[GSoC 16] Query regarding project proposal

[Nishant Kumar <nishantkrsunny@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hello Sir,

As per our previous correspondences, I have read documentation of blktrace and libpcp_import library. I know understand how to parse and format blktrace output and how to write a PCP archive using the libpcp_import APIs.

As per my understanding, following are the high level steps for writing the "blktrace2pcp" tool :

1. Set up a new context using `pmiStart()` and add instances and metrics using `pmiAddInstance()` and `pmiAddMetric()` respectively. Take the required metrics from command line.
   

In a loop do:

• invoke blktrace for a fixed interval and generate a trace.
  
• For the required metric values, either feed the trace to blkparse using `-o -` flags or parse the binary data in the pcp tool. In either case, use named pipes to store the output in the memory temporarily.
• If we decide to parse the blktrace output ourselves then read the blkparse source code and write a parser in the pcp tool, else skip this step.
• Add the values to the PCP archive and flush.

I am unclear on the following:

• How to turn off all PCP I/O when blktraces are generated as there can be processes reading/writing some PCP archives or some PDMAs doing disk operations.

• Could not understand what you mean by missing support for writing event data. As per my understanding once we parse the blktrace output we can add the corresponding metrics and their values to the archive.

Also, I am sorry but I am not available from 19th to 27th march(IST), hence I would like to submit the first draft of my project proposal by 15th march 12:00 PM(IST) and the final draft by 18th march 11:55 PM(IST). Hence, I request you to forward me a general structure of the project proposal.Â

Regards

Nishant Kumar Sunny

Senior Undergraduate

Department of Computer Sc. and Engg.

Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur