Solstice Enterprise Manager 4.1 Managing Your Network Doc Set ContentsPreviousNextIndex

Chapter 8

Gathering Attribute Data

Solstice Enterprise Manager (Solstice EM) provides three tools for collecting data from agents about the attributes of the network components you manage. Using the RPC/CMIP Data or SNMP Data tools, you can collect data from RPC, CMIP, or SNMP agents, respectively. Using the Data Collections tool, you create a collection, a specific set of attributes for which you obtain and save data. See Section8.17 Reference for more information.

This chapter comprises the following topics:

8.1 Overview

Gathering data about the network components you manage can make it easier to pro actively manage faults of components or network configurations, enhance network performance, and plan for upgrades. For example, data such as CPU usage can help you optimize disk space and plan future software installations.

Solstice EM provides three tools with which to gather attribute data. Each tool serves a different purpose. SNMP Data enables you to gather, modify, and poll for data from SNMP agents. Likewise, RPC/CMIP Data enables you to gather, modify, and poll for data from RPC and CMIP agents. In both tools, the method of collection is non-persistent, which means that when data is updated, older data is replaced and not retained. However, from both tools, you can access Data Collections, the data gathering tool that enables you to create a collection, a specific group of attributes, for which values can be gathered from SNMP, RPC, or CMIP agents at specified intervals. The collected data is recorded in a log file as a set of reports that can be viewed or graphed.

TABLE 8-1   Solstice EM Tools for Data Gathering
Tool for Data Gathering Protocols Supported What You Can Do
SNMP Data
 SNMP
 Select specific attributes of network components configured with SNMP agents
View, or get, attribute values of read-only attributes, which are identifiable as gray icons
Modify, or set attribute values of read-write attributes, which are identifiable as white icons
Poll for data at intervals
Prepare for a collection of SNMP data to be retrieved and recorded in a log file
RPC/CMIP Data
 RPC and CMIP
 Select specific attributes of network components configured with RPC and CMIP agents
View, or get, attribute values of read-only attributes, which are identifiable as gray icons
Modify, or set, attribute values of read-write attributes, which are identifiable as white icons
Poll for data at intervals
Query using CMIP and SNM schemas
Prepare for a collection of RPC or CMIP data to be retrieved and recorded in a log file
Data Collections
 SNMP, RPC, and CMIP
 Select specific attributes of network components configured with SNMP, RPC, and CMIP agents
Create a collection which automatically polls for and records attribute data
View attribute data in the SNM Results Browser
Graph data trends in Grapher


8.1.1 How Data is Obtained in Solstice EM

Regardless of the type of data that you collect or the Solstice EM tool that you use to collect it, all data is stored in a repository on a host, referred to as a Management Information Server (MIS). In Solstice EM, all MISs use the CMIP protocol to communicate.

All data regarding a network component is saved in an MIS repository. The network component is configured with an agent, a software module that enables communication with the MIS. The agent may be configured to communicate using CMIP or another protocol. If the network component uses a protocol other than CMIP, Solstice EM provides Management Protocol Adaptors (MPA) that use the Portable Management Interface (PMI) application programming interfaces (APIs) as a framework to translate one protocol into another. The following figure shows the process used to enable a network component to communicate with and gather attribute data from the MIS.

FIGURE 8-1   Solstice EM Architecture as it Facilitates Network Communication

You can think about it this way: the MIS is like an international organization that has gathered statistics about one of its member countries. The network component is like the member country, and it wants to find out the statistics that have been gathered about itself. Once it has those statistics, it can evaluate what must be done to improve its presence and performance on a global basis.

With this in mind, when you use any of the data collection tools--RPC/CMIP Data, SNMP Data, or Data Collections--you provide an agent software module, located on the network component, with a list or collection of the kind of data that you want to receive. Like a diplomat from a member country, the agent sends the request for data to the MPA, which acts as a translator between the agent and the MIS. The MPA then uses the PMI APIs--the equivalent of vocabulary lists and conjugation sheets--to translate the protocol of the network component into the protocol that the MIS understands. After receiving the request in its native CMIP protocol, the MIS retrieves the requested data, which then passes back to the network component through the same process in reverse.

8.1.2 About Collections

In RPC/CMIP Data and SNMP Data, you can retrieve one-time views of data about a network component. In Data Collections, you can obtain a more permanent view of data by setting up a collection, a set of object attributes for which you can poll periodically, and a file in which the returned sets of data, referred to as reports, are recorded.The benefit of creating a collection of attribute data lies in its ability to be stored, viewed sequentially in a browser, or graphed in the Grapher tool.

