LIBPFM

Section: Linux Programmer's Manual (3) Updated: November, 2006 Local index Up

NAME

libpfm_core - support for Intel Core processor family

SYNOPSIS

#include <perfmon/pfmlib.h>
#include <perfmon/pfmlib_core.h>

DESCRIPTION

The libpfm library provides full support for the Intel Core processor family, including the Core 2 Duo series. The interface is defined in pfmlib_core.h. It consists of a set of functions and structures which describe and allow access to the Intel Core processors specific PMU features.

When Intel Core processor specific features are needed to support a measurement, their descriptions must be passed as model-specific input arguments to the pfm_dispatch_events call. The Intel Core
processors specific input arguments are described in the pfmlib_core_input_param_t structure and the output parameters in pfmlib_core_output_param_t. They are defined as follows:

typedef struct {
        unsigned int    cnt_mask;
        unsigned int    flags;
} pfmlib_core_counter_t;

typedef struct {
        unsigned int pebs_used;
} pfmlib_core_pebs_t;

typedef struct {
        pfmlib_core_counter_t   pfp_core_counters[PMU_CORE_NUM_COUNTERS];
        pfmlib_core_pebs_t      pfp_core_pebs;
        uint64_t                reserved[4];
} pfmlib_core_input_param_t;

typedef struct {
        uint64_t        reserved[8];
} pfmlib_core_output_param_t;

The Intel Core processor provides a few additional per-event features for counters: thresholding, inversion, edge detection. They can be set using the pfp_core_counters data structure for each event. The flags field can be initialized as follows:

PFMLIB_CORE_SEL_INV: Inverse the results of the cnt_mask comparison when set
PFMLIB_CORE_SEL_EDGE: Enables edge detection of events.

The cnt_mask field contains is used to set the event threshold. The value of the counter is incremented each time the number of occurrences per cycle of the event is greater or equal to the value of the field. When zero all occurrences are counted.

Support for Precise-Event Based Sampling (PEBS)

The library can be used to setup the PMC registers when using PEBS. In this case, the pfp_core_pebs structure must be used and the pebs_used field must be set to 1. When using PEBS, it is not possible to use more than one event.

Support for Intel Core 2 Duo processors

The Intel Core 2 Duo processors are based on the Intel Core micro-architecture. They implement the Intel architectural PMU and some extensions such as PEBS. They support all the architectural events and a lot more Core 2 specific events. The library auto-detects the processor and provides access to Core 2 events whenever possible.

ERRORS

Refer to the description of pfm_dispatch_events() for errors.

AUTHOR

Stephane Eranian <eranian@hpl.hp.com>

Index

NAME
SYNOPSIS
DESCRIPTION
Support for Precise-Event Based Sampling (PEBS)
Support for Intel Core 2 Duo processors
ERRORS
SEE ALSO
AUTHOR

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Time: 21:49:20 GMT, April 16, 2011