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4 Replies Last post: Jul 6, 2009 12:03 PM by bevans  
bevans Enthusiast
bevans
35 posts since
Oct 4, 2007
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Jul 1, 2009 6:41 PM

Software Usage on Linux

Hi Team,

 

I have a customer who is seeing the CPU spike up to 90%+ when trying to use software usage.  They have a need to be able to harvest licenses on applications that are not used as well as using the data from SU to determine who to target for communications regarding software that they are actively using.

 

They were informed by support that they should not turn on Software Usage on Linux as this is normal behavior.

 

Can anyone explain why the Linux tuners cause the CPU issues and suggest any work around solution that other folks have used that have mixed Windows/Linux enviroments.

 

Thanks,

 

Brad

Jake Morgan HotShot
Jake Morgan
152 posts since
Jan 26, 2007
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1. Jul 2, 2009 8:55 AM in response to: bevans
Re: Software Usage on Linux
I was involved with the initial prototype of SU for *nixes. I wrote a script that did a process table scrape every sec. I don't recall what method engineering decided to go with. One of the more difficult items with *nixes is that scripts are "executable" which can load other programs etc.
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bevans Enthusiast
bevans
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Oct 4, 2007
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2. Jul 2, 2009 10:26 AM in response to: Jake Morgan
Re: Software Usage on Linux
Thanks, Jake.  Did you recall seeing the CPU spike up while this was running?  Futhermore, does the process table scrape run continuously or does it only check when the scanner service it running?
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pseagers Expert
pseagers
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Jan 31, 2007
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3. Jul 3, 2009 2:01 AM in response to: bevans
Re: Software Usage on Linux

I have seen CPU usage issues with Software Usage on Unix with 7.2.02. However, this is not normal behaviour and should be reported as a defect. If it works the same way as the Windows code, it checks the process table on a pretty frequent schedule (every 1-2 minutes) all the time (it has to do this to ensure that it picks up processes starting). I do have to say that I don't actually know anyone who wants to use it on Unix as it is generally a desktop requirement for licensing reasons.

 

Rgds,

 

Paul

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bevans Enthusiast
bevans
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Oct 4, 2007
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4. Jul 6, 2009 12:03 PM in response to: pseagers
Re: Software Usage on Linux

Thanks Paul.  I believe they want to use it for a slightly different function.  They want to compile an accurate list of people that need to be notified when updates/patches are ready on applications that they deploy using Marimba.  They want to omit those folks who have the application loaded but have not used it in x/days.

 

I will get a bit more data on this from the customer and will create a bug ticket if necessary.  The customer submitted a support ticket and was told that by turning on Windows SU, it was normal for the Linux systems to peg the CPU.  They are understandable not too happy with that response.

 

Cheers,

 

Brad

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