qapi: Document type-safety considerations

Go into more details about the various types of valid expressions
in a qapi schema, including tweaks to document fixes being done
later in the current patch series.  Also fix some stale and missing
documentation in the QMP specification.

Signed-off-by: Eric Blake <eblake@redhat.com>
Reviewed-by: Markus Armbruster <armbru@redhat.com>
Signed-off-by: Markus Armbruster <armbru@redhat.com>
This commit is contained in:
Eric Blake 2015-05-04 09:04:59 -06:00 committed by Markus Armbruster
parent 6fb5545172
commit e790e66651
2 changed files with 411 additions and 119 deletions

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@ -9,61 +9,179 @@ later. See the COPYING file in the top-level directory.
== Introduction ==
QAPI is a native C API within QEMU which provides management-level
functionality to internal/external users. For external
users/processes, this interface is made available by a JSON-based
QEMU Monitor protocol that is provided by the QMP server.
functionality to internal and external users. For external
users/processes, this interface is made available by a JSON-based wire
format for the QEMU Monitor Protocol (QMP) for controlling qemu, as
well as the QEMU Guest Agent (QGA) for communicating with the guest.
To map QMP-defined interfaces to the native C QAPI implementations,
a JSON-based schema is used to define types and function
signatures, and a set of scripts is used to generate types/signatures,
and marshaling/dispatch code. The QEMU Guest Agent also uses these
scripts, paired with a separate schema, to generate
marshaling/dispatch code for the guest agent server running in the
guest.
This document will describe how the schemas, scripts, and resulting
code are used.
To map QMP and QGA interfaces to the native C QAPI implementations, a
JSON-based schema is used to define types and function signatures, and
a set of scripts is used to generate types, signatures, and
marshaling/dispatch code. This document will describe how the schemas,
scripts, and resulting code are used.
== QMP/Guest agent schema ==
This file defines the types, commands, and events used by QMP. It should
fully describe the interface used by QMP.
A QAPI schema file is designed to be loosely based on JSON
(http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc7159.txt) with changes for quoting style
and the use of comments; a QAPI schema file is then parsed by a python
code generation program. A valid QAPI schema consists of a series of
top-level expressions, with no commas between them. Where
dictionaries (JSON objects) are used, they are parsed as python
OrderedDicts so that ordering is preserved (for predictable layout of
generated C structs and parameter lists). Ordering doesn't matter
between top-level expressions or the keys within an expression, but
does matter within dictionary values for 'data' and 'returns' members
of a single expression. QAPI schema input is written using 'single
quotes' instead of JSON's "double quotes" (in contrast, QMP uses no
comments, and while input accepts 'single quotes' as an extension,
output is strict JSON using only "double quotes"). As in JSON,
trailing commas are not permitted in arrays or dictionaries. Input
must be ASCII (although QMP supports full Unicode strings, the QAPI
parser does not). At present, there is no place where a QAPI schema
requires the use of JSON numbers or null.
This file is designed to be loosely based on JSON although it's technically
executable Python. While dictionaries are used, they are parsed as
OrderedDicts so that ordering is preserved.
Comments are allowed; anything between an unquoted # and the following
newline is ignored. Although there is not yet a documentation
generator, a form of stylized comments has developed for consistently
documenting details about an expression and when it was added to the
schema. The documentation is delimited between two lines of ##, then
the first line names the expression, an optional overview is provided,
then individual documentation about each member of 'data' is provided,
and finally, a 'Since: x.y.z' tag lists the release that introduced
the expression. Optional fields are tagged with the phrase
'#optional', often with their default value; and extensions added
after the expression was first released are also given a '(since
x.y.z)' comment. For example:
There are two basic syntaxes used, type definitions and command definitions.
