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0001 perf-record(1)
0002 ==============
0003 
0004 NAME
0005 ----
0006 perf-record - Run a command and record its profile into perf.data
0007 
0008 SYNOPSIS
0009 --------
0010 [verse]
0011 'perf record' [-e <EVENT> | --event=EVENT] [-a] <command>
0012 'perf record' [-e <EVENT> | --event=EVENT] [-a] \-- <command> [<options>]
0013 
0014 DESCRIPTION
0015 -----------
0016 This command runs a command and gathers a performance counter profile
0017 from it, into perf.data - without displaying anything.
0018 
0019 This file can then be inspected later on, using 'perf report'.
0020 
0021 
0022 OPTIONS
0023 -------
0024 <command>...::
0025         Any command you can specify in a shell.
0026 
0027 -e::
0028 --event=::
0029         Select the PMU event. Selection can be:
0030 
0031         - a symbolic event name (use 'perf list' to list all events)
0032 
0033         - a raw PMU event in the form of rN where N is a hexadecimal value
0034           that represents the raw register encoding with the layout of the
0035           event control registers as described by entries in
0036           /sys/bus/event_source/devices/cpu/format/*.
0037 
0038         - a symbolic or raw PMU event followed by an optional colon
0039           and a list of event modifiers, e.g., cpu-cycles:p.  See the
0040           linkperf:perf-list[1] man page for details on event modifiers.
0041 
0042         - a symbolically formed PMU event like 'pmu/param1=0x3,param2/' where
0043           'param1', 'param2', etc are defined as formats for the PMU in
0044           /sys/bus/event_source/devices/<pmu>/format/*.
0045 
0046         - a symbolically formed event like 'pmu/config=M,config1=N,config3=K/'
0047 
0048           where M, N, K are numbers (in decimal, hex, octal format). Acceptable
0049           values for each of 'config', 'config1' and 'config2' are defined by
0050           corresponding entries in /sys/bus/event_source/devices/<pmu>/format/*
0051           param1 and param2 are defined as formats for the PMU in:
0052           /sys/bus/event_source/devices/<pmu>/format/*
0053 
0054           There are also some parameters which are not defined in .../<pmu>/format/*.
0055           These params can be used to overload default config values per event.
0056           Here are some common parameters:
0057           - 'period': Set event sampling period
0058           - 'freq': Set event sampling frequency
0059           - 'time': Disable/enable time stamping. Acceptable values are 1 for
0060                     enabling time stamping. 0 for disabling time stamping.
0061                     The default is 1.
0062           - 'call-graph': Disable/enable callgraph. Acceptable str are "fp" for
0063                          FP mode, "dwarf" for DWARF mode, "lbr" for LBR mode and
0064                          "no" for disable callgraph.
0065           - 'stack-size': user stack size for dwarf mode
0066           - 'name' : User defined event name. Single quotes (') may be used to
0067                     escape symbols in the name from parsing by shell and tool
0068                     like this: name=\'CPU_CLK_UNHALTED.THREAD:cmask=0x1\'.
0069           - 'aux-output': Generate AUX records instead of events. This requires
0070                           that an AUX area event is also provided.
0071           - 'aux-sample-size': Set sample size for AUX area sampling. If the
0072           '--aux-sample' option has been used, set aux-sample-size=0 to disable
0073           AUX area sampling for the event.
0074 
0075           See the linkperf:perf-list[1] man page for more parameters.
0076 
0077           Note: If user explicitly sets options which conflict with the params,
0078           the value set by the parameters will be overridden.
0079 
0080           Also not defined in .../<pmu>/format/* are PMU driver specific
0081           configuration parameters.  Any configuration parameter preceded by
0082           the letter '@' is not interpreted in user space and sent down directly
0083           to the PMU driver.  For example:
0084 
0085           perf record -e some_event/@cfg1,@cfg2=config/ ...
0086 
0087           will see 'cfg1' and 'cfg2=config' pushed to the PMU driver associated
0088           with the event for further processing.  There is no restriction on
0089           what the configuration parameters are, as long as their semantic is
0090           understood and supported by the PMU driver.
0091 
0092         - a hardware breakpoint event in the form of '\mem:addr[/len][:access]'
0093           where addr is the address in memory you want to break in.
