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Date:   Wed, 22 Nov 2023 20:29:22 -0800
Message-Id: <20231123042922.834425-1-irogers@google.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Subject: [RFC PATCH v1] perf parse-events: Make legacy events lower priority
 than sysfs/json
From:   Ian Rogers <irogers@google.com>
To:     Mark Rutland <mark.rutland@arm.com>, Marc Zyngier <maz@kernel.org>,
        Hector Martin <marcan@marcan.st>,
        Arnaldo Carvalho de Melo <acme@kernel.org>,
        Namhyung Kim <namhyung@kernel.org>
Cc:     Peter Zijlstra <peterz@infradead.org>,
        Ingo Molnar <mingo@redhat.com>,
        Alexander Shishkin <alexander.shishkin@linux.intel.com>,
        Jiri Olsa <jolsa@kernel.org>, Ian Rogers <irogers@google.com>,
        Adrian Hunter <adrian.hunter@intel.com>,
        Kan Liang <kan.liang@linux.intel.com>,
        James Clark <james.clark@arm.com>,
        linux-perf-users@vger.kernel.org, linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Precedence: bulk

The perf tool has previously made legacy events the priority so with
or without a PMU the legacy event would be opened:

```
$ perf stat -e cpu-cycles,cpu/cpu-cycles/ true
Using CPUID GenuineIntel-6-8D-1
intel_pt default config: tsc,mtc,mtc_period=3,psb_period=3,pt,branch
Attempting to add event pmu 'cpu' with 'cpu-cycles,' that may result in non-fatal errors
After aliases, add event pmu 'cpu' with 'cpu-cycles,' that may result in non-fatal errors
Control descriptor is not initialized
------------------------------------------------------------
perf_event_attr:
  type                             0 (PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE)
  size                             136
  config                           0 (PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES)
  sample_type                      IDENTIFIER
  read_format                      TOTAL_TIME_ENABLED|TOTAL_TIME_RUNNING
  disabled                         1
  inherit                          1
  enable_on_exec                   1
  exclude_guest                    1
------------------------------------------------------------
sys_perf_event_open: pid 833967  cpu -1  group_fd -1  flags 0x8 = 3
------------------------------------------------------------
perf_event_attr:
  type                             0 (PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE)
  size                             136
  config                           0 (PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES)
  sample_type                      IDENTIFIER
  read_format                      TOTAL_TIME_ENABLED|TOTAL_TIME_RUNNING
  disabled                         1
  inherit                          1
  enable_on_exec                   1
  exclude_guest                    1
------------------------------------------------------------
...
```

Fixes to make hybrid/BIG.little PMUs behave correctly, ie as core PMUs
capable of opening legacy events on each, removing hard coded
"cpu_core" and "cpu_atom" Intel PMU names, etc. caused a behavioral
difference on Apple/ARM due to latent issues in the PMU driver
reported in:
https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/08f1f185-e259-4014-9ca4-6411d5c1bc65@marcan.st/

As part of that report Mark Rutland <mark.rutland@arm.com> requested
that legacy events not be higher in priority when a PMU is specified
reversing what has until this change been perf's default
behavior. With this change the above becomes:

```
$ perf stat -e cpu-cycles,cpu/cpu-cycles/ true
Using CPUID GenuineIntel-6-8D-1
Attempt to add: cpu/cpu-cycles=0/
..after resolving event: cpu/event=0x3c/
Control descriptor is not initialized
------------------------------------------------------------
perf_event_attr:
  type                             0 (PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE)
  size                             136
  config                           0 (PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES)
  sample_type                      IDENTIFIER
  read_format                      TOTAL_TIME_ENABLED|TOTAL_TIME_RUNNING
  disabled                         1
  inherit                          1
  enable_on_exec                   1
  exclude_guest                    1
------------------------------------------------------------
sys_perf_event_open: pid 827628  cpu -1  group_fd -1  flags 0x8 = 3
------------------------------------------------------------
perf_event_attr:
  type                             4 (PERF_TYPE_RAW)
  size                             136
  config                           0x3c
  sample_type                      IDENTIFIER
  read_format                      TOTAL_TIME_ENABLED|TOTAL_TIME_RUNNING
  disabled                         1
  inherit                          1
  enable_on_exec                   1
  exclude_guest                    1
------------------------------------------------------------
...
```

So the second event has become a raw event as
/sys/devices/cpu/events/cpu-cycles exists.

