RTView® EM

RTView® EM
User Guide

Using the Platform - Administration
These displays enable you to set alert thresholds, observe how alerts are managed, and modify your Service Data Model.

Alert Administration: Displays active alerts and provides interface to modify and manage alerts.
Alert Admin Audit: Track modifications of alerts throughout your system, such as alert threshold modifications.
Alert Action Audit Trail: Track alert management throughout your system, including the name of the user who performed the action, the time the action was performed and what the action was.

CMDB Admin: View or modify your Service Data Model.

Alert Administration
Set global or override alert thresholds. Alert settings are global by default. NOTE: To filter the alerts shown in the Alert Administration display by Solution Package, use the $rtvAlertPackageMask substitution.

Global
To set a global alert, select an alert from the Active Alert Table. The name of the selected alert populates the Settings for Selected Alert Name field. Edit Settings for Selected Alert and click Save Settings when finished.

The manner in which global alerts are applied depends on the Package. For example, the EMS Monitor package has queue alerts, topic alerts and server alerts. When a queue alert is applied globally, it is applied to all queues on all servers. Likewise, a server alert applies to all servers, and a topic alert applies to all topics on all servers.

Override
Setting override alerts allows you to set thresholds for a single resource (for example, a single server). Override alerts are useful if the majority of your alerts require the same threshold setting, but there are other alerts that require a different threshold setting. For example, you might not usually be concerned with execution time at a process level, but perhaps certain processes are critical. In this case, you can apply alert thresholds to each process individually.

To apply an individual alert you Index the Monitored Instance or resource (such as a message queue, in the case of the EMS Monitor package). The Index Types available are determined by the Package installed. For example, with the EMS Monitor package you can set an alert for a specific topic on a specific server (the PerServerTopic Index option)--rather than for all topics on all servers. For information about setting override alerts, see Tabular Alert Administration.

Date, Time	The current date and time. When the time is incorrect, this might indicate that an RTView EM component stopped running.
Data OK	The data connection state. NOTE: When the Date, Time field displays the correct time and Data OK indicator is green, this is a strong indication that the RTView EM platform is receiving current and valid data.
	Red	The data source is disconnected (for example, if the Data Server is not receiving data from the Monitored Instance, or if the Display Server does not receive data from the Data Server, this will be red).

	Green	The data source is connected.

Alert Settings	The Alert Server connection state.
	Red	The Alert Server is not connected.

	Green	The Alert Server is connected.
Active Alert Table	This table describes the global settings for all alerts on the system. Select an alert. The name of the selected alert populates the Settings for Selected Alert Name field (in the lower panel). Edit Settings for Selected Alert fields and click Save Settings when finished. NOTE: To filter the alerts shown in the table by Solution Package, use the $rtvAlertPackageMask substitution.
	Alert	The name of the alert.
	Warning Level	The global warning threshold for the selected alert. When the specified value is exceeded a warning is executed.
	Alarm Level	The global alarm threshold for the selected alert. When the specified value is exceeded an alarm is executed.
	Duration (Secs)	The amount of time (in seconds) that the value must be above the specified Warning Level or Alarm Level threshold before an alert is executed. 0 is for immediate execution.
	Alert Enabled	When checked, the alert is enabled globally.
	Override Count	The number of times thresholds for this alert have been defined individually in the Tabular Alert Administration display.

Settings for Selected Alert	To view or edit Global settings, select an alert from the Active Alert Table. Edit Settings for Selected Alert and click Save Settings when finished. NOTE: To set override alerts, click on Override Settings to open the Tabular Alert Administration display.
	Name	The name of the alert selected in the Active Alert Table.
	Description	Description of the selected alert. NOTE: Click on the button for more detail.
	Warning Level	Set the Global warning threshold for the selected alert. When the specified value is exceeded a warning is executed. To set the warning to occur sooner, reduce the Warning Level value. To set the warning to occur later, increase the Warning Level value. NOTE: For low value-based alerts (such as EmsQueuesConsumerCountLow), to set the warning to occur sooner, increase the Warning Level value. To set the warning to occur later, reduce the Warning Level value.
	Alarm Level	Set the Global alarm threshold for the selected alert. When the specified value is exceeded an alarm is executed. To set the alarm to occur sooner, reduce the Alarm Level value. To set the warning to occur later, increase the Alarm Level value. NOTE: For low value-based alerts (such as EmsQueuesConsumerCountLow), to set the alarm to occur sooner, increase the Alarm Level value. To set the alarm to occur later, reduce the Alarm Level value.
	Duration	Set the amount of time (in seconds) that the value must be above the specified Warning Level or Alarm Level threshold before an alert is executed. 0 is for immediate execution. This setting is global.
	Enabled	Check to enable alert globally.
	Save Settings	Click to apply alert settings.
	Override Settings	Click to open the Tabular Alert Administration display to set override alerts on the selected alert.

