---
id: 6974ed1a-616e-11ee-8c99-0242ac120002
---

# Debugging Cassandra Processes Using strace
---

This incident type refers to the process of using the strace command to identify and debug issues with Cassandra processes. Strace is a debugging tool that can be used to monitor system calls made by a process, which can help diagnose problems such as application crashes, performance issues, and other errors that may occur during the Cassandra process. This process is commonly used by software engineers and developers to troubleshoot issues with Cassandra and is an important step in resolving incidents related to this database management system.

### Parameters
```shell
export CASSANDRA="PLACEHOLDER"

export OUTPUT_FILE="PLACEHOLDER"

export ERROR="PLACEHOLDER"

export PATH_TO_STRACE_LOG_FILE="PLACEHOLDER"
```

## Debug

### Step 1: Identify the PID of the Cassandra process
```shell
pid=$(pgrep -f ${CASSANDRA})
```

### Step 2: Start strace on the process
```shell
strace -p $pid -o ${OUTPUT_FILE}
```

### Step 3: Analyze the strace output for issues
```shell
grep -i ${ERROR} ${OUTPUT_FILE}
```


This incident type refers to the process of using the strace command to identify and debug issues with Cassandra processes. Strace is a debugging tool that can be used to monitor system calls made by a process, which can help diagnose problems such as application crashes, performance issues, and other errors that may occur during the Cassandra process. This process is commonly used by software engineers and developers to troubleshoot issues with Cassandra and is an important step in resolving incidents related to this database management system.


A high CPU load incident occurs when the CPU usage of a host or server exceeds a certain threshold, typically 80%. This can cause slowdowns, unresponsiveness, or even crashes in the affected system. It is critical to address this issue promptly to minimize impact on users and prevent further damage to the system.


High CPU Load Incident

This incident type relates to identifying slow running queries on the Cassandra database and determining the users responsible for running them. Slow queries can cause performance issues and impact the overall efficiency of the system. Identifying and troubleshooting slow queries is crucial for maintaining optimal performance and ensuring smooth operations of the database. The incident may require investigating the root cause of the slow queries, optimizing the database configuration and queries, and providing recommendations to mitigate future incidents.


Slow Running Queries on Cassandra

This incident type refers to a situation where there is a significant delay in the execution of queries on a Cassandra cluster. This delay can cause the system to become unresponsive and result in slower performance. It may be caused by a variety of factors such as an increase in traffic, inefficient queries, or hardware issues. The issue can impact the functionality of the system and requires immediate attention to prevent further disruption.


Slow Query Performance on Cassandra Cluster.

This incident type refers to a performance degradation issue in a Cassandra database caused by the new generation garbage collection (GC) process. Garbage collection is a process by which the unused memory occupied by objects in a program is cleared. In some cases, the new generation GC process may take longer than usual, causing performance issues in the Cassandra database. This could lead to slowness in queries or even crashing of the database.


Performance Degradation Due to New Generation Garbage Collection on Cassandra

Excessive load on Cassandra incident refers to a situation where there is an overload of requests or data processing on the Cassandra database management system. This can cause the system to slow down or even crash, resulting in service disruptions and downtime. This incident can occur due to various factors such as increased user traffic, inefficient queries, or hardware issues.


Excessive Load on Cassandra

```shell
export CASSANDRA="PLACEHOLDER"

export OUTPUT_FILE="PLACEHOLDER"

export ERROR="PLACEHOLDER"

export PATH_TO_STRACE_LOG_FILE="PLACEHOLDER"
```


### Step 1: Identify the PID of the Cassandra process

```shell
pid=$(pgrep -f ${CASSANDRA})
```

### Step 2: Start strace on the process

```shell
strace -p $pid -o ${OUTPUT_FILE}
```

### Step 3: Analyze the strace output for issues

```shell
grep -i ${ERROR} ${OUTPUT_FILE}
```


Debugging Cassandra Processes Using strace

Overview

Parameters

Debug

Step 1: Identify the PID of the Cassandra process

Step 2: Start strace on the process

Step 3: Analyze the strace output for issues

Learn more

Related Runbooks

High CPU Load Incident

Slow Running Queries on Cassandra

Slow Query Performance on Cassandra Cluster.

Performance Degradation Due to New Generation Garbage Collection on Cassandra

Support