[RFT,v2,1/3] random: add rte_rand_float()

Message ID 20220524221824.1037693-2-stephen@networkplumber.org (mailing list archive)
State Superseded, archived
Delegated to: Thomas Monjalon
Headers
Series pie: fix random number issues |

Checks

Context Check Description
ci/checkpatch warning coding style issues

Commit Message

Stephen Hemminger May 24, 2022, 10:18 p.m. UTC
  The PIE code and other applications can benefit from having a
fast way to get a random floating point value. This new function
is equivalent to erand48_r in the standard library.

Signed-off-by: Stephen Hemminger <stephen@networkplumber.org>
---
 app/test/test_rand_perf.c              |  7 +++++++
 doc/guides/rel_notes/release_22_07.rst |  5 +++++
 lib/eal/common/rte_random.c            | 21 +++++++++++++++++++++
 lib/eal/include/rte_random.h           | 17 +++++++++++++++++
 lib/eal/version.map                    |  1 +
 5 files changed, 51 insertions(+)
  

Comments

Ray Kinsella May 25, 2022, 11:55 a.m. UTC | #1
Stephen Hemminger <stephen@networkplumber.org> writes:

> The PIE code and other applications can benefit from having a
> fast way to get a random floating point value. This new function
> is equivalent to erand48_r in the standard library.
>
> Signed-off-by: Stephen Hemminger <stephen@networkplumber.org>
> ---
>  app/test/test_rand_perf.c              |  7 +++++++
>  doc/guides/rel_notes/release_22_07.rst |  5 +++++
>  lib/eal/common/rte_random.c            | 21 +++++++++++++++++++++
>  lib/eal/include/rte_random.h           | 17 +++++++++++++++++
>  lib/eal/version.map                    |  1 +
>  5 files changed, 51 insertions(+)
>
> diff --git a/app/test/test_rand_perf.c b/app/test/test_rand_perf.c
> index fe797ebfa1ca..f3602da5b2d4 100644
> --- a/app/test/test_rand_perf.c
> +++ b/app/test/test_rand_perf.c
> @@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ static volatile uint64_t vsum;
>  
>  enum rand_type {
>  	rand_type_64,
> +	rand_type_float,
>  	rand_type_bounded_best_case,
>  	rand_type_bounded_worst_case
>  };
> @@ -30,6 +31,8 @@ rand_type_desc(enum rand_type rand_type)
>  	switch (rand_type) {
>  	case rand_type_64:
>  		return "Full 64-bit [rte_rand()]";
> +	case rand_type_float:
> +		return "Floating point [rte_rand_float()]";
>  	case rand_type_bounded_best_case:
>  		return "Bounded average best-case [rte_rand_max()]";
>  	case rand_type_bounded_worst_case:
> @@ -55,6 +58,9 @@ test_rand_perf_type(enum rand_type rand_type)
>  		case rand_type_64:
>  			sum += rte_rand();
>  			break;
> +		case rand_type_float:
> +			sum += rte_rand_float() * UINT64_MAX;
> +			break;
>  		case rand_type_bounded_best_case:
>  			sum += rte_rand_max(BEST_CASE_BOUND);
>  			break;
> @@ -83,6 +89,7 @@ test_rand_perf(void)
>  	printf("Pseudo-random number generation latencies:\n");
>  
>  	test_rand_perf_type(rand_type_64);
