Tivoli Monitoring 6.1

ITM -- Tivoli Advanced Monitoring exists in two major versions (5.1 and 6.x) which represent two completely different, almost unrelated (except the subject area) products. Only version 6.x and later makes sense to deploy (or upgrade to). It competes with HP Operations Manager but my impression is the latter is stronger, better architectures product that is more competitively prices. Here are highlight:

• Version 5.1 is an obsolete and rather problematic product due to Java as an implementation language on endpoints and low quality of programming (only at the end of the life the product achieved marginal stability). It was not the original Tivoli product and was added after IBM acquisition. As such it demonstrates all weaknesses of IBM as a software development organization and, first of all, lack of architectural vision. Contrary to the name there was nothing advanced in the "out of the box" functionality provided, although in a way underlying architecture was rather elegant: it used JavaScript as an extension language (JavaScript via Rhino, an open source implementation of JavaScript in Java).

  Still, capabilities provided out of the box were more like a cheap shareware, not like an expensive enterprise product. Usage of JavaScript as an extension language was a bright spot, but it was offset by the usage of Java on endpoints and low quality of the code. Moreover, extensions in JavaScript were not easy to write (and that doomed many enterprises to using "out of the box" functionality, the functionality for which all those complex games with Java and JavaScript were horrendous overkill. Perl traditionally is the most popular language for writing various audit/checking modules, so in a way choice of JavaScript was a slightly Windows biased solution. This version was discontinued in late 2005 and replaced by the Omegamon that was acquired by IBM a year or two before that (Omegamon was rebranded as ITM 6.1).
   

• Version 6.x is the re-branded Omegamon from IBM Candle acquisition in 2004 (IBM). It has no relation to "classic Tivoli" other then being a successful competitor, especially in mainframe space, which some time ago was one of the most lucrative segments of the market. It is a heavyweight, completely closed product, but "out of the box" functionality is richer (especially on Windows side). Another important advantage of the new version is that the stream of alerts can be split and send to two or more separate TEC servers. Another advantage is that while interface is Java-based, agents are not. All-in-all Tivoli 6.x is a completely new, different product that shares with Tivoli framework and TEC only the name. Interface to scripts is ugly as hell and smell mainframe from a hundred feet.

  ITM 6.1 implements a SOAP-based client/server architecture. The client sends SOAP requests to the SOAP server. The server receives and processes the SOAP requests from the client. SOAP works with any programming or scripting language.

  GUI is really nice taking into account that it was written in Java but mainly used on Windows: it is one of the best Java-based GUI front-ends I ever saw. The product has much better "out-of-box" functionality (very impressive on Windows and mainframes, less so but still better then ITM 5.1 on Unix/Linux). Again, while interface is Java-based, agents are not.

  ITM 6.1 a heavyweight product that consists of several components. Due to this it was recommended to be installed on separate servers, but a single modern server is capable to carry such a load unless this is a very big installation. Express edition, which was the most interesting option but unfortunately was quickly discontinued by IBM due to concerns about its effect of the profits from the main line product from the beginning installed on a single server. It was more competitive with alternatives such as HP OpenView (see Tivoli Alternatives for detailed discussion).

  For customers with "old Tivoli" background new GUI client can integrate events from TEC, replacing an outdated TEC console. It also can be used as a standalone product as it does not depends on the Tivoli framework. That means that "Express Edition" might be very appealing for companies that prefer extending the product using open source tools.

The fact that ITM 6.1 was not a result of the development of the original Tivoli line, but the result of acquisition of a strong competitor has its pluses and minuses. The situation was complicated by the fact that IBM had bought another competitor -- Netcool -- with overlapping functionality.

Advantages

• Rich "out-of the box" functionality. Availability of dashboard is a big plus. The capabilities to adapt and extend the product by average system administrator with rudimentary scripting skills or even without them are richer (although it is questionable that such people should be called administrators: they are actually operators).
  • Tivoli Enterprise Portal has a much slicker more flexible GUI then TEC console. In comparison with it TEC looks like the last century application (which it definitely is). Moreover despite being written in Java the GUI looks pretty sophisticated and while it is not on the level of Microsoft GUI, it is rich and capable. The product has advanced visualization capabilities and implements some interesting "graphical programming" solution for creation "reaction" scripts, scripts that are invokes either as the result of triggering a regular situation (probe, performed periodically) or a "pure" (combination of values of monitored variables or entry the logs that conveys important information about status of the monitored system or subsystem obtained without sampling).
    
  • The "vendorscript" for defining probes (called situations) and actions to be taken (called policies). Despite being yet another "vendorscript" with GUI front-end it is simpler and may be even more productive to define situations in it then either in JavaScript or Prolog (Prolog as typically used in TEC proved to be not that great for this type of processing: in makes simple thing complex and few try to do complex thing in it despite the fact that here it might make sense). But flexibility suffers.
    
  • Better default events behaviors. For example, automatic closure of events that check for particular condition is a nice, elegant solution of a problem for which no good solution exists in old ITM as well as in TEC. The latter requires writing additional closing rules.
  • Good standard set of monitoring parameters for Windows, and acceptable for Unix and Linux. "Out of the box" for Windows ITM 6.1 can check almost a hundred various parameters that makes creation of checks based on those very straightforward operation that does not require any special qualification.
    
• SOAP support. Events can be generated by scripts and forwarded via SOAP. ITM 6.1 implements a client/server architecture. The client sends SOAP requests to the SOAP server. The server receives and processes the SOAP requests from the client. SOAP works with any programming or scripting language. Tivoli SOAP methods can be invoked by PERL, Javascript, VBSCRIPT, JSCRIPT, C++, and through a browser.
   
