qemu-char: add logfile facility to all chardev backends

Typically a UNIX guest OS will log boot messages to a serial
port in addition to any graphical console. An admin user
may also wish to use the serial port for an interactive
console. A virtualization management system may wish to
collect system boot messages by logging the serial port,
but also wish to allow admins interactive access.

Currently providing such a feature forces the mgmt app
to either provide 2 separate serial ports, one for
logging boot messages and one for interactive console
login, or to proxy all output via a separate service
that can multiplex the two needs onto one serial port.
While both are valid approaches, they each have their
own downsides. The former causes confusion and extra
setup work for VM admins creating disk images. The latter
places an extra burden to re-implement much of the QEMU
chardev backends logic in libvirt or even higher level
mgmt apps and adds extra hops in the data transfer path.

A simpler approach that is satisfactory for many use
cases is to allow the QEMU chardev backends to have a
"logfile" property associated with them.

 $QEMU -chardev socket,host=localhost,port=9000,\
                server=on,nowait,id-charserial0,\
		logfile=/var/log/libvirt/qemu/test-serial0.log
       -device isa-serial,chardev=charserial0,id=serial0

This patch introduces a 'ChardevCommon' struct which
is setup as a base for all the ChardevBackend types.
Ideally this would be registered directly as a base
against ChardevBackend, rather than each type, but
the QAPI generator doesn't allow that since the
ChardevBackend is a non-discriminated union. The
ChardevCommon struct provides the optional 'logfile'
parameter, as well as 'logappend' which controls
whether QEMU truncates or appends (default truncate).

Signed-off-by: Daniel P. Berrange <berrange@redhat.com>
Message-Id: <1452516281-27519-1-git-send-email-berrange@redhat.com>
[Call qemu_chr_parse_common if cd->parse is NULL. - Paolo]
Signed-off-by: Paolo Bonzini <pbonzini@redhat.com>

9 files changed, 313 insertions, 83 deletions

diff --git a/backends/baum.c b/backends/baum.c
index 723c658ac0..ba32b61002 100644
--- a/backends/baum.c
+++ b/backends/baum.c
@@ -566,6 +566,7 @@ static CharDriverState *chr_baum_init(const char *id,
                                       ChardevReturn *ret,
                                       Error **errp)
 {
+    ChardevCommon *common = qapi_ChardevDummy_base(backend->u.braille);
     BaumDriverState *baum;
     CharDriverState *chr;
     brlapi_handle_t *handle;
@@ -576,8 +577,12 @@ static CharDriverState *chr_baum_init(const char *id,
 #endif
     int tty;
 
+    chr = qemu_chr_alloc(common, errp);
+    if (!chr) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
     baum = g_malloc0(sizeof(BaumDriverState));
-    baum->chr = chr = qemu_chr_alloc();
+    baum->chr = chr;
 
     chr->opaque = baum;
     chr->chr_write = baum_write;
diff --git a/backends/msmouse.c b/backends/msmouse.c
index 0126fa0b13..476dab5634 100644
--- a/backends/msmouse.c
+++ b/backends/msmouse.c
@@ -68,9 +68,13 @@ static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_msmouse(const char *id,
                                               ChardevReturn *ret,
                                               Error **errp)
 {
+    ChardevCommon *common = qapi_ChardevDummy_base(backend->u.msmouse);
     CharDriverState *chr;
 
-    chr = qemu_chr_alloc();
+    chr = qemu_chr_alloc(common, errp);
+    if (!chr) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
     chr->chr_write = msmouse_chr_write;
     chr->chr_close = msmouse_chr_close;
     chr->explicit_be_open = true;
diff --git a/gdbstub.c b/gdbstub.c
index 9c29aa0e87..1a84c1a746 100644
--- a/gdbstub.c
+++ b/gdbstub.c
@@ -1732,6 +1732,7 @@ int gdbserver_start(const char *device)
     char gdbstub_device_name[128];
     CharDriverState *chr = NULL;
     CharDriverState *mon_chr;
+    ChardevCommon common = { 0 };
 
     if (!device)
         return -1;
@@ -1768,7 +1769,7 @@ int gdbserver_start(const char *device)
         qemu_add_vm_change_state_handler(gdb_vm_state_change, NULL);
 
         /* Initialize a monitor terminal for gdb */
-        mon_chr = qemu_chr_alloc();
+        mon_chr = qemu_chr_alloc(&common, &error_abort);
         mon_chr->chr_write = gdb_monitor_write;
         monitor_init(mon_chr, 0);
     } else {
diff --git a/include/sysemu/char.h b/include/sysemu/char.h
index aff193f080..598dd2bf49 100644
--- a/include/sysemu/char.h
+++ b/include/sysemu/char.h
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ struct CharDriverState {
     void *opaque;
     char *label;
     char *filename;
+    int logfd;
     int be_open;
     int fe_open;
     int explicit_fe_open;
@@ -89,13 +90,15 @@ struct CharDriverState {
 };
 
 /**
- * @qemu_chr_alloc:
+ * qemu_chr_alloc:
+ * @backend: the common backend config
+ * @errp: pointer to a NULL-initialized error object
  *
  * Allocate and initialize a new CharDriverState.
  *
- * Returns: a newly allocated CharDriverState.
+ * Returns: a newly allocated CharDriverState, or NULL on error.
  */
-CharDriverState *qemu_chr_alloc(void);
+CharDriverState *qemu_chr_alloc(ChardevCommon *backend, Error **errp);
 
