File Metrics - Comprehensive HP NonStop file monitoring
The File Metrics facility will track a list of nominated disc files (including SQL, ENSCRIBE and edit files). It will create an EMS event if the file does not exist, a separate event if the nominated attributes of the file exceed preconfigured settings and a further event once the failed attributes drop back to an acceptable level.
This set of “up”, “down” and “vulnerable” events can be used to animate an OverDrive Status Monitor icon representing the file and force the icon to turn red (down), blue (vulnerable) and grey (up). If the icon is positioned in a Service class then the impact on the application for this file issue can be assessed at a glance.
The attributes monitored for a file are (including NonStop SQL);
• % full
• % growth
• Index levels
• Number of records
• Extents remaining
• RWEP security and owner
• Timestamp today
• SQL valid
• Prog ID
• Broken, corrupt and crashopen
• Licensed/not licensed
• Audited/not audited
• Open/not open
• Empty/not empty
• Saveabend checks
• Subvolume size
To restrict the number of messages created by this function the Reflex 80:20 administrator can set the monitoring period depending on the criticality of the file. A file can be checked daily, every twelve hours, every hour or it can be classed as critical whereby the User specifies the poll period in minutes.
The File Existence (arrival) facility will also track a list of nominated files for delivery to the HP NonStop platform. It will create an EMS event when the file is created and a separate event if the file does not exist. You can tie this monitoring to the Reflex 80:20 calendaring facilities so that checking is restricted to specific periods of the day.
Although this set of “up” and “down” events can be used to animate an OverDrive Status Monitor icon, this functionality is more likely to be connected to the automation TaskMaster facility so that when a file is delivered to your NonStop node from a remote platform a Task can be executed to process this file.
The File Existence (Arrival) facility will track a list of nominated files for delivery. It will create an EMS event when the file is created and a separate event if the file does not exist.
You can tie this monitoring to the Reflex 80:20 calendaring facilities so that checking is restricted to specific periods of the day. Although this set of “up” and “down” events can be used to animate an OverDrive Status Monitor icon, this functionality is more likely to be connected to the automation TaskMaster facility. This, so that when a file is delivered to your NonStop node from a remote platform a Task can be executed to process this file.
The attributes monitored for a file are:
• Timestamp today
• EOF not zero
• Open / not open
• Corrupt
• Broken
• RWEP security and owner
• Specific file
• First file with prefix
• All files with prefix
Reflex 80:20 Version 4.7M – Available Q1, 2010
File-Metrics extensions for 4.7M:
The Reflex File Metrics monitoring facility can track a list of nominated files or subvolumes (including SQL, ENSCRIBE and Edit files) where numerous file attributes can be monitored and rules configured, so that if the monitored file / subvolume is not in a ‘healthy’ state, then a Reflex EMS event will be raised. As with TCP/IP monitoring, these alerts can be forwarded to a variety of destinations.
Some examples where users can benefit from Reflex File Metrics monitoring are:
• File is Corrupt, Broken or Crashed Open
• File has lost its Audit flag
• Timestamp of file has changed since last poll
• Saveabend files found in monitored subvolume
• File has lost its SQL Compiled status
• File no longer exists
• File upon arrival does not meet certain criteria, e.g. timestamp or security attributes are incorrect
From release 4.7M, several enhancements have been made to allow for increased flexibility, improved memory management and increased limits to the number of files that can be monitored.
Hardware and software pre-requisites for the Reflex product are detailed below:
• HP NonStop (ServerNet or Integrity platforms)
• Guardian D38 Operating System (or above)
• TMF
• SQL runtime system (SQL/MP runtime), or alternatively, NonStop SQL product
• Pathway (TS/MP)
• TCP/IP
• Non-RDF/DRNET Audited Volume *
* It is recommended that Reflex is installed on a Non-RDF/DRNET Audited Volume. If this is a cause for concern, please contact Insider Technologies Ltd to discuss further.
Reflex is installed using a menu driven TACL macro for easy deployment. The macro will perform checks and output the results of each stage of the Reflex product install so that if problems are encountered they can be resolved easily.
Windows Platform for GUI Install:
• Modern Pentium PC Specification
• 32Mb on-board RAM
• 20Mb free hard disk space
• Minimum 17” monitor recommended
• Graphics Resolution: 1027 x 768 x 16 minimum
• Windows XP, Vista, 7
* For escalation of HP NonStop issues to enterprise management solutions, email or mobile SMS, a dedicated Windows box is required.