pmval(1)
pmval - performance metrics value dumper
As shipped in IRIX 6.5.15. Last changed in IRIX 6.5.15.
NAME pmval - performance metrics value dumper SYNOPSIS pmval [-dgrz] [-A align] [-a archive] [-h host] [-i instances] [-n pmnsfile] [-O offset] [-p port] [-S starttime] [-s samples] [-T endtime] [-t interval] [-w width] [-Z timezone] metricname DESCRIPTION pmval prints current or archived values for the nominated performance metric. The metric of interest is named in the metricname argument, subject to instance qualification with the -i flag as described below. Unless directed to another host by the -h option, or to an archive by the -a option, pmval will contact the Performance Metrics Collector Daemon (PMCD) on the local host to obtain the required information. When processing an archive, pmval may relinquish its own timing control, and operate as a ``slave'' of a pmtime(1) process that uses a GUI dialog to provide timing control. In this case, either the -g option should be used to start pmval as the sole slave of a new pmtime(1) instances, or -p should be used to attach pmval to an existing pmtime(1) instance via the IPC channel identified by the port argument. The -S, -T, -O and -A options may be used to define a time window to restrict the samples retrieved, set an initial origin within the time window, or specify a ``natural'' alignment of the sample times; refer to PCPIntro(1) for a complete description of these options. Options which control the source, timing and layout of the information reported by pmval are as follows: -a Performance metric values are retrieved from the Performance Co- Pilot (PCP) archive log file identified by the base name archive. -d When replaying from an archive, this option requests that the prevailing real-time delay be applied between samples (see -t) to effect a pause, rather than the default behaviour of replaying at full speed. -g Start pmval as the slave of a new pmtime(1) process for replay of archived performance data using the pmtime(1) graphical user interface. Note: This option is supported on Irix only. -h Current performance metric values are retrieved from the nominated host machine. -i instances is a list of one or more instance names for the nominated performance metric - just these instances will be retrieved and reported (the default is to report all instances). The list must be a single argument, with elements of the list separated by commas and/or white space. -n Normally pmval operates on the default Performance Metrics Name Space (PMNS), however if the -n option is specified an alternative namespace is loaded from the file pmnsfile. -p Attach pmval to an existing pmtime(1) time control process instance via the IPC channel identified by the port argument. This option is normally only used by other tools, e.g. pmview(1), when they launch pmval with synchronized time control. Note: This option is suppored on Irix only. -r Print raw values for cumulative counter metrics. Normally cumulative counter metrics are converted to rates. For example, disk transfers are reported as number of disk transfers per second during the preceding sample interval, rather than the raw value of number of disk transfers since the machine was booted. If you specify this option, the raw metric values are printed. -s The argument samples defines the number of samples to be retrieved and reported. If samples is 0 or -s is not specified, pmval will sample and report continuously (in real time mode) or until the end of the PCP archive (in archive mode). -t The default update interval may be set to something other than the default 1 second. The interval argument follows the syntax described in PCPIntro(1), and in the simplest form may be an unsigned integer (the implied units in this case are seconds). -w Set the width of each column of output to be width columns. If not specified columns are wide enough to accommodate the largest value of the type being printed. -Z By default, pmval reports the time of day according to the local timezone on the system where pmval is run. The -Z option changes the timezone to timezone in the format of the environment variable TZ as described in environ(5). -z Change the reporting timezone to the local timezone at the host that is the source of the performance metrics, as identified via either the -h or -a options. The following symbols may occasionally appear, in place of a metric value, in pmval output: A question mark symbol (?) indicates that a value is no longer available for that metric instance. An exclamation mark (!) indicates that a 64-bit counter wrapped during the sample. The output from pmval is directed to standard output. FILES $PCP_VAR_DIR/pmns/* default PMNS specification files PCP ENVIRONMENT Environment variables with the prefix PCP_ are used to parameterize the file and directory names used by PCP. On each installation, the file /etc/pcp.conf contains the local values for these variables. The $PCP_CONF variable may be used to specify an alternative configuration file, as described in pcp.conf(4). SEE ALSO PCPIntro(1), pmcd(1), pmchart(1), pmdumplog(1), pminfo(1), pmlogger(1), pmtime(1), pcp.conf(4) and pcp.env(4). DIAGNOSTICS All are generated on standard error and are intended to be self- explanatory. CAVEATS pmval attempts to display non-integer numeric values in a way that does not distort the inherent precision (rarely more than 4 significant digits), and tries to maintain a tabular format in the output. These goals are sometimes in conflict. The following table describes the formats used for different ranges of numeric values for any metric that is of type PM_TYPE_FLOAT or PM_TYPE_DOUBLE, or any metric that has the semantics of a counter (for which pmval reports the rate converted value): __________________________________ Format Value Range __________________________________ ! No values available 9.999E-99 < 0.1 0.0 0 9.9999 > 0 and <= 0.9999 9.999 > 0.9999 and < 9.999 99.99 > 9.999 and < 99.99 999.9 > 99.99 and < 999.9 9999. > 999.9 and < 9999 9.999E+99 > 9999 __________________________________ | | |