 /**
  * @qemu_chr_new_from_opts:
diff --git a/qapi-schema.json b/qapi-schema.json
index 0c75465031..b3038b215a 100644
--- a/qapi-schema.json
+++ b/qapi-schema.json
@@ -3093,6 +3093,21 @@
 ##
 { 'command': 'screendump', 'data': {'filename': 'str'} }
 
+
+##
+# @ChardevCommon:
+#
+# Configuration shared across all chardev backends
+#
+# @logfile: #optional The name of a logfile to save output
+# @logappend: #optional true to append instead of truncate
+#             (default to false to truncate)
+#
+# Since: 2.6
+##
+{ 'struct': 'ChardevCommon', 'data': { '*logfile': 'str',
+                                       '*logappend': 'bool' } }
+
 ##
 # @ChardevFile:
 #
@@ -3107,7 +3122,8 @@
 ##
 { 'struct': 'ChardevFile', 'data': { '*in' : 'str',
                                    'out' : 'str',
-                                   '*append': 'bool' } }
+                                   '*append': 'bool' },
+  'base': 'ChardevCommon' }
 
 ##
 # @ChardevHostdev:
@@ -3120,7 +3136,8 @@
 #
 # Since: 1.4
 ##
-{ 'struct': 'ChardevHostdev', 'data': { 'device' : 'str' } }
+{ 'struct': 'ChardevHostdev', 'data': { 'device' : 'str' },
+  'base': 'ChardevCommon' }
 
 ##
 # @ChardevSocket:
@@ -3147,7 +3164,8 @@
                                      '*wait'      : 'bool',
                                      '*nodelay'   : 'bool',
                                      '*telnet'    : 'bool',
-                                     '*reconnect' : 'int' } }
+                                     '*reconnect' : 'int' },
+  'base': 'ChardevCommon' }
 
 ##
 # @ChardevUdp:
@@ -3160,7 +3178,8 @@
 # Since: 1.5
 ##
 { 'struct': 'ChardevUdp', 'data': { 'remote' : 'SocketAddress',
-                                  '*local' : 'SocketAddress' } }
+                                  '*local' : 'SocketAddress' },
+  'base': 'ChardevCommon' }
 
 ##
 # @ChardevMux:
@@ -3171,7 +3190,8 @@
 #
 # Since: 1.5
 ##
-{ 'struct': 'ChardevMux', 'data': { 'chardev' : 'str' } }
+{ 'struct': 'ChardevMux', 'data': { 'chardev' : 'str' },
+  'base': 'ChardevCommon' }
 
 ##
 # @ChardevStdio:
@@ -3184,7 +3204,9 @@
 #
 # Since: 1.5
 ##
-{ 'struct': 'ChardevStdio', 'data': { '*signal' : 'bool' } }
+{ 'struct': 'ChardevStdio', 'data': { '*signal' : 'bool' },
+  'base': 'ChardevCommon' }
+
 
 ##
 # @ChardevSpiceChannel:
@@ -3195,7 +3217,8 @@
 #
 # Since: 1.5
 ##
-{ 'struct': 'ChardevSpiceChannel', 'data': { 'type'  : 'str' } }
+{ 'struct': 'ChardevSpiceChannel', 'data': { 'type'  : 'str' },
+  'base': 'ChardevCommon' }
 
 ##
 # @ChardevSpicePort:
@@ -3206,7 +3229,8 @@
 #
 # Since: 1.5
 ##
-{ 'struct': 'ChardevSpicePort', 'data': { 'fqdn'  : 'str' } }
+{ 'struct': 'ChardevSpicePort', 'data': { 'fqdn'  : 'str' },
+  'base': 'ChardevCommon' }
 
 ##
 # @ChardevVC:
@@ -3223,7 +3247,8 @@
 { 'struct': 'ChardevVC', 'data': { '*width'  : 'int',
                                  '*height' : 'int',
                                  '*cols'   : 'int',
-                                 '*rows'   : 'int' } }
+                                 '*rows'   : 'int' },
+  'base': 'ChardevCommon' }
 
 ##
 # @ChardevRingbuf:
@@ -3234,7 +3259,8 @@
 #
 # Since: 1.5
 ##
-{ 'struct': 'ChardevRingbuf', 'data': { '*size'  : 'int' } }
+{ 'struct': 'ChardevRingbuf', 'data': { '*size'  : 'int' },
+  'base': 'ChardevCommon' }
 
 ##
 # @ChardevBackend:
@@ -3243,7 +3269,8 @@
 #
 # Since: 1.4 (testdev since 2.2)
 ##
-{ 'struct': 'ChardevDummy', 'data': { } }
+{ 'struct': 'ChardevDummy', 'data': { },
+  'base': 'ChardevCommon' }
 
 { 'union': 'ChardevBackend', 'data': { 'file'   : 'ChardevFile',
                                        'serial' : 'ChardevHostdev',
diff --git a/qemu-char.c b/qemu-char.c
index d7be1851e5..11caa5648d 100644
--- a/qemu-char.c
+++ b/qemu-char.c
@@ -159,10 +159,33 @@ static int sockaddr_to_str(char *dest, int max_len,
 static QTAILQ_HEAD(CharDriverStateHead, CharDriverState) chardevs =
     QTAILQ_HEAD_INITIALIZER(chardevs);
 