##
# @BlockStats:
#
# Statistics of a virtual block device or a block backing device.
#
# @device: #optional If the stats are for a virtual block device, the name
# corresponding to the virtual block device.
#
# @stats: A @BlockDeviceStats for the device.
#
# @parent: #optional This describes the file block device if it has one.
#
# @backing: #optional This describes the backing block device if it has one.
# (Since 2.0)
#
# Since: 0.14.0
##
{ 'type': 'BlockStats',
'data': {'*device': 'str', 'stats': 'BlockDeviceStats',
'*parent': 'BlockStats',
'*backing': 'BlockStats'} }
The first syntax defines a type and is represented by a dictionary. There are
three kinds of user-defined types that are supported: complex types,
enumeration types and union types.
The schema sets up a series of types, as well as commands and events
that will use those types. Forward references are allowed: the parser
scans in two passes, where the first pass learns all type names, and
the second validates the schema and generates the code. This allows
the definition of complex structs that can have mutually recursive
types, and allows for indefinite nesting of QMP that satisfies the
schema. A type name should not be defined more than once.
Generally speaking, types definitions should always use CamelCase for the type
names. Command names should be all lower case with words separated by a hyphen.
There are six top-level expressions recognized by the parser:
'include', 'command', 'type', 'enum', 'union', and 'event'. There are
several built-in types, such as 'int' and 'str'; additionally, the
top-level expressions can define complex types, enumeration types, and
several flavors of union types. The 'command' and 'event' expressions
can refer to existing types by name, or list an anonymous type as a
dictionary. Listing a type name inside an array refers to a
single-dimension array of that type; multi-dimension arrays are not
directly supported (although an array of a complex struct that
contains an array member is possible).
Types, commands, and events share a common namespace. Therefore,
generally speaking, type definitions should always use CamelCase for
user-defined type names, while built-in types are lowercase. Type
definitions should not end in 'Kind', as this namespace is used for
creating implicit C enums for visiting union types. Command names,
and field names within a type, should be all lower case with words
separated by a hyphen. However, some existing older commands and
complex types use underscore; when extending such expressions,
consistency is preferred over blindly avoiding underscore. Event
names should be ALL_CAPS with words separated by underscore. The
special string '**' appears for some commands that manually perform
their own type checking rather than relying on the type-safe code
produced by the qapi code generators.
Any name (command, event, type, field, or enum value) beginning with
"x-" is marked experimental, and may be withdrawn or changed
incompatibly in a future release. Downstream vendors may add
extensions; such extensions should begin with a prefix matching
"__RFQDN_" (for the reverse-fully-qualified-domain-name of the
vendor), even if the rest of the name uses dash (example:
__com.redhat_drive-mirror). Other than downstream extensions (with
leading underscore and the use of dots), all names should begin with a
letter, and contain only ASCII letters, digits, dash, and underscore.
It is okay to reuse names that match C keywords; the generator will
rename a field named "default" in the QAPI to "q_default" in the
generated C code.
In the rest of this document, usage lines are given for each
expression type, with literal strings written in lower case and
placeholders written in capitals. If a literal string includes a
prefix of '*', that key/value pair can be omitted from the expression.
For example, a usage statement that includes '*base':COMPLEX-TYPE-NAME
means that an expression has an optional key 'base', which if present
must have a value that forms a complex type name.
=== Built-in Types ===
The following types are built-in to the parser:
'str' - arbitrary UTF-8 string
'int' - 64-bit signed integer (although the C code may place further
restrictions on acceptable range)
'number' - floating point number
'bool' - JSON value of true or false
'int8', 'int16', 'int32', 'int64' - like 'int', but enforce maximum
bit size
'uint8', 'uint16', 'uint32', 'uint64' - unsigned counterparts
'size' - like 'uint64', but allows scaled suffix from command line
visitor
=== Includes ===
Usage: { 'include': STRING }
The QAPI schema definitions can be modularized using the 'include' directive:
{ 'include': 'path/to/file.json'}
{ 'include': 'path/to/file.json' }
The directive is evaluated recursively, and include paths are relative to the
file using the directive. Multiple includes of the same file are safe.
file using the directive. Multiple includes of the same file are
safe. No other keys should appear in the expression, and the include
value should be a string.
As a matter of style, it is a good idea to have all files be
self-contained, but at the moment, nothing prevents an included file
from making a forward reference to a type that is only introduced by
an outer file. The parser may be made stricter in the future to
prevent incomplete include files.
