Collectl – Performance Analysis Tool in Linux

In this tutorial, we will explore Collectl, a powerful performance analysis tool for Linux systems. Collectl provides comprehensive monitoring capabilities, allowing us to gather and analyze system performance metrics in real-time. Throughout this article, we will learn how to install Collectl and utilize its features to monitor various system resources, including CPU, memory, disk, and network usage.

Installing Collectl

To begin, let's install Collectl on our Linux system by following these steps âˆ’

Step 1 âˆ’ Open a terminal window on your linux machine.

Step 2 âˆ’ Update the package repository by running the following command âˆ’

sudo apt update

By executing the above command, we ensure that our system has the latest information about available packages and their versions.

Step 3 âˆ’ Install Collectl using the package manager âˆ’

sudo apt install collectl

Utilizing the package manager, we install Collectl effortlessly and efficiently.

Step 4 âˆ’ Verify the installation by typing âˆ’

Example

collectl --version

Checking the version of Collectl confirms that the installation was successful, and we can proceed to explore its capabilities further.

Output

collectl: Version 4.3.1-1 (dir: /usr/share/collectl)

In the above code snippet, we updated the package repository, installed Collectl, and checked its version to ensure a successful installation. Now, we are ready to dive into the monitoring capabilities of Collectl.

CPU Monitoring using Collectl

In this following section, we will explore how to use Collectl to monitor CPU performance. Consider the below steps for achieving the same âˆ’

Step 1 âˆ’ Open a terminal window.

Step 2 âˆ’ Start Collectl in CPU monitoring mode âˆ’

Example

collectl -sc

By executing the above command, we initiate Collectl's CPU monitoring mode, which enables us to track CPU usage and related metrics.

Step 3 âˆ’ Monitor CPU usage in real-time. The output will display various CPU-related metrics, including user, system, and idle percentages.

Output

#<---------CPU--------><----------Disks-----------><----------Network---------->
#cpu sys inter  ctxsw KBRead  Reads KBWrit Writes   KBIn  PktIn  KBOut  PktOut
 23   5  1454  2821  25119     10  19564    7256      0      0      0       0
 17   4  1096  2156  25123     11  19568    7258      0      0      0       0
 ...

As you can see from the above output, Collectl provides detailed information about CPU usage, context switches, and disk and network activity. This data is crucial for monitoring system performance and identifying potential bottlenecks.

Memory Monitoring using Collectl

Now, let's explore how to monitor memory usage with Collectl. Consider the below steps for achieving the same âˆ’

Step 1 âˆ’ Open a terminal window.

Step 2 âˆ’ Start Collectl in memory monitoring mode âˆ’

Example

collectl -sm

By running the above command, Collectl enters memory monitoring mode, allowing us to track memory-related metrics.

Step 3 âˆ’ Monitor memory usage in real-time. The output will display memory-related metrics, including total, used, and free memory.

Output

#<------Memory------><----------Disks-----------><----------Network---------->
#minor major  page   swap  disk1 disk2  sdc    sdd    lo    eth0   lo    eth0
   0     0  44162      0      0     0     0      0    16    284    16    284
   0     0  44008      0      0     0     0      0    16    284    16    284
 ...

From the above output, we can observe the memory-related metrics, including the number of pages used and the amount of swap space utilized. This information helps us monitor memory consumption and identify potential memory-related issues.

Disk and Network Monitoring using Collectl

In this section, we will learn how to monitor disk and network activity using Collectl. Follow these steps −

Step 1 âˆ’ Open a terminal window.

Step 2 âˆ’ Start Collectl in disk and network monitoring mode.

Example

collectl -sdn

By executing the above command, Collectl activates the disk and network monitoring modes simultaneously, providing us with insights into disk and network performance.

Step 3 âˆ’ Monitor disk and network activity in real-time. The output will display various metrics, such as disk reads and writes, network traffic, and packet counts.

Output

#<---------CPU--------><----------Disks-----------><----------Network---------->
#cpu sys inter  ctxsw KBRead  Reads KBWrit Writes   KBIn  PktIn  KBOut  PktOut
 23   5  1454  2821  25119     10  19564    7256      0      0      0       0
 17   4  1096  2156  25123     11  19568    7258      0      0      0       0
 ...

As seen from the above output, Collectl provides comprehensive information about disk reads and writes, network traffic, and packet counts. This data helps us analyze the utilization of disk and network resources, aiding in performance tuning and troubleshooting.

Advanced Features and Reporting with Collectl

In this section, we will explore some of the advanced features of Collectl and learn how to generate performance reports for in-depth analysis. Follow these steps.

Step 1 − Open a terminal window.

Step 2 âˆ’ Start Collectl with the desired monitoring options and specify the output format.

collectl -sCD --export csv --filename performance_data.csv

In the above command, we enable CPU and disk monitoring with the -sCD option. We also specify the output format as CSV using --export csv and provide a filename for the performance data.

Step 3 âˆ’ Monitor system performance for a specific duration. Press Ctrl+C to stop data collection when you are done.

collectl -sc -P -c 10

Executing the above command starts Collectl in CPU monitoring mode and collects data for 10 seconds. Adjust the duration according to your monitoring requirements.

Step 4 âˆ’ Analyze the generated performance report. Open the CSV file using a spreadsheet application or import it into a data analysis tool.

By following the above steps, you can utilize Collectl's advanced features to collect and export performance data in a structured format. This enables you to conduct further analysis, generate graphs, and identify performance trends.

By leveraging Collectl's data export capabilities, you can perform in-depth analysis, visualize performance metrics, and gain valuable insights into system behavior. These advanced features make Collectl an indispensable tool for system administrators, performance analysts, and anyone involved in Linux performance optimization.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we delved into Collectl, a powerful performance analysis tool for Linux. We covered the installation process and demonstrated how to monitor CPU, memory, disk, and network usage using Collectl. Additionally, we explored Collectl's advanced features, such as generating performance reports and exporting data for further analysis. By utilizing Collectl's monitoring capabilities and analyzing the collected data, you can gain a comprehensive understanding of your system's performance characteristics and make informed decisions to optimize resource utilization and enhance overall system efficiency.