• Available at no cost for existing Tivoli customers as an upgrade. Not that this was a a very successful competitor to Tivoli.
  
• No Java at endpoints.
  
• No real need to abandon ITM 5.1.2, As an independent product it can coexist with IMT 5.1.2 until it will be discontinued: they just know nothing about presence of each other.
  
• Some old shortcomings are resolved. ITM 6.1 can serve as a prefilter of most alerts for TEC. There is an important capability of a single monitoring agent (situation) reporting to multiple TEC servers: often alerts ("situations") need to processed under several angles, for example one is keeping everything running and the second is security. Such specialized processing is better done by independent TEC servers that are reporting only most important result to a single upstream TEC server.

Disadvantages

• Lack of programmability. With all its deficiencies Javascript on ITM side and Prolog on correlation of event side are programming languages and as such provide more flexible environment that can be customized in many way. Your IQ is the limit. Moreover with all its deficiencies JavaScript is full-fledged scripting language, not one step forward, two steps back like Java. I would like to reiterate that the default method of integration of ITM 6.1 with Perl looks really ugly in comparison and really smells mainframes. SOAP support is a good thing, but it is a complex protocol.
  
• Lack of continuity. Not only architecture, but also terminology and many concepts are different. Products generally requires additional servers to be used for deployment. Previous Tivoli consultants who specialized on ITM 5.1 and TEC were thrown out of water and need complete retraining. Actually IBM needs just replace TEC and Tivoli Framework with another acquisition to completely bury the original Tivoli implementation. I actually do not know if this will be good or bad as CORBA based framework now looks as an anachronism. But some solution in "old Tivoli" were not that bad and can be easily re-implemented on a new basys (for example using SOAP instead of CORBA). It's kind of really sad that they throw out their baby with the bathwater.
  
• Intersection of functionality with Netcool. By buying two competitors IBM muddled water to the extent that it is unclear where Cable functionality make sense and where Netcool functionality (with its correlation engine) make sense. Coherent integration of multiple acquisitions requires great architectural skills. Such skills might be not present in the current IBM environment and some IBM actions suggest that Tivoli group is run by PHBs. As a result the integration is superficial with a lot of duplication. That means that creating a product via acquisitions is just another way of creating a camel while designing a horse (as in "camel is a horse designed by committee").
  
• Very weak universal agent "vendorscript" for metafiles. Syntax for so called "metafiles" is derived from JCL and was designed by a person(s) who never knew Unix; it looks not only coming from the last century is looks coming from early sixties of the last century. The compiler for metafiles that is provided is simply horrible and creates strong doubts about IBM as a software vendor. This is really a huge blunder of ITM production managers that failed to change this part of Omegamon for the first release. And what is even worse, now after the first release this "yet another vendorscript" will probably survive for a long time due to compatibility requirements. The despicable coward who make this decision should probably held accountable :-).
  
• ITM 6.1 does not use groups for user administration or workspace management. You cannot establish groups and create members of those groups.
  
• Command line functionality is limited to basic product functions such as configuration, agent management, and some troubleshooting. One of the strong features of Tivoli was that any GUI functionality has had a command line counterpart. Here this is not the case. And this is huge deficiency as this affects scriptability in a very obvious way.

ITM 6.1 consists of several component and its "portal client" can integrate streams of events from TEC replacing (outdated) TEC console client. There are four main components:

• TEMS - The Tivoli Enterprise Monitoring Server ( or monitoring server) is the initial component to install. It is the key component on which all other architectural components depend directly. The TEMS acts as a collection and control point for alerts received from agents, and collects their performance and availability data. The TEMS is responsible for tracking the heartbeat request interval for all Tivoli Enterprise Management Agents connected to it. TEMS can be organized into hierarchy: there can be remote TEMS that are connected to agents and hub TEMS that collect information of Remote TEMS.
  
• TEPS - The Tivoli Enterprise Portal Server (or the portal server) is an application that can run only or Windows or Linux. The TEPS keeps a persistent connection to the Hub TEMS, and can be considered a logical gateway between the Hub TEMS and the Tivoli Enterprise Portal client. It serves as repository of user data, display methods(workspaces and views) and queries for retrieval data from agents or warehouse. It is based on RDMS (DB/2 8.2 fixpack 10 or Microsoft SQL server 2000). The TEPS also provides manipulation, analysis, and preformatting of data. User access the data using portal clients, the application that connects to the Tivoli Enterprise Portal Server to display all monitoring data. It also implements the user interaction component of the presentation layer. It also can integrate views from several other Tivoli components replacing for example TEC client. The following three Tivoli components has been already integrated interfaces into TEP:
  
  • IBM Tivoli Monitoring 5.1.2
  • IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.1
  • IBM Tivoli Enterprise Console

  Two variants of portal client are provided: a standalone Java application and Java applet (Web browser based variant).
  

• TEMA - Tivoli enterprise Monitoring Agent (also called mentoring agent or OS monitoring agent). These agents are C++ (not Java, thanks God) based and are installed on the system or any subsystem requiring data collection and monitoring. They are independent of Tivoli lightweight endpoints (essentially duplicating them). The agents are responsible for data gathering and distribution of attributes to the monitoring servers, including initiating the heartbeat status. These agents also implement "situations": test a particular situation attribute values against a threshold and report these results to the monitoring servers. The TEP displays an alert icon when a threshold is exceeded or a value is matched.