=== Complex types ===
A complex type is a dictionary containing a single key whose value is a
dictionary. This corresponds to a struct in C or an Object in JSON. An
example of a complex type is:
Usage: { 'type': STRING, 'data': DICT, '*base': COMPLEX-TYPE-NAME }
A complex type is a dictionary containing a single 'data' key whose
value is a dictionary. This corresponds to a struct in C or an Object
in JSON. Each value of the 'data' dictionary must be the name of a
type, or a one-element array containing a type name. An example of a
complex type is:
{ 'type': 'MyType',
'data': { 'member1': 'str', 'member2': 'int', '*member3': 'str' } }
The use of '*' as a prefix to the name means the member is optional.
The use of '*' as a prefix to the name means the member is optional in
the corresponding QMP usage.
The default initialization value of an optional argument should not be changed
between versions of QEMU unless the new default maintains backward
@ -108,22 +226,52 @@ both fields like this:
{ "file": "/some/place/my-image",
"backing": "/some/place/my-backing-file" }
=== Enumeration types ===
An enumeration type is a dictionary containing a single key whose value is a
list of strings. An example enumeration is:
Usage: { 'enum': STRING, 'data': ARRAY-OF-STRING }
An enumeration type is a dictionary containing a single 'data' key
whose value is a list of strings. An example enumeration is:
{ 'enum': 'MyEnum', 'data': [ 'value1', 'value2', 'value3' ] }
Nothing prevents an empty enumeration, although it is probably not
useful. The list of strings should be lower case; if an enum name
represents multiple words, use '-' between words. The string 'max' is
not allowed as an enum value, and values should not be repeated.
The enumeration values are passed as strings over the QMP protocol,
but are encoded as C enum integral values in generated code. While
the C code starts numbering at 0, it is better to use explicit
comparisons to enum values than implicit comparisons to 0; the C code
will also include a generated enum member ending in _MAX for tracking
the size of the enum, useful when using common functions for
converting between strings and enum values. Since the wire format
always passes by name, it is acceptable to reorder or add new
enumeration members in any location without breaking QMP clients;
however, removing enum values would break compatibility. For any
complex type that has a field that will only contain a finite set of
string values, using an enum type for that field is better than
open-coding the field to be type 'str'.
=== Union types ===
Union types are used to let the user choose between several different data
types. A union type is defined using a dictionary as explained in the
Usage: { 'union': STRING, 'data': DICT }
or: { 'union': STRING, 'data': DICT, 'base': COMPLEX-TYPE-NAME,
'discriminator': ENUM-MEMBER-OF-BASE }
or: { 'union': STRING, 'data': DICT, 'discriminator': {} }
Union types are used to let the user choose between several different
variants for an object. There are three flavors: simple (no
discriminator or base), flat (both base and discriminator are
strings), and anonymous (discriminator is an empty dictionary). A
union type is defined using a data dictionary as explained in the
following paragraphs.
A simple union type defines a mapping from discriminator values to data types
like in this example:
A simple union type defines a mapping from automatic discriminator
values to data types like in this example:
{ 'type': 'FileOptions', 'data': { 'filename': 'str' } }
{ 'type': 'Qcow2Options',
@ -133,36 +281,34 @@ like in this example:
'data': { 'file': 'FileOptions',
'qcow2': 'Qcow2Options' } }
In the QMP wire format, a simple union is represented by a dictionary that
contains the 'type' field as a discriminator, and a 'data' field that is of the
specified data type corresponding to the discriminator value:
In the QMP wire format, a simple union is represented by a dictionary
that contains the 'type' field as a discriminator, and a 'data' field
that is of the specified data type corresponding to the discriminator
value, as in these examples:
{ "type": "file", "data" : { "filename": "/some/place/my-image" } }
{ "type": "qcow2", "data" : { "backing-file": "/some/place/my-image",
"lazy-refcounts": true } }
A union definition can specify a complex type as its base. In this case, the
fields of the complex type are included as top-level fields of the union
dictionary in the QMP wire format. An example definition is:
{ 'type': 'BlockdevCommonOptions', 'data': { 'readonly': 'bool' } }
{ 'union': 'BlockdevOptions',
'base': 'BlockdevCommonOptions',
'data': { 'raw': 'RawOptions',
'qcow2': 'Qcow2Options' } }
And it looks like this on the wire:
{ "type": "qcow2",
"readonly": false,
"data" : { "backing-file": "/some/place/my-image",
"lazy-refcounts": true } }
The generated C code uses a struct containing a union. Additionally,
an implicit C enum 'NameKind' is created, corresponding to the union
'Name', for accessing the various branches of the union. No branch of
the union can be named 'max', as this would collide with the implicit
enum. The value for each branch can be of any type.
