef.h>
>>> @@ -227,8 +228,8 @@ struct qemu_plugin_insn;
>>>     * @QEMU_PLUGIN_CB_R_REGS: callback reads the CPU's regs
>>>     * @QEMU_PLUGIN_CB_RW_REGS: callback reads and writes the CPU's regs
>>>     *
>>> - * Note: currently unused, plugins cannot read or change system
>>> - * register state.
>>> + * Note: currently QEMU_PLUGIN_CB_RW_REGS is unused, plugins cannot change
>>> + * system register state.
>>>     */
>>>    enum qemu_plugin_cb_flags {
>>>        QEMU_PLUGIN_CB_NO_REGS,
>>> @@ -708,4 +709,52 @@ uint64_t qemu_plugin_end_code(void);
>>>    QEMU_PLUGIN_API
>>>    uint64_t qemu_plugin_entry_code(void);
>>>    +/** struct qemu_plugin_register - Opaque handle for a translated
>>> instruction */
>>> +struct qemu_plugin_register;
>>
>> What about identifying a register with an index in an array returned
>> by qemu_plugin_get_registers(). That saves troubles having the handle
>> member in qemu_plugin_reg_descriptor.
>>
>>> +
>>> +/**
>>> + * typedef qemu_plugin_reg_descriptor - register descriptions
>>> + *
>>> + * @name: register name
>>> + * @handle: opaque handle for retrieving value with qemu_plugin_read_register
>>> + * @feature: optional feature descriptor, can be NULL
>>
>> Why can it be NULL?
>>
>>> + */
>>> +typedef struct {
>>> +    char name[32];
>>
>> Why not const char *?
> 
> I was trying to avoid too many free floating strings. I could intern it
> in the API though.

It is nice to save pointer indirections whenever possible, but it's not 
so worth that it matches with the cost in this case. It requires extra 
code to copy and will be real trouble if somebody comes up with a very 
long register name for special registers.

> 
>>
>>> +    struct qemu_plugin_register *handle;
>>> +    const char *feature;
>>> +} qemu_plugin_reg_descriptor;
>>> +
>>> +/**
>>> + * qemu_plugin_get_registers() - return register list for vCPU
>>> + * @vcpu_index: vcpu to query
>>> + *
>>> + * Returns a GArray of qemu_plugin_reg_descriptor or NULL. Caller
>>> + * frees the array (but not the const strings).
>>> + *
>>> + * As the register set of a given vCPU is only available once
>>> + * the vCPU is initialised if you want to monitor registers from the
>>> + * start you should call this from a qemu_plugin_register_vcpu_init_cb()
>>> + * callback.
>>
>> Is this note really necessary? You won't know vcpu_index before
>> qemu_plugin_register_vcpu_init_cb() anyway.
> 
> Best to be clear I think.

Ok, but I still think it's a bit verbose. You can just say it's 
available only after qemu_plugin_register_vcpu_init_cb().

> 
>>
>>> + */
>>> +GArray * qemu_plugin_get_registers(unsigned int vcpu_index);
>>
>> Spurious space after *.
>>
>>> +
>>> +/**
>>> + * qemu_plugin_read_register() - read register
>>> + *
>>> + * @vcpu: vcpu index
>>> + * @handle: a @qemu_plugin_reg_handle handle
>>> + * @buf: A GByteArray for the data owned by the plugin
>>> + *
>>> + * This function is only available in a context that register read access is
>>> + * explicitly requested.
>>> + *
>>> + * Returns the size of the read register. The content of @buf is in target byte
>>> + * order. On failure returns -1
>>> + */
>>> +int qemu_plugin_read_register(unsigned int vcpu,
>>> +                              struct qemu_plugin_register *handle,
>>> +                              GByteArray *buf);
>>
>> Indention is not correct. docs/devel/style.rst says:
>>
>>> In case of function, there are several variants:
>>>
>>> * 4 spaces indent from the beginning
>>> * align the secondary lines just after the opening parenthesis of
>>      the first
> 
> Isn't that what it does?