Extensibility

Instead of JavaScript used for writing custom monitors (or probes) in version 5.1 the product is extensible via SOAP although at this point this is experimental support . Here is a relevant quote from SG247187( IBM Redbooks Certification Guide Series IBM Tivoli Monitoring V 6.1)

Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) is an XML-based communications protocol that lets applications exchange information through the Internet. SOAP is platform independent and language independent. SOAP uses XML to specify a request and reply structure. It uses HTTP as the transport mechanism to drive the request and to receive a reply.

The IBM Tivoli Monitoring V6.1 Web Services solution provides you with an industry-standard open interface into IBM Tivoli Monitoring V6.1 solutions. This open interface provides easy access to performance and availability data, enabling you to use this information for advanced automation and integration capabilities.

IBM Tivoli Monitoring V6.1 Web Services implements a client/server architecture. The client sends SOAP requests to the IBM Tivoli Monitoring V6.1 SOAP server. The server receives and processes the SOAP requests from the client. Predefined SOAP methods let you perform many functions within the platform environment. You can begin to use SOAP methods immediately. You can also use IBM Tivoli Monitoring V6.1 SOAP methods as templates in creating your own advanced methods.

SOAP works with any programming or scripting language, any object model and any Internet wire protocol. The SOAP methods can be invoked through Perl, JavaScript™, VBSCRIPT, JSCRIPT, C++, and through a browser.

Refer to IBM Tivoli Monitoring Installation and Setup Guide, Version 6.1.0, GC32-9407, for additional details about how to use the SOAP instructions for installing and configuring the SOAP product.

Important: Prior to using the IBM Tivoli Monitoring V6.1 solution, you must have a basic understanding of SOAP, Extensible Markup Language (XML), XML namespaces, and the Web Services Description Language (WSDL).

NEWS CONTENTS

• 20091005 : Architectural overview of the ITM 6.1 Universal Agent ( Architectural overview of the ITM 6.1 Universal Agent, Oct 5, 2009 )
• 20091005 : Fixpack Installation - Tivoli Monitoring v6.1 ( Fixpack Installation - Tivoli Monitoring v6.1, )
• 20091005 : ITM 6.1 Warehouse deep dive, troubleshooting and best practices ( ITM 6.1 Warehouse deep dive, troubleshooting and best practices, )
• 20090720 : Gulf Breeze Blog Postemsg for ITM 6 ( March 11, 2008 , Gulf Breeze Blog )
• 20090720 : Tivoli - IBM Tivoli Monitoring ( Tivoli - IBM Tivoli Monitoring, )
• 20080221 : Deployment Guide Series IBM Tivoli Monitoring V6.2 ( February 06, 2008 , IBM Redbooks )
• 20080221 : IBM Tivoli software training course - Differences for IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.2 - Recorded Web seminar ( IBM Tivoli software training course - Differences for IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.2 - Recorded Web seminar, Feb 21, 2008 )
• 20080221 : IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.2 - What's New and What's Coming ( IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.2 - What's New and What's Coming, Feb 21, 2008 )
• 20080116 : Experiences on installing IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.2 ( January 16, 2008 , IBM developerWorks )
• 20071015 : Tivoli Field Guide - Handling ITM 6.1 Universal Agent Versions on Linux ( Tivoli Field Guide - Handling ITM 6.1 Universal Agent Versions on Linux, Oct 15, 2007 )
• 20070911 : Tivoli Global User Group Community Newsletter, August 2006 ( Tivoli Global User Group Community Newsletter, August 2006, Sep 11, 2007 )
• 20070910 : Tivoli Software Global User Group Community ( Tivoli Software Global User Group Community, Sep 10, 2007 )
• 20060510 : IBM Redbooks Deployment Guide SeriesIBM Tivoli Monitoring Express ( IBM Redbooks Deployment Guide SeriesIBM Tivoli Monitoring Express, May 10, 2006 )
• 20060224 : IBM Tivoli software training course - Differences for IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.1 ( IBM Tivoli software training course - Differences for IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.1, Feb 24, 2006 )
• 20060224 : IBM Tivoli Monitoring Flash demo ( IBM Tivoli Monitoring Flash demo, Feb 24, 2006 )
• 20050208 : IBM Tivoli - IBM acquires Candle Corporation - Welcome ( IBM Tivoli - IBM acquires Candle Corporation - Welcome, Feb. 8, 2005 )

Old News ;-)

[Oct 5, 2009] Architectural overview of the ITM 6.1 Universal Agent

Audience: ITM 6.1 customers and support engineers Abstract: This STE covers an architectural overview of the ITM 6.1 Universal Agent as well discuss the agent's components and data flow. It also covers some examples and troubleshooting the Universal Agent. Presented by: Scott Wallace Date: September 25, 2007

Fixpack Installation - Tivoli Monitoring v6.1

This Support Technical Exchange provides a detailed guide to installing fixpacks for ITM 6.1.0, specifically including suggestions on how to avoid common errors and mistakes while installing the various components of such fixpacks. Special focus will paid to the latest version of the Fixpack, version 03.

ITM 6.1 Warehouse deep dive, troubleshooting and best practices

Audience: ITM 6.1 customers Abstract: A deep dive into configuring the warehouse database and historical data collection, the Warehouse Proxy agent, the Summarization and Pruning agent, and utilizing best practices to query data from the Warehouse both via the CLI and through the TEPS. Presented by: Caterina Perri and Toben Nelson Date: October 10, 2007

[Jul 20, 2009] Gulf Breeze Blog Postemsg for ITM 6

March 11, 2008 | Gulf Breeze Blog

Postemsg lets you send alert to TEC from an external source like a script or application. Here's how you can use SOAP calls and a dummy situation to generate alerts a similar way in ITM 6...

Create a "dummy" situation, example I used Windows Universal_Time attribute group and Seconds attribute. I set the formula to True if Seconds==0 and unchecked the "Run at startup" box.