8.1.3 Related Tasks

8.1.4 Related Files

8.1.5 Further Reading

For additional data about SNMP, RPC, and CMIP agents and Management Protocol Adapters (MPA), see the Management Information Server (MIS) Guide.

For additional data about adding, integrating, converting, and loading managed object classes, see the Management Information Server (MIS) Guide.

For additional data about SNMP, RPC, and CMIP management, see Chapters 8 through 10 of the Customizing Guide.

8.2 Getting Started

This section explains how to start and exit the three tools provided for gathering and collecting attribute data:

 

To Use SNMP Data

1. Start SNMP Data in one of the following ways.

See Section 8.17.1 SNMP Command-Line Options for more information.

2. Perform any task discussed in this chapter.

3. Click File->Exit when you are finished.

See Also SNMP Command-Line Options-page 8-29

 

To Use RPC/CMIP Data

1. Start RPC/CMIP Data in one of the following ways:

  • From Network Views, click Tools -> RPC/CMIP Data.
  • From an operating system prompt, type: em_dataviewer options
    where options include the following: -help -host MIS servername -id system toponodeid

2. Perform any task discussed in this chapter.

3. Click Close when you are finished.

 

To Use Data Collections

1. Start Data Collections in one of the following ways.

  • From the Network Tools window, double-click the Data Collections icon.
  • From the RPC/CMIP Data dialog or an SNMP Data - Table window, click the Data Collection button.
  • From an operating system prompt: em_datacollector options
    where options include the following: -help -host hostname -timeout time-out

See Section 8.17.2 Data Collections Command-Line Options for more information.

2. Perform any task discussed in this chapter.

3. Click File->Exit when you are finished.

See Also:

8.3 Viewing Object Attributes From an SNMP Agent

By querying an agent from SNMP Data, you can get data about attributes, such as the IP status or the number of error messages of each component running an SNMP agent. Attributes are contained in attribute folders that you can display in the upper portion of the SNMP Data window. Attribute folders are contained in MIB folders that pertain to an associated MIB.

The SNMP Data window displays two default characteristics: the name of the host on which the SNMP agent is located, and the public read community. You can view the attributes of another network component by replacing the name in the Device field.

 

To View Specific Attributes of an Object

1. In the Device field of the SNMP Data window, type the host name or internet address of the network component configured with the SNMP agent that you want to query.

2. Press Return.

3. (Optional) In SNMP Read Community, type the name of a group or an individual to have general read access to the attribute data. The default value is Public.

4. Press Return.

5. To view MIB variables sorted by Object Identifier (Oid) or by name,
click View->Sort by Names or View->Sort by Oids to select the MIB variables view.

6. Ensure that a check mark is displayed in the View->Supported MIBs Only box to view all folders of supported management information bases (MIBs).

You can change the display of folders by clicking View->Supported MIBs Only. When a check mark is displayed in the Supported MIBs Only box, only folders of MIBs supported by the network component are displayed. Otherwise, folders of all MIBs integrated into Solstice EM are displayed.

7. Click a MIB folder to display the attribute folders pertaining to the MIB. Click the appropriate attribute folder to display its contents, the attributes.

Note – Index attributes are differentiated by color. The SNMP Browser indicates internal indexes in blue and external indexes in red.

8. Click the text of the attribute you want to select.

Attributes that are read-only appear as gray page icons. Attributes that are read-write appear as white page icons.

8.4 Specifying an SNMP Device to Query

Gathering data about the attributes of a network device entails querying an SNMP agent. The SNMP agent then sends the request for data to the network component, and the network component returns the requested data to the agent. The data is displayed in the tables of the SNMP Data tool. Although the SNMP Data tool is configured to gather data from a default SNMP agent, you can select a different agent to query and you can query multiple agents.

 

To Specify an SNMP Agent

1. In the Device field of the SNMP Data window, type the host name or IP address of the network component configured with the SNMP agent that you want to query.

2. Press Return.

3. (Optional) In SNMP Read Community, type the name of a group or an individual to have general read access to the attribute data. The default value is Public.

4. Press Return.

Group folders associated with the agent are displayed in the upper portion of the SNMP Data window.
 

To Select Multiple Agents Simultaneously

You can specify multiple SNMP agents using SNMP Data tables. For more information about SNMP Data tables, see Section8.5 Working in Tables.

1. In the Device field of the SNMP Data window, type the host name or IP address of the network component configured with the SNMP agent that you want to query.