Tabular Alert Administration
Set override alerts (override global alert settings). This display opens when you select an alert in the Alert Administration display and then select Override Settings.

For step-by-step instructions setting thresholds for individual alerts, see Setting Override Alerts.

Alert Settings Conn OK	The connection state.
	Red	No servers are found.
	Green	One or more servers are delivering data.
Override Settings For Alert:(name)	This table lists and describes alerts that have override settings for the selected alert. Select a row to edit alert thresholds. The selected item appears in the Index field. Edit settings in the Alert Settings fields, then click Save Settings.
	Index Type	Select the type of alert index to show in the Values table. Options in this drop-down menu are populated by the type of alert selected, which are determined by the Package installed. For example, with the EMS Monitor package the following Index Types are available: PerServer: Alert settings are applied to a specific server. PerQueue: Alert settings are applied to the queue on each server that has the queue defined. PerServerQueue: Alert settings are applied to a single queue on a specific server. PerTopic: Alert settings are applied to the topic on each server that has the topic defined. PerServerTopic: Alert settings are applied to a single topic on a specific server.
	Index	The value of the index column.
	Override Settings	When checked, the override settings are applied.
	Alert Enabled	When checked, the alert is enabled.

Index Type	Select the index type. The index type specifies how to apply alert settings. For example, to a queue (topic or JVM, and so forth) across all servers, or to a queue on a single server. NOTE: Options in this drop-down menu are populated by the type of alert selected from the Alert Administration display. Index Types available depend on the Package installed.
Index	The selected index column to be edited. This field is populated by the selection made in the Unassigned Indexes table.
Unassigned Indexes	This table lists all possible indexes corresponding to the Index Type chosen in the drop-down list. Select a row to apply individual alert thresholds. The selected item appears in the Index field. Edit settings in the Alert Settings fields, then click Add.

Add	Click to add changes made in Alert Settings, then click OK to confirm.
Remove	Click to remove an alert selected in the Index Alert Settings table, then click OK to confirm.
Save Settings	Click to save changes made to alert settings.
Alert Settings	Select a topic, server or queue from the Unassigned Indexes table and edit the following settings.
	Warning Level	Set the warning threshold for the selected alert. When the specified value is exceeded a warning is executed. To set the warning to occur sooner, reduce the Warning Level value. To set the warning to occur later, increase the Warning Level value. NOTE: For low value-based alerts (such as EmsQueuesConsumerCountLow), to set the warning to occur sooner, increase the Warning Level value. To set the warning to occur later, reduce the Warning Level value. Click Save Settings to save settings.
	Alarm Level	Set the alarm threshold for the selected alert. When the specified value is exceeded an alarm is executed. To set the alarm to occur sooner, reduce the Alarm Level value. To set the warning to occur later, increase the Alarm Level value. NOTE: For low value-based alerts (such as EmsQueuesConsumerCountLow), to set the alarm to occur sooner, increase the Alarm Level value. To set the alarm to occur later, reduce the Alarm Level value. Click Save Settings to save settings.
	Alert Enabled	Check to enable the alert, then click Save Settings.
	Override Settings	Check to enable override global setting, then click Save Settings.

Setting Override Alerts
Perform the following steps to set an override alert. Index Types available depend on the Package installed. In this example, we use the EMS Monitor Package to illustrate.

NOTE: To turn on an alert, both Alert Enabled and Levels Enabled must be selected.

To turn on/off, change threshold settings, enable/disable or remove an alert on a single resource:

1. In the Alert Administration display, select an alert in the Active Alert Table and click Edit Index Levels. The Tabular Alert Administration display opens.

