petsc-3.3-p7 2013-05-11

MatGetFactorAvailable

Returns a a flag if matrix supports particular package and factor type

#include "petscmat.h" 
PetscErrorCode  MatGetFactorAvailable(Mat mat, const MatSolverPackage type,MatFactorType ftype,PetscBool  *flg)

Not Collective

	mat	- the matrix
	type	- name of solver type, for example, spooles, superlu, plapack, petsc (to use PETSc's default)
	ftype	- factor type, MAT_FACTOR_LU, MAT_FACTOR_CHOLESKY, MAT_FACTOR_ICC, MAT_FACTOR_ILU,

flg -PETSC_TRUE if the factorization is available

Some PETSc matrix formats have alternative solvers available that are contained in alternative packages such as pastix, superlu, mumps, spooles etc.

PETSc must have been ./configure to use the external solver, using the option --download-package