Managing parameters from the PATROL Console

A parameter is a command that periodically obtains data on a monitored system resource. Parameter data values are collected, summarized, and stored on the computer where the PATROL Agent resides. The collected parameter information is available for review by a PATROL console. The PATROL for Amazon Web Services organizes parameters into application classes by function or by the objects that they monitor. Several types of parameters are used and parameter history data is stored in a file.

You can use the attributes of a parameter to monitor and manage the parameter. An attribute is a characteristic that is assigned to a parameter. Parameters can have attributes such as scheduling, command type, and thresholds. An attribute can be defined globally for all instances of a class or locally for a particular computer or application instance. An instance inherits attributes from a class. However, an attribute defined at the instance level overrides inherited attributes.

You can use either the PATROL console or PATROL Configuration Manager to manage parameters.

  • Viewing parameter data
  • Modifying parameter properties
  • Activating and deactivating parameter

Viewing parameter data

The following table provides instructions to view various types of parameter data.

Type of data

Action required

Current data

Double-click the parameter icon.

Data points

If a parameter graph generates annotated data points, double-click the data point to view the output.

History data

All parameter history data is stored in a single binary file named param.hist, which is located in the following directory on the computer where the PATROL Agent resides:

$PATROL_HOME\log\history\computerName\portNumber

For information about historical parameter information, see the PATROL User Guide for your console.

Warning or alarm state data

When a parameter enters a warning or an alarm state, PATROL usually generates a report automatically and displays the information in a task output window. View detailed information about a warning or an alarm in the PATROL Event Manager. Each warning and alarm from PATROL adds an event to the PATROL Event Manager.

Modifying parameter properties

Follow these guidelines when you modify parameter properties:

  1. Make changes in one account by using the parameter property dialog boxes.
  2. Test the account until you are satisfied that the changes operate as expected.
  3. Export the modified parameter changes to PATROL Configuration Manager.
  4. Deploy the modified parameter changes to other accounts by using PATROL Configuration Manager.

This method takes advantage of the validations performed by the KM, and gives you the opportunity to verify that the changes perform as expected before deploying those changes throughout your environment.

To modify parameter properties for an account by using a PATROL Console

  1. Navigate to the parameter properties for the parameter you want to change:
    • In the PATROL Console for UNIX, click Attributes and then click Application Classes to open a list of the application classes. Select an application class, then click Attributes and then click Parameters to open the list of parameters provided by the selected application class.
    • In PATROL Console for Microsoft Windows, select the KM tree tab. Then expand the appropriate application class > Global > Parameters.
  2. To access the parameter properties:
    • (Windows) Right-click the parameter and select Properties.
    • (UNIX) Click the parameter.
  3. To activate or deactivate a parameter, perform one of these actions:
    • (Windows) Select the General tab and select or clear Active.
    • (UNIX) Double-click the parameter and select or clear Active.
  4. To change the interval between polling cycles, perform one of these actions:
    • (Windows) Select the Scheduling tab and change the polling time.
    • (UNIX) Click the parameter and change the polling time.
  5. To change the alarm thresholds or disable the alarms, perform one of these actions:
    • (Windows) Select the Alarm Ranges tab and make changes. Then set actions on the Border Actions, Alarm1 Actions, and Alarm2 Actions tabs.
    • (UNIX) Click Alarm Ranges, and then double-click Border, Alarm1, or Alarm2, and make changes.
  6. Save the configuration by selecting File > Save Configuration.
  7. Test the changes on the account to make sure that the changes are working as you expected.
  8. Convert the parameters in the account to a RuleSet in PATROL Configuration Manager.
    You can convert the parameters in the account to a RuleSet in PATROL Configuration Manager by using one of the following menu commands:
    • KM Commands > Create Global Parameters > Create Rulesets > Select Knowledge Modules menu command from the AS_CHANGESPRING application class

    • KM Commands > Event Management > Parameter Settings > Status Flags > Set for Instances or Classes menu command from the Host icon
      For more information, see the PATROL Configuration Manager User Guide.

      Note

      PATROL Configuration Manager rules that represent each parameter contain the _ANYINST_ designation for the instance name. The _ANYINST_ designation allows you to apply these changes to any agent host name without adding a specific agent host name to the rule for each parameter.

  9. Drag the RuleSet to any agent host name where you want the changes applied.

    Note

    The following rule is created when you move the parameters to a RuleSet in PATROL

    Configuration Manager: /AS/EVENTSPRING/PARAM_SETTINGS/STATUSFLAGS/paramSettingsStatusFlag” = { REPLACE = “2” }

    This rule forces the account to apply parameter changes as soon as you apply them to an account or agent host name. If you do not want the changes to take place immediately, change 2 to 1, or remove this rule and reinitialize the agent for the account when you are ready to apply the changes. For more information, see the PATROL Configuration Manager User Guide.

Activating and deactivating parameters

As shipped, all of the parameters are active. To reduce the impact on your system resources and enhance performance, you can deactivate parameters that you do not need.

To activate or deactivate a parameter

On the PATROL console, perform the following steps:

  • (Windows) Right-click the parameter in the PATROL console KM tree, choose Properties, and select or clear Active.
  • (UNIX): Use the following procedure to activate or deactivate a parameter:
    1. In the PATROL Console main window, select Attributes > Application Classes.
    2. Select the application class.
    3. From the menu bar of the List of Application Classes window, select Attributes > Parameters.
    4. Select the parameters.
    5. From the menu bar of the List of Parameters window, select Options > Activate (or Deactivate).