0094           Access is the memory access type (read, write, execute) it can
0095           be passed as follows: '\mem:addr[:[r][w][x]]'. len is the range,
0096           number of bytes from specified addr, which the breakpoint will cover.
0097           If you want to profile read-write accesses in 0x1000, just set
0098           'mem:0x1000:rw'.
0099           If you want to profile write accesses in [0x1000~1008), just set
0100           'mem:0x1000/8:w'.
0101 
0102         - a BPF source file (ending in .c) or a precompiled object file (ending
0103           in .o) selects one or more BPF events.
0104           The BPF program can attach to various perf events based on the ELF section
0105           names.
0106 
0107           When processing a '.c' file, perf searches an installed LLVM to compile it
0108           into an object file first. Optional clang options can be passed via the
0109           '--clang-opt' command line option, e.g.:
0110 
0111             perf record --clang-opt "-DLINUX_VERSION_CODE=0x50000" \
0112                         -e tests/bpf-script-example.c
0113 
0114           Note: '--clang-opt' must be placed before '--event/-e'.
0115 
0116         - a group of events surrounded by a pair of brace ("{event1,event2,...}").
0117           Each event is separated by commas and the group should be quoted to
0118           prevent the shell interpretation.  You also need to use --group on
0119           "perf report" to view group events together.
0120 
0121 --filter=<filter>::
0122         Event filter. This option should follow an event selector (-e) which
0123         selects either tracepoint event(s) or a hardware trace PMU
0124         (e.g. Intel PT or CoreSight).
0125 
0126         - tracepoint filters
0127 
0128         In the case of tracepoints, multiple '--filter' options are combined
0129         using '&&'.
0130 
0131         - address filters
0132 
0133         A hardware trace PMU advertises its ability to accept a number of
0134         address filters by specifying a non-zero value in
0135         /sys/bus/event_source/devices/<pmu>/nr_addr_filters.
0136 
0137         Address filters have the format:
0138 
0139         filter|start|stop|tracestop <start> [/ <size>] [@<file name>]
0140 
0141         Where:
0142         - 'filter': defines a region that will be traced.
0143         - 'start': defines an address at which tracing will begin.
0144         - 'stop': defines an address at which tracing will stop.
0145         - 'tracestop': defines a region in which tracing will stop.
0146 
0147         <file name> is the name of the object file, <start> is the offset to the
0148         code to trace in that file, and <size> is the size of the region to
0149         trace. 'start' and 'stop' filters need not specify a <size>.
0150 
0151         If no object file is specified then the kernel is assumed, in which case
0152         the start address must be a current kernel memory address.
0153 
0154         <start> can also be specified by providing the name of a symbol. If the
0155         symbol name is not unique, it can be disambiguated by inserting #n where
0156         'n' selects the n'th symbol in address order. Alternately #0, #g or #G
0157         select only a global symbol. <size> can also be specified by providing
0158         the name of a symbol, in which case the size is calculated to the end
0159         of that symbol. For 'filter' and 'tracestop' filters, if <size> is
0160         omitted and <start> is a symbol, then the size is calculated to the end
0161         of that symbol.
0162 
0163         If <size> is omitted and <start> is '*', then the start and size will
0164         be calculated from the first and last symbols, i.e. to trace the whole
0165         file.
0166 
0167         If symbol names (or '*') are provided, they must be surrounded by white
0168         space.
0169 
0170         The filter passed to the kernel is not necessarily the same as entered.
0171         To see the filter that is passed, use the -v option.
0172 
0173         The kernel may not be able to configure a trace region if it is not
0174         within a single mapping.  MMAP events (or /proc/<pid>/maps) can be
0175         examined to determine if that is a possibility.
0176 
0177         Multiple filters can be separated with space or comma.
0178 
0179 --exclude-perf::
0180         Don't record events issued by perf itself. This option should follow
0181         an event selector (-e) which selects tracepoint event(s). It adds a
0182         filter expression 'common_pid != $PERFPID' to filters. If other
0183         '--filter' exists, the new filter expression will be combined with
0184         them by '&&'.
0185 
0186 -a::
0187 --all-cpus::
0188         System-wide collection from all CPUs (default if no target is specified).
0189 
0190 -p::
0191 --pid=::
0192         Record events on existing process ID (comma separated list).
0193 
0194 -t::
0195 --tid=::
0196         Record events on existing thread ID (comma separated list).
0197         This option also disables inheritance by default.  Enable it by adding
0198         --inherit.