Flat union types avoid the nesting on the wire. They are used whenever a
specific field of the base type is declared as the discriminator ('type' is
then no longer generated). The discriminator must be of enumeration type.
The above example can then be modified as follows:
A flat union definition specifies a complex type as its base, and
avoids nesting on the wire. All branches of the union must be
complex types, and the top-level fields of the union dictionary on
the wire will be combination of fields from both the base type and the
appropriate branch type (when merging two dictionaries, there must be
no keys in common). The 'discriminator' field must be the name of an
enum-typed member of the base type.
The following example enhances the above simple union example by
adding a common field 'readonly', renaming the discriminator to
something more applicable, and reducing the number of {} required on
the wire:
{ 'enum': 'BlockdevDriver', 'data': [ 'raw', 'qcow2' ] }
{ 'type': 'BlockdevCommonOptions',
@ -170,28 +316,47 @@ The above example can then be modified as follows:
{ 'union': 'BlockdevOptions',
'base': 'BlockdevCommonOptions',
'discriminator': 'driver',
'data': { 'raw': 'RawOptions',
'data': { 'file': 'FileOptions',
'qcow2': 'Qcow2Options' } }
Resulting in this JSON object:
Resulting in these JSON objects:
{ "driver": "qcow2",
"readonly": false,
"backing-file": "/some/place/my-image",
"lazy-refcounts": true }
{ "driver": "file", "readonly": true,
"filename": "/some/place/my-image" }
{ "driver": "qcow2", "readonly": false,
"backing-file": "/some/place/my-image", "lazy-refcounts": true }
Notice that in a flat union, the discriminator name is controlled by
the user, but because it must map to a base member with enum type, the
code generator can ensure that branches exist for all values of the
enum (although the order of the keys need not match the declaration of
the enum). In the resulting generated C data types, a flat union is
represented as a struct with the base member fields included directly,
and then a union of structures for each branch of the struct.
A simple union can always be re-written as a flat union where the base
class has a single member named 'type', and where each branch of the
union has a complex type with a single member named 'data'. That is,
{ 'union': 'Simple', 'data': { 'one': 'str', 'two': 'int' } }
is identical on the wire to:
{ 'enum': 'Enum', 'data': ['one', 'two'] }
{ 'type': 'Base', 'data': { 'type': 'Enum' } }
{ 'type': 'Branch1', 'data': { 'data': 'str' } }
{ 'type': 'Branch2', 'data': { 'data': 'int' } }
{ 'union': 'Flat': 'base': 'Base', 'discriminator': 'type',
'data': { 'one': 'Branch1', 'two': 'Branch2' } }
A special type of unions are anonymous unions. They don't form a dictionary in
the wire format but allow the direct use of different types in their place. As
they aren't structured, they don't have any explicit discriminator but use
the (QObject) data type of their value as an implicit discriminator. This means
that they are restricted to using only one discriminator value per QObject
type. For example, you cannot have two different complex types in an anonymous
union, or two different integer types.
Anonymous unions are declared using an empty dictionary as their discriminator.
The discriminator values never appear on the wire, they are only used in the
generated C code. Anonymous unions cannot have a base type.