-CharDriverState *qemu_chr_alloc(void)
+static void qemu_chr_free_common(CharDriverState *chr);
+
+CharDriverState *qemu_chr_alloc(ChardevCommon *backend, Error **errp)
 {
     CharDriverState *chr = g_malloc0(sizeof(CharDriverState));
     qemu_mutex_init(&chr->chr_write_lock);
+
+    if (backend->has_logfile) {
+        int flags = O_WRONLY | O_CREAT;
+        if (backend->has_logappend &&
+            backend->logappend) {
+            flags |= O_APPEND;
+        } else {
+            flags |= O_TRUNC;
+        }
+        chr->logfd = qemu_open(backend->logfile, flags, 0666);
+        if (chr->logfd < 0) {
+            error_setg_errno(errp, errno,
+                             "Unable to open logfile %s",
+                             backend->logfile);
+            g_free(chr);
+            return NULL;
+        }
+    } else {
+        chr->logfd = -1;
+    }
+
     return chr;
 }
 
@@ -188,12 +211,45 @@ void qemu_chr_be_generic_open(CharDriverState *s)
     qemu_chr_be_event(s, CHR_EVENT_OPENED);
 }
 
+
+/* Not reporting errors from writing to logfile, as logs are
+ * defined to be "best effort" only */
+static void qemu_chr_fe_write_log(CharDriverState *s,
+                                  const uint8_t *buf, size_t len)
+{
+    size_t done = 0;
+    ssize_t ret;
+
+    if (s->logfd < 0) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    while (done < len) {
+        do {
+            ret = write(s->logfd, buf + done, len - done);
+            if (ret == -1 && errno == EAGAIN) {
+                g_usleep(100);
+            }
+        } while (ret == -1 && errno == EAGAIN);
+
+        if (ret <= 0) {
+            return;
+        }
+        done += ret;
+    }
+}
+
 int qemu_chr_fe_write(CharDriverState *s, const uint8_t *buf, int len)
 {
     int ret;
 
     qemu_mutex_lock(&s->chr_write_lock);
     ret = s->chr_write(s, buf, len);
+
+    if (ret > 0) {
+        qemu_chr_fe_write_log(s, buf, ret);
+    }
+
     qemu_mutex_unlock(&s->chr_write_lock);
     return ret;
 }
@@ -218,6 +274,10 @@ int qemu_chr_fe_write_all(CharDriverState *s, const uint8_t *buf, int len)
 
         offset += res;
     }
+    if (offset > 0) {
+        qemu_chr_fe_write_log(s, buf, offset);
+    }
+
     qemu_mutex_unlock(&s->chr_write_lock);
 
     if (res < 0) {
@@ -365,8 +425,12 @@ static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_null(const char *id,
                                            Error **errp)
 {
     CharDriverState *chr;
+    ChardevCommon *common = qapi_ChardevDummy_base(backend->u.null);
 
-    chr = qemu_chr_alloc();
+    chr = qemu_chr_alloc(common, errp);
+    if (!chr) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
     chr->chr_write = null_chr_write;
     chr->explicit_be_open = true;
     return chr;
@@ -665,6 +729,7 @@ static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_mux(const char *id,
     ChardevMux *mux = backend->u.mux;
     CharDriverState *chr, *drv;
     MuxDriver *d;
+    ChardevCommon *common = qapi_ChardevMux_base(backend->u.mux);
 
     drv = qemu_chr_find(mux->chardev);
     if (drv == NULL) {
@@ -672,7 +737,10 @@ static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_mux(const char *id,
         return NULL;
     }
 
-    chr = qemu_chr_alloc();
+    chr = qemu_chr_alloc(common, errp);
+    if (!chr) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
     d = g_new0(MuxDriver, 1);
 
     chr->opaque = d;
@@ -975,12 +1043,16 @@ static void fd_chr_close(struct CharDriverState *chr)
 }
 
 /* open a character device to a unix fd */
-static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_fd(int fd_in, int fd_out)
+static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_fd(int fd_in, int fd_out,
+                                         ChardevCommon *backend, Error **errp)
 {
     CharDriverState *chr;
     FDCharDriver *s;
 
-    chr = qemu_chr_alloc();
+    chr = qemu_chr_alloc(backend, errp);
+    if (!chr) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
     s = g_new0(FDCharDriver, 1);
     s->fd_in = io_channel_from_fd(fd_in);
     s->fd_out = io_channel_from_fd(fd_out);
@@ -1005,6 +1077,7 @@ static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_pipe(const char *id,
     char filename_in[CHR_MAX_FILENAME_SIZE];
     char filename_out[CHR_MAX_FILENAME_SIZE];
     const char *filename = opts->device;
+    ChardevCommon *common = qapi_ChardevHostdev_base(backend->u.pipe);
 
     snprintf(filename_in, CHR_MAX_FILENAME_SIZE, "%s.in", filename);
     snprintf(filename_out, CHR_MAX_FILENAME_SIZE, "%s.out", filename);
@@ -1021,7 +1094,7 @@ static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_pipe(const char *id,
             return NULL;
         }
     }
-    return qemu_chr_open_fd(fd_in, fd_out);
+    return qemu_chr_open_fd(fd_in, fd_out, common, errp);
 }
 
 /* init terminal so that we can grab keys */
@@ -1081,6 +1154,7 @@ static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_stdio(const char *id,
     ChardevStdio *opts = backend->u.stdio;
     CharDriverState *chr;
     struct sigaction act;
+    ChardevCommon *common = qapi_ChardevStdio_base(backend->u.stdio);
 
     if (is_daemonized()) {
         error_setg(errp, "cannot use stdio with -daemonize");
@@ -1102,7 +1176,7 @@ static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_stdio(const char *id,
     act.sa_handler = term_stdio_handler;
     sigaction(SIGCONT, &act, NULL);
 
