---
name: "trace-cmd-split"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "trace-cmd"
version: "3.4-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/trace-cmd-split"
---

# trace-cmd-split(1)

split a trace.dat file into smaller files

## NAME

trace-cmd-split - split a trace.dat file into smaller files

## SYNOPSIS

**trace-cmd split** \[*OPTIONS*\] \[*start-time* \[*end-time*\]\]

## DESCRIPTION

The [trace-cmd(1)](/trace-cmd/1.md) split is used to break up a trace.dat into small files. The *start-time* specifies where the new file will start at. Using *[trace-cmd-report(1)](/trace-cmd-report/1.md)* and copying the time stamp given at a particular event, can be used as input for either *start-time* or *end-time*. The split will stop creating files when it reaches an event after *end-time*. If only the end-time is needed, use 0.0 as the start-time.

If start-time is left out, then the split will start at the beginning of the file. If end-time is left out, then split will continue to the end unless it meets one of the requirements specified by the options.

## OPTIONS

- **-i** *file*

  If this option is not specified, then the split command will look for the file named *trace.dat*. This options will allow the reading of another file other than *trace.dat*.

- **-o** *file*

  By default, the split command will use the input file name as a basis of where to write the split files. The output file will be the input file with an attached '.#\\' to the end: trace.dat.1, trace.dat.2, etc.

  ```
  This option will change the name of the base file used.
  ```

  ```
  -o file  will create file.1, file.2, etc.
  ```

- **-s** *seconds*

  This specifies how many seconds should be recorded before the new file should stop.

- **-m** *milliseconds*

  This specifies how many milliseconds should be recorded before the new file should stop.

- **-u** *microseconds*

  This specifies how many microseconds should be recorded before the new file should stop.

- **-e** *events*

  This specifies how many events should be recorded before the new file should stop.

- **-p** *pages*

  This specifies the number of pages that should be recorded before the new file should stop.

  ```
  Note: only one of *-p*, *-e*, *-u*, *-m*, *-s* may be specified at a time.
  ```

  ```
  If *-p* is specified, then *-c* is automatically set.
  ```

- **-r**

  This option causes the break up to repeat until end-time is reached (or end of the input if end-time is not specified).

  ```
  trace-cmd split -r -e 10000
  ```

  ```
  This will break up trace.dat into several smaller files, each with at most
  10,000 events in it.
  ```

- **-c**

  This option causes the above break up to be per CPU.

  ```
  trace-cmd split -c -p 10
  ```

  ```
  This will create a file that has 10 pages per each CPU from the input.
  ```

- **-C** *cpu*

  This option will split for a single CPU. Only the cpu named will be extracted from the file.

  ```
  trace-cmd split -C 1
  ```

  ```
  This will split out all the events for cpu 1 in the file.
  ```

- **--top**

  This allows to keep the top buffer. The top buffer can be renamed using the *-b* option.

  ```
  trace-cmd split --top
  ```

  ```
  This will keep only the top buffer.
  ```

  ```
  trace-cmd split --top -b old_top
  ```

  ```
  This will keep only the top buffer and rename it 'old_top'.
  ```

- **-B** *buffer*

  This allows to keep the selected buffer. A buffer can be promoted to the top buffer using the *-t* option.

  ```
  trace-cmd split -B timer -B sched
  ```

  ```
  This will keep the 'timer' and 'sched' buffers.
  ```

  ```
  trace-cmd split -B timer -t -B sched
  ```

  ```
  This will keep the 'timer' and 'sched' buffers, with the events
  from the 'timer' buffer promoted to the top instance.
  ```

## SEE ALSO

[trace-cmd(1)](/trace-cmd/1.md), [trace-cmd-record(1)](/trace-cmd-record/1.md), [trace-cmd-report(1)](/trace-cmd-report/1.md), [trace-cmd-start(1)](/trace-cmd-start/1.md), [trace-cmd-stop(1)](/trace-cmd-stop/1.md), [trace-cmd-extract(1)](/trace-cmd-extract/1.md), [trace-cmd-reset(1)](/trace-cmd-reset/1.md), [trace-cmd-list(1)](/trace-cmd-list/1.md), [trace-cmd-listen(1)](/trace-cmd-listen/1.md)

## AUTHOR

Written by Steven Rostedt, \<**rostedt@goodmis.org**\[1\]\>

## RESOURCES

**https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/utils/trace-cmd/trace-cmd.git/**

## COPYING

Copyright (C) 2010 Red Hat, Inc. Free use of this software is granted under the terms of the GNU Public License (GPL).

## NOTES

- 1\.

  rostedt@goodmis.org

  mailto:rostedt@goodmis.org