Now I can issue CT_Alert SOAP method calls (easiest way is to use gbscmd) to the SOAP interface to generate alerts, and CT_Reset method calls to close the alerts from my external script or application.

This isn't exactly a postemsg equivalent in ITM 6 because I'm limited to the attributes in the .atr file, but it is still handy.

Tivoli - IBM Tivoli Monitoring RSS feed

Architectural overview of the ITM 6.1 Universal Agent
This STE will cover an architectural overview of the ITM 6.1 Universal Agent as well discuss the agent's components and data flow. It also covers some examples and troubleshooting the Universal Agent.

IBM Tivoli Monitoring v6.2: Tivoli NetView for zOS Enterprise Agent
Topics covered will be the new Tivoli Netview for zOS Enterprise agent. Agent Installation and Configuration hints, example of usage in the real life and troubleshooting will be detailed.

Introduction to ITM Agent Builder
Introduction to the new Agent Builder tool components, review of the features available for creating custom agents and quick look at the available debugging options.

ITM 6.1 Problem Determination Tools and Best Practices
This STE will discuss available tools for troubleshooting the monitoring environment. General troubleshooting is discussed for the TEMS and TEPS, and common problems and troubleshooting techniques are detailed for elements such as situations, policies, communication issues, and data collection.

ITM 6.1 Situations and Policies
This course will cover IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.1 Situations and Policies.

ITM v6.2 - Event Integration with TEC/Omnibus
After a brief overview on ITM v6.x integration with TEC and Omnibus, we will specifically cover the new features introduced in v6.2 (Event Forwarding enhancements, Common Event Console)

Tivoli Monitoring v6.1 - Web Services
This seminar will focus on using and customizing SOAP methods for ITM 6.1 Web Services.

ITM v6.2: Tivoli Data Warehouse Enhancements and integration with Tivoli Common Reporting
Topics covered will be enhancements in the Tivoli Data Warehouse 2.1 solution (Warehouse Proxy Agent and Summarization and Pruning Agent) and the ITM 6.2 integration with Tivoli Common Reporting.

IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.2 Differences
ITM manages the IT infrastructure including operating systems, databases and servers across distributed and host environments through a single customizable workspace portal. This STE will show you differences between versions 6.1 and 6.2, including migration from ITM 5.x architecture and monitors.

IBM Tivoli Monitoring V6.2 TEP Enhancements
After a brief overview on the improvements to the TEP and to TEP usability we will cover information on troubleshooting and known problems.

IBM Tivoli Monitoring v6.2 - LDAP Authentication
This presentation covers the new features introduced in ITM 6.2: authenticating on TEMS through the LDAP. After introducing basic LDAP concepts it will describe how to configure and use LDAP with ITM.

IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.2.1 Differences
This STE will cover: Agentless monitoring, Proxy agent services, Dynamic thresholds, New TEP viewing features and Additional differences.

Simple Object Access Protocol and Its Role in IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6
This STE will provide an introduction to the Simple Object Access Protocol and how the SOAP interface is used in ITM 6.

ITM v6.2 Tivoli System Automation for zOS Monitoring Agent
Topics covered will be the new Tivoli System Automation for zOS monitoring agent. Agent Installation and Configuration hints, example of usage in the real life and troubleshooting will be detailed.

IBM Support Assistant- Assist On-Site Tool Available
ISA v4.x AOS Tool is now available

Tivoli fix pack Strategy Update
As of Jan 2009, Tivoli no longer requires Fix Packs to only ship on specific quarterly dates.

All Tivoli Web-based Titles Now Available via Education Pack Program
All Tivoli Web-based courses are now available for purchase using Education Pack credits.

Using Log Analyzer to diagnose problems in IBM products
The Log Analyzer problem analysis tool is now available as an IBM Support Assistant tool add-on. It simplifies and reduces the need to diagnose problems encountered with IBM products.

Interim fix (3.7-DMN-0055LA) for Tivoli Distributed Monitoring
Tivoli Distributed Monitoring Enabling Patch for Windows 2003 (3.7-DMN-0055LA built on 3.7-DMN-FP04)

Patch (3.7-DMN-FP01) For Distributed Monitoring
Patch (3.7-DMN-FP01) For Distributed Monitoring The current Fix Pack fixes a variety of defects in the Distributed Monitoring engine, as well as other DM executables for

Interim fix (3.7-DMN-0057LA) for Tivoli Distributed Monitoring
This patch fixes two specific Tivoli Distributed Monitoring on OS/400 Endpoints

Interim fix (3.7-DMN-0095LA) for Tivoli Distributed Monitoring
General Description: This LA patch fixes a problem with the DistAutoEng feature for Solaris,Windows, AIX, HP endpoints

Interim fix (3.7-DMN-0071LA) for Tivoli Distributed Monitoring
This patch fixes two specific monitor issues

Interim fix (3.7-DMN-0085LA) for Tivoli Distributed Monitoring
This LA patch enables DM to run on Solaris 10 operating system as endpoints.

Interim fix (3.7-DMN-0069LA) for Tivoli Distributed Monitoring
This patch enables the Classic Monitors on AIX 5.2 ML03

6.1.0-TIV-ITM_INTAG-IF0009 - Monitoring Agent for IBM Tivoli Monitoring 5.x
Using KDEB_INTERFACELIST=|* in integration agent configuration, the agent does not start.

ITM 5.1.2 support of ZFS filesystems (DMXFileSystem)
ITM 5.1.2 FP14 Readme states that an "enhancement request enables the DMXFileSystem resource model to support Solaris ZFS file systems", but is ZFS really supported?