-    chr = qemu_chr_open_fd(0, 1);
+    chr = qemu_chr_open_fd(0, 1, common, errp);
     chr->chr_close = qemu_chr_close_stdio;
     chr->chr_set_echo = qemu_chr_set_echo_stdio;
     if (opts->has_signal) {
@@ -1324,6 +1398,7 @@ static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_pty(const char *id,
     PtyCharDriver *s;
     int master_fd, slave_fd;
     char pty_name[PATH_MAX];
+    ChardevCommon *common = qapi_ChardevDummy_base(backend->u.pty);
 
     master_fd = qemu_openpty_raw(&slave_fd, pty_name);
     if (master_fd < 0) {
@@ -1334,7 +1409,11 @@ static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_pty(const char *id,
     close(slave_fd);
     qemu_set_nonblock(master_fd);
 
-    chr = qemu_chr_alloc();
+    chr = qemu_chr_alloc(common, errp);
+    if (!chr) {
+        close(master_fd);
+        return NULL;
+    }
 
     chr->filename = g_strdup_printf("pty:%s", pty_name);
     ret->pty = g_strdup(pty_name);
@@ -1557,12 +1636,14 @@ static void qemu_chr_close_tty(CharDriverState *chr)
     }
 }
 
-static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_tty_fd(int fd)
+static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_tty_fd(int fd,
+                                             ChardevCommon *backend,
+                                             Error **errp)
 {
     CharDriverState *chr;
 
     tty_serial_init(fd, 115200, 'N', 8, 1);
-    chr = qemu_chr_open_fd(fd, fd);
+    chr = qemu_chr_open_fd(fd, fd, backend, errp);
     chr->chr_ioctl = tty_serial_ioctl;
     chr->chr_close = qemu_chr_close_tty;
     return chr;
@@ -1682,7 +1763,9 @@ static void pp_close(CharDriverState *chr)
     qemu_chr_be_event(chr, CHR_EVENT_CLOSED);
 }
 
-static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_pp_fd(int fd, Error **errp)
+static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_pp_fd(int fd,
+                                            ChardevCommon *backend,
+                                            Error **errp)
 {
     CharDriverState *chr;
     ParallelCharDriver *drv;
@@ -1697,7 +1780,10 @@ static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_pp_fd(int fd, Error **errp)
     drv->fd = fd;
     drv->mode = IEEE1284_MODE_COMPAT;
 
-    chr = qemu_chr_alloc();
+    chr = qemu_chr_alloc(backend, errp);
+    if (!chr) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
     chr->chr_write = null_chr_write;
     chr->chr_ioctl = pp_ioctl;
     chr->chr_close = pp_close;
@@ -1748,11 +1834,16 @@ static int pp_ioctl(CharDriverState *chr, int cmd, void *arg)
     return 0;
 }
 
-static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_pp_fd(int fd, Error **errp)
+static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_pp_fd(int fd,
+                                            ChardevBackend *backend,
+                                            Error **errp)
 {
     CharDriverState *chr;
 
-    chr = qemu_chr_alloc();
+    chr = qemu_chr_alloc(common, errp);
+    if (!chr) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
     chr->opaque = (void *)(intptr_t)fd;
     chr->chr_write = null_chr_write;
     chr->chr_ioctl = pp_ioctl;
@@ -1978,12 +2069,16 @@ static int win_chr_poll(void *opaque)
 }
 
 static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_win_path(const char *filename,
+                                               ChardevCommon *backend,
                                                Error **errp)
 {
     CharDriverState *chr;
     WinCharState *s;
 
-    chr = qemu_chr_alloc();
+    chr = qemu_chr_alloc(backend, errp);
+    if (!chr) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
     s = g_new0(WinCharState, 1);
     chr->opaque = s;
     chr->chr_write = win_chr_write;
@@ -1991,7 +2086,7 @@ static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_win_path(const char *filename,
 
     if (win_chr_init(chr, filename, errp) < 0) {
         g_free(s);
-        g_free(chr);
+        qemu_chr_free_common(chr);
         return NULL;
     }
     return chr;
@@ -2086,8 +2181,12 @@ static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_pipe(const char *id,
     const char *filename = opts->device;
     CharDriverState *chr;
     WinCharState *s;
+    ChardevCommon *common = qapi_ChardevHostdev_base(backend->u.pipe);
 
-    chr = qemu_chr_alloc();
+    chr = qemu_chr_alloc(common, errp);
+    if (!chr) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
     s = g_new0(WinCharState, 1);
     chr->opaque = s;
     chr->chr_write = win_chr_write;
@@ -2095,18 +2194,23 @@ static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_pipe(const char *id,
 
     if (win_chr_pipe_init(chr, filename, errp) < 0) {
         g_free(s);
-        g_free(chr);
+        qemu_chr_free_common(chr);
         return NULL;
     }
     return chr;
 }
 
-static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_win_file(HANDLE fd_out)
+static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_win_file(HANDLE fd_out,
+                                               ChardevCommon *backend,
+                                               Error **errp)
 {
     CharDriverState *chr;
     WinCharState *s;
 
-    chr = qemu_chr_alloc();
+    chr = qemu_chr_alloc(backend, errp);
+    if (!chr) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
     s = g_new0(WinCharState, 1);
     s->hcom = fd_out;
     chr->opaque = s;
@@ -2119,7 +2223,9 @@ static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_win_con(const char *id,
                                               ChardevReturn *ret,
                                               Error **errp)
 {
-    return qemu_chr_open_win_file(GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE));
+    ChardevCommon *common = qapi_ChardevDummy_base(backend->u.console);
+    return qemu_chr_open_win_file(GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE),
+                                  common, errp);
 }
 
 static int win_stdio_write(CharDriverState *chr, const uint8_t *buf, int len)
@@ -2267,8 +2373,12 @@ static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_stdio(const char *id,
     WinStdioCharState *stdio;
     DWORD              dwMode;
     int                is_console = 0;
+    ChardevCommon *common = qapi_ChardevStdio_base(backend->u.stdio);
 
