# pmnsdel

## NAME



           **pmnsdel** - delete a subtree of names from the Performance Co-Pilot
           PMNS
    


## SYNOPSIS



           **$PCP_BINADM_DIR/pmnsdel**[**-?**]  [**-D** _debug_] [**-n** _namespace_] _metricpath_
           [...]
    


## DESCRIPTION



           **pmnsdel** removes subtrees of names from a Performance Metrics Name
           Space (PMNS), as used by the components of the Performance Co-
           Pilot (PCP).
    
           Normally **pmnsdel** operates on the default Performance Metrics Name
           Space (PMNS), however if the **-n** option is specified an alternative
           namespace is used from the file _namespace_.
    
           The default PMNS is found in the file _$PCP_VAR_DIR/pmns/root_
           unless the environment variable **PMNS_DEFAULT** is set, in which case
           the value is assumed to be the pathname to the file containing the
           default PMNS.
    
           The metric names to be deleted are all those for which one of the
           _metricpath_ arguments is a prefix in the PMNS, see PMNS(5).
    
           All of the files defining the PMNS must be located within the
           directory that contains the root of the PMNS, and this would
           typically be **$PCP_VAR_DIR/pmns** for the default PMNS, and this
           would typically imply running **pmnsdel** as root.
    
           Provided some initial integrity checks are satisfied, **pmnsdel** will
           update the necessary PMNS files.  Should an error be encountered
           the original namespace is restored.  Note that any PMNS files that
           are no longer referenced by the modified namespace will not be
           removed, even though their contents are not part of the new
           namespace.
    


## OPTIONS



           The available command line options are:
    
           **-n** _pmnsfile_ , **--namespace** =_pmnsfile_
                Load an alternative Performance Metrics Name Space (PMNS(5))
                from the file _pmnsfile_.
    
           **-?** , **--help**
                Display usage message and exit.
    


## CAVEATS



           Once the writing of the new _namespace_ file has begun, the signals
           SIGINT, SIGHUP and SIGTERM will be ignored to protect the
           integrity of the new files.
    


## FILES



           _$PCP_VAR_DIR/pmns/root_
                the default PMNS, when the environment variable **PMNS_DEFAULT**
                is unset
    


## PCP ENVIRONMENT



           Environment variables with the prefix **PCP_** are used to
           parameterize the file and directory names used by PCP.  On each
           installation, the file _/etc/pcp.conf_ contains the local values for
           these variables.  The **$PCP_CONF** variable may be used to specify an
           alternative configuration file, as described in pcp.conf(5).
    


## DEBUGGING OPTIONS



           The **-D** or **--debug** option enables the output of additional
           diagnostics on _stderr_ to help triage problems, although the
           information is sometimes cryptic and primarily intended to provide
           guidance for developers rather end-users.  _debug_ is a comma
           separated list of debugging options; use pmdbg(1) with the **-l**
           option to obtain a list of the available debugging options and
           their meaning.
    


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