1.1.1 Why is operation monitoring necessary?
To ensure continued, stable operation of an enterprise system, system administrators need to detect faults in the databases, applications, and other resources and take appropriate action, in systems that are increasing in scale and becoming more complex. While managing system operations, system administrators are required to recognize when an error is about to occur by collecting and analyzing operating information representing the performance of resources like the network and OS, and database performance, and prevent these errors from occurring.
- Organization of this subsection
(1) Issues faced when not monitoring system operation
When an error occurs in a database server or application server in a system, the system administrator must take steps to minimize the effects of the error on other running systems. This requires an arrangement that includes monitoring the operating status of the servers, detecting system errors, and immediately taking the appropriate action. However, when no form of operation monitoring is in place, the inability of the system user to access the system when the error occurs in the server might be detrimental to the operation of the business.
|
|
![[Figure]](GRAPHICS/ZU101001.GIF)
(2) Capabilities provided by operation monitoring
To keep an enterprise system running 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the system administrator monitors databases, networks, OSs, and other resources, and ensures that sufficient resources are available to all active systems. This prevents situations in which the system goes down due to insufficient resources.
|
|
![[Figure]](GRAPHICS/ZU101002.GIF)
Also, by monitoring elements of system performance, such as the amount of traffic and response times of the business application server and database server, and displaying the results (performance data) in a report, the system administrator can determine whether the system is being used as intended, and properly identify the location of any bottlenecks in the system. This allows for the systematic addition of resources in a manner tied to the status of the system.
|
|
![[Figure]](GRAPHICS/ZU101003.GIF)
As you can see, operation monitoring ensures the stable operation of extensive and complex systems, as well as mission-critical systems. It also enables you to predict failures by allowing you to collect and analyze performance data across the entire system. This helps you to avoid potential risks while maintaining consistent, stable operation.
Operation monitoring also allows the system administrator to quantitatively ascertain the service level of the system. This allows for systematic system investment and can prevent the loss of business opportunities.