> +	test_rand_perf_type(rand_type_float);
>  	test_rand_perf_type(rand_type_bounded_best_case);
>  	test_rand_perf_type(rand_type_bounded_worst_case);
>  
> diff --git a/doc/guides/rel_notes/release_22_07.rst b/doc/guides/rel_notes/release_22_07.rst
> index e49cacecefd4..128d4fca85b3 100644
> --- a/doc/guides/rel_notes/release_22_07.rst
> +++ b/doc/guides/rel_notes/release_22_07.rst
> @@ -104,6 +104,11 @@ New Features
>    * ``RTE_EVENT_QUEUE_ATTR_WEIGHT``
>    * ``RTE_EVENT_QUEUE_ATTR_AFFINITY``
>  
> +* ** Added function get random floating point number.**
> +
> +  Added the function ``rte_rand_float()`` to provide a pseudo-random
> +  floating point number.
> +
>  
>  Removed Items
>  -------------
> diff --git a/lib/eal/common/rte_random.c b/lib/eal/common/rte_random.c
> index 4535cc980cec..024c3c41dc16 100644
> --- a/lib/eal/common/rte_random.c
> +++ b/lib/eal/common/rte_random.c
> @@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
>  #include <x86intrin.h>
>  #endif
>  #include <unistd.h>
> +#include <ieee754.h>
>  
>  #include <rte_branch_prediction.h>
>  #include <rte_cycles.h>
> @@ -173,6 +174,26 @@ rte_rand_max(uint64_t upper_bound)
>  	return res;
>  }
>  
> +double
> +rte_rand_float(void)
> +{
> +	struct rte_rand_state *state = __rte_rand_get_state();
> +	union ieee754_double u = {
> +		.ieee = {
> +			.negative = 0,
> +			.exponent = IEEE754_DOUBLE_BIAS,
> +		},
> +	};
> +	uint64_t val;
> +
> +	/* Take 64 bit random value and put it into the mantissa */
> +	val = __rte_rand_lfsr258(state);
> +	u.ieee.mantissa0 = val >> 32;	/* only 20 bits used */
> +	u.ieee.mantissa1 = (uint32_t)val;
> +
> +	return u.d - 1.0;
> +}
> +
>  static uint64_t
>  __rte_random_initial_seed(void)
>  {
> diff --git a/lib/eal/include/rte_random.h b/lib/eal/include/rte_random.h
> index 29f5f1325a30..553beb2d9c6f 100644
> --- a/lib/eal/include/rte_random.h
> +++ b/lib/eal/include/rte_random.h
> @@ -65,6 +65,23 @@ rte_rand(void);
>  uint64_t
>  rte_rand_max(uint64_t upper_bound);
>  
> +/**
> + * @warning
> + * @b EXPERIMENTAL: this API may change without prior notice
> + *
> + * Generates a pseudo-random floating point number.
> + *
> + * This function returns a nonnegative double-precison floating random
> + * number uniformly distributed over the interval [0.0, 1.0).
> + *
> + * If called from lcore threads, this function is thread-safe.
> + *
> + * @return
> + *   A pseudo-random value between 0 and 1.0.
> + */
> +__rte_experimental
> +double rte_rand_float(void);
> +
>  #ifdef __cplusplus
>  }
>  #endif
> diff --git a/lib/eal/version.map b/lib/eal/version.map
> index d49e30bd042f..861906af2999 100644
> --- a/lib/eal/version.map
> +++ b/lib/eal/version.map
> @@ -422,6 +422,7 @@ EXPERIMENTAL {
>  	rte_intr_type_set;
>  
>  	# added in 22.07
> +        rte_rand_float;
Niggle - is there an alignment issue on the line above?