The final flavor of unions is an anonymous union. While the other two
union types are always passed as a JSON object in the wire format, an
anonymous union instead allows the direct use of different types in
its place. Anonymous unions are declared using an empty dictionary as
their discriminator. The discriminator values never appear on the
wire, they are only used in the generated C code. Anonymous unions
cannot have a base type.
{ 'union': 'BlockRef',
'discriminator': {},
@ -208,23 +373,95 @@ This example allows using both of the following example objects:
=== Commands ===
Commands are defined by using a list containing three members. The first
member is the command name, the second member is a dictionary containing
arguments, and the third member is the return type.
Usage: { 'command': STRING, '*data': COMPLEX-TYPE-NAME-OR-DICT,
'*returns': TYPE-NAME-OR-DICT,
'*gen': false, '*success-response': false }
An example command is:
Commands are defined by using a dictionary containing several members,
where three members are most common. The 'command' member is a
mandatory string, and determines the "execute" value passed in a QMP
command exchange.
The 'data' argument maps to the "arguments" dictionary passed in as
part of a QMP command. The 'data' member is optional and defaults to
{} (an empty dictionary). If present, it must be the string name of a
complex type, a one-element array containing the name of a complex
type, or a dictionary that declares an anonymous type with the same
semantics as a 'type' expression, with one exception noted below when
'gen' is used.
The 'returns' member describes what will appear in the "return" field
of a QMP reply on successful completion of a command. The member is
optional from the command declaration; if absent, the "return" field
will be an empty dictionary. If 'returns' is present, it must be the
string name of a complex or built-in type, a one-element array
containing the name of a complex or built-in type, or a dictionary
that declares an anonymous type with the same semantics as a 'type'
expression, with one exception noted below when 'gen' is used.
Although it is permitted to have the 'returns' member name a built-in
type or an array of built-in types, any command that does this cannot
be extended to return additional information in the future; thus, new
commands should strongly consider returning a dictionary-based type or
an array of dictionaries, even if the dictionary only contains one
field at the present.
All commands use a dictionary to report failure, with no way to
specify that in QAPI. Where the error return is different than the
usual GenericError class in order to help the client react differently
to certain error conditions, it is worth documenting this in the
comments before the command declaration.
Some example commands:
{ 'command': 'my-first-command',
'data': { 'arg1': 'str', '*arg2': 'str' } }
{ 'type': 'MyType', 'data': { '*value': 'str' } }
{ 'command': 'my-second-command',
'returns': [ 'MyType' ] }
which would validate this QMP transaction:
=> { "execute": "my-first-command",
"arguments": { "arg1": "hello" } }
<= { "return": { } }
=> { "execute": "my-second-command" }
<= { "return": [ { "value": "one" }, { } ] }
In rare cases, QAPI cannot express a type-safe representation of a
corresponding QMP command. In these cases, if the command expression
includes the key 'gen' with boolean value false, then the 'data' or
'returns' member that intends to bypass generated type-safety and do
its own manual validation should use an inline dictionary definition,
with a value of '**' rather than a valid type name for the keys that
the generated code will not validate. Please try to avoid adding new
commands that rely on this, and instead use type-safe unions. For an
example of bypass usage:
{ 'command': 'netdev_add',
'data': {'type': 'str', 'id': 'str', '*props': '**'},
'gen': false }
Normally, the QAPI schema is used to describe synchronous exchanges,
where a response is expected. But in some cases, the action of a
command is expected to change state in a way that a successful
response is not possible (although the command will still return a
normal dictionary error on failure). When a successful reply is not
possible, the command expression should include the optional key
'success-response' with boolean value false. So far, only QGA makes
use of this field.
{ 'command': 'my-command',
'data': { 'arg1': 'str', '*arg2': 'str' },
'returns': 'str' }
=== Events ===
Events are defined with the keyword 'event'. When 'data' is also specified,
additional info will be included in the event. Finally there will be C API
generated in qapi-event.h; when called by QEMU code, a message with timestamp
will be emitted on the wire. If timestamp is -1, it means failure to retrieve
host time.
