NightStar LX™ is an integrated set of debugging tools especially useful for developing time-critical Linux applications. NightStar LX tools are minimally intrusive, thus preserving application execution behavior and determinism. Users can quickly and easily debug, monitor, analyze and tune their applications.

NightStar LX graphics-based tools reduce test time, increase productivity and lower development costs. Time-critical applications require debugging tools that can handle the complexities of multiple processors, multitask interaction and multithreading. NightStar LX advanced features enable system builders to solve difficult problems quickly. NightStar LX includes the following tools:

• NightView source-level debugger
• NightTrace event analyzer
• NightProbe data monitor
• NightTune system and application tuner

All tools include integrated, context-sensitive on-line documentation. Help is available by simply clicking on the tool feature being used. NightStar LX is available on any Intel P4, Intel Xeon or AMD Opteron system running Red Hat® Linux Enterprise 4. Supported languages include C, C++ and Fortran compiled with either GNU or Intel compilers.

NightStar LX users can choose between two modes of operation – standard or enhanced. Standard mode operates with the standard Red Hat kernel. Enhanced mode takes advantage of NightStar LX kernel enhancements that empower enhanced tool features such as conditional breakpoints that run at application speed and Linux kernel tracing.

• Deterministic debugging, monitoring, tracing and tuning
• Ideal for time-critical applications
• Easy-to-use graphical user interface
• Support for any mix of GNU and Intel C/C++ and Fortran tasks
• Self-hosted or remote target system operation
• Comprehensive on-line help facilities

NightView™ Source-level Debugger

• Multi-system, multiprocessor, multi-process, multi-thread debugging via single interface
• Hot patches including breakpoints, monitorpoint and watchpoints
• Application speed conditions
• Dynamic memory debugging
• Modification and display of variables during execution

NightTrace™ Event Analyzer

• Synchronized graphical or text display of system and application activity
• User-defined event logging in single or multi-threaded applications
• Red Hat® kernel event logging including system calls
• Data analysis API

NightProbe™ Data Monitor

• Non-intrusive sampling and recording of program data
• Synchronous and asynchronous data capture
• Flexible data display features
• Sampling, recording and replay APIs

NightTune™ Performance Tuner

• Dynamic display of system and application performance
• Monitoring of CPU use, memory paging and network operation
• Interactive control of processes, priorities, policies and interrupts
• Dynamic CPU affinity control for processes, threads and interrupts