1.1 enhancements and patches

For a list of recent updates and enhancements across multiple versions, see Release notes and notices.

BMC Helix applies upgrades as described in the BMC Helix Upgrade policy. BMC Helix applies upgrades and patches during Maintenance windows.

1.1.33

Support for VIOS Logical Partition (VIOLPAR)

The PATROL for AIX Knowledge Module introduces support for an additional partition type: VIOS logical partition (VIOLPAR). 

Based on the PartitionType metadata, the PATROL for AIX Knowledge Module can determine whether a logical partition is a Dedicated Logical Partition (DLPAR), a Shared Logical Partition (SPLPAR), or a VIOS Logical Partition (VIOLPAR).

The following metadata are supported for the corresponding application classes:

With this capability, you can distinguish between dedicated, shared, and VIOS logical partitions in AIX environments and use this information for integration with BMC Helix products. For more information, see Logical Partition (IAK_LPAR) and LPAR Virtualization (IAK_MicroPartition).

Monitor error logs reports with errpt command support

This feature provides an error count identified by the errpt command on the AIX environment, including hardware, software, and other components. To collect the error logs in your local AIX system, see Monitoring error log reports. To collect the error logs in your remote AIX system, see Configuring AIX Hosts.

New parameter to monitor processes using most CPU time

A new text parameter is added in the Processes (IAK_Process_Container) application class to list processes utilizing the most CPU time. For more information, see Processes-using-most-CPU-time-TopProcessesByCpu.

New attributes added to the Monitor Information tab

For a disk instance, the KM displays the following additional attributes in the Monitor Information tab:

• Disk Block Size
• Disk Model
• Disk Size
• Disk Type
• Page Device

Installing the fix pack

The PATROL for AIX 1.1.20.01 fix pack contains all of the files that are required for a complete product release. You can install the product as a fresh installation. 

Before you begin

You must install the fix pack on the following computers:

• Hosts that are running the PATROL Agent
• Hosts that are running the PATROL Console

Before you install the fix pack, complete the following steps:

1. Stop the PATROL Agent.
2. Back up the PATROL_CACHE directory.
3. Delete all PATROL for AIX files from the PATROL_CACHE directory.
4. Back up the PATROL_HOME/lib/knowledge and PATROL_HOME/lib/psl directories.

Enhanced PowerVM monitoring

QM002343038: Introduced support for new metrics in the PowerVM KM. The following new metrics have been introduced.

Monitor AIX remotely using Windows PATROL Agent

PATROL for AIX supports remote monitoring of AIX host using Windows PATROL Agent. For supported Windows operating system information, see System-requirements. For a list of required prerequisites, see Monitoring-AIX-remotely.

Filter Managed Systems

PATROL for AIX provides options to filter the configured Managed Systems.

After you configure multiple management consoles for monitoring, application instances are created for each management console. Each managed system connected to the management console is then discovered. The LPARs and Shared Processor Pools are discovered under every managed system. By default all the Managed Systems are included for monitoring. You can include or exclude individual Managed Systems. 

For information about configuring and filtering LPARs see, Configuring-Hardware-Management-Console. 

Automatic Discovery and Remote Monitoring of LPAR from HMC

This feature enables you to configure OS monitoring for Logical Partitions discovered beneath the Hardware Management Console. It allows to filter unwanted Managed Systems and Logical Partitions from monitoring.

Automatic Discovery and Remote Monitoring of LPAR can reduce the number of PATROL Agent deployments for the TrueSight Capacity Optimization users.  

For information about configuring and filtering LPARs, see, Configuring-Hardware-Management-Console and Deployment-examples-for-HMC-monitoring.

Monitor Active Memory Expansion

Active Memory Expansion (AME) is a feature which helps to increase the effective memory size of a system without increasing the physical memory size. AME is configurable on a per logical partition (LPAR) basis. Hence, AME can be selectively enabled for one or more LPARs on a system.

PATROL for AIX checks if the Active Memory Expansion is enabled for the logical partition. The KM provides attributes to monitor the memory expansion factor, compressed memory, uncompressed memory, and the processing capacity used for the compression activity. These attributes are available in the Memory monitor type of the Logical Partition.

Monitor Active Memory Sharing

Active Memory Sharing allows multiple logical partitions (LPARs) to share memory from a single pool of physical memory.

PATROL for AIX checks if Active Memory Sharing is enabled for the logical partition. The KM provides attributes to monitor the hypervisor page, the number of hypervisor page-ins and the CPU time used for the hypervisor paging. These attributes are available in the Memory monitor type of the Logical Partition. 

Monitor N_Port ID Virtualization (NPIV) Host Bus Adapter

N_Port ID Virtualization (NPIV) is a standard technology for Fibre Channel networks. This technology allows you to connect a single physical port of a physical Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapter to multiple logical partitions (LPARs).

PATROL for AIX monitors Host Bus Adapter using the NPIV technology. The KM discovers the adapter instances of Host Bus Adapter and monitors the input output activity of each discovered instance. All Host Bus Adapter instances are discovered below the Host Bus Adapters monitor type. 

Monitor Physical Processor Pool Utilization

PATROL for AIX monitors the utilization of the physical processor pool. For more information, see Physical Processor Pool monitor type.

Improved data security by using Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)

PATROL for AIX supports AES encryption capability of the PATROL Agent version 10.0.00. For information about Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) implementation in PATROL Agent, see PATROL Agent documentation.