0199 
0200 -u::
0201 --uid=::
0202         Record events in threads owned by uid. Name or number.
0203 
0204 -r::
0205 --realtime=::
0206         Collect data with this RT SCHED_FIFO priority.
0207 
0208 --no-buffering::
0209         Collect data without buffering.
0210 
0211 -c::
0212 --count=::
0213         Event period to sample.
0214 
0215 -o::
0216 --output=::
0217         Output file name.
0218 
0219 -i::
0220 --no-inherit::
0221         Child tasks do not inherit counters.
0222 
0223 -F::
0224 --freq=::
0225         Profile at this frequency. Use 'max' to use the currently maximum
0226         allowed frequency, i.e. the value in the kernel.perf_event_max_sample_rate
0227         sysctl. Will throttle down to the currently maximum allowed frequency.
0228         See --strict-freq.
0229 
0230 --strict-freq::
0231         Fail if the specified frequency can't be used.
0232 
0233 -m::
0234 --mmap-pages=::
0235         Number of mmap data pages (must be a power of two) or size
0236         specification with appended unit character - B/K/M/G. The
0237         size is rounded up to have nearest pages power of two value.
0238         Also, by adding a comma, the number of mmap pages for AUX
0239         area tracing can be specified.
0240 
0241 --group::
0242         Put all events in a single event group.  This precedes the --event
0243         option and remains only for backward compatibility.  See --event.
0244 
0245 -g::
0246         Enables call-graph (stack chain/backtrace) recording for both
0247         kernel space and user space.
0248 
0249 --call-graph::
0250         Setup and enable call-graph (stack chain/backtrace) recording,
0251         implies -g.  Default is "fp" (for user space).
0252 
0253         The unwinding method used for kernel space is dependent on the
0254         unwinder used by the active kernel configuration, i.e
0255         CONFIG_UNWINDER_FRAME_POINTER (fp) or CONFIG_UNWINDER_ORC (orc)
0256 
0257         Any option specified here controls the method used for user space.
0258 
0259         Valid options are "fp" (frame pointer), "dwarf" (DWARF's CFI -
0260         Call Frame Information) or "lbr" (Hardware Last Branch Record
0261         facility).
0262 
0263         In some systems, where binaries are build with gcc
0264         --fomit-frame-pointer, using the "fp" method will produce bogus
0265         call graphs, using "dwarf", if available (perf tools linked to
0266         the libunwind or libdw library) should be used instead.
0267         Using the "lbr" method doesn't require any compiler options. It
0268         will produce call graphs from the hardware LBR registers. The
0269         main limitation is that it is only available on new Intel
0270         platforms, such as Haswell. It can only get user call chain. It
0271         doesn't work with branch stack sampling at the same time.
0272 
0273         When "dwarf" recording is used, perf also records (user) stack dump
0274         when sampled.  Default size of the stack dump is 8192 (bytes).
0275         User can change the size by passing the size after comma like
0276         "--call-graph dwarf,4096".
0277 
0278         When "fp" recording is used, perf tries to save stack enties
0279         up to the number specified in sysctl.kernel.perf_event_max_stack
0280         by default.  User can change the number by passing it after comma
0281         like "--call-graph fp,32".
0282 
0283 -q::
0284 --quiet::
0285         Don't print any message, useful for scripting.
0286 
0287 -v::
0288 --verbose::
0289         Be more verbose (show counter open errors, etc).
0290 
0291 -s::
0292 --stat::
0293         Record per-thread event counts.  Use it with 'perf report -T' to see
0294         the values.
0295 
0296 -d::
0297 --data::
0298         Record the sample virtual addresses.
0299 
0300 --phys-data::
0301         Record the sample physical addresses.
0302 
0303 --data-page-size::
0304         Record the sampled data address data page size.
0305 
0306 --code-page-size::
0307         Record the sampled code address (ip) page size
0308 
0309 -T::
0310 --timestamp::
0311         Record the sample timestamps. Use it with 'perf report -D' to see the
0312         timestamps, for instance.