Sorry, it was messed up by the email client on my side.
diff mbox series

Patch

diff --git a/include/qemu/qemu-plugin.h b/include/qemu/qemu-plugin.h
index 4daab6efd29..e3b35c6ee81 100644
--- a/include/qemu/qemu-plugin.h
+++ b/include/qemu/qemu-plugin.h
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ 
 #ifndef QEMU_QEMU_PLUGIN_H
 #define QEMU_QEMU_PLUGIN_H
 
+#include <glib.h>
 #include <inttypes.h>
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <stddef.h>
@@ -227,8 +228,8 @@  struct qemu_plugin_insn;
  * @QEMU_PLUGIN_CB_R_REGS: callback reads the CPU's regs
  * @QEMU_PLUGIN_CB_RW_REGS: callback reads and writes the CPU's regs
  *
- * Note: currently unused, plugins cannot read or change system
- * register state.
+ * Note: currently QEMU_PLUGIN_CB_RW_REGS is unused, plugins cannot change
+ * system register state.
  */
 enum qemu_plugin_cb_flags {
     QEMU_PLUGIN_CB_NO_REGS,
@@ -708,4 +709,52 @@  uint64_t qemu_plugin_end_code(void);
 QEMU_PLUGIN_API
 uint64_t qemu_plugin_entry_code(void);
 
+/** struct qemu_plugin_register - Opaque handle for a translated instruction */
+struct qemu_plugin_register;
+
+/**
+ * typedef qemu_plugin_reg_descriptor - register descriptions
+ *
+ * @name: register name
+ * @handle: opaque handle for retrieving value with qemu_plugin_read_register
+ * @feature: optional feature descriptor, can be NULL
+ */
+typedef struct {
+    char name[32];
+    struct qemu_plugin_register *handle;
+    const char *feature;
+} qemu_plugin_reg_descriptor;
+
+/**
+ * qemu_plugin_get_registers() - return register list for vCPU
+ * @vcpu_index: vcpu to query
+ *
+ * Returns a GArray of qemu_plugin_reg_descriptor or NULL. Caller
+ * frees the array (but not the const strings).
+ *
+ * As the register set of a given vCPU is only available once
+ * the vCPU is initialised if you want to monitor registers from the
+ * start you should call this from a qemu_plugin_register_vcpu_init_cb()
+ * callback.
+ */
+GArray * qemu_plugin_get_registers(unsigned int vcpu_index);
+
+/**
+ * qemu_plugin_read_register() - read register
+ *
+ * @vcpu: vcpu index
+ * @handle: a @qemu_plugin_reg_handle handle
+ * @buf: A GByteArray for the data owned by the plugin
+ *
+ * This function is only available in a context that register read access is
+ * explicitly requested.
+ *
+ * Returns the size of the read register. The content of @buf is in target byte
+ * order. On failure returns -1
+ */
+int qemu_plugin_read_register(unsigned int vcpu,
+                              struct qemu_plugin_register *handle,
+                              GByteArray *buf);
+
+
 #endif /* QEMU_QEMU_PLUGIN_H */
diff --git a/plugins/api.c b/plugins/api.c
index ac39cdea0b3..fc1f26e3440 100644
--- a/plugins/api.c
+++ b/plugins/api.c
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ 
  *
  *  qemu_plugin_tb
  *  qemu_plugin_insn
+ *  qemu_plugin_register
  *
  * Which can then be passed back into the API to do additional things.
  * As such all the public functions in here are exported in
@@ -35,10 +36,12 @@ 
  */
 
