Monitoring Studio: Configuring the Multi-Parameter Formula Monitor in CMA

  • kb1200
  • Jun. 7, 2017
  • 3 min read

How to configure the Multi-Parameter Formula Monitor in CMA.

Best Practice Multi-Parameter Formula

Related Topics

Introduction

The Multi-Parameter Formula Monitor allows you to extract values from other metrics collected in TrueSight and computes them with a mathematical formula. You can for example add, subtract, multiply, concatenate, or divide two values, calculate an average, perform table joins, etc.

To build the mathematical formula, the class name and the parameter name as they appear in the PATROL are required. In this article, you will learn how to determine these PATROL names to later configure the Multi-Parameter Formula Monitor in CMA.

Procedure

In this example, we will compare the time since last activity of two volumes of our EMC XtremIO storage system to determine which one has been idle for a longer period.

Step 1 - Determine the PATROL Names to be Used

You can determine the PATROL names to be used either through:

  • The PATROL Console
  • Or the TrueSight Infrastructure Management Console

Using the PATROL Console

  1. In the PATROL console, double-click the parameter to be used in the formula
  2. Click the button to show the parameter list
  3. Right-click the parameter and select Save List to File.
  4. Provide a name to the .txt file generated (ex: SEN_XTRM_VOLUME_A.txt).
  5. Open the .txt file and look for the value of the Name column. Its format is <class-name>/<instance-name>/<parameter-name>
  6. Resume the procedure for all the parameters to be used.

In our example, we obtained: 

/SEN_XTRM_VOLUME/1001197_b5d55001c72f4359a3786a7a4de4f766/TimeSinceLastActivity
/SEN_XTRM_VOLUME/1001197_fbfb47a04a7643eb8d642887468de2aa/TimeSinceLastActivity
where

  • SEN_XTRM_VOLUME is the class name
  • 1001197_b5d55001c72f4359a3786a7a4de4f766 is the instance name for parameter A, for 1001197_fbfb47a04a7643eb8d642887468de2aa parameter B
  • TimeSinceLastActivity is the parameter name

Using the TrueSight Infrastructure Management Console

  1. Launch the TrueSight Infrastructure Management Console.
  2. In the Navigation Pane, click Devices and select the Grid view.
  3. Click the device of your choice (in our example: xtremIO) to display the list of monitors
    Devices Monitored in TrueSight Infrastructure Management

    Devices Monitored in TrueSight Infrastructure Management

  4. Click next to the volume for which you wish to display the graph
    Viewing the Collected Attributes in a Graph

    Viewing the Collected Attributes in a Graph

  5. If the needed attribute is not displayed by default, click the Attributes & Monitors tab, uncheck the unwanted attributes, check the required one (in our example: Time Since Last Activity) and click Generate Graph(s)
    Selecting the Time Since Last Activity (days) Metric

    Selecting the Time Since Last Activity (days) Metric

  6. Position the cursor on the caption and write down the information displayed:
    Obtaining the Instance Name and Attribute Name

    Obtaining the Instance Name and Attribute Name

  7. Resume the procedure for all the attributes to be used.

In our example, we obtained:

/EMC XtremIO Volume/VOL-HV-10 Time Since Last  Activity (days)
/EMC XtremIO Volume/VOL-HV-2 Time Since Last  Activity (days)
where

  • EMC XtremIO Volumes is the monitor name
  • VOL-HV-10 is the instance name for parameter A, for VOL-HV-2 parameter B
  • Time Since Last Activity (days) is the parameter name

Step 2 - Configure the Multi-Parameter Formula Monitor in CMA

  1. Access the Monitoring Studio Configuration panel, as explained in the Configure Monitors chapter.
  2. Configure your formula:
    • If you wish to use the instance name:
      1. Uncheck the Using Object Display Names box
      2. In the A field, enter /SEN_XTRM_VOLUME/1001197_b5d55001c72f4359a3786a7a4de4f766/TimeSinceLastActivity
      3. In the B field, enter /SEN_XTRM_VOLUME/1001197_fbfb47a04a7643eb8d642887468de2aa/TimeSinceLastActivity
    • If you wish to use the instance label:
      1. Check the Using Object Display Names box
      2. In the A field, enter /EMC XtremIO Volume /VOL-HV-10/Time Since Last Activity (days)
      3. In the B field, enter /EMC XtremIO Volume /VOL-HV-2/Time Since Last Activity (days)
        Warning: If you are using TrueSight 10.5, leave the 'A' field blank and move the parameter paths to B and C since Parameter path 'A' is not recorded in this version of BMC TrueSight Operations Management v10.5.
      4. In the Formula field, enter for example swGetMaximum([A, B]) to obtain the maximum value.
  3. Define the Monitor Settings.
  4. Click Add to List and Close.
Best Practice Multi-Parameter Formula