0313 
0314 -P::
0315 --period::
0316         Record the sample period.
0317 
0318 --sample-cpu::
0319         Record the sample cpu.
0320 
0321 --sample-identifier::
0322         Record the sample identifier i.e. PERF_SAMPLE_IDENTIFIER bit set in
0323         the sample_type member of the struct perf_event_attr argument to the
0324         perf_event_open system call.
0325 
0326 -n::
0327 --no-samples::
0328         Don't sample.
0329 
0330 -R::
0331 --raw-samples::
0332 Collect raw sample records from all opened counters (default for tracepoint counters).
0333 
0334 -C::
0335 --cpu::
0336 Collect samples only on the list of CPUs provided. Multiple CPUs can be provided as a
0337 comma-separated list with no space: 0,1. Ranges of CPUs are specified with -: 0-2.
0338 In per-thread mode with inheritance mode on (default), samples are captured only when
0339 the thread executes on the designated CPUs. Default is to monitor all CPUs.
0340 
0341 -B::
0342 --no-buildid::
0343 Do not save the build ids of binaries in the perf.data files. This skips
0344 post processing after recording, which sometimes makes the final step in
0345 the recording process to take a long time, as it needs to process all
0346 events looking for mmap records. The downside is that it can misresolve
0347 symbols if the workload binaries used when recording get locally rebuilt
0348 or upgraded, because the only key available in this case is the
0349 pathname. You can also set the "record.build-id" config variable to
0350 'skip to have this behaviour permanently.
0351 
0352 -N::
0353 --no-buildid-cache::
0354 Do not update the buildid cache. This saves some overhead in situations
0355 where the information in the perf.data file (which includes buildids)
0356 is sufficient.  You can also set the "record.build-id" config variable to
0357 'no-cache' to have the same effect.
0358 
0359 -G name,...::
0360 --cgroup name,...::
0361 monitor only in the container (cgroup) called "name". This option is available only
0362 in per-cpu mode. The cgroup filesystem must be mounted. All threads belonging to
0363 container "name" are monitored when they run on the monitored CPUs. Multiple cgroups
0364 can be provided. Each cgroup is applied to the corresponding event, i.e., first cgroup
0365 to first event, second cgroup to second event and so on. It is possible to provide
0366 an empty cgroup (monitor all the time) using, e.g., -G foo,,bar. Cgroups must have
0367 corresponding events, i.e., they always refer to events defined earlier on the command
0368 line. If the user wants to track multiple events for a specific cgroup, the user can
0369 use '-e e1 -e e2 -G foo,foo' or just use '-e e1 -e e2 -G foo'.
0370 
0371 If wanting to monitor, say, 'cycles' for a cgroup and also for system wide, this
0372 command line can be used: 'perf stat -e cycles -G cgroup_name -a -e cycles'.
0373 
0374 -b::
0375 --branch-any::
0376 Enable taken branch stack sampling. Any type of taken branch may be sampled.
0377 This is a shortcut for --branch-filter any. See --branch-filter for more infos.
0378 
0379 -j::
0380 --branch-filter::
0381 Enable taken branch stack sampling. Each sample captures a series of consecutive
0382 taken branches. The number of branches captured with each sample depends on the
0383 underlying hardware, the type of branches of interest, and the executed code.
0384 It is possible to select the types of branches captured by enabling filters. The
0385 following filters are defined:
0386 
0387         - any:  any type of branches
0388         - any_call: any function call or system call
0389         - any_ret: any function return or system call return
0390         - ind_call: any indirect branch
0391         - call: direct calls, including far (to/from kernel) calls
0392         - u:  only when the branch target is at the user level
0393         - k: only when the branch target is in the kernel
0394         - hv: only when the target is at the hypervisor level
0395         - in_tx: only when the target is in a hardware transaction
0396         - no_tx: only when the target is not in a hardware transaction
0397         - abort_tx: only when the target is a hardware transaction abort
0398         - cond: conditional branches
0399         - save_type: save branch type during sampling in case binary is not available later
0400                      For the platforms with Intel Arch LBR support (12th-Gen+ client or
0401                      4th-Gen Xeon+ server), the save branch type is unconditionally enabled
0402                      when the taken branch stack sampling is enabled.
