PerformanceCounterCategory -> GetInstanceNames do not return all instances (SMB Client Shares)

Question

Hi

I'm trying to get a list of all InstanceNames on the PerformanceCategory "SMB Client Shares" in C# like this:

PerformanceCounterCategory smbClientShares = new PerformanceCounterCategory("SMB Client Shares");
smbClientShares.ReadCategory();
string[] instances = smbClientShares.GetInstanceNames();

foreach(string inst in instances)
{
	Console.WriteLine(inst);
}

The case is that this do not return all InstanceNames on "SMB Client Shares" that I see when I look in PerfMon. My C# code returns "*" and "_Total". But PerfMon do also show instanceNames like "\cl-sofs-smb\VMs1", "\cl-sofs-smb\VMs2" and "\cl-sofs-smb\VMs3"

Doing the same operation in PowerShell gives me this:

PS C:\> (New-Object System.Diagnostics.PerformanceCounterCategory("SMB Client Shares")).GetInstanceNames()
*
_Total

PS C:\>
PS C:\>
PS C:\> Get-Counter -ListSet "SMB Client shares"

CounterSetName     : SMB Client Shares
MachineName        : .
CounterSetType     : MultiInstance
Description        : This counter set displays information about server shares that are being accessed by the client us
                     ing SMB protocol version 2 or higher.
Paths              : {\SMB Client Shares(*)\Credit Stalls/sec, \SMB Client Shares(*)\Metadata Requests/sec, \SMB Client
                      Shares(*)\Avg. Data Queue Length, \SMB Client Shares(*)\Avg. Write Queue Length...}
PathsWithInstances : {\SMB Client Shares(\cl-sofs-smb\VMs3)\Credit Stalls/sec, \SMB Client Shares(\localhost
                     \IPC$)\Credit Stalls/sec, \SMB Client Shares(\cl-sofs-smb\VMs2)\Credit Stalls/sec, \SMB
                      Client Shares(\cl-sofs-smb\VMs1)\Credit Stalls/sec...}
Counter            : {\SMB Client Shares(*)\Credit Stalls/sec, \SMB Client Shares(*)\Metadata Requests/sec, \SMB Client
                      Shares(*)\Avg. Data Queue Length, \SMB Client Shares(*)\Avg. Write Queue Length...}

PS C:\>

Can anyone explain why I get more PerformanceCounter instances returned when I use the PowerShell Get-Counter than when I use the C# function? And how can I get all the missing instance names with use of C# ??

Br. Rune

Answer 1

Hi Br.Rune,

>>The case is that this do not return all InstanceNames on "SMB Client Shares" that I see when I look in PerfMon. My C# code returns "*" and "_Total".

Yes, I also tested on my side, it is the same as yours. One instance for each processor and an instance called _Total which means the total processor time used on all processors.

>>how can I get all the missing instance names with use of C# ??

Please try to use the following code.

class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            PerformanceCounterCategory smbClientShares = new PerformanceCounterCategory("SMB Client Shares");
            smbClientShares.ReadCategory();
            //string[] instances = smbClientShares.GetInstanceNames();
            //Console.WriteLine(smbClientShares.CategoryName);
            //Console.WriteLine(smbClientShares.MachineName);

            //foreach (string inst in instances)
            //{
            //    Console.WriteLine(inst);
            //}

            ListCounters("SMB Client Shares");
            ListInstances(smbClientShares, "*");
    Console.Read();
  
           


        }


        public static void ListCounters(string categoryName)
        {
            PerformanceCounterCategory category = PerformanceCounterCategory.GetCategories().First(c => c.CategoryName == categoryName);
            Console.WriteLine("{0} [{1}]", category.CategoryName, category.CategoryType);

            string[] instanceNames = category.GetInstanceNames();

            if (instanceNames.Length > 0)
            {
                // MultiInstance categories
                foreach (string instanceName in instanceNames)
                {
                    ListInstances(category, instanceName);
                }
            }
            else
            {
                // SingleInstance categories
                ListInstances(category, string.Empty);
            }
        }

        private static void ListInstances(PerformanceCounterCategory category, string instanceName)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("    {0}", instanceName);
            PerformanceCounter[] counters = category.GetCounters(instanceName);

            foreach (PerformanceCounter counter in counters)
            {
                Console.WriteLine("        {0}", counter.CounterName);
            }
        }
    }

Here is the result

Hope this helps!

Best regards,

Kristin

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Answer 2

Hi. Thanks for your answer :)

I still with this code only get the "*" and "_Total" instancename returned. In other words still missing the actual SMB Client share instances i have on my system. The powershell Get-Counter cmdlet do some magic to return PathsWithInstances and not ony Paths. The mystery is what C# code is behind finding "PathsWithInstances". Would be very happy if I could get help solving this mystery :)

Br. Rune

Answer 3

Hi. Thanks for your answer :)

I still with this code only get the "*" and "_Total" instancename returned. In other words still missing the actual SMB Client share instances i have on my system. The powershell Get-Counter cmdlet do some magic to return PathsWithInstances and not ony Paths. The mystery is what C# code is behind finding "PathsWithInstances". Would be very happy if I could get help solving this mystery :)

Br. Rune

@Br.Rune,

Since I don't know what your real scenario is. Do you try my code as above? How about the result? Please let me know.

Best regards,

Kristin

---

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Answer 4

Hi Kristin

Yes, I have tried your code. And this code for the "SMB Client Shares" PerformanceCategory do return the instances "*" and "_Total".

As shown by the Powershell command above the PathsWithInstances output shows that I have some more instances on my system that the C# code do not return. This is also true if I look in the PerfMon:

So my question is why is not the C# GetInstanceNames not able to find/return all the instances for this "SMB CLient Shares" PerformanceCategory? Could it be because of the "\" in these instance names?

Br. Rune

Answer 5

Hi Br.Rune,

It is weird,  I suspect it's a product issue and I would recommend you submit a feedback in http://connect.microsoft.com. Someone who comes from Microsoft will help you support this.

If you finish submit, please also remember to post the link here. I will help you vote it.

Best regards,

Kristin

---

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Answer 6

Hi Kristin

Thanks for your help :) I have submitted feedback in https://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/feedback/details/2723276/performancecountercategory-getinstancenames-do-not-return-all-instances

Br. Rune

Answer 7

Hi Kristin

Thanks for your help :) I have submitted feedback in https://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/feedback/details/2723276/performancecountercategory-getinstancenames-do-not-return-all-instances

Br. Rune

@Br. Rune,

I also suggest you add a simplified demo to the attachment. But not just this MSDN link.   It could be better for someone who researches this issue.

Best regards,

Kristin  

---

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Answer 8

Hi Kristin

Thanks for your help :) I have submitted feedback in https://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/feedback/details/2723276/performancecountercategory-getinstancenames-do-not-return-all-instances

Br. Rune

Hi Br. Rune,

Have you ever found a solution to this?