Bootchart is a tool for performance analysis and visualization of the GNU/Linux boot process. Resource utilization and process information are collected during the boot process and can later be rendered in a PNG, SVG or EPS encoded chart.
Installing Bootchart
Since Fedora 8, Bootchart is packaged in the Fedora repository. Just install the bootchart package, with the graphical package manager, or with yum.
Checking bootloader configuration
For Bootchart to work, a small change is needed to the bootloader configuration file - usually /boot/grub2/grub.cfg. This change should usually be made automatically when Bootchart is installed, but you can check to make sure. Edit the bootloader configuration file. Look at the entry for the kernel you usually boot (if you're not sure, it will be the first one). Check that, at the end of the kernel line, the phrase:
init=/sbin/bootchartd
Newer fedora installs with systemd may require a different parameter:
init=/usr/lib/systemd/systemd-bootchart
has been added. If not, add it now.
Using Bootchart
As long as the bootloader is correctly configured, from now on, each time your system boots, Bootchart will run and store data on the boot. The data is stored in the file /var/log/bootchart.tgz, but in its raw form is really only usable by developers. If you are helping to test boot times, you may be asked to upload this data somewhere. If you would like to see a chart of the boot process on your machine, run the command bootchart as root. It will generate a file named bootchart.png, wherever you run it from. This file is a graphical chart showing the boot process on your machine, as well as some information on your system and the total time of the boot process. It will look similar to this example:
File:BootChartInstallation bchart-39seconds.png