Usage: { 'event': STRING, '*data': COMPLEX-TYPE-NAME-OR-DICT }
Events are defined with the keyword 'event'. It is not allowed to
name an event 'MAX', since the generator also produces a C enumeration
of all event names with a generated _MAX value at the end. When
'data' is also specified, additional info will be included in the
event, with similar semantics to a 'type' expression. Finally there
will be C API generated in qapi-event.h; when called by QEMU code, a
message with timestamp will be emitted on the wire.
An example event is:
@ -319,7 +556,7 @@ Example:
#ifndef EXAMPLE_QAPI_TYPES_H
#define EXAMPLE_QAPI_TYPES_H
[Builtin types omitted...]
[Built-in types omitted...]
typedef struct UserDefOne UserDefOne;
@ -332,7 +569,7 @@ Example:
struct UserDefOneList *next;
} UserDefOneList;
[Functions on builtin types omitted...]
[Functions on built-in types omitted...]
struct UserDefOne
{
@ -431,7 +668,7 @@ Example:
#ifndef EXAMPLE_QAPI_VISIT_H
#define EXAMPLE_QAPI_VISIT_H
[Visitors for builtin types omitted...]
[Visitors for built-in types omitted...]
void visit_type_UserDefOne(Visitor *m, UserDefOne **obj, const char *name, Error **errp);
void visit_type_UserDefOneList(Visitor *m, UserDefOneList **obj, const char *name, Error **errp);

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@ -11,8 +11,11 @@ later. See the COPYING file in the top-level directory.
1. Introduction
===============
This document specifies the QEMU Machine Protocol (QMP), a JSON-based protocol
which is available for applications to operate QEMU at the machine-level.
This document specifies the QEMU Machine Protocol (QMP), a JSON-based
protocol which is available for applications to operate QEMU at the
machine-level. It is also in use by the QEMU Guest Agent (QGA), which
is available for host applications to interact with the guest
operating system.
2. Protocol Specification
=========================
@ -26,14 +29,27 @@ following format:
json-DATA-STRUCTURE-NAME
Where DATA-STRUCTURE-NAME is any valid JSON data structure, as defined by
the JSON standard:
Where DATA-STRUCTURE-NAME is any valid JSON data structure, as defined
by the JSON standard:
http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc4627.txt
http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc7159.txt
For convenience, json-object members and json-array elements mentioned in
this document will be in a certain order. However, in real protocol usage
they can be in ANY order, thus no particular order should be assumed.
The protocol is always encoded in UTF-8 except for synchronization
bytes (documented below); although thanks to json-string escape
sequences, the server will reply using only the strict ASCII subset.
For convenience, json-object members mentioned in this document will
be in a certain order. However, in real protocol usage they can be in
ANY order, thus no particular order should be assumed. On the other
hand, use of json-array elements presumes that preserving order is
important unless specifically documented otherwise. Repeating a key
within a json-object gives unpredictable results.
Also for convenience, the server will accept an extension of
'single-quoted' strings in place of the usual "double-quoted"
json-string, and both input forms of strings understand an additional
escape sequence of "\'" for a single quote. The server will only use
double quoting on output.
2.1 General Definitions
-----------------------
@ -60,7 +76,16 @@ The greeting message format is:
- The "version" member contains the Server's version information (the format
is the same of the query-version command)
- The "capabilities" member specify the availability of features beyond the
baseline specification
baseline specification; the order of elements in this array has no
particular significance, so a client must search the entire array
when looking for a particular capability
2.2.1 Capabilities
------------------
As of the date this document was last revised, no server or client
capability strings have been defined.
2.3 Issuing Commands
--------------------
@ -73,10 +98,14 @@ The format for command execution is:
- The "execute" member identifies the command to be executed by the Server
- The "arguments" member is used to pass any arguments required for the
execution of the command, it is optional when no arguments are required
execution of the command, it is optional when no arguments are
required. Each command documents what contents will be considered
valid when handling the json-argument
- The "id" member is a transaction identification associated with the
command execution, it is optional and will be part of the response if
provided
provided. The "id" member can be any json-value, although most
clients merely use a json-number incremented for each successive
command
2.4 Commands Responses
----------------------
@ -89,13 +118,15 @@ of a command execution: success or error.