0403 
0404 +
0405 The option requires at least one branch type among any, any_call, any_ret, ind_call, cond.
0406 The privilege levels may be omitted, in which case, the privilege levels of the associated
0407 event are applied to the branch filter. Both kernel (k) and hypervisor (hv) privilege
0408 levels are subject to permissions.  When sampling on multiple events, branch stack sampling
0409 is enabled for all the sampling events. The sampled branch type is the same for all events.
0410 The various filters must be specified as a comma separated list: --branch-filter any_ret,u,k
0411 Note that this feature may not be available on all processors.
0412 
0413 --weight::
0414 Enable weightened sampling. An additional weight is recorded per sample and can be
0415 displayed with the weight and local_weight sort keys.  This currently works for TSX
0416 abort events and some memory events in precise mode on modern Intel CPUs.
0417 
0418 --namespaces::
0419 Record events of type PERF_RECORD_NAMESPACES.  This enables 'cgroup_id' sort key.
0420 
0421 --all-cgroups::
0422 Record events of type PERF_RECORD_CGROUP.  This enables 'cgroup' sort key.
0423 
0424 --transaction::
0425 Record transaction flags for transaction related events.
0426 
0427 --per-thread::
0428 Use per-thread mmaps.  By default per-cpu mmaps are created.  This option
0429 overrides that and uses per-thread mmaps.  A side-effect of that is that
0430 inheritance is automatically disabled.  --per-thread is ignored with a warning
0431 if combined with -a or -C options.
0432 
0433 -D::
0434 --delay=::
0435 After starting the program, wait msecs before measuring (-1: start with events
0436 disabled). This is useful to filter out the startup phase of the program, which
0437 is often very different.
0438 
0439 -I::
0440 --intr-regs::
0441 Capture machine state (registers) at interrupt, i.e., on counter overflows for
0442 each sample. List of captured registers depends on the architecture. This option
0443 is off by default. It is possible to select the registers to sample using their
0444 symbolic names, e.g. on x86, ax, si. To list the available registers use
0445 --intr-regs=\?. To name registers, pass a comma separated list such as
0446 --intr-regs=ax,bx. The list of register is architecture dependent.
0447 
0448 --user-regs::
0449 Similar to -I, but capture user registers at sample time. To list the available
0450 user registers use --user-regs=\?.
0451 
0452 --running-time::
0453 Record running and enabled time for read events (:S)
0454 
0455 -k::
0456 --clockid::
0457 Sets the clock id to use for the various time fields in the perf_event_type
0458 records. See clock_gettime(). In particular CLOCK_MONOTONIC and
0459 CLOCK_MONOTONIC_RAW are supported, some events might also allow
0460 CLOCK_BOOTTIME, CLOCK_REALTIME and CLOCK_TAI.
0461 
0462 -S::
0463 --snapshot::
0464 Select AUX area tracing Snapshot Mode. This option is valid only with an
0465 AUX area tracing event. Optionally, certain snapshot capturing parameters
0466 can be specified in a string that follows this option:
0467   'e': take one last snapshot on exit; guarantees that there is at least one
0468        snapshot in the output file;
0469   <size>: if the PMU supports this, specify the desired snapshot size.
0470 
0471 In Snapshot Mode trace data is captured only when signal SIGUSR2 is received
0472 and on exit if the above 'e' option is given.
0473 
0474 --aux-sample[=OPTIONS]::
0475 Select AUX area sampling. At least one of the events selected by the -e option
0476 must be an AUX area event. Samples on other events will be created containing
0477 data from the AUX area. Optionally sample size may be specified, otherwise it
0478 defaults to 4KiB.
0479 
0480 --proc-map-timeout::
0481 When processing pre-existing threads /proc/XXX/mmap, it may take a long time,
0482 because the file may be huge. A time out is needed in such cases.
0483 This option sets the time out limit. The default value is 500 ms.
0484 
0485 --switch-events::
0486 Record context switch events i.e. events of type PERF_RECORD_SWITCH or
0487 PERF_RECORD_SWITCH_CPU_WIDE. In some cases (e.g. Intel PT, CoreSight or Arm SPE)
0488 switch events will be enabled automatically, which can be suppressed by
0489 by the option --no-switch-events.