-    chr   = qemu_chr_alloc();
+    chr   = qemu_chr_alloc(common, errp);
+    if (!chr) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
     stdio = g_new0(WinStdioCharState, 1);
 
     stdio->hStdIn = GetStdHandle(STD_INPUT_HANDLE);
@@ -2440,12 +2550,17 @@ static void udp_chr_close(CharDriverState *chr)
     qemu_chr_be_event(chr, CHR_EVENT_CLOSED);
 }
 
-static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_udp_fd(int fd)
+static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_udp_fd(int fd,
+                                             ChardevCommon *backend,
+                                             Error **errp)
 {
     CharDriverState *chr = NULL;
     NetCharDriver *s = NULL;
 
-    chr = qemu_chr_alloc();
+    chr = qemu_chr_alloc(backend, errp);
+    if (!chr) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
     s = g_new0(NetCharDriver, 1);
 
     s->fd = fd;
@@ -2856,7 +2971,7 @@ static int tcp_chr_sync_read(CharDriverState *chr, const uint8_t *buf, int len)
 #ifndef _WIN32
 CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_eventfd(int eventfd)
 {
-    CharDriverState *chr = qemu_chr_open_fd(eventfd, eventfd);
+    CharDriverState *chr = qemu_chr_open_fd(eventfd, eventfd, NULL, NULL);
 
     if (chr) {
         chr->avail_connections = 1;
@@ -3138,10 +3253,14 @@ static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_ringbuf(const char *id,
                                               Error **errp)
 {
     ChardevRingbuf *opts = backend->u.ringbuf;
+    ChardevCommon *common = qapi_ChardevRingbuf_base(backend->u.ringbuf);
     CharDriverState *chr;
     RingBufCharDriver *d;
 
-    chr = qemu_chr_alloc();
+    chr = qemu_chr_alloc(common, errp);
+    if (!chr) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
     d = g_malloc(sizeof(*d));
 
     d->size = opts->has_size ? opts->size : 65536;
@@ -3164,7 +3283,7 @@ static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_ringbuf(const char *id,
 
 fail:
     g_free(d);
-    g_free(chr);
+    qemu_chr_free_common(chr);
     return NULL;
 }
 
@@ -3408,6 +3527,18 @@ fail:
     return NULL;
 }
 
+static void qemu_chr_parse_common(QemuOpts *opts, ChardevCommon *backend)
+{
+    const char *logfile = qemu_opt_get(opts, "logfile");
+
+    backend->has_logfile = logfile != NULL;
+    backend->logfile = logfile ? g_strdup(logfile) : NULL;
+
+    backend->has_logappend = true;
+    backend->logappend = qemu_opt_get_bool(opts, "logappend", false);
+}
+
+
 static void qemu_chr_parse_file_out(QemuOpts *opts, ChardevBackend *backend,
                                     Error **errp)
 {
@@ -3418,6 +3549,7 @@ static void qemu_chr_parse_file_out(QemuOpts *opts, ChardevBackend *backend,
         return;
     }
     backend->u.file = g_new0(ChardevFile, 1);
+    qemu_chr_parse_common(opts, qapi_ChardevFile_base(backend->u.file));
     backend->u.file->out = g_strdup(path);
 
     backend->u.file->has_append = true;
@@ -3428,6 +3560,7 @@ static void qemu_chr_parse_stdio(QemuOpts *opts, ChardevBackend *backend,
                                  Error **errp)
 {
     backend->u.stdio = g_new0(ChardevStdio, 1);
+    qemu_chr_parse_common(opts, qapi_ChardevStdio_base(backend->u.stdio));
     backend->u.stdio->has_signal = true;
     backend->u.stdio->signal = qemu_opt_get_bool(opts, "signal", true);
 }
@@ -3443,6 +3576,7 @@ static void qemu_chr_parse_serial(QemuOpts *opts, ChardevBackend *backend,
         return;
     }
     backend->u.serial = g_new0(ChardevHostdev, 1);
+    qemu_chr_parse_common(opts, qapi_ChardevHostdev_base(backend->u.serial));
     backend->u.serial->device = g_strdup(device);
 }
 #endif
@@ -3458,6 +3592,7 @@ static void qemu_chr_parse_parallel(QemuOpts *opts, ChardevBackend *backend,
         return;
     }
     backend->u.parallel = g_new0(ChardevHostdev, 1);
+    qemu_chr_parse_common(opts, qapi_ChardevHostdev_base(backend->u.parallel));
     backend->u.parallel->device = g_strdup(device);
 }
 #endif
@@ -3472,6 +3607,7 @@ static void qemu_chr_parse_pipe(QemuOpts *opts, ChardevBackend *backend,
         return;
     }
     backend->u.pipe = g_new0(ChardevHostdev, 1);
+    qemu_chr_parse_common(opts, qapi_ChardevHostdev_base(backend->u.pipe));
     backend->u.pipe->device = g_strdup(device);
 }
 
@@ -3481,6 +3617,7 @@ static void qemu_chr_parse_ringbuf(QemuOpts *opts, ChardevBackend *backend,
     int val;
 
     backend->u.ringbuf = g_new0(ChardevRingbuf, 1);
+    qemu_chr_parse_common(opts, qapi_ChardevRingbuf_base(backend->u.ringbuf));
 
     val = qemu_opt_get_size(opts, "size", 0);
     if (val != 0) {
@@ -3499,6 +3636,7 @@ static void qemu_chr_parse_mux(QemuOpts *opts, ChardevBackend *backend,
         return;
     }
     backend->u.mux = g_new0(ChardevMux, 1);
+    qemu_chr_parse_common(opts, qapi_ChardevMux_base(backend->u.mux));
     backend->u.mux->chardev = g_strdup(chardev);
 }
 