2. Press Return.

3. (Optional) In SNMP Read Community, type the name of a group or an individual to have general read access to the attribute data. The default value is Public.

4. Press Return.

5. Ensure that a check mark is displayed in the View -> Supported MIBs Only box to show the folders of all MIBs supported by the network component for which you want to obtain attribute data.

6. Click a MIB folder to display the attribute folders pertaining to the MIB. Click the appropriate attribute folder to display its contents, the attributes.

7. Click the text of the attribute you want to select, then:

    1. Click the table button (located to the right of the Add Selected to button).
    2. Select the table into which you want the data to display. If no other table has been created, the only available option is New Table.
    3. Click Add Selected to.
    The attribute data is displayed in an SNMP Data - Table window.

8. In the SNMP Data - Table window, click View->Add Device.

9. In the Add Device dialog,

    1. In the Device field, type the host name or IP address of another network component configured with an SNMP agent.
    2. Press Return.
    3. In the Community field, type the name of the group or individual to have read access to the attribute data.
    4. Click OK.
    The SNMP Data table is now set to query multiple agents. You can obtain data about the network components associated with these agents when you click Get in the SNMP Data - Table window.

8.5 Working in Tables

The SNMP Data tool provides tables in which you display the attribute data that you obtain from SNMP agents. In the SNMP Data window, data is displayed in rows. When data is moved into an SNMP Data - Table window, it is then displayed in columns. You can add as many attributes as you want to a table, and you can edit the arrangement of data in a table and customize the format of tables.

8.5.1 Creating and Loading Tables

Most available attributes are read-only. These attributes display as gray icons, and you can only view their attribute values. Read-write attributes are displayed as white icons. From the SNMP Data tool, you can change their values in the MIS by dragging them into a table and clicking Set. For more information about setting attribute values, see Section8.7 Setting Attribute Data.

You can create and customize your own tables for organizing this data or use the default table. You can also save the structure of the tables you create, including the attribute headings across the top of the table, but you cannot save the data contained within a table when you save a table.

 

To Create Tables

  • To create an empty table, in the SNMP Data window, click File->Create Table.
  • To create a table filled with selected attributes and their values, in the SNMP Data window, open the appropriate MIB folder, click an attribute folder, and click the text of an attribute, then click Add Selected to->New Table.
  • To save the format of a table, including the attributes that comprise the headings of columns and rows, click File->Save Table Definition.
    Save the table format as a file in the Save File dialog and click OK. Table formats are generally saved in the current working directory. You can save tables to any directory to which you have write privileges.

 

To Load Existing Tables

1. In the SNMP Data window, click File->Open Table.

2. In the Load From File dialog, select the file of the table to load.

8.5.2 Selecting and Moving Data in Tables

You can select data and move it to other cells in the table.

 

To Make Selections in Tables

  • Click a row or column label to select the desired row or column.
  • Click Edit->Select All to select all items in a table.
  • Click Edit->Deselect All to deselect all selected items.
 

To Move Attributes Into a Table

1. In the SNMP Data window, click an attribute folder or the text of an attribute and hold down the middle mouse button to drag the icon.

2. In the SNMP Data - Table window, drop the icon on the Sun logo, as indicated by the message, "Drop Here: Folder or Sheet Icon."

For a group icon, all of the attributes for that group are added to the active table. For an attribute icon, only the selected attribute is added. You can mix agents, groups, and attributes as desired.
 

To Create a Row in a Table

1. In the SNMP Data window, click an attribute folder or an attribute text.

2. Click Add Selected To to add the MIB group and its attributes to the table.

3. Click the row you want to add to the table.

4. Click Agent->Add Row to create an empty row.

5. Fill in the values in the empty row.

6. Click Agent->Create Row.

 

To Delete a Row from a Table

1. In the SNMP Data window, click an attribute folder or an attribute text.

2. Click Add Selected To to add the MIB group and its attributes to the table.

3. Click the row you want to delete from the table.

4. Click Agent->Delete Row to delete the selected row.

8.5.3 Completing Tables

You can add attributes to a table and display and modify attribute values.

 

To Add Attributes to Tables

1. In the SNMP Data window, display available MIB folders.

Ensure that a check mark is displayed in the View->Supported MIBs Only box to show the folders of supported MIBs.

2. Click a MIB folder to display the attribute folders pertaining to the MIB. Click the appropriate attribute folder to display its contents, the attributes.

3. Click the text of the attribute you want to select.

4. Click the table button to the right of the Add Selected to button, and select the name of the table into which you want the attribute data to display.

