Solaris 11 Dynamic Systems Analysis
(Kernel Statistics Framework (KSTATs) / Dynamic Tracing (DTrace))


Solaris Training Overview

The Solaris 11 Dynamic Systems Analysis course introduces participants to the new facilities: DTrace and KSTATS. Using these tools, a systems administrator / systems programmer / systems analyst is able to watch kernel and systems level activity as they are occurring. .

Systems: Solaris 11, SPARC or x86/x64 hardware platforms

Solaris Training Prerequisites

It is assumed that the participant has successfully completed the Oracle Solaris 11 System Administration course, or has equivalent system time as a user, and is comfortable with basic systems administration functions and scripting, preferably with either Korn shell, awk/nawk and Perl.

Solaris Training Course duration

This course normally requires three (3) days, approximately 60% lecture, and 40% lab time.

Solaris Training Course Objectives

On completion of this course, the participant should be able to:

  • Describe system troubleshooting fundamentals
  • Understand the components in Dynamic Tracing (DTrace)
  • Learn the basics of the D scripting language
  • Write DTrace one-line and scripted procedures
  • Monitor system level activity
  • Look at the modules that comprise the Kernel Statics Framework
  • Write C programs to access the KSTATS cells
  • Build system monitors using KSTATS with shell and Perl scripts
Solaris Training Course outline

Dynamic Tracing (DTrace) Architecture
  • DTrace Components
    • Providers
    • Probes
    • Functions
    • Built-in variables
  • Required privileges
  • Zone considerations
DTrace Procedures
  • The D Scripting Language
    • Components
    • Techniques
  • Writing D based scripts
    • one - liners
    • programmatic
DTrace Kernel Level Tracing
  • Commonly traced areas
    • system calls
    • TCP/IP
    • kernel variables
    • open files
  • Writing D based scripts
    • one - liners
    • programmatic
DTrace Application Level Tracing
  • Commonly traced process areas
    • system calls
    • environment variables
    • open files
DTrace Impact Considerations
  • Anonymous tracing
  • Speculative tracing
  • Performance impact of DTrace
  • Use and size DTrace buffers
Kernel Statistics Framework (KSTATs) Architecture
  • C library functions (from Sun)
  • kstat command interface
  • shell scripting interface
  • Perl module interface
KSTATs Procedures
  • Accessing system areas
    • CPU
    • virtual memory
    • disk I/O
    • network I/O
Case Studies
  • DTrace
  • KSTATs



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