petsc-3.6.1 2015-08-06

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, superlu, 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 etc.

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