If no other table has been created, the only available option is New Table.

5. Click Add Selected to.

The attribute data is placed in the appropriate table.

8.5.4 Clearing Tables

You can remove data from a table cell, delete a row or a column, and clear tables.

 

To Delete Table Entries

In the SNMP Data - Table window, do any of the following:

  • Select the rows or columns to be deleted, then click View->Delete Selected.
  • To remove all columns, click View->Delete All Columns.
  • To clear data from the rows in the table without clearing column headings, click View->Delete All Rows.

8.5.5 Printing Tables

 

To Print Tables

  • Click File->Print in the table window.

8.6 Getting Attribute Data

By querying an agent by means of the RPC/CMIP Data or SNMP Data tools, you can get data about attributes, such as the IP status or the number of error messages output, from each SNMP, RPC, or CMIP agent configured for the network component. This data is then displayed in the respective tool: either SNMP attribute values in the SNMP Data tool or RPC and CMIP attribute values in the RPC/CMIP Data tool.

SNMP Data queries can be performed using either SNMPv1 or SNMPv2c protocols. In SNMPv1, you will receive a best-effort response. If you incorrectly specify the attributes to get data about, your request will be rejected entirely. With SNMPv2c however, when an agent cannot provide values to all attributes from the request, the agent does respond to all requests that can be satisfied and rejects only the incorrect attributes.

 

To Get Attribute Data From SNMP Agents

1. Start the SNMP Data tool.

See Section8.2 Getting Started for more information.

2. In the Device field of the SNMP Data window, type the host name or internet address of the network component configured with the SNMP agent that you want to query.

3. Press Return.

4. (Optional) In SNMP Read Community, type the name of a group or an individual to have general read access to the attribute data. The default value is Public.

5. Press Return.

6. Ensure that a check mark is displayed in the View->Supported MIBs Only box to show the folders of all MIBs supported by the network component for which you want to obtain attribute data.

7. Click a MIB folder to display the attribute folders pertaining to the MIB. Click the appropriate folder to display its contents, the attributes.

8. To get data for only one attribute, click the text of the attribute.

9. Then, click Get in the SNMP Data window.

Note – If a GET request is taking too much time to retrieve the requested information, you can use the "stop" button to terminate the request and continue using the application.If you want to get data for multiple attributes, click the text of one attribute, then set up a customized SNMP Data table in the following manner:

    1. Click the table button (located to the right of the Add Selected to button).
      If only one table has been created, click New Table.

    2. Select the table into which you want the data to display.
    3. Click Add Selected to.
      The attribute data is displayed in an SNMP Data - Table window. To display additional attribute data in the SNMP Data - Table window, return to the SNMP Data window, click the text of another attribute, and repeat the previous procedure. You can add as many attributes to the SNMP Data table as you want.
    4. Click Get in the SNMP Data - Table window each time you want to update the data displayed.
 

To Get Attribute Data From RPC/CMIP Agents

1. Start the RPC/CMIP Data tool.

2. In the Target Object field, type the host name or internet address of the network component for which you want to retrieve attribute data.

3. Press Return.

In Attribute Groups, attributes from all RPC and CMIP agents configured for the network component are listed. The appropriate protocol is automatically selected. If the device supports both RPC and CMIP, you can select either RPC or CMIP to list attributes from the agents configured with either protocol.

4. In Attribute Groups, double-click the folder of the attribute for which you want to obtain data values.

The attribute values are displayed in the Data area of the RPC/CMIP Data tool.

You can also select an attribute and click Get to send a request for data to the component specified in the Target Object field.

 

To Stop a Get Request

  • Click Stop during any get request to cancel the current request for attribute data.
    Stop is grayed out when no request for data is being processed.

8.7 Setting Attribute Data

With the SNMP Data and RPC/CMIP Data tools, you can modify and save attribute values of an object. Although most available attributes are read-only causing them only to be viewed, some attributes, such as sysContact, are read-write and can be viewed as well as modified. In the SNMP Data tool, read-only attributes display as gray icons. Read-write attributes display as white icons.

 

To Set Attribute Data With an SNMP Agent

Before you can set attribute data, you must get attribute data. This task includes procedures for getting and then setting data.

1. In the Device field of the SNMP Data window, type the host name or internet address of the network component configured with the SNMP agent that you want to query.

2. Press Return.

3. (Optional) In SNMP Read Community, type the name of a group or an individual to have general read access to the attribute data. The default value is Public.

4. Press Return.

5. Ensure that a check mark is displayed in the View->Supported MIBs Only box to show the folders of all available MIBs from which you can select attributes.

