systemtap enhancement update

Updated systemtap packages that add enhancements are now available.

SystemTap is an instrumentation system for systems running the Linux 2.6
kernel. Developers can write scripts to collect data on the operation of
the system.

These updated packages add the following enhancements:

* a pair of SystemTap command line options, "-DRELAYHOST" and
"-DRELAYGUEST", make it possible for a single, long-running script to share
(host) its kernel trace buffers with a number of other concurrent (guest)
scripts. This can reduce overall memory consumption, and centralize the
trace message data.

* the systemtap packages have been updated to the latest upstream version
as of February 2008. For further information, refer to the
"/usr/share/doc/systemtap-[version]/NEWS" file.

Note: the Linux kernel may become unstable with excessive wildcard usage
that probes every part of the kernel. As well, certain test suite failures
can occur, which are of little consequence, due to debuginfo limitations,
or incomplete tapset porting.

SystemTap is no longer a technical preview, and now has production support.
It is recommended that scripts be run on development machines before being
deployed in production. Since SystemTap is an optional diagnostic tool, if
it causes problems, users can simply stop using the tool in that way.
Options such as "-g" for Guru mode, and "-D*" allow users to disable
several security checks. Scripts using these options may not be supported.

Red Hat will endeavor to fix problems in SystemTap or the Linux kernel as
they arise in connection with new scripts. In some cases, a fix may include
extending the blacklist for known areas of the Linux kernel that are unsafe
to probe. In such cases, scripts causing these problems would have to be
changed.

Users of systemtap are advised to upgrade to these updated packages, which
add these enhancements.

Before applying this update, make sure that all previously-released
errata relevant to your system have been applied.

This update is available via Red Hat Network. Details on how to use
the Red Hat Network to apply this update are available at
http://kbase.redhat.com/faq/FAQ_58_10188

310961 - systemtap refresh for RHEL4.7