# Benchmark your platform with System Characterization

## In this learning path

- [Introduction](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/performix-system-characterization/)
- [Set up Performix and the target machine](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/performix-system-characterization/1-setup/)
- [Benchmark your platform with System Characterization](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/performix-system-characterization/2-run-system-characterization/)
- [View benchmark results in the Performix UI](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/performix-system-characterization/3-view-data-in-performix/)
- [View raw benchmark results and generated plots](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/performix-system-characterization/4-open-results-directory/)
- [Next Steps](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/performix-system-characterization/_next-steps/)

## Run the System Characterization recipe
To understand your platform’s memory performance in its current configuration, run the System Characterization recipe in Arm Performix.

![System Characterization configuration screen in Arm Performix](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/performix-system-characterization/./preparing-target.webp)  
*System Characterization configuration screen in Arm Performix*

You can collect the default benchmark set, gather only static system configuration details, or select individual benchmarks to run.

Select the target you configured in the setup section. If this is your first run on this target, you might need to select **Install Tools** to copy the collection tools to the target. After the tools are installed, the target status changes to **Ready**.

The **Workload type** field is fixed at **Profile the whole system**. System Characterization examines the full platform. It does not profile an individual application or workload.

Arm Performix runs a pre-run check to confirm that required packages such as `numactl` are installed.

![Pre-run check confirming required packages are available](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/performix-system-characterization/./pre-run-check-succeeds.webp)  
*Pre-run check confirming required packages are available*

When the configuration is complete, select **Run Recipe** to launch the workload and collect performance data. Arm Performix shows a progress indicator with an estimated completion time. If you manually select many benchmarks, the run can take around 30 minutes.

> **Note**  
> Ensure you have passwordless `sudo` configured for the user account you are using to SSH. For more information about preparing your target for Arm Performix connections, see the [Arm Performix User Guide](https://developer.arm.com/documentation/110163/2026-2-1/Prepare-your-target-for-Arm-Performix-connections/Configure-SSH-access-and-privileges-on-Linux-targets/Set-up-passwordless-sudo-access-on-Linux).

![System Characterization progress view during benchmark collection](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/performix-system-characterization/./collecting-benchmarks.webp)  
*System Characterization progress view during benchmark collection*

## View the run results
The System Characterization recipe generates several result views. Arm Performix presents tabular data in views such as **Idle Latency** and **Peak Bandwidth**. Raw data, `.csv` files, and plots are available through the **Open Run Directory** button on the **Summary** tab. In the following sections, you’ll explore several of these result views.

![System Characterization summary view after the run completes](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/performix-system-characterization/./report-generated.webp)  
*System Characterization summary view after the run completes*

## What you’ve accomplished and what’s next
You’ve run the System Characterization recipe on your target machine and viewed the generated results.

Next, you’ll examine benchmark data collected from the individual tests.