6. Click the folder of the MIB to display the attribute folders.

The data of selected attributes is displayed in the attributes table in the lower portion of the SNMP Data window. Attributes that appear in white are read-write and can be changed. Attributes that appear in gray are read-only.

7. Click the appropriate attribute folder to display its contents, the attributes.

8. Click the text of the attribute you want to select to change. Delete the value and type a new value in the field.

9. Click Set to send changed values back to the network component.

You can also display attribute data in an SNMP Data - Table window by clicking the table button, selecting New Table or the appropriate table if more than one are opened, and clicking Add Selected to. Then, you can change data in the table and click Set in the SNMP Data - Table window.
 

To Set Attribute Data From an RPC/CMIP Agent

1. Start the RPC/CMIP Data tool.

2. In the Target Object field, type the host name or internet address of the network component for which you want to retrieve attribute data.

3. Press Return.

In Attribute Groups, attributes from all RPC and CMIP agents configured for the network component are listed. The appropriate protocol is automatically selected. If the device supports both RPC and CMIP, you can select either RPC or CMIP to list attributes from the agents configured with either protocol.

4. In Attribute Groups, click the attribute for which you want to display data values to modify.

5. In the Data field, click in the field of the attribute data that you want to modify. Delete the current value from the field and type a new value.

For example, if you want to change the name of the system administrator responsible for a particular component, delete the value of the sysContact attribute and type a new name.
You can change the read/write attribute values of every agent configured for the network component.

6. Click Set to send changed values back to the network component.

8.8 Polling for Data

Polling for data enables you to continually monitor details that affect network performance at specified intervals. You can set polling intervals after initially getting attribute values.

 

To Poll an SNMP Agent

1. After getting attribute values for selected attributes, display the data in a new or existing SNMP Data - Table window.

For information about getting attribute values, see Section8.6 Getting Attribute Data. For information about creating an SNMP Data table, see Section8.5.1 Creating and Loading Tables.

2. In the SNMP Data - Table window, click Poll.

3. In the Poll dialog, click All or Selected Only to specify whether to query all agents noted in the table or only the agents that you have selected.

4. In the Rate field, drag the marker to specify the interval, in seconds, between queries.

5. Click Close to close the Poll dialog.

Querying occurs automatically, at the intervals you specified.
 

To Poll an RPC/CMIP Agent

1. In the RPC/CMIP dialog, get values of the attributes for which you want data.

For information about getting attribute values, see Section8.6 Getting Attribute Data.

2. Click Poll.

3. In the Poll dialog, set polling to occur in time intervals of seconds, minutes, or hours.

4. In the Frequency field, set the number of seconds, minutes, or hours to pass between polls.

5. Click Start.

Polling begins. The data in the Data field is updated at the specified intervals.

Note – As data is updated in the SNMP Data and RPC/CMIP Data tools, older data is replaced by newer data. However, you can open Data Collections to set up a collection of attributes which you can poll at intervals and retain in a log file. See the following section, "Recording Data to a Collection," for more information.

8.9 Displaying Data From Another MIS

When MIS-to-MIS communication has been established, you can manage a network component from another MIS. For example, in the following illustration, the host canoe is configured with an SNMP agent and is managed by the MIS located on the host, river. The host submarine is managed by the MIS located on the host, ocean.

When MIS-to-MIS communication is configured between the two MISs, located respectively on the hosts river and ocean, you can use the SNMP Data tool on submarine to manage canoe. Likewise, if you want to obtain RPC or CMIP data, you can use the RPC/CMIP Data tool to manage a component on another MIS.

FIGURE 8-2   Viewing Requested Data Returned From a Host on a Remote MIS

Before you can manage a component on another MIS, you need to set MIS-to-MIS communication between the two servers. Setting up MIS-to-MIS communication involves specifying the trusted host and setting up an MIS-to-MIS connection. For information on setting up trust relationships between MIS hosts, see Chapter 6. For information on setting up MIS-to-MIS connections, refer to the Management Information Server (MIS) Guide.

8.10 Obtaining Data From a Network Component Managed by a Remote MIS

Every component on your network that is integrated into Solstice EM as a managed object is assigned a unique, numeric identifier called a toponodeID. If you know the toponodeID of a network component managed by a remote MIS, and if you have previously initiated MIS-to-MIS communication with the remote MIS, you can open the SNMP Data or RPC/CMIP Data tools from the command line or the Network Views tool to display the attribute data of all agents configured for the network component. For information about using Network Views to view a network component managed by a remote MIS, see Chapter 4 .