 #include "qemu/osdep.h"
+#include "qemu/main-loop.h"
 #include "qemu/plugin.h"
 #include "qemu/log.h"
 #include "tcg/tcg.h"
 #include "exec/exec-all.h"
+#include "exec/gdbstub.h"
 #include "exec/ram_addr.h"
 #include "disas/disas.h"
 #include "plugin.h"
@@ -435,3 +438,102 @@  uint64_t qemu_plugin_entry_code(void)
 #endif
     return entry;
 }
+
+/*
+ * Register handles
+ *
+ * The plugin infrastructure keeps hold of these internal data
+ * structures which are presented to plugins as opaque handles. They
+ * are global to the system and therefor additions to the hash table
+ * must be protected by the @reg_handle_lock.
+ *
+ * In order to future proof for up-coming heterogeneous work we want
+ * different entries for each CPU type while sharing them in the
+ * common case of multiple cores of the same type.
+ */
+
+static QemuMutex reg_handle_lock;
+
+struct qemu_plugin_register {
+    const char *name;
+    int gdb_reg_num;
+};
+
+static GHashTable *reg_handles; /* hash table of PluginReg */
+
+/* Generate a stable key - would xxhash be overkill? */
+static gpointer cpu_plus_reg_to_key(CPUState *cs, int gdb_regnum)
+{
+    uintptr_t key = (uintptr_t) cs->cc;
+    key ^= gdb_regnum;
+    return GUINT_TO_POINTER(key);
+}
+
+/*
+ * Create register handles.
+ *
+ * We need to create a handle for each register so the plugin
+ * infrastructure can call gdbstub to read a register. We also
+ * construct a result array with those handles and some ancillary data
+ * the plugin might find useful.
+ */
+
+static GArray * create_register_handles(CPUState *cs, GArray *gdbstub_regs) {
+    GArray *find_data = g_array_new(true, true, sizeof(qemu_plugin_reg_descriptor));
+
+    WITH_QEMU_LOCK_GUARD(&reg_handle_lock) {
+
+        if (!reg_handles) {
+            reg_handles = g_hash_table_new(g_direct_hash, g_direct_equal);
+        }
+
+        for (int i=0; i < gdbstub_regs->len; i++) {
+            GDBRegDesc *grd = &g_array_index(gdbstub_regs, GDBRegDesc, i);
+            gpointer key = cpu_plus_reg_to_key(cs, grd->gdb_reg);
+            struct qemu_plugin_register *val = g_hash_table_lookup(reg_handles, key);
+
+            /* Doesn't exist, create one */
+            if (!val) {
+                val = g_new0(struct qemu_plugin_register, 1);
+                val->gdb_reg_num = grd->gdb_reg;
+                val->name = grd->name;
+
+                g_hash_table_insert(reg_handles, key, val);
+            }
+
+            /* Create a record for the plugin */
+            qemu_plugin_reg_descriptor desc = {
+                .handle = val,
+                .feature = g_intern_string(grd->feature_name)
+            };
+            g_strlcpy(desc.name, val->name, sizeof(desc.name));
+            g_array_append_val(find_data, desc);
+        }
+    }
+
+    return find_data;
+}
+
+GArray * qemu_plugin_get_registers(unsigned int vcpu)
+{
+    CPUState *cs = qemu_get_cpu(vcpu);
+    if (cs) {
+        g_autoptr(GArray) regs = gdb_get_register_list(cs);
+        return regs->len ? create_register_handles(cs, regs) : NULL;
+    } else {
+        return NULL;
+    }
+}
+
+int qemu_plugin_read_register(unsigned int vcpu, struct qemu_plugin_register *reg, GByteArray *buf)
+{
+    CPUState *cs = qemu_get_cpu(vcpu);
+    /* assert with debugging on? */
+    return gdb_read_register(cs, buf, reg->gdb_reg_num);
+}
+
+static void __attribute__((__constructor__)) qemu_api_init(void)
+{
+    qemu_mutex_init(&reg_handle_lock);
+
+}
diff --git a/plugins/qemu-plugins.symbols b/plugins/qemu-plugins.symbols
index 71f6c90549d..6963585c1ea 100644
--- a/plugins/qemu-plugins.symbols
+++ b/plugins/qemu-plugins.symbols
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ 
   qemu_plugin_end_code;
   qemu_plugin_entry_code;
   qemu_plugin_get_hwaddr;
+  qemu_plugin_get_registers;
   qemu_plugin_hwaddr_device_name;
   qemu_plugin_hwaddr_is_io;
   qemu_plugin_hwaddr_phys_addr;
@@ -20,6 +21,7 @@ 
   qemu_plugin_n_vcpus;
   qemu_plugin_outs;
   qemu_plugin_path_to_binary;
+  qemu_plugin_read_register;
   qemu_plugin_register_atexit_cb;
   qemu_plugin_register_flush_cb;
   qemu_plugin_register_vcpu_exit_cb;