libkstat

Libkstat is a software library designed for the Solaris operating system, primarily used to access and manipulate system statistics and kernel metrics. Developed by Sun Microsystems (now Oracle Corporation), libkstat provides a standardized interface for querying kernel statistics related to system performance, hardware, and network interfaces.

The library allows applications to retrieve real-time data on various system components including CPU utilization, memory usage, device statistics, and network activity. It abstracts the complexities of the underlying kernel data structures, enabling developers to write portable and efficient system monitoring tools. Libkstat is often employed in system utilities, performance analysis tools, and monitoring systems to gather detailed insights into system health and performance metrics.

Libkstat operates as a user-space library that interacts with kernel drivers to access the kernel statistics subsystem. It provides functions for creating, reading, updating, and deleting kstat entries, which are data structures representing different system components and metrics. The library also supports notifications for changes in system statistics, facilitating event-driven monitoring.

While primarily associated with Solaris, libkstat is integral to the Solaris process management and performance troubleshooting. Its design emphasizes stability, efficiency, and ease of use in system diagnostics and resource management tasks.

In summary, libkstat is a key component for system administrators and developers needing detailed kernel statistics on Solaris systems, supporting both performance tuning and system monitoring endeavors.