A fix was necessary to config_term_pmu in parse-events.c as
check_alias expansion needs to happen after config_term_pmu, and
config_term_pmu may need calling a second time because of this.

config_term_pmu is updated to not use the legacy event when the PMU
has such a named event (either from json or sysfs).

The bulk of this change is updating all of the parse-events test
expectations so that if a sysfs/json event exists for a PMU the test
doesn't fail - a further sign, if it were needed, that the legacy
event priority was a known and tested behavior of the perf tool.

Signed-off-by: Ian Rogers <irogers@google.com>
---
This is a large behavioral change:
1) the scope of the change means it should bake on linux-next and I
don't believe should be a 6.7-rc fix.
2) a fixes tag and stable backport I don't think are appropriate. The
real reported issue is with the PMU driver. A backport would bring the
risk that later fixes, due to the large behavior change, wouldn't be
backported and past releases get regressed in scenarios like
hybrid. Backports for the perf tool are also less necessary than say a
buggy PMU driver, as distributions should be updating to the latest
perf tool regardless of what Linux kernel is being run (the perf tool
is backward compatible).
---
 tools/perf/tests/parse-events.c | 256 +++++++++++++++++++++++---------
 tools/perf/util/parse-events.c  |  52 +++++--
 tools/perf/util/pmu.c           |   8 +-
 tools/perf/util/pmu.h           |   3 +-
 4 files changed, 231 insertions(+), 88 deletions(-)

diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/parse-events.c b/tools/perf/tests/parse-events.c
index e52f45c7c3d1..fbdf710d5eea 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/parse-events.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/parse-events.c
@@ -162,6 +162,22 @@ static int test__checkevent_numeric(struct evlist *evlist)
 	return TEST_OK;
 }
 
+
+static int assert_hw(struct perf_evsel *evsel, enum perf_hw_id id, const char *name)
+{
+	struct perf_pmu *pmu;
+
+	if (evsel->attr.type == PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE) {
+		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_perf_config(evsel, id));
+		return 0;
+	}
+	pmu = perf_pmus__find_by_type(evsel->attr.type);
+
+	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("unexpected PMU type", pmu);
+	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("PMU missing event", perf_pmu__have_event(pmu, name));
+	return 0;
+}
+
 static int test__checkevent_symbolic_name(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct perf_evsel *evsel;
@@ -169,10 +185,12 @@ static int test__checkevent_symbolic_name(struct evlist *evlist)
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong number of entries", 0 != evlist->core.nr_entries);
 
 	perf_evlist__for_each_evsel(&evlist->core, evsel) {
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->attr.type);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config",
-				test_perf_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_INSTRUCTIONS));
+		int ret = assert_hw(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_INSTRUCTIONS, "instructions");
+
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
 	}
+
 	return TEST_OK;
 }
 
@@ -183,8 +201,10 @@ static int test__checkevent_symbolic_name_config(struct evlist *evlist)
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong number of entries", 0 != evlist->core.nr_entries);
 
 	perf_evlist__for_each_evsel(&evlist->core, evsel) {
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->attr.type);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_perf_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES));
+		int ret = assert_hw(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES, "cycles");
+
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
 		/*
 		 * The period value gets configured within evlist__config,
 		 * while this test executes only parse events method.
@@ -861,10 +881,14 @@ static int test__group1(struct evlist *evlist)
 			evlist__nr_groups(evlist) == num_core_entries());
 
 	for (int i = 0; i < num_core_entries(); i++) {
+		int ret;
+
 		/* instructions:k */
 		evsel = leader = (i == 0 ? evlist__first(evlist) : evsel__next(evsel));
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->core.attr.type);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_INSTRUCTIONS));
+		ret = assert_hw(&evsel->core, PERF_COUNT_HW_INSTRUCTIONS, "instructions");
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_user", evsel->core.attr.exclude_user);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_kernel", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_kernel);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_hv", evsel->core.attr.exclude_hv);
@@ -878,8 +902,10 @@ static int test__group1(struct evlist *evlist)
 
