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Introduction | [ Back ] |
Note: Before you use the GUI, you must completely install the Network Storage Agent.
By running the ras_install program (/opt/SUNWrasag/bin/ras_install), you add a web server service to the host on port 7654.
Starting the Network Storage Agent | [ Back ] |
Login: ras
Default password: agent
The Master Configuration window opens automatically the first time you initiate the GUI. The Master Configuration screen may also appear if there are empty mandatory fields, which may occur after an upgrade.
Note: The Network Storage Agent is always accessed on port 7654 of the host configured as the master agent. All the agents communicate with one another through this port to synchronize their configurations.
Maintenance | [ Back ] |
The Maintenance section includes all the functions that are necessary for setting up the Network Storage Agent for the first time, or to make changes, to ensure proper monitoring and notification.
Once you have configured the Network Storage Agent master and slave hosts, you should use the Maintenance section only occasionally to update email notifications or to update the monitored devices.
Maintain Hosts | [ Back ] |
You can use the Maintain Hosts window to maintain a list of hosts from where the Network Storage Agent is running. When the Network Storage Agent package is installed on a host, it registers with the master Network Storage Agent and an entry is added to this page. For this automatic registration to work, you must first install the master agent. Once all hosts are installed, you can access this page to change the configuration of each host.
The three main functions of this window are:
Master Configuration | [ Back ] |
To access the Master Configuration window, click on a hostname from the Maintain Hosts window. The Master Configuration window enables you to maintain customer and site information. In addition, you can enter default storage logfiles and local Network Storage Agent information. You can select the monitoring frequency, which can vary from five to 120 minutes. This window also enables you to turn on and turn off the monitoring on a device-by-device basis.
The fields for the Master Configuration window follow.
Add a New Slave | [ Back ] |
If an agent does not automatically register, or you anticipate to registering in the future, you can add a new slave manually.
To access the Maintain Hosts: Add New Slave window:
The fields for the Add New Slave window follow.
Note: STools refers to StorTools 4 Diagnostic Log: activity_log = expert mode; sunvts.info and sunvts.err = functional, expert, and connection modes.
Note: The cron continues to run every five minutes, but it checks this frequency setting before loading any modules.
Device Discovery | [ Back ] |
Use the Device Discovery function to request the Network Storage Agent to probe the environments for the desired device types.
You can request the Network Storage Agent to probe the environments for the device types shown on the Device Discovery window.
To Access the Device Discovery window:
The Device Discovery window will be displayed.
Note:
As long as there are valid T3 entries in this log file, the auto-discovery will find them and add them. You can avoid adding older, unwanted T3s by rolling over the log file, much the same way the system log rolls over. Reference the scripts /usr/lib/newsyslog and /etc/cron.d/logchecker.
In a cascaded switch-configured SAN, only the switch with the host attachment needs to be in the /etc/fcswitch.conf file. The Network Storage Agent will discover the cascaded switch when the first switch is discovered.
If a switch is not in the /etc/fcswitch.conf file, you can manually add it. Be aware, however, that the SAN topology will display the name you give to the switch and not necessarily the switch's official trademarked name.
Note:
Once you have added a switch to the /etc/fcswitch.conf file, you must return to the Maintain Hosts window and select the host. The Master Configuration window will be displayed. Scroll down to the section "Enter Local Network Storage Agent Information" and click on the "Show OutofBand devices in topology" button.
Discover a Solution Cabinet | [ Back ] |
Use the Solution button from the Device Discovery window to instruct the Network Storage Agent to query for a Solution cabinet.
Note:
With this functionality, made available with Patch 111893-03, the Network Storage Agent employs a direct fibre channel connection (in-band) to the Sun StorEdge T3 arrays and Sun StorEdge switch devices.
Search the LAN for Sun StorEdge Devices using Subnet | [ Back ] |
Use the Subnet button to search the LAN for Sun StorEdge SAN Release 3.0 switch devices and Sun StorEdge T3 arrays.
The Subnet functionality can search two subnets at a time (for example, Subnet 10.1.0 and Prefix 10.1Net, with Subnet 10.2.0 and Prefix 10.2Net).
All discovery results are sent back to the master agent, which stores them in the main configuration file.
Set Up Sun StorEdge T3 Array Message Monitoring | [ Back ] |
In order for the Network Storage Agent software package to monitor messages from a Sun StorEdge T3 array, you must mirror the Sun StorEdge T3 array's /syslog to a host with the Network Storage Agent installed and configured to monitor Sun StorEdge T3 arrays.
