NimBUS for iSeries AS400 Monitoring
Summary:
The solution automatically monitors iSeries AS400 message queues
and log files, jobs, directory and file integrity, plus monitoring
for a myriad of system statistics such as processing unit, storage,
users and more. All iSeries AS400 status data is analyzed and displayed
in graphical alarm dashboards, performance reports, and SLA compliance
reports.
Download
our iSeries AS400 Monitoring Solution Overview Whitepaper
NimBUS for iSeries AS400 Monitoring aids in management
productivity, system availability, and achieving peak system performance.
Primary features:
- Automated 7x24 system health check monitoring
- Automated data collection for historical performance reporting
and trend analysis
- Automated SLA-based performance monitoring and service compliance
reporting
Additional features:
- Monitors storage, jobs, users, processing unit, addresses, log
file, directories and files, and more
- Alert escalation and flexible notification options, i.e. email,
SMS, cell, pager, and more
- Windows-based GUI simplifies and centralizes monitoring configuration
- Customizable web-based alarm dashboards and reporting
- Modular monitoring probes - install just what is needed
- Extremely quick to install and easy to implement - initial setup
in less than an hour with only seconds to minutes required for
each additional iSeries AS400 system
- Integral with NimBUS multi-platform server support; UNIX, Linux,
Netware, and Windows
Five (5) NimBUS probes run independently or concurrently
for maximum visibility into the iSeries AS400 environment. The probes
monitor message queues and log files, running jobs, directory and
file integrity, plus monitoring for a myriad of system statistics
such as processing unit, storage, users and more. Each probe has
an intuitive configuration GUI that provides remote access to iSeries
AS400 systems - examples of each probe GUI are included throughout
this solution overview.
The NimBUS iSeries AS400 solution can generate
real-time alarms when thresholds are crossed, generate performance
data for both real time and historical performance reporting, and
perform SLA-based monitoring with compliance reporting.
Figure below: This sub-sectional
view of the NimBUS Manager lists the iSeries AS400 monitoring probes.
Probes are easily configured and then dragged-and-dropped onto target
systems for immediate monitoring - no system restart is required
to activate or update the probe's configurations.
iSeries AS400 Mid-range Server - Functional
Subsystems Monitored
Message Queue Monitor
The iSeries AS400 Fetch Message Probe eliminates
the need to manually monitor message queues (OQSYOPR). The probe
automates system message queue monitoring and combines this function
with flexible notification. This combination allows for increased
polling frequency and provides system administrator's mobility without
concern that critical messages will be missed.
Figure below: The series of screen
shots below illustrate (left to right) the Fetch Message Probe 'fetching'
all messages from the iSeries AS400 message queue - when a message
in the list is selected the alarm profile tool will be launched.
The alarm profile tool provides for inputs so the probe knows how
to recognize specific messages and which alarm severity should be
assigned.
The iSeries AS400 Fetch Message Probe can be configured
to report alarm conditions that are of high importance and require
actions to be taken, such as:
- Printers out of paper
- System errors
- Malfunction on devices
- System IPL
Figure below: The NimBUS iSeries
AS400 Fetch Message Probe uniquely detects system IPL (reboot or
"hard stop") conditions.
Log File, Text File Monitor
The iSeries AS400 Log File Probe will monitor
any text-based log files for entries requiring operator or system
administrator intervention.
Figure below: To monitor a text-based
log file simply create a new monitor profile. In the example below,
the new monitoring profile is labeled, 'OS400 Log Watcher'. Once
the profile is defined, the next step is to input the path where
the log file is located on the iSeries AS400 system - a browser
is available to facilitate locating the file. Next, regular expressions
can be defined so that the parsing process can single out specific
log entries requiring alert generation.
File and Directory Monitor
The iSeries AS400 File and Directory Monitor
probe is ideal for monitoring authorized and unauthorized changes
made to system directories and files.
The iSeries AS400 File and Directory Monitor probe
will monitor specified directories to ensure they exist (or don't
exist) in the file system, furthermore the probe will scan the contents
of each directory to check for the existence (or non-existence)
of any specified files. The probe will also monitor directory and
file age (newest/oldest), size (space used), and quantity (number
of files) - for each check the probe can be configured to record
query response times.
Figure below: Defining a directory
and file 'watcher' is a simple process - click on the probe to launch
its configuration GUI. Right mouse click and select 'add watcher',
input a name for the new watcher, and then browse to the directory/file
requiring close attention. Once the directory and or file are selected,
a number of monitoring choices (see tabs in the image furthest right)
are available.
Job Monitor
The iSeries AS400 Job Monitor Probe monitors
jobs to determine if they are running, not running, and the number
of instances of a particular job. For jobs requiring close scrutiny,
the probe configuration GUI provides a point and click facility
to enable quick definition of the job's distinctive properties.