 

To Obtain the toponodeID of a Network Component

1. In Network Tools, click Administration.

2. In the Solstice EM - Administration window, click MIS Objects.

3. In the MIS Objects (object editor) window, select the folder of the network component for which you want the toponodeID.

For example, if you want the toponodeID of a host named sparks, look for the folder labeled as follows: systemId=name:"sparks"

Note – If the folder is not already open, click the plus sign to the left of the folder.

4. Select the topoNodeDBId=NULL folder under the systemId=name:<hostname>.

5. Click Object->Action->topoNodeGetByName.

6. In the Parameter field of the MIS Objects - Action dialog, type the name or internet address of the host for which you want to obtain the toponodeID.

7. Click OK.

In this example, you would enter sparks in the Parameter field and click OK.
The MIS Objects - Output Window is displayed containing the toponodeID of the specified network component set in braces.
 

To Obtain Data From a Network Component Managed by Another MIS

8.11 Updating MIS Tables With Attribute Values From Third-Party MIBs

SNMP Data accommodates the functionality provided by certain third-party applications to update MIS tables with new values of third-party MIB attributes. In the SNMP Data tables, a set of menu items, Add Row and Delete Row, enable you to update or remove the value of a third-party MIB attribute directly within your customized SNMP Data table.
 

To Update MIS Tables With Attribute Values

1. In an SNMP Data - Table window, select a row of data by clicking the heading of the row.

2. Click Agent->Add Row.

A new empty row will be added below the selected row.

3. Select Agent->Create Row from the Table window menu bar.

A request to fill the row with the appropriate attribute values is sent to the agent. If the request is granted, the new values are displayed in the row.
 

To Remove an Attribute Value From an MIS Table

1. In an SNMP Data - Table window, select a row of data by clicking the heading of the row.

2. Click Agent->Delete Row.

The row is removed from the SNMP Data table. Simultaneously, the attribute values are also removed from the MIS tables.

8.12 Recording Data to a Collection

Solstice EM enables you to create a collection, a set of attributes which you can continually poll for new sets of attribute values. Collections are saved in log files that are considered part of the collection.

Solstice EM provides the Data Collections tool for setting up a collection. From both the SNMP Data and RPC/CMIP Data tools, you can invoke the Data Collections tool and create a collection in which to store the attribute sets that you select when you query an agent for SNMP, RPC, or CMIP data.

 

To Record SNMP Data

1. From the SNMP Data - Table window, click Data Collection.

The Data Collections tool opens, and the Create dialog is displayed. The dialog automatically has been updated with the attributes that you previously selected in the SNMP Data tool. By saving these attributes to a collection, you can schedule the same set of attributes to be polled for data continuously at set intervals.

2. Set up the collection.

For information about creating and using data collections, see Section 8.12 Recording Data to a Collection.
 

To Record RPC/CMIP Data

1. From the RPC/CMIP Data dialog, click Data Collection.

The Data Collections tool opens, and the Create dialog is displayed. The dialog automatically has been updated with the attributes that you previously selected in the SNMP Data tool. By saving these attributes to a collection, you can schedule the same set of attributes to be polled for data continuously at set intervals.

2. Set up the collection.

For information about creating and using data collections, see Section 8.12 Recording Data to a Collection.

8.13 Creating Data Collections

The following task explains how to create a collection of attributes that you can then schedule to be polled continuously at set intervals.

 

To Create a Collection

1. In the Data Collections window, click Actions->Create Collection to display the Create dialog.

2. In the Create dialog, click Objects Browser to specify the object to search for.

3. In the Object Browser dialog, click the folder icon of an object.

4. Click Add to select an object.

The selected object displays in Managed Objects.

There may be a brief delay after clicking a folder in the Object Browser dialog.

5. Click Close to close the Objects Browser dialog.

6. Click Attributes Browser.

7. In the Attribute List dialog, select attributes of the object to include in the collection.

8. Click OK to close the dialog.

The attributes display in the Attributes list.

9. Set the properties of the collection.

    1. Type the name of the collection in the Collection Name field.
    2. Click the ellipsis (. . .) button of the Directory Name field to open the Collection Directory Name dialog for setting a location for the collection.
    3. Click OK to close the dialog.
    4. Type a value or click the up or down arrows of the Max File Size field to specify the size, in megabytes, of data that you want the file to hold. Ultimately, this measurement determines the size of the log file of the collection.
    5. Click the appropriate button of the File Wrapping field to turn file wrapping on or off.
      In the File Wrapping field, the default is Yes. When the log file of the collection reaches the Max File Size you specify, file wrapping occurs in the log file. New data writes over old data.