0490 
0491 --clang-path=PATH::
0492 Path to clang binary to use for compiling BPF scriptlets.
0493 (enabled when BPF support is on)
0494 
0495 --clang-opt=OPTIONS::
0496 Options passed to clang when compiling BPF scriptlets.
0497 (enabled when BPF support is on)
0498 
0499 --vmlinux=PATH::
0500 Specify vmlinux path which has debuginfo.
0501 (enabled when BPF prologue is on)
0502 
0503 --buildid-all::
0504 Record build-id of all DSOs regardless whether it's actually hit or not.
0505 
0506 --buildid-mmap::
0507 Record build ids in mmap2 events, disables build id cache (implies --no-buildid).
0508 
0509 --aio[=n]::
0510 Use <n> control blocks in asynchronous (Posix AIO) trace writing mode (default: 1, max: 4).
0511 Asynchronous mode is supported only when linking Perf tool with libc library
0512 providing implementation for Posix AIO API.
0513 
0514 --affinity=mode::
0515 Set affinity mask of trace reading thread according to the policy defined by 'mode' value:
0516   node - thread affinity mask is set to NUMA node cpu mask of the processed mmap buffer
0517   cpu  - thread affinity mask is set to cpu of the processed mmap buffer
0518 
0519 --mmap-flush=number::
0520 
0521 Specify minimal number of bytes that is extracted from mmap data pages and
0522 processed for output. One can specify the number using B/K/M/G suffixes.
0523 
0524 The maximal allowed value is a quarter of the size of mmaped data pages.
0525 
0526 The default option value is 1 byte which means that every time that the output
0527 writing thread finds some new data in the mmaped buffer the data is extracted,
0528 possibly compressed (-z) and written to the output, perf.data or pipe.
0529 
0530 Larger data chunks are compressed more effectively in comparison to smaller
0531 chunks so extraction of larger chunks from the mmap data pages is preferable
0532 from the perspective of output size reduction.
0533 
0534 Also at some cases executing less output write syscalls with bigger data size
0535 can take less time than executing more output write syscalls with smaller data
0536 size thus lowering runtime profiling overhead.
0537 
0538 -z::
0539 --compression-level[=n]::
0540 Produce compressed trace using specified level n (default: 1 - fastest compression,
0541 22 - smallest trace)
0542 
0543 --all-kernel::
0544 Configure all used events to run in kernel space.
0545 
0546 --all-user::
0547 Configure all used events to run in user space.
0548 
0549 --kernel-callchains::
0550 Collect callchains only from kernel space. I.e. this option sets
0551 perf_event_attr.exclude_callchain_user to 1.
0552 
0553 --user-callchains::
0554 Collect callchains only from user space. I.e. this option sets
0555 perf_event_attr.exclude_callchain_kernel to 1.
0556 
0557 Don't use both --kernel-callchains and --user-callchains at the same time or no
0558 callchains will be collected.
0559 
0560 --timestamp-filename
0561 Append timestamp to output file name.
0562 
0563 --timestamp-boundary::
0564 Record timestamp boundary (time of first/last samples).
0565 
0566 --switch-output[=mode]::
0567 Generate multiple perf.data files, timestamp prefixed, switching to a new one
0568 based on 'mode' value:
0569   "signal" - when receiving a SIGUSR2 (default value) or
0570   <size>   - when reaching the size threshold, size is expected to
0571              be a number with appended unit character - B/K/M/G
0572   <time>   - when reaching the time threshold, size is expected to
0573              be a number with appended unit character - s/m/h/d
0574 
0575              Note: the precision of  the size  threshold  hugely depends
0576              on your configuration  - the number and size of  your  ring
0577              buffers (-m). It is generally more precise for higher sizes
0578              (like >5M), for lower values expect different sizes.
0579 
0580 A possible use case is to, given an external event, slice the perf.data file
0581 that gets then processed, possibly via a perf script, to decide if that
0582 particular perf.data snapshot should be kept or not.
0583 
0584 Implies --timestamp-filename, --no-buildid and --no-buildid-cache.
0585 The reason for the latter two is to reduce the data file switching
0586 overhead. You can still switch them on with:
0587 
0588   --switch-output --no-no-buildid  --no-no-buildid-cache
0589 
0590 --switch-output-event::
0591 Events that will cause the switch of the perf.data file, auto-selecting
0592 --switch-output=signal, the results are similar as internally the side band
0593 thread will also send a SIGUSR2 to the main one.