 		/* cycles:upp */
 		evsel = evsel__next(evsel);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->core.attr.type);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES));
+		ret = assert_hw(&evsel->core, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES, "cycles");
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_user", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_user);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_kernel", evsel->core.attr.exclude_kernel);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_hv", evsel->core.attr.exclude_hv);
@@ -907,6 +933,8 @@ static int test__group2(struct evlist *evlist)
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong number of groups", 1 == evlist__nr_groups(evlist));
 
 	evlist__for_each_entry(evlist, evsel) {
+		int ret;
+
 		if (evsel->core.attr.type == PERF_TYPE_SOFTWARE) {
 			/* faults + :ku modifier */
 			leader = evsel;
@@ -939,8 +967,10 @@ static int test__group2(struct evlist *evlist)
 			continue;
 		}
 		/* cycles:k */
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->core.attr.type);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES));
+		ret = assert_hw(&evsel->core, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES, "cycles");
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_user", evsel->core.attr.exclude_user);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_kernel", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_kernel);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_hv", evsel->core.attr.exclude_hv);
@@ -957,6 +987,7 @@ static int test__group2(struct evlist *evlist)
 static int test__group3(struct evlist *evlist __maybe_unused)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel, *group1_leader = NULL, *group2_leader = NULL;
+	int ret;
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong number of entries",
 			evlist->core.nr_entries == (3 * perf_pmus__num_core_pmus() + 2));
@@ -1045,8 +1076,10 @@ static int test__group3(struct evlist *evlist __maybe_unused)
 			continue;
 		}
 		/* instructions:u */
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->core.attr.type);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_INSTRUCTIONS));
+		ret = assert_hw(&evsel->core, PERF_COUNT_HW_INSTRUCTIONS, "instructions");
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_user", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_user);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_kernel", evsel->core.attr.exclude_kernel);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_hv", evsel->core.attr.exclude_hv);
@@ -1070,10 +1103,14 @@ static int test__group4(struct evlist *evlist __maybe_unused)
 			num_core_entries() == evlist__nr_groups(evlist));
 
 	for (int i = 0; i < num_core_entries(); i++) {
+		int ret;
+
 		/* cycles:u + p */
 		evsel = leader = (i == 0 ? evlist__first(evlist) : evsel__next(evsel));
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->core.attr.type);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES));
+		ret = assert_hw(&evsel->core, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES, "cycles");
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_user", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_user);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_kernel", evsel->core.attr.exclude_kernel);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_hv", evsel->core.attr.exclude_hv);
@@ -1089,8 +1126,10 @@ static int test__group4(struct evlist *evlist __maybe_unused)
 
 		/* instructions:kp + p */
 		evsel = evsel__next(evsel);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->core.attr.type);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_INSTRUCTIONS));
+		ret = assert_hw(&evsel->core, PERF_COUNT_HW_INSTRUCTIONS, "instructions");
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_user", evsel->core.attr.exclude_user);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_kernel", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_kernel);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_hv", evsel->core.attr.exclude_hv);
@@ -1108,6 +1147,7 @@ static int test__group4(struct evlist *evlist __maybe_unused)
 static int test__group5(struct evlist *evlist __maybe_unused)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel = NULL, *leader;
+	int ret;
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong number of entries",
 			evlist->core.nr_entries == (5 * num_core_entries()));
@@ -1117,8 +1157,10 @@ static int test__group5(struct evlist *evlist __maybe_unused)
 	for (int i = 0; i < num_core_entries(); i++) {
 		/* cycles + G */
 		evsel = leader = (i == 0 ? evlist__first(evlist) : evsel__next(evsel));
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->core.attr.type);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES));
+		ret = assert_hw(&evsel->core, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES, "cycles");
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_user", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_user);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_kernel", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_kernel);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_hv", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_hv);
@@ -1133,8 +1175,10 @@ static int test__group5(struct evlist *evlist __maybe_unused)
 