    6. In Log Format, click EM or SNM to specify whether you want to format your file using Enterprise Manager or SunNet Manager format.
    7. In Write MIB Name, select Yes or No to specify whether or not to record the MIB name before each attribute value listed in the log file of the collection.
    8. In Write Attribute Name, select Yes or No to specify whether or not to log the attribute name before each attribute value listed in the log file of the collection.

10. Click OK to create the collection with the selected parameters.

8.14 Scheduling Collection Polls

You can schedule to poll a collection in the Schedule section of the Create dialog. After you set the schedule, querying occurs automatically. You can schedule collection times during the creation of the collection. You can also change polling intervals and start and stop times for an existing collection.

 

To Schedule Polling

1. In the Schedule section of the Create dialog:

    1. Click the Start Time box to select the time when you want data collection to start.
    2. Click AM or PM.
    3. In the Date field, type the date on which you want to start data collection. Use the format mm/dd/yyyy.
    4. Click the Stop Time box to select the time when you want to end data collection.
    5. Click AM or PM.
    6. In the Data field, type the date on which you want to end data collection. Use the format mm/dd/yyyy.
    7. Click the arrows of the Poll Interval option to increase or decrease the amount of time to pass before the agent polls the object for data.
      The default poll interval is 60 seconds between polls.

2. Click OK.

Data collection automatically begins according to the time intervals you set. Data retrieved from the object is automatically recorded in the log file of the collection.

8.15 Viewing Collected Data

When you want to view data obtained in a collection formatted in the SNM format, you can use the SNM Results Browser. To view data formatted in the Solstice EM format, open the log file in which the data is contained.

 

To View Data in a Collection of SNM Format

1. In the Data Collections window, select the log file of the collection that contains the data you want to view.

2. Click Actions->SNM Results Browser.

3. In the SNM Results Browser, click File ->Load.

4. In the Load dialog, select the path of the log file that you want to open.

5. Click Load.

The log file you selected is displayed in the SNM Results Browser as a sequence of data referred to as a stream.

8.16 Graphing Collected Data

When you poll for data over a long period of time, you can graph trends in the Solstice EM-Grapher tool.

 

To Graph Trends in the Grapher Tool

1. In the SNM Results Browser, select the streams that you want to graph.

2. Right-click in the upper portion of the SNM Results Browser.

3. In the Streams menu.

4. Click Graph.

5. From the list of attributes, select an attribute to be graphed.

The data is displayed in the Grapher tool.

8.17 Reference

The following sections provide command-line options for SNMP Data Browser.

For detailed information about dialogs, menus, and other user interface elements, refer to the Solstice EM Online Help. To access Online Help, click the Help button on any dialog box or select options from the Help menu located in the upper right corner of each Solstice EM tool window.

8.17.1 SNMP Command-Line Options

The following table describes the command options and parameters for the em_snmpbrowser command, which is used to start SNMP Data.

TABLE 8-2   SNMP Data Command-Line Options 
Option Parameter Description
-help
  
 Prints list of options (with descriptions) for the em_snmpbrowser command.
-host
hostname
 Specifies the hostname of a remote MIS.
-agent
agentname
 Specifies the default agent name. If omitted, default is the name of the MIS host. If -id topo_id is also specified, -id topo_id take precedence.
-community
string
 Specifies the default community string. If omitted, default is "public"
 For example:
 em_snmpbrowser -community syseng
 specifies that only the systems engineering group will have read privileges to the returned values of a query
-id
topo_id
 Specifies the toponodeId. If -agent agentname is also specified, -id topo_id takes precedence.
 For example:
 em_snmpbrowser -host zack -id zeb:42
 specifies a query for data on a host located on the remote MIS zeb via the local MIS zack, and 42 represents the toponodeID of the betwork component that is a child object to the remote MIS


8.17.2 Data Collections Command-Line Options

The following table describes the command options and parameters for the em_datacollector command, which is used to start Data Collections.

TABLE 8-3   Data Collections Command-Line Options
Option Parameter Description
-help
  
 Prints list of options (with descriptions) for the em_datacollector command.
-host
hostname
 Specifies the hostname of a remote MIS
 For example:
em_datacollector -host silicon
-timeout
 time-out
 Specifies the amount of time that the Data Collections tool waits for a connection to the MIS before being prompted for Wait Again or Exit responses.This option is referred to as the initialization time-out.
 For example:
em_datacollector -timeout 10


8.18 More About Data Collection

8.18.1 Data Collections GDMO Classes

The following persistent GDMO classes are defined to enhance data collection:

8.18.2 The dataCollector GDMO class

This managed object class is defined as the container class for Data Collection Entry objects. The dataCollector object is defined by the GDMO class shown in the following code example.