Attribute values retrieved by the UNIX OS Agent on AIX.
This technote describes the formulas and APIs used in UNIX OS Agent to retrieve SYSTEM attributes such as Pages Paged in (per sec), Pages Paged out (per sec), Pages-Ins (per sec), Pages-Out (per sec), CPU usage and Virtual Memory Percent Used on AIX.

UA Scale and Precision Maximum Value
How to set maximum-size when using scale and precision in the UA.

History configuration setup failure in Summarization and Pruning agent
An error similar to the following appears in the *sy_java* logs: Error SQL State = 42622 , SQL Error Code = -107 EXCEPTION: Failed to setup history config in sy_java logs. No summarisation and prunning at scheduled time.

Parameters used to control background collections for an agent builder agent
What settings can I change to disable or configure background collections for an agent builder agent?

Data is Not Returned from Agent Builder Custom Data Providers
Several of the data providers used in agent builder developed agents require Java in order to collect data. This list includes JDBC, JMX and perhaps other future data providers. This itself is not a problem. The problem arises if Java is not in the PATH environment variable of the user under which the agent is running. When this happens, the data provider will be unable to return any data for the related attribute groups. Similar type messages can be seen in the agent's log file: (49A4C680.0018-174C:c

After GSKit 7.04 install - TEPS ICC initialization fails on ITM 6.2 GA
After GSKit version 7.04 is installed on the machine running the TEPS ITM 6.2 GA, the TEPS fails to start with the following error messages in the log: ex: kbbssge.c,52,"BSS1_GetEnv") ICCRTE_DIR="D:\ibm\gsk7" ctutil.cpp,1857,"CTUtil::initCryptoContext") ICC initialization failed ctutil.cpp,1857,"CTUtil::initCryptoContext") majRC=2, minRC=5, mode=0 ICC Initialization failed. TEPS does not start.

ITM 6.1 TEPS configuration fails with SQL0554N error
"itmcmd config -A cq" command fails with error - "Failed to grant rights to <user_name>".

Universal Agent RECORDSET parameter usage.
The customer is using the ITM 6.2 UA to read a multiline message using the recordset definition and the NEW modifier to recognize the start of a new record. The customer wants to know how to configure this parameter in the mdl file.

Agent Builder agent install fails.
Customer trying to install agent builder agent support on ZLinux TEPS. Install fails with this message: /opt/IBM/ITM/bin/CandleExecute: /opt/IBM/ITM/config/cq.env[87]: syntax error: `(' unexpected Overall status is: 0. loadSupport.log contains: Error running KfwAttributeReloadClient. Be sure the ODI files doc??? are present in /opt/IBM/ITM/ls3263/cq/data. Unable to load application suppport, code 1. Check /opt/IBM/ITM/logs.

ITM TEP Navigator displaying many Pending Updates Message
Customer running ITM 6.2 FP1 IF2, after a complete system shutdown and restart, the customer noticed over 1000 Pending Update messages (KFWITM025I) display in the TEP Navigator.

Poorly Written Situations Lead to High CPU Usage on the TEMS
A poorly written situation can have a surprisingly large impact on CPU usage on a TEMS. Using wildcard characters (*) in situations is one of the most common mistakes made in writing situations. Using fields longer than required can also cause additional work to evaluate the situation. Making the changes below have, in some instances, reduced CPU usage on a TEMS from close to full utilization to nearly completely idle.

Referencing Configuration Parameters within Agent Builder Scripts
How you can reference parameters that are set in the agent configuration within scripts when developing a solution using the agent builder?

UNIX OS agent and UNIX Logs agent are not displayed on TEP at the same time
UNIX OS (Linux OS) agent and UNIX Logs agent are not displayed on TEP at the same time. The issue occurs for "tacmd listSystems" command also.

Failed to configure TEPS if it uses the underscore "_" in the hostname.
When configuring TEPS with itmcmd command, the following error occurred. Configuration Plugin Processing - preconfig ============================== This ITM sub-component has some important information for you to review below concerning their configuration. Please check for errors or problems. Tivoli Portal Server Failed to create profile ================================================================================

OS Monitoring Agent Installation Failure on RHEL 5.3, for System Z
Installing the ITM 6.2.1 OS agent (C1MQ0EN) on zLinux (Redhat Enterprise Linux 5.3) fails with 'GSK check error, verifyInstall test failed'

After re-seeding or the installation of an ITM 6.2 Fixpack, Situations distribution revert to default MSL (*NT_SYSTEM)
Customer have no use for the default 'Windows OS' situations. They removed the default *NT_SYSTEM MSL from the assigned distribution windows for all Windows OS situations. After installing ITM 6.2 Fixpack01, the tems is re-seeded and re-started. All situations are assigned *NT_SYSTEM and events from normally unmonitored systems will fire and generate hundreds of TEC events which will generate unnecessary trouble tickets. The same problem will occur if the TEMS is manually re-seeded

SQL1_OpenRequest status = 3000 error trying to retrieve historical data
Trying to retrieve historical data you may get: 2009.047 11:32:09.28 (0001-DFE7C4AB:kdsrqc1.c,2579,"AccessRowsets") Could not obtain rowset 2, status code = 3000. What does status=3000 means?

CONSECUTIVE TRUE SAMPLES SETTING NEEDS TEMS TO BE UP
"Consecutive true samples" in situation editor is handled at TEMS. Hence when you set the Consecutive true samples to 2 or above, TEMS must be up. If TEMS is down, the situation does not work. The default value of Consecutive true samples is 1. The situation will work correctly when the Consecutive true samples is set to 1 and TEMS is down.

Information about 0x04??.ini files in ITM installer and depot.
What is included in 0x04??.ini files? Why do they contain the phrase "PASSWORD"? What are they used for?