The format of a success response is:
{ "return": json-object, "id": json-value }
{ "return": json-value, "id": json-value }
Where,
- The "return" member contains the command returned data, which is defined
in a per-command basis or an empty json-object if the command does not
return data
- The "return" member contains the data returned by the command, which
is defined on a per-command basis (usually a json-object or
json-array of json-objects, but sometimes a json-number, json-string,
or json-array of json-strings); it is an empty json-object if the
command does not return data
- The "id" member contains the transaction identification associated
with the command execution if issued by the Client
@ -122,7 +153,8 @@ if provided by the client.
-----------------------
As a result of state changes, the Server may send messages unilaterally
to the Client at any time. They are called "asynchronous events".
to the Client at any time, when not in the middle of any other
response. They are called "asynchronous events".
The format of asynchronous events is:
@ -134,13 +166,27 @@ The format of asynchronous events is:
- The "event" member contains the event's name
- The "data" member contains event specific data, which is defined in a
per-event basis, it is optional
- The "timestamp" member contains the exact time of when the event occurred
in the Server. It is a fixed json-object with time in seconds and
microseconds
- The "timestamp" member contains the exact time of when the event
occurred in the Server. It is a fixed json-object with time in
seconds and microseconds relative to the Unix Epoch (1 Jan 1970); if
there is a failure to retrieve host time, both members of the
timestamp will be set to -1.
For a listing of supported asynchronous events, please, refer to the
qmp-events.txt file.
2.5 QGA Synchronization
-----------------------
When using QGA, an additional synchronization feature is built into
the protocol. If the Client sends a raw 0xFF sentinel byte (not valid
JSON), then the Server will reset its state and discard all pending
data prior to the sentinel. Conversely, if the Client makes use of
the 'guest-sync-delimited' command, the Server will send a raw 0xFF
sentinel byte prior to its response, to aid the Client in discarding
any data prior to the sentinel.
3. QMP Examples
===============
@ -153,32 +199,37 @@ This section provides some examples of real QMP usage, in all of them
S: { "QMP": { "version": { "qemu": { "micro": 50, "minor": 6, "major": 1 },
"package": ""}, "capabilities": []}}
3.2 Simple 'stop' execution
3.2 Client QMP negotiation
--------------------------
C: { "execute": "qmp_capabilities" }
S: { "return": {}}
3.3 Simple 'stop' execution
---------------------------
C: { "execute": "stop" }
S: { "return": {} }
3.3 KVM information
3.4 KVM information
-------------------
C: { "execute": "query-kvm", "id": "example" }
S: { "return": { "enabled": true, "present": true }, "id": "example"}
3.4 Parsing error
3.5 Parsing error
------------------
C: { "execute": }
S: { "error": { "class": "GenericError", "desc": "Invalid JSON syntax" } }
3.5 Powerdown event
3.6 Powerdown event
-------------------
S: { "timestamp": { "seconds": 1258551470, "microseconds": 802384 },
"event": "POWERDOWN" }
4. Capabilities Negotiation
----------------------------
===========================
When a Client successfully establishes a connection, the Server is in
Capabilities Negotiation mode.
@ -197,7 +248,7 @@ effect, all commands (except qmp_capabilities) are allowed and asynchronous
messages are delivered.
5 Compatibility Considerations
------------------------------
==============================
All protocol changes or new features which modify the protocol format in an
incompatible way are disabled by default and will be advertised by the
@ -221,12 +272,16 @@ However, Clients must not assume any particular:
- Amount of errors generated by a command, that is, new errors can be added
to any existing command in newer versions of the Server
Any command or field name beginning with "x-" is deemed experimental,
and may be withdrawn or changed in an incompatible manner in a future
release.
Of course, the Server does guarantee to send valid JSON. But apart from
this, a Client should be "conservative in what they send, and liberal in
what they accept".
6. Downstream extension of QMP
------------------------------
==============================
We recommend that downstream consumers of QEMU do *not* modify QMP.
Management tools should be able to support both upstream and downstream