If you are using simultaneous multithreading (SMT) or micro-partitioning in an AIX environment, the amount of physical CPU allocated is included in the calculation of CPU usage displayed by the sar command, but is not included in the calculation of CPU usage displayed by PFM - Agent for Platform. For this reason, the CPU usage figure displayed by PFM - Agent for Platform might be lower than that output by the sar command.
PFM - Agent for Platform enables settings to be changed so that processor performance data can be collected from the results output by the sar command of AIX.
This section explains how to collect and monitor processor performance data from the results output by the sar command of AIX when PFM - Agent for Platform is used.
This section describes how to set the system to collect processor performance data from the results output by AIX's sar command.
/usr/sbin/sar -P ALL INTERVAL 1
If you are using simultaneous multithreading (SMT) or micro-partitioning in an AIX environment, PFM - Agent for Platform enables you to collect the results output by the following AIX sar command:
/usr/sbin/sar -P ALL INTERVAL 1
An example of the results output by the AIX sar command is shown below.
Figure 2-16 Example of results output by AIX sar command
With PFM - Agent for Platform, the results output by the sar command are stored in the fields that monitor processor performance data of the System Summary Overview (PI) and CPU - Per Processor Detail (PI_CPUP) records.
The following table describes the correspondence between the fields of the System Summary Overview (PI) record and the results output by the sar command.
Table 2-35 Correspondence between System Summary Overview (PI) record fields and the results output by the sar command
Record | Field | Field description | Results output by the sar command |
---|---|---|---|
System Summary Overview (PI) | Active CPUs (NUMBER_OF_ACTIVE_CPUS) | Number of processors | Number of rows in which a number is displayed in the cpu column |
CPU % (KERNELMODE_USERMODE_PERCENT) | CPU usage (%). This also indicates the average percentage for each processor. | %sys column + %usr column | |
Idle % (IDLE_TIME_PERCENT) | Percentage of time spent in idle state (%). This is also the average of the percentages for all processors. | %idle column | |
Kernel CPU % (KERNELMODE_PERCENT) | Percentage of time running in kernel mode (%). This is also the average of the percentages for all processors. | %sys column | |
User CPU % (USERMODE_PERCENT) | Percentage of time running in user mode (%). This is also the average of the percentages for all processors. | %usr column | |
Wait % (WAIT_TIME_PERCENT) | Percentage of time spent in I/O standby (%). This is also the average of the percentages for each processor. | %wio column |
The following table describes the correspondence between the fields of the CPU - Per Processor Detail (PI_CPUP) record and the results output by the sar command.
Table 2-36 Correspondence between CPU - Per Processor Detail (PI_CPUP) record fields and the results output by the sar command
Record | Field | Field description | Results output by the sar command |
---|---|---|---|
CPU - Per Processor Detail (PI_CPUP) | CPU % (KERNELMODE_USERMODE_PERCENT) | CPU usage per processor (%) | %sys column + %usr column |
Idle % (PROCESSOR_IDLE_PERCENT) | Percentage of time spent in idle state (%) | %idle | |
Processor ID (LOGICAL_PROCESSOR_ID) | Processor identifier | cpu column | |
System % (PROCESSOR_SYSTEM_PERCENT) | Percentage of time running in kernel mode (%) | %sys column | |
User % (PROCESSOR_USER_PERCENT) | Percentage of time running in user mode (%) | %usr column | |
Wait % (PROCESSOR_WAIT_PERCENT) | Percentage of time spent in I/O standby (%) | %wio column |
When the setting is made to collect processor performance data from the results output by AIX's sar command, 0 is set as the value for the fields of the System Summary Overview (PI) record shown in the table below.
Table 2-37 System Summary Overview (PI) record fields whose value is 0 when collection of processor performance data from the results output by the AIX sar command is set
Record | Field | Field description | Alarm used | Report used |
---|---|---|---|---|
System Summary Overview (PI) | Total Idle Time (TOTAL_IDLE_TIME) | Total time spent in idle state by all processors (sec) | None | None |
Total Kernel-Mode Time (TOTAL_KERNELMODE_TIME) | Total time spent running in kernel mode by all processors (sec) | None | None | |
Total User-Mode Time (TOTAL_USERMODE_TIME) | Total time spent running in user mode by all processors (sec) | None | None | |
Total Wait Time (TOTAL_WAIT_TIME) | Total time spent in I/O standby by all processors (sec) | None | None |
When the setting is made to collect processor performance data from the results output by AIX's sar command, a blank is set as the value for the fields of the CPU - Per Processor Detail (PI_CPUP) record shown in the table below.
