Monitor > Define Monitor Set

This operation allows the user create and modify all components of a Monitor Set. This is where the user will name the set as well as select all the Counters and/or Services and/or Processes that the user wants to monitor with this set. A Monitor Set should be used as a logical collection of things to monitor. A logical grouping, for example, could be to monitor all the counters and services integral to running an Exchange Server.

Note: Sample Monitor Sets can be loaded from the System->Configure function .

Monitor Set Name

Name the Monitor Set in such as way that it is identifiable when presented in the Monitor Set list.

Monitor Set Description

Allows the user a more verbose method of describing the monitor set. The rationale for the creation of the set is meaningful here; the reason for the creation of the set is sometimes lost over time.

Group Alarm Column Name (Drop down list)

Select which column header in the Group Alarm Status view (View Console) that the Alarms generated by this Monitor Set will be associated with (red light indicator)

Share (button)

If the current user is the owner of the Monitor Set, the Share button is available and opens a dialog that allows sharing this Monitor Set  with others.

Take Ownership (link)

If the current user is NOT the owner, but is a master administrator, then the Take Ownership link allows the ownership to be transferred (and logged) to current user.

Save (button)

Allows the user to save any changes to the Monitor Set Name, Description or Group Alarm Column.

Save As (button)

Allows the user to make a copy of the current Monitor Set under another name.

Delete (button)

Allows the user to delete, with confirmation, the entire Monitor Set (including all associated Counters, Processes and Services).

Export (link)

Opens a dialog that will allow the user to export, in an XML format, a representation of the Monitor Set to be imported at a later date and likely on a different system.

Counter Thresholds (tab)

Select to view all the counters associated to this monitor set.  Select the VCR buttons ('<<> and ">>") to page through the list of Counters. Select the Delete Icon to remove the selected counter, with confirmation, from the monitor set.

Select the Edit Icon to open the detail of the counter in an edit mode.

In Edit Mode, a Wizard-like presentation leads the user through the six steps of adding or editing a counter:

1. Add the Object/Counter and Instance combination required by the PerfMon interface. The selection of the Object drop down list will re-populate the Counter and Instance drop down lists.

• Object - Select the Counter. Add Object (button) allows the user to immediately add a object that currently does not exist via the Monitor Lists feature.

• Counter - Select a related Counter. Add Counter (button) allows the user to immediately add a counter that currently does not exist via the Monitor Lists feature.

• Instance - Not all Counter Objects have related Instances . Add Instance (button) allows the user to immediately add a instance that currently does not exist via the Monitor Lists feature.

2. Name and describe the Monitor Counter.

• Name - A short name to recognize the Monitor Set in a list

• Description - This is an opportunity to describe the detail of the monitor levels.

3. Collection Threshold. The user selects the collection threshold of the returned counter values. This is the opportunity to not collect unwanted log data. If the user only wants to see and report upon data values over or under a certain threshold, they would set those values here.

• Collection Operator - Select the over, under, equal or not.

• Collection Threshold - Set the level at which the agent will begin to return log data.

• Sample Interval - This defines how frequently the data will be sent up from agent.

4. Alarm Threshold. The user can set the point at which the returned values will generate an Alarm.

• Alarm Operator - Select the over, under, equal or not

• Alarm Threshold - Set the level at which the agent will begin to return log data.

• Duration - This setting tells the server to look back over this defined period and if all values exceed this Alarm Threshold, the Alarm will be generated. Many Alarm conditions are only alarming if the level is sustained over a long period of time. For example, CPU utilization above 95% is only concerning it that level is maintained for a duration of 10 minutes.

• Ignore additional alarms for - This tells the server to generate only one Alarm for this time period. This successfully reduces the confusion of many alarms for the same issue.

5. The user can set a percentage value that will allow the logs to indicate via a yellow flag (see Monitor Icons later in this help page) data that is within that percentage of the Alarm Threshold

6. Allows the user to turn on a Trending mode. Allowing a Trending Alarm to be generated if, based on historical data, the Alarm Threshold will be reached within the Trending Window

• Trending Active? - Not all values make sense to trend, but if the user selects 'yes', a linear regression will periodically run on log values for this counter. If there is indication that the Alarm Threshold will be met within the Trending Window, a Trending Alarm will be generated

• Trending Window - Set this time period to the amount of time that the user needs to prepare for a certain Alarm condition. For Example, the user may want 10 days notice that the hard drive will reach Alarm condition, to accommodate ordering, shipping and installing a larger hard drive. more info ...

• Ignore additional trending alarms for - tells the server to generate only one Alarm for this time period.

Next (Button)

Will move the user to the next wizard page

Previous (Button)

Will move the user back to the previous wizard page

Cancel (Button)

Ignore any changes and return to the Counter Thresholds list.

Save (Button on the last page of the wizard)

Save changes.

Services Check (tab)

Select to view all the Services associated to this monitor set.  Select the VCR buttons ('<<> and ">>") to page through the list of Services. Select the Delete Icon to remove the selected counter with confirmation from the monitor set.

Select the Edit Icon to open the detail of the counter in an edit mode.

Service - The user will select the service from the drop down list that will be monitored for stopping.  

Description - Describe the service and the reason for monitoring.

Restart Attempts - Tell the system how many times it should restart.

Restart Interval - Tell the system how long to wait between attempts. Certain services need more time to try to start.

Ignore additional alarms for - tells the server to generate only one Alarm for this time period.

Save (Button)

Save changes.

Cancel (Button)

Ignore any changes and return to the Services Check list.

Process Status (tab)

Select to view all the counters associated to this monitor set.  Select the VCR buttons ('<<> and ">>") to page through the list of Counters. Select the Delete Icon to remove the selected counter with confirmation from the monitor set.

Select the Edit Icon to open the detail of the counter in an edit mode.

Process- The user will select the Process from the drop down list that will be monitored.  

Description - Describe the service and the reason for monitoring.

Alarm on Transition - Tell the system to Alarm as the process (application) transitions 'up' or 'down'.

Ignore additional alarms for - tells the server to generate only one Alarm for this time period.

Save (Button)

Save changes.

Cancel (Button)

Ignore any changes and return to the Process Status list.

Monitor Icons (tab)

This process allows the user to associate different monitor icons to the different presentation possibilities (Alarm, Warning, Trending,etc.). This allows certain monitor sets to be more visible (important) with bigger or flashing icons.

Select Image for 'OK' Status - The default icon is a green traffic light. The user can select from an existing list or import their own.

Select the Image for 'Alarm' Status - The default icon is a red traffic light. The user can select from an existing list or import their own.

Select Image for 'Warning' Status - The default icon is a yellow traffic light. The user can select from an existing list or import their own.

Select the Image for 'Trending' Status - The default icon is a orange traffic light. The user can select from an existing list or import their own.

Select the Image for 'Not Deployed Status - The default icon is a grey traffic light. The user can select from an existing list or import their own.

Save (button) - Save the changes that have been made to the Monitor Icons.

Upload new Monitor Icons (link) - Select and upload additional graphics to choose from. Once a new graphic has been uploaded it is available in all the status icon 'drop down' lists.

Restore Defaults (button) - Restores ALL the Monitor Icons associated to this Monitor Set back to their defaults.