IBM Software Support - Tivoli - Overview

[Feb 21, 2008] Deployment Guide Series IBM Tivoli Monitoring V6.2

February 06, 2008 | IBM Redbooks

IBM Tivoli Monitoring Version 6.2 is a powerful monitoring product from IBM, that is easily customizable and provides real-time and historical data that enables you to quickly diagnose and solve issues through the IBM Tivoli Enterprise Portal component. This common, flexible, and easy-to-use browser interface helps users to quickly isolate and resolve potential performance problems.

This IBM Redbooks publication presents a deployment guide for IBM Tivoli Monitoring V6.2. We cover planning, installing, and configuration of IBM Tivoli Monitoring V6.2 for small, medium, and large environments. In addition, we provide some case studies, such as IBM Tivoli Monitoring V5.x migration, event management integration, and Agent Builder.

Agent Builder is a very powerful tool that you can use to develop your own monitoring agents. In order to show you how this tool can be used in a real life scenario, we have created a 30 minute video that you can launch from the ITSO Web site.

We have also added an appendix that discusses IBM Tivoli Monitoring sales engagement planning for Business Partners and Solution Developers.

The target audience for this documentation is IT Specialists and Business Partners who will be working on IBM Tivoli Monitoring V6.2 implementations and proof of concepts.

[Feb 21, 2008] IBM Tivoli software training course - Differences for IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.2 - Recorded Web seminar

Free

Course description

In this Delta training course, you the key differences between versions 6.1 and 6.2, including migration from IBM Tivoli Monitoring 5.x architecture and monitors. This training is delivered as a series of recordings directed at those familiar with previous versions of IBM Tivoli Monitoring. Those needing comprehensive ITM 6.2 product training should attend the main curriculum for this product. Presented by Mark Lameier, Tivoli Technical Course Developer - December 19, 2007.

Objectives

After completing this course, students should be able to:

• Recognize the architecture changes from ITM 6.1 to ITM 6.2.
• Describe the migration to ITM 6.2 from an existing Tivoli Enterprise Console and ITM 5.x environment.
• List the key differences between ITM Express and the full ITM 6.2.
• Discuss the purpose and value of customer-specific Universal Agents.
• Describe agentless monitoring and compare it with agent-based monitoring.
• Explain intelligent thresholding for proactive monitoring.
• Recognize the added firewall support.
• Identify the cluster-awareness and management features.
• Explain the maintenance window support.
• Outline the improved PRISM (Service Management) integration.

Architecture Overview

1. Migration
2. ITM Express and full ITM 6.2
3. Universal Agents
4. Agentless vs agent-based monitoring
5. Intelligent thresholding
6. Firewalls and security
7. Clusters
8. Support
9. Service Management Integration

[Feb 21, 2008] {PPT} IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.2 - What's New and What's Coming

[Jan 16, 2008] Experiences on installing IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.2

January 16, 2008 | IBM developerWorks

IBM Tivoli Monitoring (ITM) 6.2 is a major upgrade to the IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.x product line. Installing ITM 6.1 was relatively easy (just follow the InfoCenter) and I was wondering if ITM 6.2 was just as easy. I took ITM 6.2 for install and found out it was just as easy and that many system components "seem" to work faster and better.

Steps on install:

• Download the ITM 6.2 core installation file (~4 gigs)
• Follow the ITM 6.2 InfoCenter install guide.

You should be done in under 30 minutes (excluding software download) and have a nice working ITM environment.

Categories : [ best_practices/howto | retail | tivoli | websphere ]

[Oct 15, 2007] Tivoli Field Guide - Handling ITM 6.1 Universal Agent Versions on Linux

The IBM Tivoli Universal Agent is a generic agent of IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.1. This agent is capable of using data from a wide variety of data providers. You create data definitions that describe the source and structure of the data supplied by the data providers. You store the data definitions in metafiles. The data providers relay the monitoring data and the metafile statements to the IBM Tivoli Universal Agent, which then sends the monitoring data to the Tivoli Enterprise Monitoring Server.

[Sep 11, 2007] Tivoli Global User Group Community Newsletter, August 2006

A GTUG member's advice on ITM 6.1: having been involved with the implementation of ITM 6.1 at a large scale, we have found a few issues that can be helpful to those embarking on ITM 6.1 implementation.

• There are documentation issues not clearly identifying the password limitations and providing unclear messages returning from SOAP interface forcing you to do more verifications
  
• Customers will end up re-visiting their network configuration, port assignments and bandwidth usage
  
• It is a must to be at fixpack02 level to get some necessary functionality. The recommendation is to go to fixpack03 which fixes some FP02 bugs

[Sep 10, 2007] Tivoli Software Global User Group Community

Papers from 2007 Tivoli user conference. Free registration required

• Best Practices for ITM 6.1 Reliability and High Availability_TTUC2007
• Best Practice Resources for IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.1_TTUC2007

[May 10, 2006] IBM Redbooks Deployment Guide SeriesIBM Tivoli Monitoring Express

A new ITM Express draft format. Even though ITM express is focused on the small to medium market (SMB), the product is basically the same as ITM 6.1. Therefore, this book has some additional good examples of how to use the ITM 6.x product. Check out chapters 4 and 6.

http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redpieces/abstracts/sg247217.html?Open

[Feb 24, 2006] IBM Tivoli software training course - Differences for IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.1

IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.1 enables customers to identify, predict, and manage problems that affect key application and business services. In this Delta training course, you will learn about migration from Distributed Monitoring 3.7 and from previous versions of OMEGAMON DE for Distibuted Platforms. You will also learn about coexistence of IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.1 with the IBM Tivoli Monitoring 5.x architecture and monitors.