 		/* instructions + G */
 		evsel = evsel__next(evsel);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->core.attr.type);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_INSTRUCTIONS));
+		ret = assert_hw(&evsel->core, PERF_COUNT_HW_INSTRUCTIONS, "instructions");
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_user", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_user);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_kernel", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_kernel);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_hv", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_hv);
@@ -1148,8 +1192,10 @@ static int test__group5(struct evlist *evlist __maybe_unused)
 	for (int i = 0; i < num_core_entries(); i++) {
 		/* cycles:G */
 		evsel = leader = evsel__next(evsel);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->core.attr.type);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES));
+		ret = assert_hw(&evsel->core, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES, "cycles");
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_user", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_user);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_kernel", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_kernel);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_hv", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_hv);
@@ -1164,8 +1210,10 @@ static int test__group5(struct evlist *evlist __maybe_unused)
 
 		/* instructions:G */
 		evsel = evsel__next(evsel);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->core.attr.type);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_INSTRUCTIONS));
+		ret = assert_hw(&evsel->core, PERF_COUNT_HW_INSTRUCTIONS, "instructions");
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_user", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_user);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_kernel", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_kernel);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_hv", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_hv);
@@ -1178,8 +1226,10 @@ static int test__group5(struct evlist *evlist __maybe_unused)
 	for (int i = 0; i < num_core_entries(); i++) {
 		/* cycles */
 		evsel = evsel__next(evsel);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->core.attr.type);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES));
+		ret = assert_hw(&evsel->core, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES, "cycles");
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_user", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_user);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_kernel", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_kernel);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_hv", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_hv);
@@ -1201,10 +1251,14 @@ static int test__group_gh1(struct evlist *evlist)
 			evlist__nr_groups(evlist) == num_core_entries());
 
 	for (int i = 0; i < num_core_entries(); i++) {
+		int ret;
+
 		/* cycles + :H group modifier */
 		evsel = leader = (i == 0 ? evlist__first(evlist) : evsel__next(evsel));
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->core.attr.type);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES));
+		ret = assert_hw(&evsel->core, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES, "cycles");
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_user", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_user);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_kernel", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_kernel);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_hv", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_hv);
@@ -1218,8 +1272,10 @@ static int test__group_gh1(struct evlist *evlist)
 
 		/* cache-misses:G + :H group modifier */
 		evsel = evsel__next(evsel);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->core.attr.type);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_CACHE_MISSES));
+		ret = assert_hw(&evsel->core, PERF_COUNT_HW_CACHE_MISSES, "cache-misses");
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_user", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_user);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_kernel", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_kernel);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_hv", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_hv);
@@ -1242,10 +1298,14 @@ static int test__group_gh2(struct evlist *evlist)
 			evlist__nr_groups(evlist) == num_core_entries());
 
 	for (int i = 0; i < num_core_entries(); i++) {
+		int ret;
+
 		/* cycles + :G group modifier */
 		evsel = leader = (i == 0 ? evlist__first(evlist) : evsel__next(evsel));
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->core.attr.type);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES));
+		ret = assert_hw(&evsel->core, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES, "cycles");
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_user", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_user);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_kernel", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_kernel);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_hv", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_hv);
@@ -1259,8 +1319,10 @@ static int test__group_gh2(struct evlist *evlist)
 
 		/* cache-misses:H + :G group modifier */
 		evsel = evsel__next(evsel);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->core.attr.type);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_CACHE_MISSES));
+		ret = assert_hw(&evsel->core, PERF_COUNT_HW_CACHE_MISSES, "cache-misses");
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_user", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_user);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_kernel", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_kernel);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_hv", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_hv);
@@ -1283,10 +1345,14 @@ static int test__group_gh3(struct evlist *evlist)
 			evlist__nr_groups(evlist) == num_core_entries());
 
 	for (int i = 0; i < num_core_entries(); i++) {
+		int ret;
+
 		/* cycles:G + :u group modifier */
 		evsel = leader = (i == 0 ? evlist__first(evlist) : evsel__next(evsel));
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->core.attr.type);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES));
+		ret = assert_hw(&evsel->core, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES, "cycles");
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_user", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_user);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_kernel", evsel->core.attr.exclude_kernel);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_hv", evsel->core.attr.exclude_hv);
@@ -1300,8 +1366,10 @@ static int test__group_gh3(struct evlist *evlist)
 
