> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://mariadb.com/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://mariadb.com/docs/analytics/mariadb-columnstore/high-availability/optimization-and-tuning/profiling-memory-usage-with-heaptrack.md).

# Profiling Memory Usage with Heaptrack

Heaptrack is a memory profiler used to track allocation patterns, locate memory leaks, and analyze consumption spikes in MariaDB ColumnStore subprocesses, specifically `PrimProc`. The outputs help generate performance flame graphs for deep-dive engineering diagnostics.

## Installation

1. Clone the directory:

   ```bash
   git clone https://github.com/KDE/heaptrack.git
   ```
2. Install the development tools group:

   ```bash
   dnf group install "Development Tools" -y
   ```
3. Create the build folder layout:

   ```bash
   cd heaptrack
   mkdir build
   cd build
   ```
4. Install prerequisite library dependencies:

   ```bash
   yum install cmake libunwind libunwind-devel boost boost-devel -y
   ```
5. Configure the build files for a Release target:

   ```bash
   cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release .. # look for messages about missing dependencies!
   ```
6. Compile the tracking application:

   ```bash
   make -j$(nproc)
   ```
7. Verify the compiled tracking binary target path:

   ```bash
   ls -la /home/rocky/heaptrack/build/bin/heaptrack
   ```

## Running a Memory Profile

1. Stop the active process service:

   ```
   systemctl stop mcs-primproc
   ```
2. Relaunch the process in the foreground under Heaptrack:

   ```
   /home/rocky/heaptrack/build/bin/heaptrack /usr/bin/PrimProc -f
   ```

## Capturing and Sharing Results

1. Check system logs for process behaviors:

   ```bash
   journalctl -ru mcs-primproc
   ```
2. Stop the process service wrapper instance:

   ```bash
   systemctl stop mcs-primproc
   ```
3. Halt the tracing session: Press `Ctrl` + `C` in the active heaptrack window.
4. Share the compressed data profile with engineering: Locate and transfer the resulting archive artifact:

   ```
   /home/rocky/heaptrack/build/heaptrack.PrimProc.37747.zst
   ```

## Historical Engineering References

The following benchmarking and signal commands are preserved from internal engineering logs as testing options and should be adapted carefully based on your specific verification context:

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```bash
# Simulating database workloads via sysbench:
# time sysbench /mnt/data/perf/s21.lua --mysql-db=tpc_h --mysql-user=root --skip_trx --events=8 --threads=5 --time=3600 run --histogram --report-interval=1

# Triggering a manual process crash context:
# kill -SIGHUP $(pidof PrimProc);
```

{% endcode %}

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