HP NonStop EMS Event Message Alert Monitoring
 

The Sentra product can deploy a comprehensive EMS lean extraction client to the HP NonStop platform(s) for the relay of dynamically filtered event messages to a nominated Windows server. 

This relay of events can be used to monitor HP NonStop Guardian, Open System Services (OSS) and application EMS events, e.g. Pathway, WebSphere MQ, Aleri Atlas, COPE and STAR, XPNET and BASE24™.

Also, since BASE24 XPNET does not have an audit log, RTLX Reactor is able to monitor the EMS logs for XPNET security violations and escalate potential security threats. Management Information reports can then be produced, e.g. end of day or cut off period.

Relayed EMS events are stored in a Microsoft SQL database and can be used to drive graphical, web-based hypervisors and near real-time dashboard charts, e.g. failed event totals received for XPNET stations, processes, lines, links.

Simple or compound rules can be constructed to spot vulnerable or failing subsystems on the HP NonStop platform or compromised areas of a live application, e.g. VISA interchange process down.

The software allows for 2 levels of event filtering. Two EMS collectors can be attached and a single event filter object (a second filter table also exists for tighter control of incoming events). A timestamp can be configured for re-start purposes in the event of failure. This can also be used to go back in time.

A comprehensive EMS event query screen exists in the Sentra Web client. This can be used to query on all mandatory EMS event tokens (wildcards are also allowed) currently held in the Sentra database. Commonly used queries can be saved for later access and results can be output to a CSV file for importing into a spreadsheet.

Microsoft SQL Reporting Services are securely integrated into the Sentra Web client to enable timely management reports to be constructed for EMS event ranges whether by event number, SSID or any other mandatory token. These EMS reports can be manually or automatically relayed to configured email addresses.

Customer specific tailored EMS tokens can be integrated following a short software development.

EMS message event tokens monitored by Sentra :

• Event Generation Time
  
   
• HP NonStop Node Number
  
   
• Event Log Time
  
   
• EMS Event Number
  
   
• CPU number
  
   
• Process Identification Number (PIN)
  
   
• Emphasis Supression Flag
  
   
• Action Needed
  
   
• Action ID
  
   
• Event Pass Value
  
   
• SubSystem Identifier (SSID)
  
   
• HP NonStop Node Name
  
   
• Event Subject
  
   
• Subject Manager
  
   
• Process Description
  
   
• User ID
  
   
• User Name
  
   
• EMS Collector
  
   
• EMS Event Text
   

Customer specific tailored EMS tokens can be integrated following a short software development.

Benefits :

• Delivers all-embracing, business-driven management that controls, reports and automates corrective actions BEFORE your users call and tell you that you have a problem with your HP NonStop systems
   
• Better decision making through automated, customised reporting via Excel, PDF, HTML and more
   
• All Sentra web browser views are customisable and fully secured based on user authorisation levels
   
• Powerful multi-key EMS querying, visual, reporting and analytical features out-of-the-box with no programming experience
   
• Supports business rule (simple and complex rule builder) and service level agreement management
   
• Devices can be grouped by region, country, state, device type for XPNET component monitoring using EMS graphical hypervisor mapping
   
• Provides role-based data and readouts to all levels of operations and management
   
• Floating gauges, dials, bar charts, line charts, pie charts, tables all available for executive review and analysis of EMS data
   
• Improve efficiency with customised alerts to Mobile SMS, Pager, Email or Enterprise Managers

Minimum Windows Hardware Requirements

For optimum performance, it is recommended that the minimum specification of your hardware and software is as follows :

• Windows Server 2000 / 2003 / 2008 with the latest service packs
  
   
• Microsoft SQL Server 2005 / 2008 with the latest service packs
  
   
• Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) for the Sentra Web client interface
  
   
• Internet Explorer version 6 or 7 for the Sentra Web client interface
  
   
• Pentium 2 GHz Processor
  
   
• 4 Gb RAM recommended
  
   
• SCSI interface (SCSI2 Ultra-Wide recommended)
  
   
• 10 GB Single Drive for operating system and SQL Server software
  
   
• *40 GB Single Drive for the SQL server database (RAID 0+1 recommended)
  
   
• 20 GB Single Drive for the SQL server log file (RAID 0+1 recommended)
  
   
• Graphics resolution 1024 x 768 recommended
  
   
• 17" or larger colour monitor is also recommended 

The above specification is for guidance only. The specification of your Windows server will be dependent on your individual needs. Please contact the Insider Technologies Helpdesk for assistance in establishing the specification of your server.

SQL Server Versions Supported by Sentra (also install Microsoft SQL Reporting Services)

The Sentra database is compatible with the following variants of SQL Server :

• 2005 / 2008 Standard Edition
  
   
• 2005 / 2008 Enterprise Edition
  
   
• 2005 / 2008 Developer Edition*
  
   
• 2005 / 2008 Express – the default installation on the CD uses SQL Express with Advanced services, so that SQL Reporting Services is available
  
   

* Some SQL editions include a concurrent workload governor. Performance degrades when more than five queries are executed concurrently. Sentra will work with these versions of SQL Server but performance may be unacceptably slow and its installation is not recommended for high volume usage.

SQL Express editions support databases with a limited maximum size (4Gb for SQL Express 2005). Users who anticipate large database storage requirements should consider installing the Enterprise edition of Microsoft SQL Server, or contact Insider Technologies for advice.