 		/* cache-misses:H + :u group modifier */
 		evsel = evsel__next(evsel);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->core.attr.type);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_CACHE_MISSES));
+		ret = assert_hw(&evsel->core, PERF_COUNT_HW_CACHE_MISSES, "cache-misses");
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_user", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_user);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_kernel", evsel->core.attr.exclude_kernel);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_hv", evsel->core.attr.exclude_hv);
@@ -1324,10 +1392,14 @@ static int test__group_gh4(struct evlist *evlist)
 			evlist__nr_groups(evlist) == num_core_entries());
 
 	for (int i = 0; i < num_core_entries(); i++) {
+		int ret;
+
 		/* cycles:G + :uG group modifier */
 		evsel = leader = (i == 0 ? evlist__first(evlist) : evsel__next(evsel));
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->core.attr.type);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES));
+		ret = assert_hw(&evsel->core, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES, "cycles");
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_user", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_user);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_kernel", evsel->core.attr.exclude_kernel);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_hv", evsel->core.attr.exclude_hv);
@@ -1341,8 +1413,10 @@ static int test__group_gh4(struct evlist *evlist)
 
 		/* cache-misses:H + :uG group modifier */
 		evsel = evsel__next(evsel);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->core.attr.type);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_CACHE_MISSES));
+		ret = assert_hw(&evsel->core, PERF_COUNT_HW_CACHE_MISSES, "cache-misses");
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_user", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_user);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_kernel", evsel->core.attr.exclude_kernel);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_hv", evsel->core.attr.exclude_hv);
@@ -1363,10 +1437,14 @@ static int test__leader_sample1(struct evlist *evlist)
 			evlist->core.nr_entries == (3 * num_core_entries()));
 
 	for (int i = 0; i < num_core_entries(); i++) {
+		int ret;
+
 		/* cycles - sampling group leader */
 		evsel = leader = (i == 0 ? evlist__first(evlist) : evsel__next(evsel));
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->core.attr.type);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES));
+		ret = assert_hw(&evsel->core, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES, "cycles");
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_user", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_user);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_kernel", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_kernel);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_hv", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_hv);
@@ -1379,8 +1457,10 @@ static int test__leader_sample1(struct evlist *evlist)
 
 		/* cache-misses - not sampling */
 		evsel = evsel__next(evsel);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->core.attr.type);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_CACHE_MISSES));
+		ret = assert_hw(&evsel->core, PERF_COUNT_HW_CACHE_MISSES, "cache-misses");
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_user", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_user);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_kernel", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_kernel);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_hv", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_hv);
@@ -1392,8 +1472,10 @@ static int test__leader_sample1(struct evlist *evlist)
 
 		/* branch-misses - not sampling */
 		evsel = evsel__next(evsel);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->core.attr.type);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_BRANCH_MISSES));
+		ret = assert_hw(&evsel->core, PERF_COUNT_HW_BRANCH_MISSES, "branch-misses");
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_user", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_user);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_kernel", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_kernel);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_hv", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_hv);
@@ -1415,10 +1497,14 @@ static int test__leader_sample2(struct evlist *evlist __maybe_unused)
 			evlist->core.nr_entries == (2 * num_core_entries()));
 
 	for (int i = 0; i < num_core_entries(); i++) {
+		int ret;
+
 		/* instructions - sampling group leader */
 		evsel = leader = (i == 0 ? evlist__first(evlist) : evsel__next(evsel));
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->core.attr.type);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_INSTRUCTIONS));
+		ret = assert_hw(&evsel->core, PERF_COUNT_HW_INSTRUCTIONS, "instructions");
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_user", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_user);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_kernel", evsel->core.attr.exclude_kernel);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_hv", evsel->core.attr.exclude_hv);
@@ -1431,8 +1517,10 @@ static int test__leader_sample2(struct evlist *evlist __maybe_unused)
 