2. In the Tabular Alert Administration display, from the Index Type drop-down menu, select the Index type (options are populated by the type of alert you previously selected).

For example, with the EMS Monitor package, select PerServerQueue, PerServerTopic or PerServer . NOTE: If you select PerServerQueue or PerServerTopic, the alert settings are applied to the queue or topic on a single server.

3. In the Values table, select the server to apply alert settings and click Add. In a few moments the server appears in the Index Alert Settings table.

4. In the Index Alert Settings table select the server.

5. In the Alert Settings panel (lower right), if needed, modify the Warning Level and Alarm Level settings.

6. In the Alert Settings panel, set the following as appropriate:

To turn on the alert for this index with the given thresholds:
	Alert Enabled	Select this option.
	Levels Enabled	Select this option.

To turn off the alert for only this index (global alert thresholds will no longer apply to this index):
	Alert Enabled	Deselect this option.
	Levels Enabled	Select this option.

To no longer evaluate this indexed alert and revert to global settings (or, optionally, Remove it if it is never to be used again):
	Alert Enabled	Not used.
	Levels Enabled	Deselect this option.

6. Click Save Settings. In a few moments the modifications are updated in the Index Alert Settings table.

Alert Admin Audit
View alert management details such as alert threshold modifications.

Each table row is a single modification made to an alert. To view modifications for a single alert in a group, sort the ALERTNAME column using the button.

Audit Conn OK	The Alert Server connection state.
	Red	The Alert Server is disconnected.

	Green	The Alert Server is connected.

TIME_STAMP	The date and time of the modification.
USER	The user name of the administrator who made the modification.
ACTION	The type of modification made to the alert, such as UPDATED.
ALERTNAME	The name of the alert modified.
INDEXTYPE	The type of alert Index. Index Type refers to the manner in which alert settings are applied and vary among Packages. For example, JVMs have a PerJvm Index Type. the EMS Monitor package PerServer, PerTopic and PerQueue Index Types, which apply alerts to servers, topics and queues, respectively.
ALERTINDEX	The index of the alert which identifies its source.
WARNINGLEVEL	The warning threshold value for the alert at the time this modification was made, as indicated in the TIME_STAMP column. The warning level is a threshold that, when exceeded, a warning is executed.
ALARMLEVEL	The alarm threshold value for the alert at the time this modification was made, as indicated in the TIME_STAMP column. The alarm level is a threshold that, when exceeded, an alarm is executed.
DURATION	The duration value for the alert at the time this modification was made, as indicated in the TIME_STAMP column. The alert duration is the amount of time (in seconds) that a value must be above the specified Warning Level or Alarm Level threshold before an alert is executed. 0 is for immediate execution.
ENABLED	When checked, indicates the alert was Enabled at the time this modification was made, as indicated in the TIME_STAMP column.
USEINDEX	When checked, indicates the alert override was Enabled at the time this modification was made, as indicated in the TIME_STAMP column. For details about alert overrides, see Alert Administration.

Alert Action Audit Trail
The Alert Action Audit Trail display shows all user actions concerning alert management, including the name of the user who performed the action, the time the action was performed and what the action was. This display can help managers of the RTView EM solution determine how and when user interactions have impacted the alert system and help manage users so that best practices for alert handling are maintained.

Date, Time	The current data and time. When the time is incorrect, this might indicate that RTView stopped running.
Data OK	The data connection state. When the Date, Time field displays the correct time and the Data OK indicator is green, this is a strong indication that the RTView EM platform is receiving current and valid data.
	Red	The data source is disconnected (for example, if the Data Server is not receiving data, or if the Display Server does not receive data from the Data Server, this will be red).

	Green	The data source is connected.

Action Audit Conn OK	The Alert Action database connection availability.
	Red	The connection to the Alert Action database is not available.

	Green	The connection to the Alert Action database is available.

Time_Stamp	The time the action was performed.
User	The log in name of the user who performed the action.
Action_Type	The type of action which was performed.
Action	The action which was performed.
Target	The alert ID on which the action was performed.
Value	Any value associated with the alert action.
Alert_Name	The name of the alert on which the action was performed.
Alert_Index	The index of the alert which identifies its source.