0594 
0595 Uses the same syntax as --event, it will just not be recorded, serving only to
0596 switch the perf.data file as soon as the --switch-output event is processed by
0597 a separate sideband thread.
0598 
0599 This sideband thread is also used to other purposes, like processing the
0600 PERF_RECORD_BPF_EVENT records as they happen, asking the kernel for extra BPF
0601 information, etc.
0602 
0603 --switch-max-files=N::
0604 
0605 When rotating perf.data with --switch-output, only keep N files.
0606 
0607 --dry-run::
0608 Parse options then exit. --dry-run can be used to detect errors in cmdline
0609 options.
0610 
0611 'perf record --dry-run -e' can act as a BPF script compiler if llvm.dump-obj
0612 in config file is set to true.
0613 
0614 --synth=TYPE::
0615 Collect and synthesize given type of events (comma separated).  Note that
0616 this option controls the synthesis from the /proc filesystem which represent
0617 task status for pre-existing threads.
0618 
0619 Kernel (and some other) events are recorded regardless of the
0620 choice in this option.  For example, --synth=no would have MMAP events for
0621 kernel and modules.
0622 
0623 Available types are:
0624   'task'    - synthesize FORK and COMM events for each task
0625   'mmap'    - synthesize MMAP events for each process (implies 'task')
0626   'cgroup'  - synthesize CGROUP events for each cgroup
0627   'all'     - synthesize all events (default)
0628   'no'      - do not synthesize any of the above events
0629 
0630 --tail-synthesize::
0631 Instead of collecting non-sample events (for example, fork, comm, mmap) at
0632 the beginning of record, collect them during finalizing an output file.
0633 The collected non-sample events reflects the status of the system when
0634 record is finished.
0635 
0636 --overwrite::
0637 Makes all events use an overwritable ring buffer. An overwritable ring
0638 buffer works like a flight recorder: when it gets full, the kernel will
0639 overwrite the oldest records, that thus will never make it to the
0640 perf.data file.
0641 
0642 When '--overwrite' and '--switch-output' are used perf records and drops
0643 events until it receives a signal, meaning that something unusual was
0644 detected that warrants taking a snapshot of the most current events,
0645 those fitting in the ring buffer at that moment.
0646 
0647 'overwrite' attribute can also be set or canceled for an event using
0648 config terms. For example: 'cycles/overwrite/' and 'instructions/no-overwrite/'.
0649 
0650 Implies --tail-synthesize.
0651 
0652 --kcore::
0653 Make a copy of /proc/kcore and place it into a directory with the perf data file.
0654 
0655 --max-size=<size>::
0656 Limit the sample data max size, <size> is expected to be a number with
0657 appended unit character - B/K/M/G
0658 
0659 --num-thread-synthesize::
0660         The number of threads to run when synthesizing events for existing processes.
0661         By default, the number of threads equals 1.
0662 
0663 ifdef::HAVE_LIBPFM[]
0664 --pfm-events events::
0665 Select a PMU event using libpfm4 syntax (see http://perfmon2.sf.net)
0666 including support for event filters. For example '--pfm-events
0667 inst_retired:any_p:u:c=1:i'. More than one event can be passed to the
0668 option using the comma separator. Hardware events and generic hardware
0669 events cannot be mixed together. The latter must be used with the -e
0670 option. The -e option and this one can be mixed and matched.  Events
0671 can be grouped using the {} notation.
0672 endif::HAVE_LIBPFM[]
0673 
0674 --control=fifo:ctl-fifo[,ack-fifo]::
0675 --control=fd:ctl-fd[,ack-fd]::
0676 ctl-fifo / ack-fifo are opened and used as ctl-fd / ack-fd as follows.
0677 Listen on ctl-fd descriptor for command to control measurement.
0678 
0679 Available commands:
0680   'enable'           : enable events
0681   'disable'          : disable events
0682   'enable name'      : enable event 'name'
0683   'disable name'     : disable event 'name'
0684   'snapshot'         : AUX area tracing snapshot).
0685   'stop'             : stop perf record
0686   'ping'             : ping
0687 
0688   'evlist [-v|-g|-F] : display all events
0689                        -F  Show just the sample frequency used for each event.
0690                        -v  Show all fields.
0691                        -g  Show event group information.
