nhfsnums Command in Linux

The nhfsnums command in Linux is used to convert raw numbers from nhfsstone output into plot(5) format, making the data easier to visualize. This is useful for generating graphs of the performance metrics collected by nhfsstone.

The command processes files containing raw numeric data generated by nhfsstone, a benchmarking tool for NFS. It converts these files into a format compatible with plot(5) (a data representation format used by plotting tools).

<numsfiles> are input files containing raw performance data, typically named with the format run.xxx, where xxx is a suffix that serves as a label for the data (e.g., run.load1, run.load2, etc.).

Each file will produce one line of output, and the label for each line will correspond to the file's suffix (the part after the "." in the filename).

Table of Contents

Here is a comprehensive guide to the options available with the nhfsnums command −

• Syntax for the nhfsnums Command
• Example of nhfsnums Command in Linux

Syntax for the nhfsnums Command

The following is the general syntax for the nhfsnums command −

nhfsnums <numsfiles>

Example of nhfsnums Command in Linux

In this section, we'll look at a practical example of using the nhfsnums command to convert raw nhfsstone output into plot(5) format.

Prepare the Raw Data Files

To get started, create raw data files using your preferred editor and add the following content to the files.

run.load1 −

10 0.5
20 0.4
30 0.3

run.load2 −

15 0.6
25 0.5
35 0.4

run.load3 −

23 0.9
16 0.5
23 0.2

Use nhfsnums to Convert the Data

Now, run the nhfsnums command to convert these files into plot(5) format −

sudo nhfsnums run.load1 run.load2 run.load3

After running this command, the plotfile.txt file will contain the converted data −

Conclusion

The nhfsnums command is a vital tool for transforming raw data from nhfsstone benchmarks into the plot(5) format, making performance metrics easier to visualize and analyze. It emphasizes simplicity and efficiency by converting raw numeric data into graph-ready output.

Each input file produces a labeled line of data, ensuring clarity and enabling comparison across multiple benchmarks. Its compatibility with popular visualization tools highlights its practicality for system administrators and performance analysts.

By automating data preparation, nhfsnums saves time and reduces errors, streamlining the benchmarking workflow. This tool exemplifies the power of Unix/Linux utilities in enhancing productivity, making it indispensable for analyzing and optimizing NFS performance with clarity and precision.