Maintain Devices | [ Back ] |
Use the Maintain Devices window to configure the host to monitor each agent device. You can also use this window to change the name that the Network Storage Agent will use as a reference to that device through its email notifications.
NOTE: This will not affect the naming of the device from the perspective of the host's operating system.
Be aware of the host's access method when making decisions about which devices the Network Storage Agent will monitor.
Note:
The Primary Host column lists the registered host that will do the actual device probing. The buttons indicate Sun Network Storage devices that are supported with this instance of the Network Storage Agent.
Update a Device | [ Back ] |
Note:
Changing the name of the device changes only the reference to that device within the Network Storage Agent. It does not affect the access or reference to that device within the operating system.
Delete Devices | [ Back ] |
You can delete a device once the device has been removed from the site or if device monitoring is no longer needed.
To delete a device:
Add Devices | [ Back ] |
From the Add a New Device section of the Maintain Devices window, select the type of device you want to add to the Network Storage Agent.
Complete the fields using the descriptions that follow.
Note:
The default is the host that automatically discovered the device.
Once you have entered the required information and the configuration has been pushed to all agents, the Network Storage Agent begins to monitor the devices.
Note:
To get the device name for the Sun StorEdge A3500-FC array and the Sun StorEdge A1000 array, use the RM6 command drivutil -l devName, where devName is derived from the RM6 command /usr/lib/osa/bin/lad.
Local Email Notification | [ Back ] |
You can use the Email Notification window to customize the generation of emails to yourself or to other administrators at their companies. For example, administrators who are interested only in high-priority alerts coming from Sun StorEdge T3 arrays can create a specialized notification for this instance only.
Alerts are sent only to valid email addresses that you have entered through the Email Notification function.
Local notification does not send mail to the Network Storage Command Center (NSCC).
You can customize the following local notification types:
Note:
The local notification feature is optional and does not affect the main transmission functions of the Network Storage Agent. The master instance of the Network Storage Agent is the only instance generating emails based on local notifications. Slave instances of the Network Storage Agent send their alerts to the master, which filters them and forwards them to the providers, if selected, and to local system administrators, if configured.
Local Notification: Add New Entry | [ Back ] |
Create a notification record for each Administrator who would like to be notified of Network Storage Agent findings. You can restrict the findings by Event Priority, Device Category, and Event Type. Multiple events can be selected and sent to an email or a pager. This flexibility allows for a customized alert notification scheme.
To add a new entry:
In addition to sending the RAS information collected by the Network Storage Agent, you can send a customizable subset of the event-driven messages from the host (configured as master) directly to local system administrators at the customer's site via email.
Send a Customizable Subset of Event-Driven Messages from the Host | [ Back ] |
The Network Storage Agent sends the specific event type messages, by device type, to the email address(es) you specified.
Network Storage Agent Providers | [ Back ] |
Network Storage Agent providers encode data and interface with transport mechanisms, which transmit information to the NSCC about configured storage devices.
The Network Storage Agent supports four providers: NetConnect, HTTP, SRS, and RSS. The provider's main function is to relay events generated by health monitors. The providers do this either by pulling the events from the Persistent Data Manager (PDM) or by registering them with the PDM for a certain type of event.
The types of providers are briefly described in the following sections:
Note:
The host with the Master agent must be the same host that is configured as the relay in a NetConnect Provider configuration.
The master agent has additional functions that enable it to work as a collection point for all the events generated by the slave agents. Periodically, the master polls each slave to ask for messages that need to be transported.
Note: You must enter an IP address for the SRS Provider.
Push Configs | [ Back ] |
You will be prompted to push configurations whenever you change a configuration. The Review Configurations functionality lists settings that you might have missed or you need to correct.
Note:
The Push Configs functionality is very important. It synchronizes all slave instances under a master instance, with the instances of the master to ensure proper monitoring and notification.
Start/Stop Agents | [ Back ] |
You can control agent activity to temporarily stop the Network Storage Agent from running on a selected host. You can also use this window to avoid creating email notifications on false errors when a device is being tested and when faults are injected intentionally.
NOTES:
Start/Stop Device Monitoring | [ Back ] |
The Start/Stop Device Monitoring window allows you to deactivate monitoring on a device-by-device basis.