>  	rte_thread_get_affinity_by_id;
>  	rte_thread_self;
>  	rte_thread_set_affinity_by_id;
  
Mattias Rönnblom May 25, 2022, 2:45 p.m. UTC | #2
On 2022-05-25 00:18, Stephen Hemminger wrote:
> The PIE code and other applications can benefit from having a
> fast way to get a random floating point value. This new function
> is equivalent to erand48_r in the standard library.
> 

Seems like a good addition to the API.

> Signed-off-by: Stephen Hemminger <stephen@networkplumber.org>
> ---
>   app/test/test_rand_perf.c              |  7 +++++++
>   doc/guides/rel_notes/release_22_07.rst |  5 +++++
>   lib/eal/common/rte_random.c            | 21 +++++++++++++++++++++
>   lib/eal/include/rte_random.h           | 17 +++++++++++++++++
>   lib/eal/version.map                    |  1 +
>   5 files changed, 51 insertions(+)
> 
> diff --git a/app/test/test_rand_perf.c b/app/test/test_rand_perf.c
> index fe797ebfa1ca..f3602da5b2d4 100644
> --- a/app/test/test_rand_perf.c
> +++ b/app/test/test_rand_perf.c
> @@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ static volatile uint64_t vsum;
>   
>   enum rand_type {
>   	rand_type_64,
> +	rand_type_float,
>   	rand_type_bounded_best_case,
>   	rand_type_bounded_worst_case
>   };
> @@ -30,6 +31,8 @@ rand_type_desc(enum rand_type rand_type)
>   	switch (rand_type) {
>   	case rand_type_64:
>   		return "Full 64-bit [rte_rand()]";
> +	case rand_type_float:
> +		return "Floating point [rte_rand_float()]";
>   	case rand_type_bounded_best_case:
>   		return "Bounded average best-case [rte_rand_max()]";
>   	case rand_type_bounded_worst_case:
> @@ -55,6 +58,9 @@ test_rand_perf_type(enum rand_type rand_type)
>   		case rand_type_64:
>   			sum += rte_rand();
>   			break;
> +		case rand_type_float:
> +			sum += rte_rand_float() * UINT64_MAX;
> +			break;
>   		case rand_type_bounded_best_case:
>   			sum += rte_rand_max(BEST_CASE_BOUND);
>   			break;
> @@ -83,6 +89,7 @@ test_rand_perf(void)
>   	printf("Pseudo-random number generation latencies:\n");
>   
>   	test_rand_perf_type(rand_type_64);
> +	test_rand_perf_type(rand_type_float);
>   	test_rand_perf_type(rand_type_bounded_best_case);
>   	test_rand_perf_type(rand_type_bounded_worst_case);
>   
> diff --git a/doc/guides/rel_notes/release_22_07.rst b/doc/guides/rel_notes/release_22_07.rst
> index e49cacecefd4..128d4fca85b3 100644
> --- a/doc/guides/rel_notes/release_22_07.rst
> +++ b/doc/guides/rel_notes/release_22_07.rst
> @@ -104,6 +104,11 @@ New Features
>     * ``RTE_EVENT_QUEUE_ATTR_WEIGHT``
>     * ``RTE_EVENT_QUEUE_ATTR_AFFINITY``
>   
> +* ** Added function get random floating point number.**
> +
> +  Added the function ``rte_rand_float()`` to provide a pseudo-random
> +  floating point number.
> +
>   
>   Removed Items
>   -------------
> diff --git a/lib/eal/common/rte_random.c b/lib/eal/common/rte_random.c
> index 4535cc980cec..024c3c41dc16 100644
> --- a/lib/eal/common/rte_random.c
> +++ b/lib/eal/common/rte_random.c
> @@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
>   #include <x86intrin.h>
>   #endif
>   #include <unistd.h>
> +#include <ieee754.h>
>   

Is this API available in FreeBSD? In Windows?

>   #include <rte_branch_prediction.h>
>   #include <rte_cycles.h>
> @@ -173,6 +174,26 @@ rte_rand_max(uint64_t upper_bound)
>   	return res;
>   }
>   
> +double
> +rte_rand_float(void)
> +{
> +	struct rte_rand_state *state = __rte_rand_get_state();
> +	union ieee754_double u = {
> +		.ieee = {
> +			.negative = 0,
> +			.exponent = IEEE754_DOUBLE_BIAS,
> +		},
> +	};
> +	uint64_t val;
> +
> +	/* Take 64 bit random value and put it into the mantissa */
> +	val = __rte_rand_lfsr258(state);
> +	u.ieee.mantissa0 = val >> 32;	/* only 20 bits used */
> +	u.ieee.mantissa1 = (uint32_t)val;

Why do you have a cast here, and not for mantissa0? Both will incur a 
64->32 conversion, assuming unsigned int is 32-bit (which it is on all 
platforms DPDK supports?).

The naive implementation (i.e., (double)rte_rand() / (double)UINT64_MAX) 
would cost a floating point multiplication. That's why you access the 
underlying IEEE754 bits directly. Correct?

> +
> +	return u.d - 1.0;
> +}
> +
>   static uint64_t
>   __rte_random_initial_seed(void)
>   {
> diff --git a/lib/eal/include/rte_random.h b/lib/eal/include/rte_random.h
> index 29f5f1325a30..553beb2d9c6f 100644
> --- a/lib/eal/include/rte_random.h
> +++ b/lib/eal/include/rte_random.h
> @@ -65,6 +65,23 @@ rte_rand(void);
>   uint64_t
>   rte_rand_max(uint64_t upper_bound);
>   
> +/**
> + * @warning
> + * @b EXPERIMENTAL: this API may change without prior notice
> + *
> + * Generates a pseudo-random floating point number.
> + *
> + * This function returns a nonnegative double-precison floating random
> + * number uniformly distributed over the interval [0.0, 1.0).
> + *
> + * If called from lcore threads, this function is thread-safe.
> + *
> + * @return
> + *   A pseudo-random value between 0 and 1.0.
> + */
> +__rte_experimental
> +double rte_rand_float(void);
> +

Newline after "double" missing.

