Intel has released 17 patches for the Linux kernel with the aim of integrating pmtctl, a tool designed to query hardware telemetry metrics. This utility relies on a reusable library and a CLI interface with list and stat commands, intended for developers who need access to precise data from Intel Platform Monitoring Technology (PMT).
How pmtctl works and what it needs to operate 🔧
The tool requires elevated privileges to run and depends on JSON metric files, which are obtained from the Intel-PMT repository. The code will be hosted in the tools/arch/x86/pmtctl/ path of the kernel, facilitating its direct integration with the development ecosystem. The commands allow listing available PMT devices and querying real-time statistics, simplifying hardware monitoring on x86 systems.
17 patches so no one finds out about your metrics 🕵️
Intel has decided that the best way to share telemetry data is to hide it under 17 patches and require root permissions. Because, of course, nothing says trust like forcing you to escalate privileges to find out if your processor is sweating bullets. Sure, you have to look for the JSON files yourself in a repository, like a treasure hunt for adults eager to monitor hardware.