Considerations

  1. This version runs only on Windows* 95 .
  2. One can use batch mode to set the required events and set the option of reading the counters from level 3 (This is the default if this line is omitted). Then, the application can read the results (the counters) directly from its code (ring 3).
  3.  Two or more instances of the PMON Utility are allowed. Notice that the second instance will refresh its event selection only once at start, but won’t be able to report on the right selection dynamically as the changes take place by other instances. On the other hand, it will show the changes in the counter totals. Also, if the second instance is the one that initiates the stop, it will report the right event.
  4. The Pmon utility does not use all the options provided in the performance monitoring of the processor. You can observe the exact programming value that the tool is using by looking at the stop message in the notification window. However the APIs allow the programmer to directly interface with the register and utilize more features.
  5. Notice that the Pentium Pro events are programmed with E bit set to 0. This means that all events are a duration type and not occurrence one.
  6. In the Pentium Pro case some events are only applicable to a specific counter. The current version of the Pmon utility does not prevent you from using it with the wrong counter. However the description of the event notifies you with the correct counter to use. See the Pentium Pro event table, events 55-60.
Table of Contents
Chapter 9