No data collected when profiling .NET class library with Visual Studio 2012

Question

I'm trying to performance profile the C5 Generic Collection Library for C# and CLI with Visual Studio 2012 Ultimate. Since the project has no executable I've made a new Console Application project in the solution. The project contains a simple class with a main method creating one of the data structures with a large collection of elements. The problem is that my CPU sampling always returns with the following output:

Profiling started.
Profiling process ID 2684 (C5.Performance).
Process ID 2684 has exited.
Data written to C:\<some path>\C5\C5.Performance130904.vsp.
Profiling finished.
PRF0025: No data was collected.
Profiling complete.

and a confirm box that says PRF0025: No data was collected. I've tried to changed the collection size so the CPU would have more to do, but without any luck. I have no problem doing .NET memory allocation profiling.

I run Windows 7 on a VirtualBox on a OSX host.

Answer 1

I am coming across the same issue. The common factor is VirtualBox.

CPU sampling does not always work in VirtualBox. It is to do with a bug in VirtualBox where it does not properly implement a hardware clock. I suspect the problem could be hardware specific, it may work under some machines but not others. I know for certain that it doesn't work under my hardware configuration.

See the links below for more details:

A VirtualBox bug ticket detailing the problem

A ServerFault Question with detailed answers on the problem

I do not have a solution to the problem but it is definitely a problem that exists in VirtualBox.

Answer 2

Enable Collect .NET object allocation information under the property pages:

1. In Performance Explorer , right-click the performance session, and then click Properties .
2. On the Performance Session Property Pages dialog box, click the General tab, and select the Collect .NET object allocation information check box.
3. To collect .NET object lifetime data, select the Also collect .NET object lifetime information check box.