0692 
0693 Measurements can be started with events disabled using --delay=-1 option. Optionally
0694 send control command completion ('ack\n') to ack-fd descriptor to synchronize with the
0695 controlling process.  Example of bash shell script to enable and disable events during
0696 measurements:
0697 
0698  #!/bin/bash
0699 
0700  ctl_dir=/tmp/
0701 
0702  ctl_fifo=${ctl_dir}perf_ctl.fifo
0703  test -p ${ctl_fifo} && unlink ${ctl_fifo}
0704  mkfifo ${ctl_fifo}
0705  exec {ctl_fd}<>${ctl_fifo}
0706 
0707  ctl_ack_fifo=${ctl_dir}perf_ctl_ack.fifo
0708  test -p ${ctl_ack_fifo} && unlink ${ctl_ack_fifo}
0709  mkfifo ${ctl_ack_fifo}
0710  exec {ctl_fd_ack}<>${ctl_ack_fifo}
0711 
0712  perf record -D -1 -e cpu-cycles -a               \
0713              --control fd:${ctl_fd},${ctl_fd_ack} \
0714              -- sleep 30 &
0715  perf_pid=$!
0716 
0717  sleep 5  && echo 'enable' >&${ctl_fd} && read -u ${ctl_fd_ack} e1 && echo "enabled(${e1})"
0718  sleep 10 && echo 'disable' >&${ctl_fd} && read -u ${ctl_fd_ack} d1 && echo "disabled(${d1})"
0719 
0720  exec {ctl_fd_ack}>&-
0721  unlink ${ctl_ack_fifo}
0722 
0723  exec {ctl_fd}>&-
0724  unlink ${ctl_fifo}
0725 
0726  wait -n ${perf_pid}
0727  exit $?
0728 
0729 --threads=<spec>::
0730 Write collected trace data into several data files using parallel threads.
0731 <spec> value can be user defined list of masks. Masks separated by colon
0732 define CPUs to be monitored by a thread and affinity mask of that thread
0733 is separated by slash:
0734 
0735     <cpus mask 1>/<affinity mask 1>:<cpus mask 2>/<affinity mask 2>:...
0736 
0737 CPUs or affinity masks must not overlap with other corresponding masks.
0738 Invalid CPUs are ignored, but masks containing only invalid CPUs are not
0739 allowed.
0740 
0741 For example user specification like the following:
0742 
0743     0,2-4/2-4:1,5-7/5-7
0744 
0745 specifies parallel threads layout that consists of two threads,
0746 the first thread monitors CPUs 0 and 2-4 with the affinity mask 2-4,
0747 the second monitors CPUs 1 and 5-7 with the affinity mask 5-7.
0748 
0749 <spec> value can also be a string meaning predefined parallel threads
0750 layout:
0751 
0752     cpu    - create new data streaming thread for every monitored cpu
0753     core   - create new thread to monitor CPUs grouped by a core
0754     package - create new thread to monitor CPUs grouped by a package
0755     numa   - create new threed to monitor CPUs grouped by a NUMA domain
0756 
0757 Predefined layouts can be used on systems with large number of CPUs in
0758 order not to spawn multiple per-cpu streaming threads but still avoid LOST
0759 events in data directory files. Option specified with no or empty value
0760 defaults to CPU layout. Masks defined or provided by the option value are
0761 filtered through the mask provided by -C option.
0762 
0763 --debuginfod[=URLs]::
0764         Specify debuginfod URL to be used when cacheing perf.data binaries,
0765         it follows the same syntax as the DEBUGINFOD_URLS variable, like:
0766 
0767           http://192.168.122.174:8002
0768 
0769         If the URLs is not specified, the value of DEBUGINFOD_URLS
0770         system environment variable is used.
0771 
0772 --off-cpu::
0773         Enable off-cpu profiling with BPF.  The BPF program will collect
0774         task scheduling information with (user) stacktrace and save them
0775         as sample data of a software event named "offcpu-time".  The
0776         sample period will have the time the task slept in nanoseconds.
0777 
0778         Note that BPF can collect stack traces using frame pointer ("fp")
0779         only, as of now.  So the applications built without the frame
0780         pointer might see bogus addresses.
0781 
0782 include::intel-hybrid.txt[]
0783 
0784 SEE ALSO
0785 --------
0786 linkperf:perf-stat[1], linkperf:perf-list[1], linkperf:perf-intel-pt[1]