History Reports

NV4IP views the TCP/IP network performance from the enterprise level to the remote user connection. Performance indicators are available for workload, usage, and response time. The history reports are available immediately after the Host Monitor is brought up.

There are nine types of history reports under four categories that provide the following information:

Workload and Performance

Base History

Sample-based workload and response time.

Thru99 EE History

Interval-based throughput summaries for Enterprise Extender (UDP-based) data traffic by port.

Thru99 Link History

Interval-based throughput summaries for TCP/IP data traffic to/from IP channel links.

Expert Reports

API Expert

Session-based Socket applications.

FTP Performance Expert

Session-based FTP (client or server).

Telnet Expert

Session-based Telnet (client or server).

Buffer

(CSM) History

Usage and Alerts for CSM buffer pools.

VTAM Buffer History

Usage and trends for VTAM buffer pools.

TraceRoute

 

TraceRoute History

Session-based results of the TraceRte command for any defined critical resources that have exceeded their performance threshold parameters.

 

In addition to the difference in the type of data collected, the method of data collection differs between history reports. The Base History data is collected using a sampling method. The Host Monitor writes SMF records at regular intervals detailing the number of active sessions, byte counts, etc. This type of report indicates how many concurrent sessions there are at any instant and the changes in data flow over time. These reports are particularly valuable for long sessions with varying amounts of data transferred.

The Thru99 EE and Link History reports introduce an alternative RMF-like interval snapshot recording method for data being sent or received. The Thru99 Link History report provides interval-based reports for data sent/received over each of the stack’s defined IP to IP or IP to channel links. The Thru99 EE History report provides interval-based reports for any of the specifically assigned UDP ports being utilized for Enterprise Extender (EE), which uses UDP over SNA. The default 15-minute interval snapshots allow you to correlate traditional RMF-style host-based activity and workload reports with critical link traffic, and to compare specific throughput levels with their respective stack and CPU workload timeframes.

The Expert Reports (API, FTP, or Telnet) use a session-based method for calculating their reports. The data for these reports is from the SMF records produced by the TCP/IP stack. Session-based counting means that session counts are done based on session initiation and termination records. The session is recorded at the time it finishes, and if no session termination record exists for whatever reason, there will not be a record of the session. The session may have lasted for 8 hours, but it is recorded at the time it terminates. These reports are particularly valuable if you have very short sessions such as with Web server applications or would like to obtain a count of the total number of sessions.

The Buffer reports (CSM History and VTAM Buffer History) are collected from the host. The appropriate interval command must have been set at the host to activate data collection for the VTAM Buffer History report. Data for the TraceRoute History report is collected from the host if the AUTOTRACEROUTE command has previously been set at the host. Data results from a TraceRoute command issued at the workstation is not included in the TraceRoute History report.

In summary, to view real-time data on a sampling basis, view the Real-Time Reports. These reports are available for gathering and monitoring network data in the daily work environment before it has become part of the historical database used by the Base History Reports function. The Real-Time reports are available as soon as the Host Monitor has been active for a short period of time.

If you plan to perform specific historical traffic level analysis by viewing time slices of active sessions taken in a sampling mode, use the History tab’s Base History reports. To analyze a specific application or application usage, use the Expert Reports for API, FTP, or Telnet. To view buffer usage by either the Communications Storage Manager or VTAM, use the Buffer reports. To see which critical resources either exceeded the response time threshold or were unavailable, use the TraceRoute History report.

For an alternative method of looking at "near time" activity, view the SessionLog reports for specific application activity. SessionLog reports show API, FTP, or Telnet sessions in a log or sequential format, which are currently in progress or have recently completed. The Thru99 reports will complement any of the above reports, as well as other host-centric RMF reports currently being generated.

To access a report, click on the appropriate tab and then click a hyperlink under the section for the type of report you want to view.  The figure below shows the Historical Reports screen accessed by clicking the History tab.

Figure 100. Historical Reports Screen 

See also: