linux dot utility (with xhprof)

Question

i installed the xhprof profiling extension for php

Everything is fine except for the callgraph.php file, it returns: failed to shell execute cmd=" dot -Tpng"

so i checked and the dot utility wasn't installed, so i installed it.

it appears to be running fine from the command line so i ran the scritp again, same error: failed to shell execute cmd=" dot -Tpng"

the xhprof documentation states: the callgraph image visualization ([View Callgraph]) feature relies on the presence of Graphviz "dot" utility in your path.

but i don't understand what i need to do now, specifically the "utility in your path" part

Any help appreciated, thanks guys

Answer 1

If you want graphing functions for xhprof run next command in terminal:

sudo apt-get install graphviz

Answer 2

When I enable error_reporting, I see there are some configuration variable are missing:

function xhprof_generate_image_by_dot($dot_script, $type) {
  // get config => yep really dirty - but unobstrusive
  global $_xhprof;

  $errorFile    = $_xhprof['dot_errfile'];
  $tmpDirectory = $_xhprof['dot_tempdir'];
  $dotBinary    = $_xhprof['dot_binary'];

After add the following lines to xhprof_lib/config.php, it works

$_xhprof['dot_errfile'] = '/home/peniel/var/log/xhprof/error.log';
$_xhprof['dot_tempdir'] = '/home/peniel/var/log/xhprof';
$_xhprof['dot_binary'] = '/usr/bin/dot';

Answer 3

If you have installed graphviz this error also will occure because of the security restrictions. Some functions may be disabled. So, see your logs for some php warnings.

For example:

PHP Warning:  proc_open() has been disabled for security reasons in /usr/share/php/xhprof_lib/utils/callgraph_utils.php on line 112

You need to configure php.ini or security.ini parameter "disable_functions".