 		/* branch-misses - not sampling */
 		evsel = evsel__next(evsel);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->core.attr.type);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_BRANCH_MISSES));
+		ret = assert_hw(&evsel->core, PERF_COUNT_HW_BRANCH_MISSES, "branch-misses");
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_user", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_user);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_kernel", evsel->core.attr.exclude_kernel);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_hv", evsel->core.attr.exclude_hv);
@@ -1472,10 +1560,14 @@ static int test__pinned_group(struct evlist *evlist)
 			evlist->core.nr_entries == (3 * num_core_entries()));
 
 	for (int i = 0; i < num_core_entries(); i++) {
+		int ret;
+
 		/* cycles - group leader */
 		evsel = leader = (i == 0 ? evlist__first(evlist) : evsel__next(evsel));
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->core.attr.type);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES));
+		ret = assert_hw(&evsel->core, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES, "cycles");
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong group name", !evsel->group_name);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong leader", evsel__has_leader(evsel, leader));
 		/* TODO: The group modifier is not copied to the split group leader. */
@@ -1484,13 +1576,18 @@ static int test__pinned_group(struct evlist *evlist)
 
 		/* cache-misses - can not be pinned, but will go on with the leader */
 		evsel = evsel__next(evsel);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->core.attr.type);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_CACHE_MISSES));
+		ret = assert_hw(&evsel->core, PERF_COUNT_HW_CACHE_MISSES, "cache-misses");
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong pinned", !evsel->core.attr.pinned);
 
 		/* branch-misses - ditto */
 		evsel = evsel__next(evsel);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_BRANCH_MISSES));
+		ret = assert_hw(&evsel->core, PERF_COUNT_HW_BRANCH_MISSES, "branch-misses");
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong pinned", !evsel->core.attr.pinned);
 	}
 	return TEST_OK;
@@ -1517,10 +1614,14 @@ static int test__exclusive_group(struct evlist *evlist)
 			evlist->core.nr_entries == 3 * num_core_entries());
 
 	for (int i = 0; i < num_core_entries(); i++) {
+		int ret;
+
 		/* cycles - group leader */
 		evsel = leader = (i == 0 ? evlist__first(evlist) : evsel__next(evsel));
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->core.attr.type);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES));
+		ret = assert_hw(&evsel->core, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES, "cycles");
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong group name", !evsel->group_name);
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong leader", evsel__has_leader(evsel, leader));
 		/* TODO: The group modifier is not copied to the split group leader. */
@@ -1529,13 +1630,18 @@ static int test__exclusive_group(struct evlist *evlist)
 
 		/* cache-misses - can not be pinned, but will go on with the leader */
 		evsel = evsel__next(evsel);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->core.attr.type);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_CACHE_MISSES));
+		ret = assert_hw(&evsel->core, PERF_COUNT_HW_CACHE_MISSES, "cache-misses");
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclusive", !evsel->core.attr.exclusive);
 
