Managing Connections to PVRPerfServer in PVRTune

Upon launching PVRTune, the connection form is displayed in the center of the window as shown below. The various docking windows and options used for analysis purposes are disabled at this point, until a valid connection is made or a .PVRTune file is loaded.

• On the left you have a list of options to load data, from a .PVRTune file or live from PVRPerfServer. These options are also in the File or Connection menus.

• On the right you will have a list of recently used connections and files, and also any live PVRPerfServer processes that can be seen on the local subnet or connected devices. More information about the target can be seen by hovering over the item in the list. A connection can be attempted by selecting the desired target.

• At the bottom of the connection form are the Optional PVRPerfServer Parameters.

Open a file

A saved .PVRTune file can be loaded by selecting this option (or File → Open) and browsing to the required file. A file can also be loaded by dragging and dropping onto the PVRTune window.

Live Connection

Optional PVRPerfServer Parameters

The desired PVRPerfServer settings may be set up before attempting a connection to a target. Selecting the checkbox “Override PVRPerfServer Settings” enables this functionality. The options chosen here will be sent to PVRPerfServer when PVRTune first connects, and the options set will inform PVRPerfServer on how to configure the data stream. The options that are set here can also be altered later once a connection has been established.

Note

Enabling this setting will override any command-line options that have been set when launching an instance of PVRPerfServer on the target device.

Connecting to a Target Device in PVRTune

To connect to a target device running PVRPerfServer:

1. Click “Network connection…” and enter the IP address or IP resolvable name of the target device.

2. Press the OK button to start the connection. If an instance of PVRPerfServer is found, PVRTune will connect to the target device.

   Note

   The connection attempt can be cancelled by selecting the Cancel button.

Network connection (localhost)

A shortcut of the above “Connecting to a Target Device in PVRTune” that immediately attempts a connection to “localhost”. Connects to PVRPerfServer instances running locally, or on a local Android USB or Virtual device.

Connecting to a Target Device in PVRTune - Remote Deployment

PVRTune can attempt to deploy PVRPerfServer automatically to a target device, meaning users do not need to manually install and start PVRPerfServer on the target. PVRTune supports remote deployment to rooted Android devices and devices with SSH support. To setup a new ADB or SSH connection:

1. Select the “Network SSH connection…” or “Android network connection…” button on the left of the Connection form (or use the Connection menu). The window will then be displayed.

2. For Linux (SSH) connections you can choose whether to run with su privileges.

3. Provide the host name (IP resolvable name) or IP address of the target device.

4. If the target is an SSH connection, provide the authentication details.

5. Press Connect to begin connecting to the device immediately, or Save to store the device for future connections.

Android USB or Virtual Device connection - Remote Deployment

This is a shortcut for connecting to an Android device that is connected to the development machine.

Connecting Using a Broadcasting Server

When launched, and prior to making a connection, PVRPerfServer periodically broadcasts its existence to the subnet to which it is connected. The PVRTune GUI lists all the instances of PVRPerfServer broadcasting on the user’s subnet in the right section of the connection form.

Previously used connections and files

Shortcuts to previously used connections and files are shown on the right section of the connection form. To connect using a recently used connection, select the required connection from the list.

Viewing Connection Status in PVRTune

Data related to the connection status of PVRTune is displayed in the Status bar area of PVRTune GUI. The table below lists the details of the data that is displayed, from left to right, in the Status bar. An example of connection status is shown:

Data	Description
Status	This indicates the current status of PVRTune. The options are: Connecting, Deceiving, and Disconnected.
Time	This indicates how long PVRTune has been receiving data, or how long it was connected if the current status is Disconnected.
Count	The number of times PVRTune has performed an action related to its current status. For example, if PVRTune is currently receiving data, count will show how many times it has received data.
Counter per second	The rate at which the count value increases per second.
Gap	The average time period between actions as measured by the count value.
Receive rate	The rate at which PVRTune is receiving data.
DC%	The percentage progress towards automatic disconnect due to memory usage. After PVRTune has recorded 1GB of data, it disconnects from PVRPerfServer.
Group	The currently active counter group.

View and Modify PVRPerfServer Settings

The PVRPerfServer Details docking window can be used when PVRTune has an active connection to a PVRPerfServer. It can be accessed in several ways:

• Selecting View → PVRPerfServer Details;

• Click on the information/warning/error icon in the Status Bar.

This dialog box can be used to:

• Modify certain settings;

• View the current PVRPerfServer information;

• View more information about any warnings or errors encountered when running PVRPerfServer and PVRTune.

This dialog box allows PVRTune to remotely control the counter group that is currently active on PVRPerfServer (control is also possible from the Counter Table). It can also disable certain event types to reduce the performance impact of profiling or enable them for extra insight.

The table below summarises the different fields in the PVRPerfServer Details dialog box.

Field	Description
Group	The active counter group on PVRPerfServer. Different counter groups can be selected as appropriate. This will be hidden if there are fewer than two groups available.
Sample Time (ms)	Time, in milliseconds, between PVRPerfServer wake-ups. Each time PVRPerfServer wakes up, data from the device will be polled.
CPU Load Sample Time (ms)	Time, in milliseconds, between the CPU load samples taken by PVRPerfServer.
GPU Periodic	When this option is ticked, PVRTune received additional hardware counter readings, giving higher resolution graphs. This option is enabled by default.
GPU Timing	When this option is ticked, PVRTune receives Tiler or Renderer timing data. This option is enabled by default.
Operating System	The name and version details of the operating system of the target device.
Driver name	The version of the PowerVR driver being used.
Server Description	The PVRPerfServer name and version number.
Server Build	The release and build version of PVRPerfServer.
Server Connection Time (local)	The local time at which PVRPerfServer became connected.
Server connection Time (UTC)	The Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) at which PVRPerfServer became connected.
Device Variant	The variant-specific details of the device.
Device Series	The series-specific details of the device.

Ending a Connection to a PVRPerfServer

To close a connection, select Connection → Close. PVRPerfServer will continue to run, if ran manually; if ran via Remote Deployment it will be told to exit.

If real-time analysis is being performed, then selecting the Close option once will first stop connection to PVRPerfServer, allowing the data to be saved as a .PVRTune file or for continuing the analysis of received data. Selecting the Close option a second time will exit the analysis and return the user to the connection form.

In the case of offline analysis from a previously saved .PVRTune file, the Close option exits the analysis and returns to the Connection form.

Note

In some circumstances it can be useful to send a message to PVRPerfServer requesting the process to exit. This can be done by selecting Connection → PVRPerfServer → Send Quit Message.

Automatic Reconnection

While connected to an instance of PVRPerfServer, if the connection is lost, PVRTune will automatically present a dialog window which can either attempt to reconnect to the same target that was previously connected, or to abandon the connection and keep the currently received data.

Clicking “Never” will prevent this dialog from reappearing in the future, and can also be toggled in the Preferences menu.