CMDB Admin
Use this display to view or modify your Service Data Model. For details about the Service Data Model, see Configure Service Data Model.

To associate a CI to a Service using the CMDB Admin display, select a Service from the Service drop-down menu. Your selection populates the CI List table (the upper table) with a list of all CI Types associated with the selected Service. Select a CI Type to populate the Available Components table. Your selection populates the Available Components table (the lower table) with a list of all CIs associated with the selected CI Type. Select a CI in the Available Components table, then click Insert to associate the CI with the Service. A row is added to the CI List table and the upper levels--Group, Area and Owner--are automatically updated.

By default, the Owner named Infrastructure is created. Infrastructure is associated with CIs that are automatically sent to the Central Server.

Owner	Select an Owner to filter by. The Owner selected populates the Area, Group and Service drop-down menus.
Area	Select an Area to filter by. The Area selected populates the Group and Service drop-down menus.
	Delete Area	Deletes from the CMDB database the selected Area and all Groups, Services and CIs associated with it.
Group	Select a Group to filter by. The Group selected populates the Service drop-down menu.
	Delete Group	Deletes from the CMDB database the selected Group and all Services and all CIs associated with it.
Service	Select a Service to edit, then click Update.
	Delete Service	Deletes from the CMDB database the selected Service and all CIs associated with it.
CI List Table	This table lists all CIs associated with the selected Service. Each table row is a different CI. Select a CI to see its attributes in the drop-down menus at the right of the table. Use the OSType, Region, SiteName, Criticality, City and Country drop-down menus to edit the selected CI. To add a CI, select a CI from the Available Components table, then click Insert.
	CIType	The type of CI. For example, server or application.
	CIName	A unique identifier for the CI.
	Environment	The name of the Environment for the CI.
Update Criticality like selected CI	Updates the Criticality level to match the selected CI level.
OSType	Select or type the operating system for the CI selected in the CI List Table, or the CI selected in the Available Components and Inserted into the CI List Table.
Region	Select or type the region for the CI selected in the CI List Table, or the CI selected in the Available Components and Inserted into the CI List Table.
SiteName	Select or type the site name for the CI selected in the CI List Table, or the CI selected in the Available Components and Inserted into the CI List Table.
Criticality	Specify the importance level of a Service or a CI for your organization. Select a Service or a CI and set the Criticality value from A to E, where A is the highest Criticality and E is the lowest Criticality (with equally spaced intermediate values). This value is used to determine the value for Alert Impact. A higher Criticality increases the Alert Impact of alerts associated with the Service or a CI. Criticality values are listed in the Component Views / CI Service Table display. Criticality values are also shown in heatmaps (such as the Area Heatmap) and tables (such as the CI / Service Table). Criticality is used to calculate Alert Impact (maximum Alert Severity multiplied by the maximum Criticality equals Alert Impact).
Country	Select or type the country for the CI selected in the CI List Table, or the CI selected in the Available Components and Inserted into the CI List Table.

Selected CI Type	Select the type of CI to include in the Available Components table. All CIs of this type are listed. NOTE: A CI can be associated with multiple Services.
CIName	The name of the CI to insert or update.
Insert	Adds (associates) the CI selected in the Available Components table, with attributes selected from the drop-down menus (on the right), to the selected Service in the CI List Table. To add a CI to the currently selected Service, select a CI from Available Components table, use the OSType, Region, SiteName, Criticality and Country drop-down menus to modify attributes for the CI, then click Insert. The CI appears in the CI List Table
Update	Updates the CI selected in the CI List Table with attributes selected from the drop-down menus (on the right). To modify attributes for a CI, select a CI from Available Components table, use the OSType, Region, SiteName, Criticality and Country drop-down menus to modify attributes for the CI, then click Update.
Delete	Removes the selected CI from the CMDB database.
Available Components	This table lists all CIs in the system. Each row in the table is a different CI (for example, a server or a process). Select a CI to associate with the currently selected Service, use the OSType, Region, SiteName, Criticality and Country drop-down menus to modify attributes for the CI, then click Insert. The CI appears in the CI List Table. NOTE: Attributes are assigned to a CI when the CI is associated with a Service.

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JMS, JMX and Java are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries. They are mentioned in this document for identification purposes only.

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