 		/* branch-misses - ditto */
 		evsel = evsel__next(evsel);
-		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_BRANCH_MISSES));
+		ret = assert_hw(&evsel->core, PERF_COUNT_HW_BRANCH_MISSES, "branch-misses");
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclusive", !evsel->core.attr.exclusive);
 	}
 	return TEST_OK;
@@ -1677,9 +1783,11 @@ static int test__checkevent_raw_pmu(struct evlist *evlist)
 static int test__sym_event_slash(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
+	int ret = assert_hw(&evsel->core, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES, "cycles");
+
+	if (ret)
+		return ret;
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", evsel->core.attr.type == PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE);
-	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES));
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_kernel", evsel->core.attr.exclude_kernel);
 	return TEST_OK;
 }
@@ -1687,9 +1795,11 @@ static int test__sym_event_slash(struct evlist *evlist)
 static int test__sym_event_dc(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
+	int ret = assert_hw(&evsel->core, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES, "cycles");
+
+	if (ret)
+		return ret;
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", evsel->core.attr.type == PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE);
-	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES));
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong exclude_user", evsel->core.attr.exclude_user);
 	return TEST_OK;
 }
@@ -1697,9 +1807,11 @@ static int test__sym_event_dc(struct evlist *evlist)
 static int test__term_equal_term(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
+	int ret = assert_hw(&evsel->core, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES, "cycles");
+
+	if (ret)
+		return ret;
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", evsel->core.attr.type == PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE);
-	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES));
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong name setting", strcmp(evsel->name, "name") == 0);
 	return TEST_OK;
 }
@@ -1707,9 +1819,11 @@ static int test__term_equal_term(struct evlist *evlist)
 static int test__term_equal_legacy(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
+	int ret = assert_hw(&evsel->core, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES, "cycles");
+
+	if (ret)
+		return ret;
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", evsel->core.attr.type == PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE);
-	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES));
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong name setting", strcmp(evsel->name, "l1d") == 0);
 	return TEST_OK;
 }
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
index aa2f5c6fc7fc..767aa718faa5 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
@@ -976,7 +976,7 @@ static int config_term_pmu(struct perf_event_attr *attr,
 			   struct parse_events_error *err)
 {
 	if (term->type_term == PARSE_EVENTS__TERM_TYPE_LEGACY_CACHE) {
-		const struct perf_pmu *pmu = perf_pmus__find_by_type(attr->type);
+		struct perf_pmu *pmu = perf_pmus__find_by_type(attr->type);
 
 		if (!pmu) {
 			char *err_str;
@@ -986,15 +986,23 @@ static int config_term_pmu(struct perf_event_attr *attr,
 							   err_str, /*help=*/NULL);
 			return -EINVAL;
 		}
-		if (perf_pmu__supports_legacy_cache(pmu)) {
+		/*
+		 * Rewrite the PMU event to a legacy cache one unless the PMU
+		 * doesn't support legacy cache events or the event is present
+		 * within the PMU.
+		 */
+		if (perf_pmu__supports_legacy_cache(pmu) &&
+		    !perf_pmu__have_event(pmu, term->config)) {
 			attr->type = PERF_TYPE_HW_CACHE;
 			return parse_events__decode_legacy_cache(term->config, pmu->type,
 								 &attr->config);
-		} else
+		} else {
 			term->type_term = PARSE_EVENTS__TERM_TYPE_USER;
+			term->no_value = true;
+		}
 	}
 	if (term->type_term == PARSE_EVENTS__TERM_TYPE_HARDWARE) {
-		const struct perf_pmu *pmu = perf_pmus__find_by_type(attr->type);
+		struct perf_pmu *pmu = perf_pmus__find_by_type(attr->type);
 
 		if (!pmu) {
 			char *err_str;
@@ -1004,10 +1012,19 @@ static int config_term_pmu(struct perf_event_attr *attr,
 							   err_str, /*help=*/NULL);
 			return -EINVAL;
 		}
-		attr->type = PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE;
-		attr->config = term->val.num;
-		if (perf_pmus__supports_extended_type())
-			attr->config |= (__u64)pmu->type << PERF_PMU_TYPE_SHIFT;
+		/*
+		 * If the PMU has a sysfs or json event prefer it over
+		 * legacy. ARM requires this.
+		 */
+		if (perf_pmu__have_event(pmu, term->config)) {
+			term->type_term = PARSE_EVENTS__TERM_TYPE_USER;
+			term->no_value = true;
+		} else {
+			attr->type = PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE;
+			attr->config = term->val.num;
+			if (perf_pmus__supports_extended_type())
+				attr->config |= (__u64)pmu->type << PERF_PMU_TYPE_SHIFT;
+		}
 		return 0;
 	}
 	if (term->type_term == PARSE_EVENTS__TERM_TYPE_USER ||
@@ -1381,6 +1398,7 @@ int parse_events_add_pmu(struct parse_events_state *parse_state,
 	YYLTYPE *loc = loc_;
 	LIST_HEAD(config_terms);
 	struct parse_events_terms parsed_terms;
+	bool alias_rewrote_terms;
 
 	pmu = parse_state->fake_pmu ?: perf_pmus__find(name);
 
