HP OpenVMS Systems Documentation

The Availability Manager uses passwords to maintain security. These passwords have somewhat different appearances on Windows NT Data Analyzer nodes and on OpenVMS Data Analyzer and Data Collector nodes. On Windows NT Data Analyzer nodes, passwords are up to 8 characters long. On OpenVMS Data Analyzer and Data Collector nodes, passwords are part of a three-part security code called a security triplet.

The following sections explain these security methods further.

1.4.1 Data Analyzer Password Security

For monitoring to take place, the password on a Data Analyzer node must match the password section of the security triplet on each OpenVMS Data Collector node. (A Windows NT Data Analyzer checks only the password part of each OpenVMS Data Collector security triplet. OpenVMS Data Collectors impose other security measures, which are explained in Section 1.4.2.)

Figure 1-8 illustrates how you can use passwords to limit access to node information. The Testing Department's Data Analyzer, whose password is HOMERUNS, can access only OpenVMS Data Collector nodes with the HOMERUNS password as part of their security triplets. The same is true of the Accounting Department Data Analyzer, whose password is BATTERUP; it can access only OpenVMS Data Collector nodes with the BATTERUP password as part of their security triplets.

Figure 1-8 Availability Manager Password Matching

The Availability Manager sets a default password when you install the Data Analyzer. To change that password, you must use a customization option that is explained in Chapter 6.

1.4.2 OpenVMS Data Collector Security Features

OpenVMS Data Collector nodes have the following security features:

• Private LAN transport
  The Availability Manager protocol is based on the 802.3 Extended Packet Format (also known as SNAP). The IEEE Availability Manager protocol values are as follows:

  Protocol ID: 08-00-2B-80-48 Multicast Address: 09-00-2B-02-01-09

  
  If you filter protocols for bridges or routers in your network, you need to add these values to your network protocols.
• Availability Manager data-transfer security
  Each OpenVMS node running as a Data Collector has a file containing a list of security triplets. For Data Analyzer and Data Collector nodes to exchange data, the passwords on the nodes must match.
  In addition, note the following:
  • Data Collector nodes that have read access allow Windows NT Data Analyzer nodes to view system data.
  • Data Collector nodes that have write access also allow a matching Windows NT Data Analyzer node to perform fixes or modifications to the running system.
    Chapter 6 explains security triplets and how to edit them.
• OpenVMS file protection and process privileges
  When the Availability Manager is installed, it sets directory and file protections on its system-level directories so that only the SYSTEM account can read the files in these directories. For additional security on these system-level directories and files, you can create access control lists (ACLs) to restrict and set alarms on write access to the security files. For more information about creating ACLs, see the OpenVMS Guide to System Security.

This chapter provides the following information:

• How to start the Availability Manager Data Collector
• How to start the Availability Manager Data Analyzer
• How to use the main Application window
• How to select a group of nodes (other than the default)
• How to display basic node data

For information about installing the Availability Manager on OpenVMS or Windows NT systems, refer to the appropriate installation instructions. You can access these instructions from the Availability Manager web pages at the following URL:

http://www.openvms.compaq.com/openvms/products/availman/

The installation instructions for OpenVMS systems also include an explanation of how to install and use both DECamds and the Availability Manager on the same system.

2.1 Starting the Data Collector

Beginning with OpenVMS Version 7.2, the files needed to run the Data Collector on OpenVMS nodes are shipped with the OpenVMS operating system. However, if you want the very latest Data Collector software, you need to install it from the Availability Manager Version 1.4 kit. (Prior versions of OpenVMS require that you install the software from either the DECamds Version 7.2-1B-1 or the Availability Manager Version 1.4 kit.)

Once the Data Collector is running on a node, you can monitor that node using DECamds or the Availability Manager.

To use the Data Collector on a particular node, do either of the following:

• Run the following command procedure:

  $ @SYS$STARTUP:AMDS$STARTUP START

• Add the following command to the SYSTARTUP_VMS.COM command file in the SYS$MANAGER directory:

  @SYS$STARTUP:AMDS$STARTUP START

This section describes what you need to do after the Availability Manager Data Analyzer is installed. Starting the Data Analyzer is somewhat different on OpenVMS and on Windows NT systems. However, on both systems, starting the Data Analyzer automatically starts the Java graphical user interface (GUI) that allows you to view information that is collected from the Data Collector nodes.