I would call it something else than "float", in particular since it 
doesn't return "float" but a "double" type floating point value.

rte_drand() maybe? Short, but might be confused with rte_rand(), given 
the visual similarity. I still I would still prefer that over 
rte_rand_double().

>   #ifdef __cplusplus
>   }
>   #endif
> diff --git a/lib/eal/version.map b/lib/eal/version.map
> index d49e30bd042f..861906af2999 100644
> --- a/lib/eal/version.map
> +++ b/lib/eal/version.map
> @@ -422,6 +422,7 @@ EXPERIMENTAL {
>   	rte_intr_type_set;
>   
>   	# added in 22.07
> +        rte_rand_float;
>   	rte_thread_get_affinity_by_id;
>   	rte_thread_self;
>   	rte_thread_set_affinity_by_id;
  
Morten Brørup May 25, 2022, 3:26 p.m. UTC | #3
> From: Mattias Rönnblom [mailto:mattias.ronnblom@ericsson.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, 25 May 2022 16.46
> 
> On 2022-05-25 00:18, Stephen Hemminger wrote:
> > The PIE code and other applications can benefit from having a
> > fast way to get a random floating point value. This new function
> > is equivalent to erand48_r in the standard library.
> >

> > +/**
> > + * @warning
> > + * @b EXPERIMENTAL: this API may change without prior notice
> > + *
> > + * Generates a pseudo-random floating point number.
> > + *
> > + * This function returns a nonnegative double-precison floating
> random
> > + * number uniformly distributed over the interval [0.0, 1.0).
> > + *
> > + * If called from lcore threads, this function is thread-safe.
> > + *
> > + * @return
> > + *   A pseudo-random value between 0 and 1.0.
> > + */
> > +__rte_experimental
> > +double rte_rand_float(void);
> > +
> 
> Newline after "double" missing.
> 
> I would call it something else than "float", in particular since it
> doesn't return "float" but a "double" type floating point value.
> 
> rte_drand() maybe? Short, but might be confused with rte_rand(), given
> the visual similarity. I still I would still prefer that over
> rte_rand_double().

Although we use foo32() and foo64() for many functions returning uint32_t/uint64_t, I don't think we need a common (and preferably short) postfix for functions returning double. Such functions should be rare.

So:
+1 to rte_drand() - it resembles drand48() in stdlib.h.
  
Stephen Hemminger May 25, 2022, 3:45 p.m. UTC | #4
On Wed, 25 May 2022 14:45:37 +0000
Mattias Rönnblom <mattias.ronnblom@ericsson.com> wrote:

