The PATROL Agent records the values of each parameter and stores them in a proprietary parameter history database. This database remains open while the agent is running. If the agent does not shut down properly, the database may be corrupted. PATROL provides a utility that enables you to extract information from the database about a parameter based on its class, instance, and time period. It also provides a utility for repairing corrupted history databases.
The PATROL Agent History database records the following information for each data point:
Information stored in history database
Information type | Description |
---|---|
Port number | Port number on which the agent listens |
Host name | Name of the host on which the agent is running |
Class | Application class to which the data point belongs |
Instance | Application instance to which the data point belongs |
Parameter | Parameter to which the data point belongs |
Time and date | Time and date on which the data point was collected |
Annotated text (if provided) | Descriptive text associated with the data point |
PATROL stores history information in a history database that consists of three separate files as follows:
The history database stores information in a binary format. To view the information, you must use the PATROL Console or run the dump_hist utility.
Note
PATROL Agent does not support history files of size larger than 2 GB on any platform.
The PATROL Agent provides environment variables that enable you to determine where the agent creates the history database. You can designate a location in or out of the PATROL directory structure or on another host within the network. In addition, you can establish a location by port number. This feature allows you to accommodate a host with multiple agents by directing each agent running on a unique port number to write to a different history database.
The environment variables that you can use to specify the location of an Agent's history database are as follows:
For information about how to use these environment variables, see Variables for PATROL cluster-specific environment.
The following table indicates the file name and path of files that compose the history database.
Location of history files
File description | File name and path for UNIX |
File name and path for Windows | |
Index file | PATROL_HOME/log/history/<hostName> / <port_num>/dir |
PATROL_HOME\log\history\<hostName> \ <port_num>\dir | |
History text file | PATROL_HOME/log/history/<hostName> / <port_num>/param.hist |
PATROL_HOME\log\history\<hostName> \ <port_num>\param.hist | |
History data file | PATROL_HOME/log/history/<hostName> / <port_num>/annotate.dat |
PATROL_HOME\log\history\<hostName> \ <port_num>\annotate.dat |