How can I get page faults statistics from kernel

Question

Hello

How can I get page faults statistics from kernel for my application while it is running? What about other events, like inter-cpu migrations count in SMP nodes, or number of context switches?

I want to count such events for various small parts of the program.

Thanks.

Answer 1

The procfs records some of that information, but (I believe) not all of it, and definitely not "for various small parts", but only for the process as a whole. I doubt the kernel records e.g. context switches or page faults "for various small parts" anywhere. Maybe you can take snapshots of the applicable /proc pseudofiles at the start and end of each "small part" and take the difference -- for some applications (that don't branch every which way all of the time) that might be an acceptable substitute.

Answer 2

You'll be wanting to use the "perf" tools packaged with the kernel. See here.