PerformanceCounter Constructor

This overload of the constructor sets the CategoryName, CounterName, and InstanceName properties to empty strings (""), and sets the MachineName property to the local computer, (".").

This constructor does not initialize the performance counter, so it does not associate the instance with an existing counter on the local computer. To point to a specific performance counter, set the CategoryName, CounterName, and, optionally, the InstanceName and MachineName properties before reading any other properties or attempting to read from a counter. To write to a performance counter, set the ReadOnly property to false.

Note

The HostProtectionAttribute attribute applied to this member has the following Resources property value: Synchronization | SharedState. The HostProtectionAttribute does not affect desktop applications (which are typically started by double-clicking an icon, typing a command, or entering a URL in a browser). For more information, see the HostProtectionAttribute class or SQL Server Programming and Host Protection Attributes.

The following code example creates a default instance of the PerformanceCounter class. After the instance is created, the CategoryName, CounterName, and InstanceName property values are set, and the results of a call to the NextValue method are displayed.

			PerformanceCounter PC=new PerformanceCounter();
			PC.CategoryName="Process";
			PC.CounterName="Private Bytes";
			PC.InstanceName="Explorer";
			MessageBox.Show(PC.NextValue().ToString());

.NET Framework

.NET Framework Client Profile

• PerformanceCounterPermission 

  for reading the performance counter category if the ReadOnly property is true. Associated enumeration: PerformanceCounterPermissionAccess.Read.

• PerformanceCounterPermission 

  for writing the performance counter category if the ReadOnly property is false. Associated enumeration: PerformanceCounterPermissionAccess.Write.

Windows 8, Windows Server 2012, Windows 7, Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 (Server Core Role not supported), Windows Server 2008 R2 (Server Core Role supported with SP1 or later; Itanium not supported)

The .NET Framework does not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see .NET Framework System Requirements.

Reference