Table 2-38 CPU - Per Processor Detail (PI_CPUP) record fields whose value is blank when collection of processor performance data from the results output by the AIX sar command is set
Record | Field | Field description | Alarm used | Report used |
---|---|---|---|---|
CPU - Per Processor Detail (PI_CPUP) | Context Switches (PROCESSOR_CONTEXT_SWITCHES) | Number of context switch executions | None | None |
Context Switches/sec (PROCESSOR_CONTEXT_SWITCHES_PER_SECOND) | Frequency of context switch executions (executions per sec) | None | None | |
Idle Time (PROCESSOR_IDLE_TIME) | Time in idle state (sec) | None | None | |
Sys Calls/sec (PROCESSOR_SYSTEM_CALLS_PER_SECOND) | Frequency of system calls (calls per sec) | None | None | |
System Calls (PROCESSOR_SYSTEM_CALLS) | Number of system calls | None | None | |
System Time (PROCESSOR_SYSTEM_TIME) | Time running in kernel mode (sec) | None | None | |
Type (PROCESSOR_TYPE) | Description of processor | None | None | |
User Time (PROCESSOR_USER_TIME) | Time running in user mode (sec) | None | None | |
Wait Time (PROCESSOR_WAIT_TIME) | Time spent in I/O standby (sec) | None | None |
When processor performance data is collected from the results output by the sar command, the records supported and the range of data collected for each record will depend on whether PFM - Agent for Platform is running in the global environment or in the System WPAR environment.
The following table describes the fields of System Summary Overview (PI) records supported in the global environment and in the System WPAR environment.
Table 2-39 Fields of System Summary Overview (PI) records supported in the global environment and the System WPAR environment
Record | Field | Global environment | System WPAR environment | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Collected? | Range collected | Collected? | Range collected | ||
System Summary Overview (PI) | 15-Minute Run Queue Avg (FIFTEEN_MINUTE_RUN_QUEUE_AVG) | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments |
1-Minute Run Queue Avg (ONE_MINUTE_RUN_QUEUE_AVG) | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | |
5-Minute Run Queue Avg (FIVE_MINUTE_RUN_QUEUE_AVG) | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | |
Active CPUs (NUMBER_OF_ACTIVE_CPUS) | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | No | No | |
Block Ops (BLOCKIO_IO_OPS) | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | |
Block Reads (BLOCKIO_READ_OPS) | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | |
Block Reads/sec (BLOCKIO_READ_OPS_PER_SECOND) | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | No | No | |
Block Writes (BLOCKIO_WRITE_OPS) | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | |
Block Writes/sec (BLOCKIO_WRITE_OPS_PER_SECOND) | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | No | No | |
Cache Read % (CACHE_READ_PERCENT) | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | |
Cache Write % (CACHE_WRITE_PERCENT) | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | |
Context Switches (CONTEXT_SWITCHES) | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | |
Context Switches/sec (CONTEXT_SWITCHES_PER_SECOND) | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | No | No | |
CPU % (KERNELMODE_USERMODE_PERCENT) | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | No | No | |
Idle % (IDLE_TIME_PERCENT) | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | No | No | |
Kernel CPU % (KERNELMODE_PERCENT) | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | No | No | |
Logical I/O Ops (LOGICAL_IO_OPS) | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | |
Logical Read Mbytes (LOGICAL_READ_MBYTES) | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | |
Logical Reads (LOGICAL_READ_OPS) | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | |
Logical Reads/sec (LOGICAL_READ_MBYTES_PER_SECOND) | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | No | No | |
Logical Write Mbytes (LOGICAL_WRITE_MBYTES) | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | |
Logical Writes (LOGICAL_WRITE_OPS) | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | |
Logical Writes/sec (LOGICAL_WRITE_MBYTES_PER_SECOND) | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | No | No | |
Physical I/O Ops (PHYSICAL_IO_OPS) | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | |
Physical Reads (PHYSICAL_READ_OPS) | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | |
Physical Writes (PHYSICAL_WRITE_OPS) | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | |
System Calls (SYSTEM_CALLS) | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | |
User CPU % (USERMODE_PERCENT) | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | No | No | |
Wait % (WAIT_TIME_PERCENT) | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | No | No |
The following table describes the fields of CPU - Per Processor Detail (PI_CPUP) records supported in the global environment and in the System WPAR environment.