NOTE:
Monitoring continues when the device is deactivated. However, email notifications will not occur for any faults that are detected while the device monitoring is in this state. Consequently, any errors that may have been detected will be logged and sent via the Providers, but not via email notification.
Test Email | [ Back ] |
Use the Test Email window to send test emails and a message and to verify that the mailing capability of the Network Storage Agent is installed and working properly.
If you leave the Message text box blank, the test email contains a canned message with the words Test Message in the subject line.
NOTE:
If you place a carriage return in the message field, you cannot enter text. To restart, click in the Message text box and enter some text.
Review Configuration | [ Back ] |
Instrumentation | [ Back ] |
Instrumentation enables you to review all FRU level information of a selected device and its access components that are known by the Network Storage Agent.
Instrumentation agents are very different from one another because they are specialized modules designed to probe a specific type of device. Each instrumentation agent produces reports and, when available, reads new entries into the logs accessed by the /var/adm/messages function in the Log section of the Admin GUI.
To view instrumentation reports:
Generating Reports Using Message Summary | [ Back ] |
The Message Summary window enables you to generate a report from the /var/adm/messages file. The last run is available for review. You can perform the following message summary functions using the Network Storage Agent:
To manually initiate and save a new snapshot:
To view an error summary:
Note:
You can scan the T3 message log file either by checking the Long Output checkbox or by specifying the name only of the file in the Select a Special File field.
Snapshot | [ Back ] |
Snapshot enables you to schedule the execution of the configuration snapshot and to display the last run.
To schedule execution:
Revision Checking | [ Back ] |
Revision Checking allows you to check the current revisions of software and firmware. On Sun StorEdge A5x00 arrays, StorTools Revision Check also checks for a valid minimum disk configuration.
Only the last run is available for review.
Snapshot History | [ Back ] |
Sun StorEdge StorTools SnapShot History enables the Network Storage Agent to display a list of previously-stored configuration snapshots, with the most recent snapshot first.
To display SnapShot history, choose a host from the [Select Slave Host] menu and click Go.
Using the SAN Functionality | [ Back ] |
The Network Storage Agent's graphical SAN interface displays all fabric components and the state of those components. Fabric components include HBAs, switch ports, storage controllers, and disks, along with more specialized components such as fans, batteries, power, and volumes.
SAN agents collect counter information based on error messages and telemetry information. This information is then used in the topology drawing to indicate link failures.
In order to see a topology, you must first execute the ras_install command to start the Network Storage Agent services.
SAN Topology | [ Back ] |
Use the SAN Topology section to display a host-based topology and SAN-based topologies. SAN-based topologies are created by merging multiple host topologies. Basic host topologies include all devices that can be seen in-band, on the fibre channel connection, from that host. These topologies can be merged to construct a SAN-based topology.
To display host-based and SAN-based topologies:
The SAN Topology menu is displayed. A "+" next to the device indicates that the device is attached to multiple hosts.
When you select a storage device, the index displays all host topologies that include that device.
Merge Topologies | [ Back ] |
By merging topologies, multiple host topology drawings are combined into a single drawing.
Clear Topologies | [ Back ] |
By clearing previously-stored information about a host's topology, you force the SAN agents to collect new information and draw a new, updated topology.
Fibre Channel Counters Check | [ Back ] |
Use the Fibre Channel Counters Check functionality to verify the quality of the fibre channel links of your system and to measure the activity of the FC link status counters.
FC Counters are used to isolate transient recoverable errors. If counters activity is within normal limits, you can turn on the SAN module using the Maintain Hosts functionality.
Note: FC Check does not validate connections. Use this function only to test for transient noice on the physical fibre channel connectors and components.
The test extracts counter information twice. The first pass sets a benchmark and the second pass compares with the benchmark and reports excessive increments.
To run the Fibre Channel Counters Check, choose a host from the [Select Slave Host] menu and click START FC Check.
FC Utilities | [ Back ] |
The FC Utilities window, which is password protected, allows you to graph counter information and isolate and diagnose SAN error(s).
Note: This function is available only to trained service personnel who have been granted access rights.
You can set a baseline for the counters in both graph and tabular format. You can also have the page refresh automatically for the following Sun StorEdge products:
To use FC Utilities:
Reviewing /var/adm/messages | [ Back ] |
The /var/adm/messages function enables you to review the content of the /var/adm/messages and t3 message log files from any host. Log entries are displayed from the end of the file going back, showing the most recent alerts first. The Network Storage Agent must be functioning properly on each host for the /var/adm/messages function to work.