> On 2022-05-25 00:18, Stephen Hemminger wrote:
> > The PIE code and other applications can benefit from having a
> > fast way to get a random floating point value. This new function
> > is equivalent to erand48_r in the standard library.
> >   
> 
> Seems like a good addition to the API.
> 
> > Signed-off-by: Stephen Hemminger <stephen@networkplumber.org>
> > ---
> >   app/test/test_rand_perf.c              |  7 +++++++
> >   doc/guides/rel_notes/release_22_07.rst |  5 +++++
> >   lib/eal/common/rte_random.c            | 21 +++++++++++++++++++++
> >   lib/eal/include/rte_random.h           | 17 +++++++++++++++++
> >   lib/eal/version.map                    |  1 +
> >   5 files changed, 51 insertions(+)
> > 
> > diff --git a/app/test/test_rand_perf.c b/app/test/test_rand_perf.c
> > index fe797ebfa1ca..f3602da5b2d4 100644
> > --- a/app/test/test_rand_perf.c
> > +++ b/app/test/test_rand_perf.c
> > @@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ static volatile uint64_t vsum;
> >   
> >   enum rand_type {
> >   	rand_type_64,
> > +	rand_type_float,
> >   	rand_type_bounded_best_case,
> >   	rand_type_bounded_worst_case
> >   };
> > @@ -30,6 +31,8 @@ rand_type_desc(enum rand_type rand_type)
> >   	switch (rand_type) {
> >   	case rand_type_64:
> >   		return "Full 64-bit [rte_rand()]";
> > +	case rand_type_float:
> > +		return "Floating point [rte_rand_float()]";
> >   	case rand_type_bounded_best_case:
> >   		return "Bounded average best-case [rte_rand_max()]";
> >   	case rand_type_bounded_worst_case:
> > @@ -55,6 +58,9 @@ test_rand_perf_type(enum rand_type rand_type)
> >   		case rand_type_64:
> >   			sum += rte_rand();
> >   			break;
> > +		case rand_type_float:
> > +			sum += rte_rand_float() * UINT64_MAX;
> > +			break;
> >   		case rand_type_bounded_best_case:
> >   			sum += rte_rand_max(BEST_CASE_BOUND);
> >   			break;
> > @@ -83,6 +89,7 @@ test_rand_perf(void)
> >   	printf("Pseudo-random number generation latencies:\n");
> >   
> >   	test_rand_perf_type(rand_type_64);
> > +	test_rand_perf_type(rand_type_float);
> >   	test_rand_perf_type(rand_type_bounded_best_case);
> >   	test_rand_perf_type(rand_type_bounded_worst_case);
> >   
> > diff --git a/doc/guides/rel_notes/release_22_07.rst b/doc/guides/rel_notes/release_22_07.rst
> > index e49cacecefd4..128d4fca85b3 100644
> > --- a/doc/guides/rel_notes/release_22_07.rst
> > +++ b/doc/guides/rel_notes/release_22_07.rst
> > @@ -104,6 +104,11 @@ New Features
> >     * ``RTE_EVENT_QUEUE_ATTR_WEIGHT``
> >     * ``RTE_EVENT_QUEUE_ATTR_AFFINITY``
> >   
> > +* ** Added function get random floating point number.**
> > +
> > +  Added the function ``rte_rand_float()`` to provide a pseudo-random
> > +  floating point number.
> > +
> >   
> >   Removed Items
> >   -------------
> > diff --git a/lib/eal/common/rte_random.c b/lib/eal/common/rte_random.c
> > index 4535cc980cec..024c3c41dc16 100644
> > --- a/lib/eal/common/rte_random.c
> > +++ b/lib/eal/common/rte_random.c
> > @@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
> >   #include <x86intrin.h>
> >   #endif
> >   #include <unistd.h>
> > +#include <ieee754.h>
> >     
> 
> Is this API available in FreeBSD? In Windows?
> 
> >   #include <rte_branch_prediction.h>
> >   #include <rte_cycles.h>
> > @@ -173,6 +174,26 @@ rte_rand_max(uint64_t upper_bound)
> >   	return res;
> >   }
> >   
> > +double
> > +rte_rand_float(void)
> > +{
> > +	struct rte_rand_state *state = __rte_rand_get_state();
> > +	union ieee754_double u = {
> > +		.ieee = {
> > +			.negative = 0,
> > +			.exponent = IEEE754_DOUBLE_BIAS,
> > +		},
> > +	};
> > +	uint64_t val;
> > +
> > +	/* Take 64 bit random value and put it into the mantissa */
> > +	val = __rte_rand_lfsr258(state);
> > +	u.ieee.mantissa0 = val >> 32;	/* only 20 bits used */
> > +	u.ieee.mantissa1 = (uint32_t)val;  
> 
> Why do you have a cast here, and not for mantissa0? Both will incur a 
> 64->32 conversion, assuming unsigned int is 32-bit (which it is on all 
> platforms DPDK supports?).

Yes, cast there is unnecessary. A little concerned that some compiler
might complain about loss of precision.

> 
> The naive implementation (i.e., (double)rte_rand() / (double)UINT64_MAX) 
> would cost a floating point multiplication. That's why you access the 
> underlying IEEE754 bits directly. Correct?

Yes, avoiding floating point math, and directly setting bits keeps full precision.
  
Stephen Hemminger May 25, 2022, 3:47 p.m. UTC | #5
On Wed, 25 May 2022 14:45:37 +0000
Mattias Rönnblom <mattias.ronnblom@ericsson.com> wrote:

> I would call it something else than "float", in particular since it 
> doesn't return "float" but a "double" type floating point value.
> 
> rte_drand() maybe? Short, but might be confused with rte_rand(), given 
> the visual similarity. I still I would still prefer that over 
> rte_rand_double().

The corresponding standard library routine is drand48().
With that convention it would be rte_drand().
  

