Assigning a data storage location

For the Performance Analytics Engine component to store traffic data, you must configure a data storage location. It can be either a virtual disk on the Performance Analytics Engine instance, or a server in your IT infrastructure with a Server Message Block/Common Internet File System (SMB/CIFS) or Network File System (NFS) interface.

To perform this procedure, you must have Operator-level access, or higher.

To assign a data storage location

1. In the BMC Application Management Console, point to System Deployment > Performance Analysis, and click Storage Location.

2. On the Action menu, click Add Data Storage.
   The Edit Data Storage form appears.
3. Select an option for storing traffic data:

   • Local disk — Traffic data is stored on the virtual disk of the Performance Analytics Engine instance. This option implies less impact on the network load, compared to sending traffic to an NFS server or Samba drive. Provide Maximum Storage Size (in gigabytes).
     
     Before selecting this option, ensure that:

     • The system has only one instance of Performance Analytics Engine configured. If the system has more instances configured, select remote data storage — NFS or SMB/CIFS, which enables the system to store an increasing amount of traffic without performance or capacity issues.

     • Performance Analytics Engine has a separate virtual disk for storing traffic data. If there is no empty disk, the system displays an error message.

       Note

       Do not use multiple virtual hard drives on a single virtual machine storage file. To add new virtual hard drive to the Performance Analytics Engine, use a separate storage file.

     When you select Local disk, you can see its status, for example, Preparing, Formatting, or Mounting.
   • Network File System (NFS) —  Traffic data is stored on the NFS server that you provide. NFS is a file system typically used for accessing files over a network on a UNIX operating system.

   • Server Message Block/Common Internet File System (SMB/CIFS) — Traffic data is stored on the Samba drive that you provide. SMB/CIFS is a protocol typically used on a Windows operating system. 

     Note

     The virtual disk that you are going to provide is not used by another instance of Performance Analytics Engine. It is not recommended using the save virtual disk for multiple PAE instances.

4. Specify parameters of the storage:

   • Local disk: No parameters. The system finds an empty virtual disk on a Performance Analytics Engine instance and formats it.

     Note

     If you increase the size of this disk in the future, Performance Analytics Engine will still use the amount of disk space that was defined during the initial formatting.

   • NFS:
     • IP address or host name of the remote NFS server (for example, nfs://192.168.0.1:/data)
     • Maximum storage size (in Gigabytes), which must not exceed the total disk size
   • SMB/CIFS:
     • IP address or DNS name of the data storage server (for example nfs://192.168.0.1)

     • Share name (for example, data).

       Note

       Because of the rolling buffer, it is not recommended using the same share for multiple Performance Analytics Engine instances – when the buffer is full, data from one instance will override data from other instance(s).

     • (Optional) If the storage location requires authentication, enter the user name and password provided by the system administrator.
     • (Optional) If authentication is executed via Microsoft Windows Domain Controller, enter the domain name (for example datastorage).

     • Maximum storage size (in gigabytes), which must not exceed the total disk size

       Note

       The storage mechanism uses a rolling buffer so that as it fills up, the system deletes old data to make room for new data (first in, first out, or FIFO). For detailed sizing information, see Sizing Performance Analytics Engine instances.

5. Click Save.
   You have configured the storage location for the Performance Analytics Engine.

6. Restart the virtual machine to apply changes.