This training is delivered as a series of recordings directed at those familiar with previous versions of IBM Tivoli Monitoring. Those needing comprehensive ITM 6.1 product training should attend the main curriculum for this product.

[Feb 24, 2006] IBM Tivoli Monitoring Flash demo Play Flash demo Download Flash demo

In this demonstration we will see how Tivoli's new Enterprise Portal provides access to all of your enterprise's monitoring data in one location. It provides superior information visualization allowing you to take quick action on those issues that are affecting the health of your enterprise. We'll also see the new easy-to-manage virtualization capabilities of the new IBM System p5, like the ability to dynamically allocate CPU resources exactly where and when they're needed. The combination of the IBM p5 systems and the Tivoli Availability solutions provide an unsurpassed solution for Server reliability and manageability.

[Feb. 8, 2005] IBM Tivoli - IBM acquires Candle Corporation - Welcome

On Feb. 8, 2005, IBM announced the completion of the first phase of its program to integrate the systems management and monitoring capabilities developed by the former Candle Corporation into the Tivoli software portfolio. Since the acquisition, we have been working diligently to integrate the Candle product portfolio into the IBM fulfillment systems. During this time, we also expanded customer support by integrating into IBM's worldwide support infrastructure, adding additional support personnel, and increasing staff and investment in product development.

Rebranding:

Candle Command Center for AIX	IBM Tivoli Command Center for Distributed Systems
Candle Command Center for HP-UX	IBM Tivoli Command Center for Distributed Systems
Candle Command Center for Oracle	IBM Tivoli Command Center for Databases on Distributed Systems
Candle Command Center for Sun Solaris	IBM Tivoli Command Center for Distributed Systems

Recommended Links

IBM Tivoli Monitoring - Product overview

• Library
• Documentation

IBM Search Results Tivoli monitoring 6.1

Free Training

• Differences for IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.1 Differences
• IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.1 How-to
• IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.1: Introduction Self-paced

IBM Tivoli Monitoring Express

Red Books

[Feb 21, 2008] Deployment Guide Series IBM Tivoli Monitoring V6.2

February 06, 2008 | IBM Redbooks

IBM Tivoli Monitoring Version 6.2 is a powerful monitoring product from IBM, that is easily customizable and provides real-time and historical data that enables you to quickly diagnose and solve issues through the IBM Tivoli Enterprise Portal component. This common, flexible, and easy-to-use browser interface helps users to quickly isolate and resolve potential performance problems.

This IBM Redbooks publication presents a deployment guide for IBM Tivoli Monitoring V6.2. We cover planning, installing, and configuration of IBM Tivoli Monitoring V6.2 for small, medium, and large environments. In addition, we provide some case studies, such as IBM Tivoli Monitoring V5.x migration, event management integration, and Agent Builder.

Agent Builder is a very powerful tool that you can use to develop your own monitoring agents. In order to show you how this tool can be used in a real life scenario, we have created a 30 minute video that you can launch from the ITSO Web site.

We have also added an appendix that discusses IBM Tivoli Monitoring sales engagement planning for Business Partners and Solution Developers.

The target audience for this documentation is IT Specialists and Business Partners who will be working on IBM Tivoli Monitoring V6.2 implementations and proof of concepts.

*** IBM Redbooks Getting Started with IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.1 on Distributed Environments This is still pretty raw ebook. Althouth some chapter are better then other (Chapter 13).

The IBM Tivoli Monitoring Version 6.1 solution is the next generation of the IBM Tivoli family of products that help monitor and manage critical hardware and software in distributed environments. IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.1 has emerged from the best of the IBM Tivoli Monitoring Version 5 and OMEGAMON technologies. Integration of these products creates a unique and comprehensive solution to monitor and manage both z/OS and distributed environments.

IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.1 is easily customizable and provides real-time and historical data that enables you to quickly diagnose and solve issues with the new GUI via the IBM Tivoli Enterprise Portal component. This common, flexible, and easy-to-use browser interface helps users to quickly isolate and resolve potential performance problems.

This IBM Redbook covers planning, architecture, tuning, implementation, and troubleshooting of IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.1. In addition, we offer scenarios for migration from Distributed Monitoring 3.7, and IBM Tivoli Monitoring 5.X coexistence with IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.1.

This book is targeted for IT specialists who will be working on new IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.1 installations on distributed environments or implementing migration from Distributed Monitoring 3.7 or IBM Tivoli Monitoring 5.X coexistence.

IBM Redbooks Deployment Guide Series IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.1

This IBM Redbook focuses on the planning and deployment of IBM Tivoli Monitoring Version 6.1 in small to medium and large environments.

The IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.1 solution is the next generation of the IBM Tivoli family of products that help monitor and manage critical hardware and software in distributed environments. IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.1 has emerged from the best of the IBM Tivoli Monitoring V5 and OMEGAMON technologies. Integration of these products makes a unique and comprehensive solution to monitor and manage both z/OS and distributed environments.

IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.1 is easily customizable and provides real-time and historical data that enables you to quickly diagnose and solve issues with the new GUI via the IBM Tivoli Enterprise Portal component. This common, flexible, and easy-to-use browser interface helps users to quickly isolate and resolve potential performance problems.

The target audience for this book is IT Specialists who will be working on new IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.1 installations.

IBM Redbooks Certification Guide Series IBM Tivoli Monitoring V 6.1

This IBM Redbook is a study guide for IBM Tivoli Monitoring Version 6.1 and is aimed at the people who want to get an IBM Professional Certification for this product.

