How to use CoreFreq to monitor the CPU performance of your Linux system

CoreFreq is a CPU monitoring software specially designed for 64-bit processors. It supports Intel Atom, Core2, Nehalem, SandyBridge and above architectures, as well as AMD 0F to 19h (Zen3) families. CoreFreq can provide a high-precision framework to obtain various CPU data, including:

• Core Frequencies and Ratios
• SpeedStep (EIST), Turbo Boost, Hyper-Threading (HTT) and Base Clock
• Performance counters, including timestamp counter (TSC), unstopped core cycle (UCC), unstopped reference cycle (URC)
• Instructions per cycle or per second, IPS, IPC or CPI
• CPU C status, C0 C1 C3 C6 C7, etc.
• Topology diagram, including cache for boot and application CPU
• Processor feature, brand, and architecture string

In this article, we will introduce how to install and use CoreFreq in Linux systems, as well as some commonly used options and parameters. We'll be using Ubuntu 20.04 as the example system, but the content applies to other Linux distributions as well.

CoreFreq CPU Monitoring

It provides the basis for recapturing CPU data with high accuracy:

1. Core frequencies and ratios; SpeedStep (EIST), Turbo Boost, Hyper-Threading (HTT), and base clock.
2. Performance counters combine timestamp counters (TSC), non-halting core cycles (UCC), and non-halting reference cycles (URC).
3. Instructions per cycle or second: IPS, IPC, or CPI.
4. CPU C states: C0 C1 C3 C6 C7 – C1E – Auto/non-degradation of C1, C3.
5. DTS temperature and thermal monitoring TM1 and TM2 status with Tjunction Max.
6. Includes cache and application CPU topology maps for bootstrapping.
7. Processor characteristics, brand, architecture strings.

Note: This tool is more suitable for expert Linux users and experienced system administrators, but novice users can learn how to use it step by step.

HowCoreFreq works

It is implemented by calling a Linux kernel module, which uses:

1. Assembly code is kept as close as possible to the performance counter readings.
2. Slab data memory plus high-resolution timers affected on a per-CPU basis.
3. Supports CPU suspend/resume and CPU hotplug.
4. Use shared memory to protect the kernel from damage from user space programs.
5. Use atomically synchronized threads to eliminate mutual exclusion and deadlocks.

How to install CoreFreq in Linux

To install CoreFreq, you first need to install dependencies (development tools) to compile and build the program from source.

$ sudo yum group install 'Development Tools'           [On CentOS/RHEL]
$ sudo dnf  group install 'Development Tools'          [On Fedora 22+ Versions]
# sudo apt-get install dkms git libpthread-stubs0-dev  [On Debian/Ubuntu] 

Next, clone the CoreFreq source code on Github, enter the download folder and compile the build program:

    $ git clone https://github.com/cyring/CoreFreq.git
    $ cd CoreFreq
    $ make 

Building the CoreFreq program

Note: Arch Linux users can install corefreq-git from the AUR.

Now run the following command to load the Linux kernel module from the local directory and then run the daemon:

    $ sudo insmod corefreqk.ko
    $ sudo ./corefreqd

Then use a normal user to start the client.

    $ ./corefreq-cli

CoreFreq Linux CPU Monitoring

In the above interface, you can use these shortcut keys:

1. Use F2 to display the usage menu shown at the top of the screen.
2. Use the right and left arrows to move menu tabs.
3. Use the up and down arrows to select a menu item and click Enter.
4. Use F4 to close the program.
5. Use h to open the quick reference.

To view all usage options, enter the following command:

    $ ./corefreq-cli -h

CoreFreq Options:

    CoreFreq.  Copyright (C) 2015-2017 CYRIL INGENIERIE
    usage:  corefreq-cli [-option ]
    -t  Show Top (default)
    -d  Show Dashboard
    arguments:    
    -c  Monitor Counters
    -i  Monitor Instructions
    -s  Print System Information
    -M  Print Memory Controller
    -m  Print Topology
    -u  Print CPUID
    -k  Print Kernel
    -h  Print out this message
    Exit status:
    0   if OK,
    1   if problems,
    >1  if serious trouble.
    Report bugs to labs[at]cyring.fr

To print kernel information, run:

    $ ./corefreq-cli -k

Print CPU details:

    $ ./corefreq-cli -u

You can also monitor CPU instructions in real time:

    $ ./corefreq-cli -i

Enable counter tracking as follows:

    $ ./corefreq-cli -c

在本文中，我们学习了如何在Linux系统中安装和使用CoreFreq，以及一些常用的选项和参数。我们了解了如何查看和分析CPU的性能和状态，以及如何使用CoreFreq提供的图形界面和命令行界面。我们还学习了如何使用CoreFreq进行一些高级操作，比如调整CPU频率、比率和电压，以及测试CPU稳定性和散热性能。

CoreFreq是一个强大而专业的CPU监控软件，它可以让你更好地了解和优化你的CPU性能。通过使用CoreFreq，你可以提高你的系统效率和用户体验。我们建议你在使用Linux系统时，经常使用CoreFreq来监控你的CPU性能。

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