The following sections contain the sequence of steps required to start the Data Analyzer on an OpenVMS node and on a Windows NT node.

2.2.1 How to Start the Data Analyzer on an OpenVMS Alpha Node

Make sure the Data Analyzer has been installed on the OpenVMS Alpha node from which you want to monitor other nodes. To starting the Data Analyzer, perform the following steps:

1. Run the Java setup program:

   $ @SYS$MANAGER:JAVA$SETUP

   
   You do not need to run this program again until you log out of your process. The system displays an error message if you need to run the program.
2. Enter the following command:

   $ avail/avail

   
   The Availability Manager then displays the main Application window, which is shown in Figure 2-1.
   Refer to the Installation Instructions for qualifiers you can use with the AVAIL/AVAIL command.

Make sure the Data Analyzer has been installed on the Windows NT node from which you want to monitor other nodes. The steps for starting the Data Analyzer are somewhat different, depending on whether you have Compaq OpenVMS Management Tools for Windows NT (OMT) installed or not. Follow the series of steps that apply to you.

Starting the Data Analyzer Without OMT Installed

To start the Data Analyzer, follow these steps:

1. Choose the following options beginning with the Windows NT Start menu:
   Start ---> Programs
2. Choose Availability Manager.
3. Choose Data Analyzer Startup.

The Availability Manager then displays the main Application window, which is shown in Figure 2-1.

Starting the Data Analyzer with OMT Installed

To start the Data Analyzer, follow these steps:

1. Choose the following options beginning with the Windows NT Start menu:
   Start ---> Programs
2. Choose OpenVMS Management Tools.
3. Choose Availability Manager.
4. Choose Data Analyzer Startup.

The Availability Manager then displays the main Application window, which is shown in Figure 2-1.

2.3 Using the Application Window

Figure 2-1 shows the Availability Manager Application window.

Figure 2-1 Application Window

The Application window is divided into three segments, or panes:

• Group pane
  The Group pane is at the top left of the window. In this pane, you select the group of nodes that you want to monitor.
• Node pane
  The Node pane occupies most of the top right of the window. In this pane, the Availability Manager displays a list of the nodes in the group you have selected, along with summary data for each node. Chapter 3 contains more information about using the Node pane.
  Figure 2-1 shows the node information that is displayed when you select a group of OpenVMS nodes. Somewhat different information is displayed for a group of Windows NT nodes. For more information about this, see Chapter 3.
• Event pane
  The Event pane occupies the entire bottom of the window. In this pane, the Availability Manager displays events that occur on all of the nodes being monitored on your system. An event must reach a certain level of severity to be displayed. You can customize the severity levels at which events are displayed (see Chapter 6). For more information about displaying events, see Chapter 4.

You can change the size of the panes as well as the width of specific fields in the Application window and also the borders between the fields by clicking on a border and dragging it. Scroll bars indicate whether you are displaying all or part of a screen. For example, clicking a right arrow on a scroll bar allows you to view the rightmost portion of a screen.

2.3.1 Other Window Components

In addition to panes, the Application window also includes the following components (see Figure 2-1):

Title bar

The title bar runs across the top of the window and contains the heading Compaq Availability Manager.

Menu bar

The menu bar, immediately below the title bar, contains the following menu options:

• File
  The File menu contains the Exit option, which allows you to stop the Data Analyzer and close the window.
• Control
  The Control menu contains options to control the collection and display of data. These options are explained in Chapter 3.
• Customize
  The Customize menu contains options that allow you to customize various aspects of the Availability Manager. These options are explained in Chapter 6.
• Help
  The Help menu offers different types of online help for the Availability Manager. These options are explained in Section 2.6.

Status bar

The status bar runs across the bottom of the window. It displays the name of the selected group and the number of nodes in that group.

2.3.2 Displaying More Information

In the Application window, you can do the following at any time:

• Click a field to select it.
• Double-click most fields to display a page containing information specific to that field.
• Right-click a field to display a popup menu.

To monitor nodes in the Application window, you must select the group that contains those nodes. You select groups in the Group pane (Figure 2-2).