Table 2-40 Fields of CPU - Per Processor Detail (PI_CPUP) records supported in the global environment and the System WPAR environment
Record | Field | Global environment | System WPAR environment | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Collected? | Range collected | Collected? | Range collected | ||
CPU - Per Processor Detail (PI_CPUP) | Boot Time (SYSTEM_BOOT_TIME) | Yes | Global environment | No | No |
CPU % (KERNELMODE_USERMODE_PERCENT) | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | No | No | |
Idle % (PROCESSOR_IDLE_PERCENT) | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | No | No | |
Interval (INTERVAL) | Yes | Global environment | No | No | |
Processor ID (LOGICAL_PROCESSOR_ID) | Yes | Global environment | No | No | |
Record Time (RECORD_TIME) | Yes | Global environment | No | No | |
Record Type (INPUT_RECORD_TYPE) | Yes | Fixed value | No | No | |
Status (PROCESSOR_STATUS) | Yes | Global environment | No | No | |
System % (PROCESSOR_SYSTEM_PERCENT) | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | No | No | |
Up Time (SYSTEM_UP_TIME) | Yes | Global environment | No | No | |
User % (PROCESSOR_USER_PERCENT) | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | No | No | |
Wait % (PROCESSOR_WAIT_PERCENT) | Yes | Global environment and all WPAR environments | No | No |
This section provides additional information about collecting and monitoring processor performance data from the results output by AIX's sar command when PFM - Agent for Platform is used.
Table 2-41 Differences in values stored in fields depending on whether processor performance data is collected from the results output by the sar command (when Indicate delta value is selected on real-time reports)
Record | Field | Data source | |
---|---|---|---|
Not from results output by the sar command | From results output by the sar command | ||
System Summary Overview (PI) | Active CPUs (NUMBER_OF_ACTIVE_CPUS) | Results calculated based on value at time of collection | Value at time of collection |
CPU % (KERNELMODE_USERMODE_PERCENT) | Results calculated based on amount of change | Value at time of collection | |
Idle % (IDLE_TIME_PERCENT) | Results calculated based on amount of change | Value at time of collection | |
Kernel CPU % (KERNELMODE_PERCENT) | Results calculated based on amount of change | Value at time of collection | |
User CPU % (USERMODE_PERCENT) | Results calculated based on amount of change | Value at time of collection | |
Wait % (WAIT_TIME_PERCENT) | Results calculated based on amount of change | Value at time of collection | |
CPU - Per Processor Detail (PI_CPUP) | CPU % (KERNELMODE_USERMODE_PERCENT) | Results calculated based on amount of change | Value at time of collection |
Idle % (PROCESSOR_IDLE_PERCENT) | Results calculated based on amount of change | Value at time of collection | |
Processor ID (LOGICAL_PROCESSOR_ID) | Value at time of collection | Value at time of collection | |
System % (PROCESSOR_SYSTEM_PERCENT) | Results calculated based on amount of change | Value at time of collection | |
User % (PROCESSOR_USER_PERCENT) | Results calculated based on amount of change | Value at time of collection | |
Wait % (PROCESSOR_WAIT_PERCENT) | Results calculated based on amount of change | Value at time of collection |
Table 2-42 Differences in values stored in fields depending on whether processor performance data is collected from the results output by the sar command (when Indicate delta value is not selected on real-time reports)
Record | Field | Data source | |
---|---|---|---|
Not from results output by the sar command | From results output by the sar command | ||
System Summary Overview (PI) | Active CPUs (NUMBER_OF_ACTIVE_CPUS) | Results calculated based on value at time of collection | Value at time of collection |
CPU % (KERNELMODE_USERMODE_PERCENT) | Results calculated based on cumulative value | Value at time of collection | |
Idle % (IDLE_TIME_PERCENT) | Results calculated based on cumulative value | Value at time of collection | |
Kernel CPU % (KERNELMODE_PERCENT) | Results calculated based on cumulative value | Value at time of collection | |
User CPU % (USERMODE_PERCENT) | Results calculated based on cumulative value | Value at time of collection | |
Wait % (WAIT_TIME_PERCENT) | Results calculated based on cumulative value | Value at time of collection | |
CPU - Per Processor Detail (PI_CPUP) | CPU % (KERNELMODE_USERMODE_PERCENT) | Results calculated based on cumulative value | Value at time of collection |
Idle % (PROCESSOR_IDLE_PERCENT) | Results calculated based on cumulative value | Value at time of collection | |
Processor ID (LOGICAL_PROCESSOR_ID) | Value at time of collection | Value at time of collection | |
System % (PROCESSOR_SYSTEM_PERCENT) | Results calculated based on cumulative value | Value at time of collection | |
User % (PROCESSOR_USER_PERCENT) | Results calculated based on cumulative value | Value at time of collection | |
Wait % (PROCESSOR_WAIT_PERCENT) | Results calculated based on cumulative value | Value at time of collection |