@@ -3527,6 +3665,7 @@ static void qemu_chr_parse_socket(QemuOpts *opts, ChardevBackend *backend,
     }
 
     backend->u.socket = g_new0(ChardevSocket, 1);
+    qemu_chr_parse_common(opts, qapi_ChardevSocket_base(backend->u.socket));
 
     backend->u.socket->has_nodelay = true;
     backend->u.socket->nodelay = do_nodelay;
@@ -3588,6 +3727,7 @@ static void qemu_chr_parse_udp(QemuOpts *opts, ChardevBackend *backend,
     }
 
     backend->u.udp = g_new0(ChardevUdp, 1);
+    qemu_chr_parse_common(opts, qapi_ChardevUdp_base(backend->u.udp));
 
     addr = g_new0(SocketAddress, 1);
     addr->type = SOCKET_ADDRESS_KIND_INET;
@@ -3687,7 +3827,12 @@ CharDriverState *qemu_chr_new_from_opts(QemuOpts *opts,
             error_propagate(errp, local_err);
             goto qapi_out;
         }
+    } else {
+        ChardevCommon *cc = g_new0(ChardevCommon, 1);
+        qemu_chr_parse_common(opts, cc);
+        backend->u.data = cc;
     }
+
     ret = qmp_chardev_add(bid ? bid : id, backend, errp);
     if (!ret) {
         goto qapi_out;
@@ -3819,17 +3964,25 @@ void qemu_chr_fe_release(CharDriverState *s)
     s->avail_connections++;
 }
 
-void qemu_chr_free(CharDriverState *chr)
+static void qemu_chr_free_common(CharDriverState *chr)
 {
-    if (chr->chr_close) {
-        chr->chr_close(chr);
-    }
     g_free(chr->filename);
     g_free(chr->label);
     qemu_opts_del(chr->opts);
+    if (chr->logfd != -1) {
+        close(chr->logfd);
+    }
     g_free(chr);
 }
 
+void qemu_chr_free(CharDriverState *chr)
+{
+    if (chr->chr_close) {
+        chr->chr_close(chr);
+    }
+    qemu_chr_free_common(chr);
+}
+
 void qemu_chr_delete(CharDriverState *chr)
 {
     QTAILQ_REMOVE(&chardevs, chr, next);
@@ -3982,6 +4135,12 @@ QemuOptsList qemu_chardev_opts = {
         },{
             .name = "append",
             .type = QEMU_OPT_BOOL,
+        },{
+            .name = "logfile",
+            .type = QEMU_OPT_STRING,
+        },{
+            .name = "logappend",
+            .type = QEMU_OPT_BOOL,
         },
         { /* end of list */ }
     },
@@ -3995,6 +4154,7 @@ static CharDriverState *qmp_chardev_open_file(const char *id,
                                               Error **errp)
 {
     ChardevFile *file = backend->u.file;
+    ChardevCommon *common = qapi_ChardevFile_base(backend->u.file);
     HANDLE out;
 
     if (file->has_in) {
@@ -4008,7 +4168,7 @@ static CharDriverState *qmp_chardev_open_file(const char *id,
         error_setg(errp, "open %s failed", file->out);
         return NULL;
     }
-    return qemu_chr_open_win_file(out);
+    return qemu_chr_open_win_file(out, common, errp);
 }
 
 static CharDriverState *qmp_chardev_open_serial(const char *id,
@@ -4017,7 +4177,8 @@ static CharDriverState *qmp_chardev_open_serial(const char *id,
                                                 Error **errp)
 {
     ChardevHostdev *serial = backend->u.serial;
-    return qemu_chr_open_win_path(serial->device, errp);
+    ChardevCommon *common = qapi_ChardevHostdev_base(backend->u.serial);
+    return qemu_chr_open_win_path(serial->device, common, errp);
 }
 
 #else /* WIN32 */
@@ -4040,6 +4201,7 @@ static CharDriverState *qmp_chardev_open_file(const char *id,
                                               Error **errp)
 {
     ChardevFile *file = backend->u.file;
+    ChardevCommon *common = qapi_ChardevFile_base(backend->u.file);
     int flags, in = -1, out;
 
     flags = O_WRONLY | O_CREAT | O_BINARY;
@@ -4063,7 +4225,7 @@ static CharDriverState *qmp_chardev_open_file(const char *id,
         }
     }
 
-    return qemu_chr_open_fd(in, out);
+    return qemu_chr_open_fd(in, out, common, errp);
 }
 
 #ifdef HAVE_CHARDEV_SERIAL
@@ -4073,6 +4235,7 @@ static CharDriverState *qmp_chardev_open_serial(const char *id,
                                                 Error **errp)
 {
     ChardevHostdev *serial = backend->u.serial;
+    ChardevCommon *common = qapi_ChardevHostdev_base(backend->u.serial);
     int fd;
 
     fd = qmp_chardev_open_file_source(serial->device, O_RDWR, errp);
@@ -4080,7 +4243,7 @@ static CharDriverState *qmp_chardev_open_serial(const char *id,
         return NULL;
     }
     qemu_set_nonblock(fd);
-    return qemu_chr_open_tty_fd(fd);
+    return qemu_chr_open_tty_fd(fd, common, errp);
 }
 #endif
 