The IBM Tivoli Monitoring Version 6.1 Certification, offered through the Professional Certification Program from IBM, is designed to validate the skills required of technical professionals who work in the implementation of the IBM Tivoli Monitoring Version 6.1 product.

This book provides a combination of theory and practical experience needed for a general understanding of the subject matter. It also provides sample questions that will help in the evaluation of personal progress and provide familiarity with the types of questions that will be encountered in the exam.

This publication does not replace practical experience, nor is it designed to be a stand-alone guide for any subject. Instead, it is an effective tool that, when combined with education activities and experience, can be a very useful preparation guide for the exam.

For your convenience, we structure the chapters based on the sections of the IBM Tivoli Monitoring V6.1 Implementation Certification test, such as Planning, Prerequisites, Installation, and so on, so studying each chapter will help you prepare for one section of the exam

Etc

Society

Groupthink : Two Party System as Polyarchy : Corruption of Regulators : Bureaucracies : Understanding Micromanagers and Control Freaks : Toxic Managers :   Harvard Mafia : Diplomatic Communication : Surviving a Bad Performance Review : Insufficient Retirement Funds as Immanent Problem of Neoliberal Regime : PseudoScience : Who Rules America : Neoliberalism  : The Iron Law of Oligarchy : Libertarian Philosophy

Quotes

War and Peace : Skeptical Finance : John Kenneth Galbraith :Talleyrand : Oscar Wilde : Otto Von Bismarck : Keynes : George Carlin : Skeptics : Propaganda  : SE quotes : Language Design and Programming Quotes : Random IT-related quotes :  Somerset Maugham : Marcus Aurelius : Kurt Vonnegut : Eric Hoffer : Winston Churchill : Napoleon Bonaparte : Ambrose Bierce :  Bernard Shaw : Mark Twain Quotes

Bulletin:

Vol 25, No.12 (December, 2013) Rational Fools vs. Efficient Crooks The efficient markets hypothesis : Political Skeptic Bulletin, 2013 : Unemployment Bulletin, 2010 :  Vol 23, No.10 (October, 2011) An observation about corporate security departments : Slightly Skeptical Euromaydan Chronicles, June 2014 : Greenspan legacy bulletin, 2008 : Vol 25, No.10 (October, 2013) Cryptolocker Trojan (Win32/Crilock.A) : Vol 25, No.08 (August, 2013) Cloud providers as intelligence collection hubs : Financial Humor Bulletin, 2010 : Inequality Bulletin, 2009 : Financial Humor Bulletin, 2008 : Copyleft Problems Bulletin, 2004 : Financial Humor Bulletin, 2011 : Energy Bulletin, 2010 : Malware Protection Bulletin, 2010 : Vol 26, No.1 (January, 2013) Object-Oriented Cult : Political Skeptic Bulletin, 2011 : Vol 23, No.11 (November, 2011) Softpanorama classification of sysadmin horror stories : Vol 25, No.05 (May, 2013) Corporate bullshit as a communication method  : Vol 25, No.06 (June, 2013) A Note on the Relationship of Brooks Law and Conway Law

History:

Fifty glorious years (1950-2000): the triumph of the US computer engineering : Donald Knuth : TAoCP and its Influence of Computer Science : Richard Stallman : Linus Torvalds  : Larry Wall  : John K. Ousterhout : CTSS : Multix OS Unix History : Unix shell history : VI editor : History of pipes concept : Solaris : MS DOS :  Programming Languages History : PL/1 : Simula 67 : C : History of GCC development :  Scripting Languages : Perl history   : OS History : Mail : DNS : SSH : CPU Instruction Sets : SPARC systems 1987-2006 : Norton Commander : Norton Utilities : Norton Ghost : Frontpage history : Malware Defense History : GNU Screen : OSS early history

Classic books:

The Peter Principle : Parkinson Law : 1984 : The Mythical Man-Month :  How to Solve It by George Polya : The Art of Computer Programming : The Elements of Programming Style : The Unix Hater’s Handbook : The Jargon file : The True Believer : Programming Pearls : The Good Soldier Svejk : The Power Elite

Most popular humor pages:

Manifest of the Softpanorama IT Slacker Society : Ten Commandments of the IT Slackers Society : Computer Humor Collection : BSD Logo Story : The Cuckoo's Egg : IT Slang : C++ Humor : ARE YOU A BBS ADDICT? : The Perl Purity Test : Object oriented programmers of all nations : Financial Humor : Financial Humor Bulletin, 2008 : Financial Humor Bulletin, 2010 : The Most Comprehensive Collection of Editor-related Humor : Programming Language Humor : Goldman Sachs related humor : Greenspan humor : C Humor : Scripting Humor : Real Programmers Humor : Web Humor : GPL-related Humor : OFM Humor : Politically Incorrect Humor : IDS Humor : "Linux Sucks" Humor : Russian Musical Humor : Best Russian Programmer Humor : Microsoft plans to buy Catholic Church : Richard Stallman Related Humor : Admin Humor : Perl-related Humor : Linus Torvalds Related humor : PseudoScience Related Humor : Networking Humor : Shell Humor : Financial Humor Bulletin, 2011 : Financial Humor Bulletin, 2012 : Financial Humor Bulletin, 2013 : Java Humor : Software Engineering Humor : Sun Solaris Related Humor : Education Humor : IBM Humor : Assembler-related Humor : VIM Humor : Computer Viruses Humor : Bright tomorrow is rescheduled to a day after tomorrow : Classic Computer Humor

The Last but not Least Technology is dominated by two types of people: those who understand what they do not manage and those who manage what they do not understand ~Archibald Putt. Ph.D

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Created November 1 2004; Last modified: March 12, 2019