some notes on using Intel Trace Collector (ITC/ITA)

Preliminary note: these are just some “random” notes for myself …

• Intel 10.0 (beta) compilers introduced -tcollect switch
  • inserts instrumentation probes calling the ITC API, i.e. shows functions names instead of just “user code” in the trace
  • has to be used for compilation and linking
  • not sure yet if ITV libraries have to be specified during linking – but probably one wants to add “$ITC_LIB” (defined by RRZE) anyway
  • works fine (at least in initial tests)
• source code locations are not inclides in the trace file by default; compile with -g and set VT_PCTRACE to some value (either ON or the call level to be recorded (with optional skip levels); see ITC-RefGuide Sec. 3.8, p. 19/20 and 95
• OS counters can be recorded; VT_COUNTER variable has to be set accordingly; see ITC-RefGuide Sec. 3.10, p. 22
• VT_LOGFILE_NAME can be used to specify the name of the tracefile
• to change colors, one has to the “all functions” item as the color toggle is deactivated in the default “generated groups/major functions” item
• unfortunately, I did not yet find a “redraw” button – and chaning the colors only redisplays the current chart automatically