CODE EXAMPLE 8-1   Data Collections GDMO class
dataCollector MANAGED OBJECT CLASS
DERIVED FROM "Rec. X.721 | ISO/IEC 10165-2 : 1992" : top;
CHARACTERIZED BY
dataCollectorPackage;
REGISTERED AS { em-data-collector-class 1 };
dataCollectorPackage
BEHAVIOUR dataCollectorPackageDefinition BEHAVIOUR DEFINED AS
!The managed object class represents a data collector object!
ATTRIBUTES
dataCollectorId GET,


"Rec. X.721 | ISO/IEC 10165-2 : 1992": administrativeState;
NOTIFICATIONS
objectCreation,
objectDeletion,
attributeValueChange
;


8.18.3 The dataCollectorEntry Object GDMO Class

The dataCollectorEntry object is defined by the GDMO class in the following code example.

CODE EXAMPLE 8-2   
dataCollectorEntry MANAGED OBJECT CLASS
DERIVED FROM "Rec. X.721 | ISO/IEC 10165-2 : 1992" : top;
CHARACTERIZED BY
dataCollectorEntryPackage;
REGISTERED AS { em-data-collector-class 2};
dataCollectorEntryPackage
BEHAVIOUR dataCollectorEntryPackageDefinition BEHAVIOUR DEFINED AS
!The managed object class represents a data request!
ATTRIBUTES
dataCollectorEntryId GET,
requestInterval GET-REPLACE,
requestInfo GET-REPLACE,
requestStart GET-REPLACE,
requestStop GET-REPLACE,
logFile GET-REPLACE,
logFileMaxSize GET-REPLACE,
requestState GET-REPLACE,
"Rec. X.721 | ISO/IEC 10165-2 : 1992": administrativeState;
NOTIFICATIONS
objectCreation,
objectDeletion,
attributeValueChange
;


8.18.4 The RequestInfo Attribute

The syntax for the requestInfo attribute is shown in the following code example.

CODE EXAMPLE 8-3   
RequestInfo ::= SET OF RequestData
RequestData ::= SEQUENCE {
objects ObjectInstance,
attrs SET OF Attributed
}


8.19 Error Messages

The following is a translation of error message from SNMP to CMIP, as seen in the browser.

TABLE 8-4   Error Messages
Version SNMP Request Agent SNMP Error CMIS Error Comments
2
 ALL
 tooBig
 Complexity Limitation

2
 ALL
 noSuchName
 No Such Attribute

1
 ALL
 badValue
 Processing Failure
 For CMIS GET request
 errorId should be snmpBadValue
 errorInfo should be variable binding identified by the error-index
 For CMIS DELETE request
 errorId should be cannotDelete
 errorInfo should be variable binding identified by the error-index.
1

readOnly
 Processing Failure
 For CMIS GET request
 errorId should be snmpReadOnly
 errorInfo should be variable binding identified by the error-index
 For CMIS DELETE request
 errorId should be accessDenied
 errorInfo should be variable binding identified by the error-index.
1/2
 ALL
 genError
 Processing Failure
 errorId should be snmpGenErr
 errorInfo should be variable binding identified by the error-index
2
 Set
 noAccess
 Invalid Operation

2
 Set
 wrongType
 Invalid Attribute Value

2
 Set
 wrongLength
 Invalid Attribute Value
 For CMIS CREATE and SET requests
2
 Set
 wrongLength
 Processing Failure
 For CMIS DELETE request
2
 Set
 wrongEncoding
 Processing Failure

2
 Set
 wrongValue
 Invalid Attribute Value

2
 Set
 noCreation
 Invalid Object Instance

2
 Set
 inconsistentValue
 Invalid Attribute Value
 For CMIS CREATE and SET requests
2
 Set
 inconsistentValue
 Processing Failure
 For DELETE request
2
 Set
 resourceUnavailable
 Resource Limitation

2
 Set
 commitFailed
 Processing Failure

2
 Set
 undoFailed
 Processing Failure

2
 ALL
 authorizationError
 Access Denied

2
 Set
 notWritable
 Invalid Operation

2
 Set
 inconsistentName
 Processing Failure


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