@@ -4091,13 +4254,14 @@ static CharDriverState *qmp_chardev_open_parallel(const char *id,
                                                   Error **errp)
 {
     ChardevHostdev *parallel = backend->u.parallel;
+    ChardevCommon *common = qapi_ChardevHostdev_base(backend->u.parallel);
     int fd;
 
     fd = qmp_chardev_open_file_source(parallel->device, O_RDWR, errp);
     if (fd < 0) {
         return NULL;
     }
-    return qemu_chr_open_pp_fd(fd, errp);
+    return qemu_chr_open_pp_fd(fd, common, errp);
 }
 #endif
 
@@ -4142,8 +4306,12 @@ static CharDriverState *qmp_chardev_open_socket(const char *id,
     bool is_telnet      = sock->has_telnet  ? sock->telnet  : false;
     bool is_waitconnect = sock->has_wait    ? sock->wait    : false;
     int64_t reconnect   = sock->has_reconnect ? sock->reconnect : 0;
+    ChardevCommon *common = qapi_ChardevSocket_base(backend->u.socket);
 
-    chr = qemu_chr_alloc();
+    chr = qemu_chr_alloc(common, errp);
+    if (!chr) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
     s = g_new0(TCPCharDriver, 1);
 
     s->fd = -1;
@@ -4182,8 +4350,7 @@ static CharDriverState *qmp_chardev_open_socket(const char *id,
         socket_try_connect(chr);
     } else if (!qemu_chr_open_socket_fd(chr, errp)) {
         g_free(s);
-        g_free(chr->filename);
-        g_free(chr);
+        qemu_chr_free_common(chr);
         return NULL;
     }
 
@@ -4203,13 +4370,14 @@ static CharDriverState *qmp_chardev_open_udp(const char *id,
                                              Error **errp)
 {
     ChardevUdp *udp = backend->u.udp;
+    ChardevCommon *common = qapi_ChardevUdp_base(backend->u.udp);
     int fd;
 
     fd = socket_dgram(udp->remote, udp->local, errp);
     if (fd < 0) {
         return NULL;
     }
-    return qemu_chr_open_udp_fd(fd);
+    return qemu_chr_open_udp_fd(fd, common, errp);
 }
 
 ChardevReturn *qmp_chardev_add(const char *id, ChardevBackend *backend,
diff --git a/qemu-options.hx b/qemu-options.hx
index 215d00ddd3..b4763ba226 100644
--- a/qemu-options.hx
+++ b/qemu-options.hx
@@ -2089,40 +2089,43 @@ The general form of a character device option is:
 ETEXI
 
 DEF("chardev", HAS_ARG, QEMU_OPTION_chardev,
-    "-chardev null,id=id[,mux=on|off]\n"
+    "-chardev null,id=id[,mux=on|off][,logfile=PATH][,logappend=on|off]\n"
     "-chardev socket,id=id[,host=host],port=port[,to=to][,ipv4][,ipv6][,nodelay][,reconnect=seconds]\n"
-    "         [,server][,nowait][,telnet][,reconnect=seconds][,mux=on|off] (tcp)\n"
-    "-chardev socket,id=id,path=path[,server][,nowait][,telnet][,reconnect=seconds][,mux=on|off] (unix)\n"
+    "         [,server][,nowait][,telnet][,reconnect=seconds][,mux=on|off]\n"
+    "         [,logfile=PATH][,logappend=on|off] (tcp)\n"
+    "-chardev socket,id=id,path=path[,server][,nowait][,telnet][,reconnect=seconds]\n"
+    "         [,mux=on|off][,logfile=PATH][,logappend=on|off] (unix)\n"
     "-chardev udp,id=id[,host=host],port=port[,localaddr=localaddr]\n"
     "         [,localport=localport][,ipv4][,ipv6][,mux=on|off]\n"
-    "-chardev msmouse,id=id[,mux=on|off]\n"
+    "         [,logfile=PATH][,logappend=on|off]\n"
+    "-chardev msmouse,id=id[,mux=on|off][,logfile=PATH][,logappend=on|off]\n"
     "-chardev vc,id=id[[,width=width][,height=height]][[,cols=cols][,rows=rows]]\n"
-    "         [,mux=on|off]\n"
-    "-chardev ringbuf,id=id[,size=size]\n"
-    "-chardev file,id=id,path=path[,mux=on|off]\n"
-    "-chardev pipe,id=id,path=path[,mux=on|off]\n"
+    "         [,mux=on|off][,logfile=PATH][,logappend=on|off]\n"
+    "-chardev ringbuf,id=id[,size=size][,logfile=PATH][,logappend=on|off]\n"
+    "-chardev file,id=id,path=path[,mux=on|off][,logfile=PATH][,logappend=on|off]\n"
+    "-chardev pipe,id=id,path=path[,mux=on|off][,logfile=PATH][,logappend=on|off]\n"
 #ifdef _WIN32
-    "-chardev console,id=id[,mux=on|off]\n"
-    "-chardev serial,id=id,path=path[,mux=on|off]\n"
+    "-chardev console,id=id[,mux=on|off][,logfile=PATH][,logappend=on|off]\n"
+    "-chardev serial,id=id,path=path[,mux=on|off][,logfile=PATH][,logappend=on|off]\n"
 #else
-    "-chardev pty,id=id[,mux=on|off]\n"
-    "-chardev stdio,id=id[,mux=on|off][,signal=on|off]\n"
+    "-chardev pty,id=id[,mux=on|off][,logfile=PATH][,logappend=on|off]\n"
+    "-chardev stdio,id=id[,mux=on|off][,signal=on|off][,logfile=PATH][,logappend=on|off]\n"
 #endif
 #ifdef CONFIG_BRLAPI
-    "-chardev braille,id=id[,mux=on|off]\n"
+    "-chardev braille,id=id[,mux=on|off][,logfile=PATH][,logappend=on|off]\n"
 #endif
 #if defined(__linux__) || defined(__sun__) || defined(__FreeBSD__) \
         || defined(__NetBSD__) || defined(__OpenBSD__) || defined(__DragonFly__)
-    "-chardev serial,id=id,path=path[,mux=on|off]\n"
-    "-chardev tty,id=id,path=path[,mux=on|off]\n"
+    "-chardev serial,id=id,path=path[,mux=on|off][,logfile=PATH][,logappend=on|off]\n"
+    "-chardev tty,id=id,path=path[,mux=on|off][,logfile=PATH][,logappend=on|off]\n"
 #endif
 #if defined(__linux__) || defined(__FreeBSD__) || defined(__DragonFly__)
-    "-chardev parallel,id=id,path=path[,mux=on|off]\n"
-    "-chardev parport,id=id,path=path[,mux=on|off]\n"
+    "-chardev parallel,id=id,path=path[,mux=on|off][,logfile=PATH][,logappend=on|off]\n"
+    "-chardev parport,id=id,path=path[,mux=on|off][,logfile=PATH][,logappend=on|off]\n"
 #endif
 #if defined(CONFIG_SPICE)
-    "-chardev spicevmc,id=id,name=name[,debug=debug]\n"
-    "-chardev spiceport,id=id,name=name[,debug=debug]\n"
+    "-chardev spicevmc,id=id,name=name[,debug=debug][,logfile=PATH][,logappend=on|off]\n"
+    "-chardev spiceport,id=id,name=name[,debug=debug][,logfile=PATH][,logappend=on|off]\n"
 #endif
     , QEMU_ARCH_ALL
 )
@@ -2158,7 +2161,12 @@ A character device may be used in multiplexing mode by multiple front-ends.
 The key sequence of @key{Control-a} and @key{c} will rotate the input focus
 between attached front-ends. Specify @option{mux=on} to enable this mode.
 
