libpfm_intel_snb man page

libpfm_intel_snb — support for Intel Sandy Bridge core PMU


#include <perfmon/pfmlib.h>

PMU name: snb
PMU desc: Intel Sandy Bridge
PMU name: snb_ep
PMU desc: Intel Sandy Bridge EP


The library supports the Intel Sandy Bridge core PMU. It should be noted that this PMU model only covers each core's PMU and not the socket level PMU. For that refer to the Sandy Bridge uncore PMU support.

On Sandy Bridge, the number of generic counters depends on the Hyperthreading (HT) mode. When HT is on, then only 4 generic counters are available. When HT is off, then 8 generic counters are available. The pfm_get_pmu_info() function returns the maximum number of generic counters in num_cntrs.


The following modifiers are supported on Intel Sandy Bridge processors:








Enable edge detection, i.e., count only when there is a state transition from no occurrence of the event to at least one occurrence. This modifier must be combined with a counter mask modifier (m) with a value greater or equal to one. This is a boolean modifier.




Measure on both threads at the same time assuming hyper-threading is enabled. This is a boolean modifier.


Pass a latency threshold to the MEM_TRANS_RETIRED:LATENCY_ABOVE_THRESHOLD event. This is an integer attribute that must be in the range [3:65535]. It is required for this event.  Note that the event must be used with precise sampling (PEBS).


Intel Sandy Bridge provides two offcore_response events, like Intel Westmere. They are called OFFCORE_RESPONSE_0 and OFFCORE_RESPONSE_1.

Those events need special treatment in the performance monitoring infrastructure because each event uses an extra register to store some settings. Thus, in case multiple offcore_response events are monitored simultaneously, the kernel needs to manage the sharing of that extra register.

The offcore_response events are exposed as a normal events by the library. The extra settings are exposed as regular umasks. The library takes care of encoding the events according to the underlying kernel interface.

On Intel Sandy Bridge, the umasks are divided into three categories: request, supplier and snoop. The user must provide at least one umask for each category. The categories are shown in the umask descriptions.

There is also the special response umask called ANY_RESPONSE. When this umask is used then it overrides any supplier and snoop umasks. In other words, users can specify either ANY_RESPONSE OR any combinations of supplier + snoops.

In case no supplier or snoop is specified, the library defaults to using ANY_RESPONSE.

For instance, the following are valid event selections:




But the following are illegal:



See Also



Stephane Eranian <>


January, 2011 Linux Programmer's Manual