16.2.3 Examples of using the health check function

(1) Using the health check function with service-level monitoring of operating statuses as the monitoring level

The health check function can be used to its full potential by using a monitoring level that provides service-level monitoring of operating statuses, in a Performance Management system where all instances of PFM - Agent and PFM - RM meet the conditions that allow this monitoring level. The following figure shows an example of a system where all instances of PFM - Agent and PFM - RM meet the conditions under which the health check function can perform service-level monitoring of operating statuses.

Figure 16‒3: Example of a system where all instances of PFM - Agent and PFM - RM meet the requirements for service-level monitoring of operating statuses

To use the health check function with service-level monitoring of operating statuses as the monitoring level:

1. Enable the health check function.

   Execute the jpcconf hc enable command on the PFM - Manager host.

2. Configure the health check function.

   Start PFM - Manager, and display the properties of the health check agent in PFM - Web Console. Set the monitoring level to Service, and set the other properties as required.

3. Start using the health check function.

   In the Agents tree of PFM - Web Console, you can check the operating status of the services of each agent. You can also monitor the Event Monitor window or the Event History window for changes in the health check status. The status of each agent is derived from the results of the health check function checking the operating status of each of the agent's services. You can also view more detailed information about the health check status in the form of a report. Some health check reports are provided as monitoring templates. For details on the monitoring template of the health check function, see the overview of the monitoring template in the appendixes of JP1/Performance Management Planning and Configuration Guide.

   When the health check status of an agent is reported as abnormal, take action to resolve the problem such as restarting the agent.

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(2) Using the health check function with host-level monitoring of operating statuses as the monitoring level

In a system where some instances of PFM - Agent or PFM - RM in the Performance Management system do not meet the conditions that allow service-level monitoring, you can monitor the status of the host instead by using the monitoring level that provides host-level monitoring of operating statuses. If you use the monitoring level that provides service-level monitoring, the operating status of the instances of PFM - Agent or PFM - RM that do not meet the conditions will not be accurate. Polling will also take longer than normal. The following figure shows an example of a system where some instances of PFM - Agent or PFM - RM do not meet the conditions under which the health check function can perform service-level monitoring of operating statuses.

Figure 16‒4: Example of a system where not all instances of PFM - Agent or PFM - RM meet the requirements for service-level monitoring of operating statuses

To use the health check function with service-level monitoring of operating statuses as the monitoring level:

1. Enable the health check function.

   Execute the jpcconf hc enable command on the PFM - Manager host.

2. Configure the health check function.

   Start PFM - Manager, and display the properties of the health check agent in PFM - Web Console. Set the properties as required.

3. Start using the health check function.

   In the Agents tree of PFM - Web Console, you can check the operating status of the host for each agent. You can also monitor the Event Monitor window or the Event History window for changes in the health check status. The status of each agent is derived from the results of the health check function checking the status of the host. You can also view more detailed information about the health check status in the form of a report. Some health check reports are provided as monitoring templates. For details on the monitoring template of the health check function, see the overview of the monitoring template in the appendixes of JP1/Performance Management Planning and Configuration Guide.

   When the health check status of an agent is reported as abnormal, take action to resolve the problem such as restarting the host.

   You can switch to service-level monitoring as soon as all instances of PFM - Agent or PFM - RM in the system support it. The following figure shows an example of switching from host-level monitoring to service-level monitoring.

   Figure 16‒5: Switching from host-level monitoring to service-level monitoring

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(3) When monitoring operating statuses by linking with JP1/IM

By linking with JP1/IM, you can be made aware of problems related to the operating status of Performance Management via the JP1/IM interface. Also, by displaying the reports that are associated with alarms, you can analyze and view detailed information about the operating status of Performance Management.

Health check events are issued when the health check status of agents changes. If you enable the function for issuing health check events as JP1 events, JP1 system events are issued when health check events are issued. For details, see 16.2.1 Configuring the health check function.

If you want to notify JP1/IM of the changes in health check status, use alarms. The monitoring template includes three alarms, each of which provides a different level of detail. Use the alarm that best suits your purpose. When linking with JP1/IM, copy the chosen alarm from the monitoring template and configure it to issue a JP1 event as an action. For details on how to do so, see 12. Linking with the Integrated Management Product JP1/IM for Operation Monitoring.

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(4) Using the health check function in a firewall or NAT environment

The health check agent must be able to communicate with the Status Server service on each host running PFM - Agent or PFM - RM. For this reason, when you use the health check function in a firewall or NAT environment, the firewall or NAT must be set up so that the health check agent's traffic can be routed through the firewall or NAT. For details on the settings, see the description of firewall routing in the appendixes of the manual JP1/Performance Management Reference. The following table describes the port numbers used by the health check agent.

Table 16‒15: Port numbers used by the health check agent

Service name	Parameter	Port number	Note
Agent Collector (health check agent)	jp1pcagt0	Automatic#	This port is used for such tasks as binding alarms and acquiring realtime reports.
Agent Store (health check agent)	jp1pcsto0	Automatic#	This port is used for such tasks as recording performance data and acquiring historical reports.

#:

Each time the service restarts, it is automatically allocated a port number that is not already in use in the system.

A PFM - RM host uses the ICMP protocol to poll monitored hosts. To check the operating status of a PFM - RM monitored host, configure the firewall so that the PFM - RM host can communicate with the monitored host using the ICMP protocol. For details, see the appendixes of the appropriate PFM - RM manual.

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(5) Using the health check function in a cluster system

You can use the health check function in the same manner as in a non-cluster system. The health check function must be set up on the host where PFM - Manager is installed.

If you set up PFM - Manager version 09-00 or later in a new logical host environment, that PFM - Manager inherits the health check function settings of the physical host environment. Change the health check function settings as necessary.

For details on how to configure the health check function for use in a cluster system, for Windows see 10.2.2 Installing and setting up PFM - Manager, and for UNIX see 10.4.2 Installing and setting up PFM - Manager.

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