Prerequisite:
OS version: AIX 7.3 TL4 or above
Introduction:
The perfpmr tool is a diagnostic utility used for performance analysis and troubleshooting. It
collects performance data and system statistics to help identify and resolve system
bottlenecks or issues. Support teams often recommend using perfpmr when investigating
performance-related problems. The goal is to collect a good base of information that can be
used by AIX technical support specialists or development lab programmers to get started in
analyzing and solving the performance problem. This process may need to be repeated after
analysis of the initial set of data is completed.
Why Perfpmr Integration Matters in AIX
Integrating perfpmr into AIX through updating the bos.perf.tools fileset brings several key
advantages:
1. Centralized Management
Perfpmr becomes a standard AIX component part, eliminating the need for manual
downloads or external scripts.
2. Easier Maintenance
Updates and fixes can be delivered consistently through defects in AIX, ensuring
compatibility and reducing operational overhead.
3. Improved Version Control
Organizations can rely on a consistent, system-supported version of perfpmr instead of
managing multiple downloaded copies.
4. Streamlined Performance Monitoring
Administrators can run tool more efficiently, with perfpmr tightly integrated into AIX.
5. Enhanced Scalability and Reliability
Native integration reduces dependency complexity, improves tool stability, and provides a
more unified performance troubleshooting experience.
How to Collect Data for An AIX Performance Problem
This section describes the set of steps that should be followed to collect performance data
1. Create a data collection directory and 'cd' into this directory
Perfpmr required at least 247 MB memory for data collection
*IMPORTANT* - DO NOT COLLECT DATA IN A REMOTELY MOUNTED
FILESYSTEM
SINCE IPTRACE MAY HANG
For example, using /tmp filesystem:
# mkdir /tmp/perfdata
# cd /tmp/perfdata
2. Collect the 'standard' PERFPMR data for 600 seconds (this is the default). Start the data
collection while the problem is already occurring with the command:
# /opt/IBM/perfpmr/perfpmr.sh
Conclusion
The integration of perfpmr into AIX represents a significant step forward in system
performance diagnostics. By making perfpmr a fully supported, built-in component, IBM
simplifies performance analysis for customers, administrators, support teams, and developers.
The result is a more efficient, scalable, and reliable way to collect the comprehensive
performance data needed to diagnose complex issues. With perfpmr now part of the AIX
ecosystem, users gain faster access to insights that help maintain optimal system performance
and stability.