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# View Source etop (observer v2.17)

Erlang Top is a tool for presenting information about Erlang processes similar to the information presented by "top" in UNIX.

Start Erlang Top with the provided scripts `etop`. This starts a hidden Erlang node that connects to the node to be measured. The measured node is specified with option `-node`. If the measured node has a different cookie than the default cookie for the user who invokes the script, the cookie must be explicitly specified with option `-setcookie`.

Under Windows, batch file `etop.bat` can be used.

When executing the `etop` script, configuration parameters can be specified as command-line options, for example, `etop -node testnode@myhost -setcookie MyCookie`. The following configuration parameters exist for the tool:

- `node` - The measured node.

  Value: `atom/0`

  Mandatory

- `setcookie` - Cookie to use for the `etop` node. Must be same as the cookie on the measured node.

  Value: `atom/0`

- `lines` - Number of lines (processes) to display.

  Value: `integer/0`

  Default: `10`

- `interval` - Time interval (in seconds) between each update of the display.

  Value: `integer/0`

  Default: `5`

- `accumulate` - If `true`, the execution time and reductions are accumulated.

  Value: `boolean/0`

  Default: `false`

- `sort` - Identifies what information to sort by.

  Value: `runtime | reductions | memory | msg_q`

  Default: `runtime` (`reductions` if `tracing=off`)

- `tracing` - `etop` uses the Erlang trace facility, and thus no other tracing is possible on the measured node while `etop` is running, unless this option is set to `off`. Also helpful if the `etop` tracing causes too high load on the measured node. With tracing off, runtime is not measured.

  Value: `on | off`

  Default: `on`

For details about Erlang Top, see the User's Guide.

# Summary

## Functions

config(Key, Value)

Changes the configuration parameters of the tool during runtime. Allowed parameters are `lines`, `interval`, `accumulate`, and `sort`.

dump(File)

Dumps the current display to a text file.

help()

Displays the help of `etop` and its options.

start()

Starts `etop`. Notice that `etop` is preferably started with the `etop` script.

start(Options)

Starts `etop`. To view the possible options, use `help/0`.

stop()

Terminates `etop`.

# Functions

# config(Key, Value)

    -spec config(Key, Value) -> ok | {error, Reason}
                    when Key :: lines | interval | accumulate | sort, Value :: term(), Reason :: term().

Changes the configuration parameters of the tool during runtime. Allowed parameters are `lines`, `interval`, `accumulate`, and `sort`.

# dump(File)

    -spec dump(File) -> ok | {error, Reason} when File :: file:filename_all(), Reason :: term().

Dumps the current display to a text file.

# help()

(since OTP R15B01)

    -spec help() -> ok.

Displays the help of `etop` and its options.

# start()

(since OTP R15B01)

    -spec start() -> ok.

Starts `etop`. Notice that `etop` is preferably started with the `etop` script.

# start(Options)

(since OTP R15B01)

    -spec start(Options) -> ok when Options :: [{Key, Value}], Key :: atom(), Value :: term().

Starts `etop`. To view the possible options, use `help/0`.

# stop()

    -spec stop() -> stop | not_started.

Terminates `etop`.