Patch

diff --git a/app/test/test_rand_perf.c b/app/test/test_rand_perf.c
index fe797ebfa1ca..f3602da5b2d4 100644
--- a/app/test/test_rand_perf.c
+++ b/app/test/test_rand_perf.c
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@  static volatile uint64_t vsum;
 
 enum rand_type {
 	rand_type_64,
+	rand_type_float,
 	rand_type_bounded_best_case,
 	rand_type_bounded_worst_case
 };
@@ -30,6 +31,8 @@  rand_type_desc(enum rand_type rand_type)
 	switch (rand_type) {
 	case rand_type_64:
 		return "Full 64-bit [rte_rand()]";
+	case rand_type_float:
+		return "Floating point [rte_rand_float()]";
 	case rand_type_bounded_best_case:
 		return "Bounded average best-case [rte_rand_max()]";
 	case rand_type_bounded_worst_case:
@@ -55,6 +58,9 @@  test_rand_perf_type(enum rand_type rand_type)
 		case rand_type_64:
 			sum += rte_rand();
 			break;
+		case rand_type_float:
+			sum += rte_rand_float() * UINT64_MAX;
+			break;
 		case rand_type_bounded_best_case:
 			sum += rte_rand_max(BEST_CASE_BOUND);
 			break;
@@ -83,6 +89,7 @@  test_rand_perf(void)
 	printf("Pseudo-random number generation latencies:\n");
 
 	test_rand_perf_type(rand_type_64);
+	test_rand_perf_type(rand_type_float);
 	test_rand_perf_type(rand_type_bounded_best_case);
 	test_rand_perf_type(rand_type_bounded_worst_case);
 
diff --git a/doc/guides/rel_notes/release_22_07.rst b/doc/guides/rel_notes/release_22_07.rst
index e49cacecefd4..128d4fca85b3 100644
--- a/doc/guides/rel_notes/release_22_07.rst
+++ b/doc/guides/rel_notes/release_22_07.rst
@@ -104,6 +104,11 @@  New Features
   * ``RTE_EVENT_QUEUE_ATTR_WEIGHT``
   * ``RTE_EVENT_QUEUE_ATTR_AFFINITY``
 
+* ** Added function get random floating point number.**
+
+  Added the function ``rte_rand_float()`` to provide a pseudo-random
+  floating point number.
+
 
 Removed Items
 -------------
diff --git a/lib/eal/common/rte_random.c b/lib/eal/common/rte_random.c
index 4535cc980cec..024c3c41dc16 100644
--- a/lib/eal/common/rte_random.c
+++ b/lib/eal/common/rte_random.c
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ 
 #include <x86intrin.h>
 #endif
 #include <unistd.h>
+#include <ieee754.h>
 
 #include <rte_branch_prediction.h>
 #include <rte_cycles.h>
@@ -173,6 +174,26 @@  rte_rand_max(uint64_t upper_bound)
 	return res;
 }
 
+double
+rte_rand_float(void)
+{
+	struct rte_rand_state *state = __rte_rand_get_state();
+	union ieee754_double u = {
+		.ieee = {
+			.negative = 0,
+			.exponent = IEEE754_DOUBLE_BIAS,
+		},
+	};
+	uint64_t val;
+
+	/* Take 64 bit random value and put it into the mantissa */
+	val = __rte_rand_lfsr258(state);
+	u.ieee.mantissa0 = val >> 32;	/* only 20 bits used */
+	u.ieee.mantissa1 = (uint32_t)val;
+
+	return u.d - 1.0;
+}
+
 static uint64_t
 __rte_random_initial_seed(void)
 {
diff --git a/lib/eal/include/rte_random.h b/lib/eal/include/rte_random.h
index 29f5f1325a30..553beb2d9c6f 100644
--- a/lib/eal/include/rte_random.h
+++ b/lib/eal/include/rte_random.h
@@ -65,6 +65,23 @@  rte_rand(void);
 uint64_t
 rte_rand_max(uint64_t upper_bound);
 
+/**
+ * @warning
+ * @b EXPERIMENTAL: this API may change without prior notice
+ *
+ * Generates a pseudo-random floating point number.
+ *
+ * This function returns a nonnegative double-precison floating random
+ * number uniformly distributed over the interval [0.0, 1.0).
+ *
+ * If called from lcore threads, this function is thread-safe.
+ *
+ * @return
+ *   A pseudo-random value between 0 and 1.0.
+ */
+__rte_experimental
+double rte_rand_float(void);
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/lib/eal/version.map b/lib/eal/version.map
index d49e30bd042f..861906af2999 100644
--- a/lib/eal/version.map
+++ b/lib/eal/version.map
@@ -422,6 +422,7 @@  EXPERIMENTAL {
 	rte_intr_type_set;
 
 	# added in 22.07
+        rte_rand_float;
 	rte_thread_get_affinity_by_id;
 	rte_thread_self;
 	rte_thread_set_affinity_by_id;