#### Beyond Linux® From Scratch (systemd Edition) - Version r13.0-491

### Chapter 12. System Utilities

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# Sysstat-12.7.9

## Introduction to Sysstat

The Sysstat package contains utilities to monitor system performance and usage activity. Sysstat contains the sar utility, common to many commercial Unixes, and tools you can schedule via cron to collect and historize performance and activity data.

### Note

Development versions of BLFS may not build or run some packages properly if LFS or dependencies have been updated since the most recent stable versions of the books.

### Package Information

- Download (HTTP): https://sysstat.github.io/sysstat-packages/sysstat-12.7.9.tar.xz

- Download MD5 sum: feded3c0171774a19c1efdb2dc43b68d

- Download size: 916 KB

- Estimated disk space required: 29 MB

- Estimated build time: 0.1 SBU

## Installation of Sysstat

Install Sysstat by running the following commands:

    sa_lib_dir=/usr/lib/sa    \
    sa_dir=/var/log/sa        \
    conf_dir=/etc/sysstat     \
    ./configure --prefix=/usr \
                --disable-file-attr &&
    make

This package does not come with a working test suite.

Now, as the `root` user:

    make install

Install the systemd units and timers by running the following commands as the `root` user:

    install -v -m644 sysstat.service /usr/lib/systemd/system/sysstat.service                      &&
    install -v -m644 cron/sysstat-collect.service /usr/lib/systemd/system/sysstat-collect.service &&
    install -v -m644 cron/sysstat-collect.timer /usr/lib/systemd/system/sysstat-collect.timer     &&
    install -v -m644 cron/sysstat-rotate.service /usr/lib/systemd/system/sysstat-rotate.service   &&
    install -v -m644 cron/sysstat-rotate.timer /usr/lib/systemd/system/sysstat-rotate.timer       &&
    install -v -m644 cron/sysstat-summary.service /usr/lib/systemd/system/sysstat-summary.service &&
    install -v -m644 cron/sysstat-summary.timer /usr/lib/systemd/system/sysstat-summary.timer

Fix one of the systemd units by running the following command as the `root` user:

    sed -i "/^Also=/d" /usr/lib/systemd/system/sysstat.service

## Command Explanations

`sa_lib_dir`: This environment variable specifies the location of the package-specific library directory.

`sa_dir`: This environment variable specifies the location of the directory containing the data files.

`conf_dir`: This environment variable specifies the location of the system configuration directory.

`--disable-file-attr`: Do not set attributes on files being installed. This parameter causes the installation to ignore the man group variable resulting in the man files having `root`: `root` ownership.

### Note

Run ./configure --help to see other influential environment variables you can pass to configure. You may want to use the `history` and `compressafter` variables to customize the amount of data files kept on the system.

## Configuring Sysstat

### Config Files

`/etc/sysconfig/sysstat` and `/etc/sysconfig/sysstat.ioconf`

### System Startup Information

At system startup, a LINUX RESTART message must be inserted in the daily data file to reinitialize the kernel counters. This can be automated by enabling the previously installed systemd unit by running the following command as the `root` user:

    systemctl enable sysstat

In addition to placing the LINUX RESTART message into the daily data file, there are systemd timers installed which will automatically capture the required history information for the sar command.

## Contents

Installed Programs: cifsiostat, iostat, mpstat, pidstat, sadf, sar, and tapestat
Installed Libraries: None
Installed Directories: /usr/lib/sa, /usr/share/doc/sysstat-12.7.9 and /var/log/sa

### Short Descriptions

cifsiostat | displays statistics about read and write operations on CIFS filesystems
iostat | reports CPU statistics and input/output statistics for devices and partitions
mpstat | writes activities for each available processor
pidstat | is used for monitoring individual tasks currently being managed by the Linux kernel
sadf | is used for displaying the contents of data files created by the sar command. But unlike sar, sadf can write its data in many different formats
sar | is used for displaying the contents of elected cumulative activity counters in the operating system
tapestat | is used for monitoring the activity of tape drives connected to a system

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