Properties that can be used for singling out specific jobs are:
- Job name
- Job type
- Job subtype
- Active status
- Job owner
- Processing units used
- Temporary storage used
- Job description
- Job queue name
- Subsystem description
Figure below: The iSeries AS400
Job Monitor Probe can be configured to generate an alarm when the
job matching the defined properties is; found, not found, or the
job is found and has instances equal to the number defined in the
job profile.
When the 'All active jobs' tab is selected in
the probe GUI, all active jobs are fetched and displayed. Select
any job to create a monitoring profile for it - numerous inputs
are automatically populated. Where 'processing units' and 'temporary
storage' is a critical defining property the probe support inputs
and operators for those statistic values.
Statistics Monitor - iSeries AS400 System
Statistics Probe
The iSeries AS400 System Statistics Probe retrieves
a group of statistics (SSTS0100 and SSTS0200 formats) that represents
the status of the iSeries AS400 system.
Examples of statistic information collected:
- Number of users currently signed on, number of users signed
off with print files waiting
- Number of user jobs temporarily suspended by group jobs or system
request jobs
- Number of batch jobs currently running, held waiting and ended
- Percentage of maximum addresses used for permanent and temporary
objects
- Usage of the processing unit, storage capacity and system ASP
- Current number of system and user jobs
Figure below: The iSeries AS400
System Statistics Probe GUI provides point-and-click drop-down access
to system variables (SSTS0100 and SSTS0200). Right mouse click in
the 'Status' window to create a new (or edit an existing) monitoring
profile. Building a new profile is as easy as selecting a statistic
from the pre-populated drop down list, defining thresholds values,
and defining the appropriate level of alarm severity. Statistic
polling values are easily archived for historical performance reporting
and trend analysis.
The iSeries AS400 System Statistics Probe can
generate alarm messages and archive sample values for any of the
following system statistics:
Total Jobs Monitor
The total number of user jobs and system jobs
that are currently in the system. The total includes:
- All jobs on job queues waiting to be processed.
- All jobs currently active (being processed).
- All jobs that have completed running but still have output on
output queues to be produced.
Batch Jobs Monitor
- Batch jobs waiting for messages
- Batch jobs ended with pending printer output
- The number of batch jobs that are in the process of ending due
to one of the following conditions:
- The job finishes processing normally.
- The job ends before its normal completion point and is being
removed from the system.
- Batch jobs held while running
- Batch jobs running
- Batch jobs waiting to run or already scheduled
- Batch jobs held on a job queue
- Batch jobs on a held job queue
- Batch jobs on an unassigned job queue
User Monitor
- Users currently signed on
- Users temporarily signed off (disconnected)
- Users suspended by system request
- Users suspended by group jobs
- Users signed off with printer output waiting to print
Processing Unit Monitor
- % Processing unit used
- % DB capability - maximum CPU utilization available for database
processing on this server
Address Monitor
- % Permanent addresses
- % Temporary addresses
Storage Monitor
- Main storage size
- Current unprotected storage used
- Maximum unprotected storage used
- Total system ASP (Auxiliary Storage Pool)
- % System ASP used
It is possible to craft customized alarm messages
for all iSeries AS400 probes to accelerate alert interpretation
and resolution action. All monitored variable values can be automatically
archived for performance reporting and trend analysis. The SLA manager
will analyze realtime and archived performance data for SLA compliance/breach
analysis and reporting.
Alarm Dashboards
The iSeries AS400 solution offers a Windows and
web-based alarm console. The NimBUS Alarm Console can be applied
to create and customize user specific iSeries AS400 monitoring "dashboards."
Alarm dashboards can show up to the minute, color-coded status of
critical iSeries AS400 functional subsystems and resources.
Performance Reporting
The iSeries AS400 solution supports historical
and realtime performance reporting enabling resource trend analysis,
load balancing, capacity planning and preemptive resolution for
degrading conditions. A simple click activates the archival of sample
values resulting from periodic alarm polling - the instant the archival
option is selected (in the probe configuration GUI) a performance
report is automatically generated and easily accessible. Performance
reports are Windows-based and web-based.
SLA Monitoring and Compliance Reporting
The iSeries AS400 solution offers a robust SLA
creation, monitoring, and compliance reporting solution. Quality
of Service and performance data collected by the NimBUS for iSeries
AS400 probes can be leveraged to calculate and report on service
level compliance and breaches. All SLA and performance reports are
viewable in Windows and HTML format via web-browser.
OS400 Version Support:
The iSeries AS400 probe is one in a series of
NimBUS server platform probes with a similar look-and-feel. Server
monitoring probes are also available for UNIX, Linux, Windows, and
Netware - this broad platform uniquely positions NimBUS for heterogeneous
server environments
The NimBUS for iSeries AS400 Monitoring solution
requires minimal effort for implementation, training, and will not
require extensive ongoing maintenance.
If you would like to request a free trial of NimBUS,
please click here. For free white
papers or additional information click
here.
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