Figure 2-2 Group Pane

Groups are set up during installation and are user definable. You might define groups by function, type of hardware, or geographical location.

For example, if you were to set up groups of nodes by geographical location, you might assign nodes A and B to a group called Dallas and nodes C, D, and E to a group called Denver. When you select a group, the Availability Manager displays only the nodes in that group, as shown in the following table:

Compaq recommends that you define a cluster as its own group.

2.4.1 Group Names That Are Displayed by Default

When you start the Availability Manager, the names of groups of nodes that have the Availability Manager Data Collector installed are displayed. By default, the group name of the first node detected is highlighted. (A list of the nodes in that group is displayed in the Node pane.)

Under the Availability Manager heading in the Group pane is a list of one group---or possibly the following two:

• OpenVMS
  These are groups in an OpenVMS system group that you can monitor.
• Windows NT
  These are groups in a Windows NT system group that you can monitor.

To display the names of nodes other than the nodes in the default group, click the name of that group in the Group pane (see Figure 2-2). In the Node pane of the Application window (see Figure 2-1), the Availability Manager displays the nodes in the group you have selected.

If you want to display the names of more groups in the Group pane, however, you need to use a customization option. See Section 6.1 for instructions.

2.5 Displaying Information about Nodes

The Node pane of the Application window allows you to focus on resource usage activity at a high level and to display more specific data whenever you want. This section explains the basic use of the Node pane. For more detailed information, see Chapter 3.

Within the group of nodes you select, the Availability Manager displays all the nodes with which that group can communicate. Figure 2-3 shows a list of OpenVMS nodes.

Figure 2-3 Node Pane

Each node name has an icon next to it. The icon colors represent the following:

To choose a node on a Windows NT or an OpenVMS system, double-click a node name in the Node pane to highlight the name of the node and display the Node Summary page (Figure 2-4). Alternatively, you can right-click a node name to display a popup menu; to display the Node Summary page, select the Display... option.

Figure 2-4 OpenVMS Node Summary Page

The data displayed on this page is explained in detail in Chapter 3.

At the top of the Node Summary page are tabs that correspond to most of the types of node data displayed in the Node pane. When you click a tab on the Node Summary page, the Availability Manager displays most of the same pages that are displayed when you double-click a field in the Node pane (see Figure 2-3).

2.5.2 Specifying Data to Collect on OpenVMS Nodes

For OpenVMS nodes, if you want background data collection (and the associated event detection), you must turn on data collection for each type of data you want to collect. On Windows NT nodes, background data collection is always enabled and cannot be turned off.

To turn on various types of data collection, follow these steps:

1. In the Application window, click the Customize menu.
2. Click Customize OpenVMS....
3. Click the Data Collection tab.

The Availability Manager displays the Data Collection page (Figure 2-5).

Background and foreground collection are explained in detail in Chapter 1.

Figure 2-5 Data Collection Page

The following types of data are collected by default:

• Node summary
• Single disk
• Single process

For example, to stop collecting node summary data, clear the check box for "Node summary" in the "Collect" column. You cannot, however, turn off the collection of single disk and single process data. These types of data are collected by default when you open a Single Disk Summary page or a Process Information page, respectively.

To turn on a type of data collection, select the check box for that type in the "Collect" column. Table 6-1 identifies the page where each type of data that is collected appears.

On the Data Collection page, you can also change the intervals at which data is collected. Collection intervals explained in Chapter 6.

2.5.3 Sorting Data

You can sort data in the following OpenVMS displays:

• Events pane of the Application window (Figure 1-3)
• CPU Process Summary pane (Figure 3-7)
• Memory page (Figure 3-9)
• Bottom pane of I/O Summary page (Figure 3-10)
• Disk Status Summary page (Figure 3-12)
• Disk Volume Summary page (Figure 3-14)

Depending on the field, you can sort data alphabetically or numerically. An alphabetical sort is performed using ASCII character values; for example, dollar signs ($) precede letters in the sort order.

To sort the values in a field, double-click the appropriate column heading. To reverse the sort order, double-click the column heading again.

2.6 Getting Help

To obtain online help, click the Help menu on the Application window menu bar. Then choose one of the following options: