Monitoring Access Points Configured for a Target

Introduction to Monitoring Access Points

Access points are channels of communication using which a software or a hardware deployment can be monitored in Enterprise Manager Cloud Control. They are upload points through which metric data is collected and uploaded to Oracle Management Service.

Typically, to discover a software deployment and monitor it as a target in Enterprise Manager Cloud Control, you must first install an Oracle Management Agent (Management Agent) on the host where the software is deployed. In this case, the Management Agent collects data about the software deployment and acts as the only channel of communication with the software deployment on that host.

However, for some targets (for example, System Infrastructure Server, System Infrastructure Cisco Switch, System Infrastructure Oracle InfiniBand Switch, and System Infrastructure Rack, and so on) you can have multiple access points to collect metric data about the target. The access points can be a chip that is integrated with the hardware, a plug-in that is deployed onto the hardware, and so on.

Different access point types are used to distinguish between the different management interfaces that are used to interact with a given target type, and each access point type typically has its own separate implementation of metrics and actions for the target.

In Figure 11-1, you can see how each of the access points implement a subset of the metrics for a given multi-access point target. The access points with metric names in red indicate that they are the best implementers of those metrics. The access points with metric names in blue indicate that they are the second best implementers of those metrics.

Figure 11-1 Implementation of Access Points

Enterprise Manager Cloud Control enables you to view a list of such access points that are configured for a multi-access point target. In addition, you can view the historical status of access points, the capability maps of access points, and the best implementers for collecting certain types of metric data.

Note:

When a multi-access point target is blacked out, either explicitly or when a group containing such targets is blacked out, the multi-access point target and its access points are blacked out and they go into the Blackout status in the Enterprise Manager Cloud Control Console.

On the other hand, if a multi-access point target is not blacked out but all its access points are blacked out by virtue of full host blackouts on all the Management Agents that are monitoring the access points, then the multi-access point target goes into the Pending status because none of the access points are available to collect metric data for that target. This is particularly in the case of multi-access point targets that have only one access point. If only one access point is blacked out and all other access points are still available, then the multi-access point target continues to appear as up and running because it has other available access points that can collect metric data.

Viewing a List of Access Points Configured for a Target

Enterprise Manager Cloud Control enables you to view a list of access points that are configured for a multi-access point target. Access points are channels of communication using which a software or a hardware deployment can be monitored in Enterprise Manager Cloud Control. They are upload points through which data is collected and uploaded to Oracle Management Service.

To view a list of access points configured for a multi-access point target, follow these steps:

From the Targets menu, select All Targets.
On the All Targets page, select a multi-access point target (for example, System Infrastructure Server, System Infrastructure Switch, and so on.)
On the Home page, from the target-specific menu, select Monitoring, then select Access Points - Overview.
On the Access Points - Overview page, you can view a list of access points configured for the selected multi-access point target.

Deleting Access Points Configured for a Target

Enterprise Manager Cloud Control enables you to delete the access points that are not required for monitoring. Access points are channels of communication using which a software or a hardware deployment can be monitored in Enterprise Manager Cloud Control. They are upload points through which data is collected and uploaded to Oracle Management Service.

To delete the access points configured for a multi-access point target, follow these steps:

From the Targets menu, select All Targets.
On the All Targets page, select a multi-access point target (for example, System Infrastructure Server, System Infrastructure Switch, and so on.)
On the Home page, from the target-specific menu, select Monitoring, then select Access Points - Overview.

WARNING:

Removing the last access point will remove the multi-access point target from Enterprise Manager Cloud Control.
On the Access Points - Overview page, select the access point you want to delete, and click Remove.

Viewing the Capability Metric Map for a Target

Enterprise Manager Cloud Control enables you to view the capability map of the access points that are configured for a multi-access point target. Access points are channels of communication using which a software or a hardware deployment can be monitored in Enterprise Manager Cloud Control. They are upload points through which data is collected and uploaded to Oracle Management Service.

An access point can have the capability to either collect metric data or take action against the target. Enterprise Manager Cloud Control provides a tabulated view of the capabilities of the access points. You can view this capability map and determine what each access point is efficient at.

To view the capability metric map for a multi-access point target, follow these steps:

From the Targets menu, select All Targets.
On the All Targets page, select a multi-access point target (for example, System Infrastructure Server, System Infrastructure Switch, and so on.)
On the Home page, from the target-specific menu, select Monitoring, then select Access Points - Current Capability Map.

On the Access Points - Current Capability Map page, view a list of access points and their capabilities. See Table 11-1.

You can also identify which access point is the best implementer for collecting the required metric data by selecting Show only best implementers.

If you want to filter the table based on the capability type and the capability name, use the Capability Type and Capability Name drop-down lists, and click Search.

Table 11-1 describes the columns in the Current Capability Map table.

Table 11-1 Description of the Columns in the Capability Map Table

Column Name	Description
Access Point	Name of the access point configured for the multi-access point target.
Priority	Measure of the capability of the access point to collect metric data. The access point with the highest priority is the first one to collect and upload metric data. If and when this access point becomes unavailable, the access point with the next highest priority takes over and collects the metric data.
Capability Type	Whether the access point is capable of collecting metric data or taking action against the target. The possible values are Action and Collection.
Capability Name	Name of the metric collection capability or the action capability that the access point has.
Is Current Best Implementer	Whether or not the access point is currently the best implementer. The possible values are Yes or No. An access point can have the capability to either collect metric data or take action against the target, and sometimes, two or more access points can have overlapping set of capabilities. Access points are termed best implementers when they are best suited for a certain metric or action.
Status	Stratus of the access point and whether the collection capability is enabled or disabled for that access point.

Viewing the Best Access Point Implementers (and their History) for Various Operations Supported for a Target

Enterprise Manager Cloud Control not only provides a tabulated view of the capabilities of the access points but also highlights the ones that are considered best implementers or best suited for a certain metric or action.

Access points are channels of communication using which a software or a hardware deployment can be monitored in Enterprise Manager Cloud Control. They are upload points through which data is collected and uploaded to Oracle Management Service. An access point can have the capability to either collect metric data or take action against the target, and sometimes, two or more access points can have overlapping set of capabilities. Access points are termed best implementers when they are best suited for a certain metric or action.

The best implementer is determined when an event that changes the capability map for the target occurs. Events that affect the capability map for the target include agent going down, access points being down or broken, capability metric for an access point reporting a different priority, and capability metric reporting a new or removed capabilities. Thus, when an access point defined as the best implementer is unavailable to collect the metric, Enterprise Manager Cloud Control automatically switches over the next best implementer to collect the same metric data.

To view the best access point implementers for a multi-access point target, follow these steps:

From the Targets menu, select All Targets.
On the All Targets page, select a multi-access point target (for example, System Infrastructure Server, System Infrastructure Switch, and so on.)
On the Home page, from the target-specific menu, select Monitoring, then select Access Points - Current Capability Map.
On the Access Points - Current Capability Map page, view a list of access points and their capabilities. Select Show Only the Best Implementers. To further filter the list and view the history of the best implementers, select the start date and end date, and click Search.

Modifying or Reconfiguring the Monitoring Properties of the Access Points Configured for a Target

Enterprise Manager Cloud Control enables you to view a list of access points that are configured for a multi-access point target. Access points are channels of communication using which a software or a hardware deployment can be monitored in Enterprise Manager Cloud Control. They are upload points through which data is collected and uploaded to Oracle Management Service.

While discovering a multi-access point target, the access points configured for that target are automatically added to Enterprise Manager Cloud Control for monitoring. These access points are added with default monitoring configuration properties. However, after they are added to Enterprise Manager Cloud Control, you can choose to modify or reconfigure their monitoring properties if you want.

To modify or reconfigure the monitoring properties of the access points configured for a multi-access point target, follow these steps:

From the Targets menu, select All Targets.
On the All Targets page, select a multi-access point target (for example, System Infrastructure Server, System Infrastructure Switch, and so on.)
On the Home page, do one of the following:
- From the target-specific menu, select Monitoring, then select Access Points - Overview. On the Access Points - Overview page, select the access point whose monitoring properties you want to change, and click Configure.
- From the target-specific menu, select Target Setup, then Monitoring Configuration.
On the Monitoring Configuration page, in the Access Point drop-down list, ensure that the correct access point is selected. If not, select the correct access point.
In the Monitoring Properties section, edit the properties, and click Save.

EM CLI Verbs for Managing the Access Points Configured for a Target

Table 11-2 lists the EM CLI verbs for managing the access points configured for a target. For more information about these verbs, see the Oracle Enterprise Manager Cloud Control Command Line Interface Guide.

Table 11-2 EM CLI Verbs for Managing the Access Points Configured for a Target

EM CLI Verb	Description
`add_target`	Adds a multi-access point target to the Enterprise Manager system.
`modify_target`	Modifies a multi-access point target that is already existing in the Enterprise Manager system.
`delete_target`	Deletes a multi-access point target.
`get_accesspoints`	Lists the access points configured for a target.
`get_best_implementer`	Lists the best access point implementers for various operations supported for a multi-access point target.
`set credentials`	Modifies or reconfigures the monitoring properties of the access points configured for a multi-access point target.