@@ -1433,7 +1451,15 @@ int parse_events_add_pmu(struct parse_events_state *parse_state,
 		return evsel ? 0 : -ENOMEM;
 	}
 
-	if (!parse_state->fake_pmu && perf_pmu__check_alias(pmu, &parsed_terms, &info, err)) {
+	/* Configure attr/terms with a known PMU, this will set hardcoded terms. */
+	if (config_attr(&attr, &parsed_terms, parse_state->error, config_term_pmu)) {
+		parse_events_terms__exit(&parsed_terms);
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
+	/* Look for event names in the terms and rewrite into format based terms. */
+	if (!parse_state->fake_pmu && perf_pmu__check_alias(pmu, &parsed_terms,
+							    &info, &alias_rewrote_terms, err)) {
 		parse_events_terms__exit(&parsed_terms);
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
@@ -1447,11 +1473,9 @@ int parse_events_add_pmu(struct parse_events_state *parse_state,
 		strbuf_release(&sb);
 	}
 
-	/*
-	 * Configure hardcoded terms first, no need to check
-	 * return value when called with fail == 0 ;)
-	 */
-	if (config_attr(&attr, &parsed_terms, parse_state->error, config_term_pmu)) {
+	/* Configure attr/terms again if an alias was expanded. */
+	if (alias_rewrote_terms &&
+	    config_attr(&attr, &parsed_terms, parse_state->error, config_term_pmu)) {
 		parse_events_terms__exit(&parsed_terms);
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/pmu.c b/tools/perf/util/pmu.c
index d3c9aa4326be..3c9609944a2f 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/pmu.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/pmu.c
@@ -1494,12 +1494,14 @@ static int check_info_data(struct perf_pmu *pmu,
  * defined for the alias
  */
 int perf_pmu__check_alias(struct perf_pmu *pmu, struct parse_events_terms *head_terms,
-			  struct perf_pmu_info *info, struct parse_events_error *err)
+			  struct perf_pmu_info *info, bool *rewrote_terms,
+			  struct parse_events_error *err)
 {
 	struct parse_events_term *term, *h;
 	struct perf_pmu_alias *alias;
 	int ret;
 
+	*rewrote_terms = false;
 	info->per_pkg = false;
 
 	/*
@@ -1521,7 +1523,7 @@ int perf_pmu__check_alias(struct perf_pmu *pmu, struct parse_events_terms *head_
 						NULL);
 			return ret;
 		}
-
+		*rewrote_terms = true;
 		ret = check_info_data(pmu, alias, info, err, term->err_term);
 		if (ret)
 			return ret;
@@ -1615,6 +1617,8 @@ bool perf_pmu__auto_merge_stats(const struct perf_pmu *pmu)
 
 bool perf_pmu__have_event(struct perf_pmu *pmu, const char *name)
 {
+	if (!name)
+		return false;
 	if (perf_pmu__find_alias(pmu, name, /*load=*/ true) != NULL)
 		return true;
 	if (pmu->cpu_aliases_added || !pmu->events_table)
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/pmu.h b/tools/perf/util/pmu.h
index d2895d415f08..424c3fee0949 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/pmu.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/pmu.h
@@ -201,7 +201,8 @@ int perf_pmu__config_terms(const struct perf_pmu *pmu,
 __u64 perf_pmu__format_bits(struct perf_pmu *pmu, const char *name);
 int perf_pmu__format_type(struct perf_pmu *pmu, const char *name);
 int perf_pmu__check_alias(struct perf_pmu *pmu, struct parse_events_terms *head_terms,
-			  struct perf_pmu_info *info, struct parse_events_error *err);
+			  struct perf_pmu_info *info, bool *rewrote_terms,
+			  struct parse_events_error *err);
 int perf_pmu__find_event(struct perf_pmu *pmu, const char *event, void *state, pmu_event_callback cb);
 
 int perf_pmu__format_parse(struct perf_pmu *pmu, int dirfd, bool eager_load);
-- 
2.43.0.rc1.413.gea7ed67945-goog