-Options to each backend are described below.
+Every backend supports the @option{logfile} option, which supplies the path
+to a file to record all data transmitted via the backend. The @option{logappend}
+option controls whether the log file will be truncated or appended to when
+opened.
+
+Further options to each backend are described below.
 
 @item -chardev null ,id=@var{id}
 A void device. This device will not emit any data, and will drop any data it
diff --git a/spice-qemu-char.c b/spice-qemu-char.c
index e70e0f7366..8951d7ca37 100644
--- a/spice-qemu-char.c
+++ b/spice-qemu-char.c
@@ -271,13 +271,18 @@ static void spice_chr_accept_input(struct CharDriverState *chr)
 }
 
 static CharDriverState *chr_open(const char *subtype,
-    void (*set_fe_open)(struct CharDriverState *, int))
-
+                                 void (*set_fe_open)(struct CharDriverState *,
+                                                     int),
+                                 ChardevCommon *backend,
+                                 Error **errp)
 {
     CharDriverState *chr;
     SpiceCharDriver *s;
 
-    chr = qemu_chr_alloc();
+    chr = qemu_chr_alloc(backend, errp);
+    if (!chr) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
     s = g_malloc0(sizeof(SpiceCharDriver));
     s->chr = chr;
     s->active = false;
@@ -303,6 +308,7 @@ static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_spice_vmc(const char *id,
 {
     const char *type = backend->u.spicevmc->type;
     const char **psubtype = spice_server_char_device_recognized_subtypes();
+    ChardevCommon *common = qapi_ChardevSpiceChannel_base(backend->u.spicevmc);
 
     for (; *psubtype != NULL; ++psubtype) {
         if (strcmp(type, *psubtype) == 0) {
@@ -315,7 +321,7 @@ static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_spice_vmc(const char *id,
         return NULL;
     }
 
-    return chr_open(type, spice_vmc_set_fe_open);
+    return chr_open(type, spice_vmc_set_fe_open, common, errp);
 }
 
 #if SPICE_SERVER_VERSION >= 0x000c02
@@ -325,6 +331,7 @@ static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_spice_port(const char *id,
                                                  Error **errp)
 {
     const char *name = backend->u.spiceport->fqdn;
+    ChardevCommon *common = qapi_ChardevSpicePort_base(backend->u.spiceport);
     CharDriverState *chr;
     SpiceCharDriver *s;
 
@@ -333,7 +340,10 @@ static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_spice_port(const char *id,
         return NULL;
     }
 
-    chr = chr_open("port", spice_port_set_fe_open);
+    chr = chr_open("port", spice_port_set_fe_open, common, errp);
+    if (!chr) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
     s = chr->opaque;
     s->sin.portname = g_strdup(name);
 
diff --git a/ui/console.c b/ui/console.c
index 4b65c34672..fe950c6026 100644
--- a/ui/console.c
+++ b/ui/console.c
@@ -1953,12 +1953,16 @@ static void text_console_do_init(CharDriverState *chr, DisplayState *ds)
 
 static CharDriverState *text_console_init(ChardevVC *vc, Error **errp)
 {
+    ChardevCommon *common = qapi_ChardevVC_base(vc);
     CharDriverState *chr;
     QemuConsole *s;
     unsigned width = 0;
     unsigned height = 0;
 
-    chr = qemu_chr_alloc();
+    chr = qemu_chr_alloc(common, errp);
+    if (!chr) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
 
     if (vc->has_width) {
         width = vc->width;