To review the most recent events on a given host, choose a host from the HostName column and click the corresponding /messages link. The descending list of /var/adm/messages on the local host is displayed.
Reviewing the Event Log | [ Back ] |
To see the log for a host:
Reviewing the Alert Log | [ Back ] |
To see the log for a host:
Note: The intent of this log is not to view the content of the Alert, but rather to view the list of Alert types that have been generated. You can derive the actual content by scanning through the appropriate message logs or through the email that was sent for each notification.
Change System Time-outs | [ Back ] |
System time-outs are the values the Network Storage Agent uses to ensure it does not spend too much time waiting on a response for commands to return.
Display Agent Errors | [ Back ] |
The Network Storage Agent System Errors window displays system errors that have occurred on a given host.
When you select an existing host, the corresponding Network Storage Agent Error Logfiles window appears.
Erase Device Cache | [ Back ] |
When you select an existing device, the last report in the cache for that device is erased. This forces the Network Storage Agent to regenerate discovery events.
To erase a device's cache:
Caution: There are no safeguard questions for this function. Once you have selected a device, the instrumentation report for that device is immediately erased.
The [Erase All Files] function erases the cache of all the devices in the list. The list is removed once the erase has successfully completed. Although the device's cache is erased, the device will still be monitored.
Manually Run the Network Storage Agent | [ Back ] |
Although the Network Storage Agent is normally executed from the cron facility, the RUN option enables you to run the Network Storage Agent at any time.
View Thresholds | [ Back ] |
The Thresholds window displays the thresholds that are used to monitor entries related to I/O interfaces in the /var/adm/messages files.
Email Configuration Information | [ Back ] |
You can forward a detailed report of the Network Storage Configuration via email that includes a list of all devices being monitored and the last instrumentation report available for each host.
To forward a Network Storage Configuration Report, type an email address into the Email Address text box and click EMAIL.
Check Network Storage Agent Statistics | [ Back ] |
Using the Agent Stats functionality, you can determine the average time required to run the modules. The information is generated on every run of the Network Storage Agent's host.
The execution time for that host, measured in minutes:seconds, is displayed.
Change Security Password | [ Back ] |
Webserver Maintenance is an administrator window that enables system administrators to change the security password for the Network Storage Agent Admin GUI.
To change the security password, you must know the current password. If the current password is lost, use the save_password(1M) utility to create a new password.
Note:
Utilities Documentation | [ Back ] |
You can find online explanations of the various utilities associated with the Network Storage Agent online while using the Network Storage Agent Admin GUI. These utilities also have man(1) pages. These utilities include the following:
If executed from the command line, this executable program verifies that the executable program "rasagent" is entered in the crontab(1M) file. Note: You must be root to run this program.
Usage: /opt/SUNWrasag/bin/checkcron
If executed from the command line, this executable program will remove the instrumentation information for all the configured devices from the cache. This is typically used during testing purposes, so that a DiscoveryEvent can be forced to occur upon the next execution of rasagent.
Usage: /opt/SUNWrasag/bin/clearcache
Used by the Network Storage Agent to discover devices on the data paths that are using SCSI commands.
Manages the SENA, RSM, SPARCstorage Array subsystems and individual FC_AL devices. luxadm(1M) is used by the Network Storage Agent to retrieve the Sun StorEdge A5x00 array configuration and state information.
This is the executable program that calls the modules for the different Network Storage Devices supported by this monitoring agent. It is executed automatically by cron or can be run manually from the command line. Keep in mind, however, if run from the command line, rasagent will first check that another process for rasagent is not already running.
Usage: /opt/SUNWrasag/bin/rasagent
This program will setup the HTTP service, add a cron, and register with the master rasagent in the case of a slave install. It must be run manually upon completing the 'pkgadd'. This program can be executed anytime after the initial execution and setup when a modification to the cron is desired, or to change the Master/Slave title of a host agent.
Usage: /opt/SUNWrasag/bin/ras_install
Utility used by the Network Storage Agent to gather fibre channel switch information.
Utility used to change the password to the Network Storage Agent's GUI. Changing the password can also be performed in the GUI itself. However, this utility would be used from the command line when the administrator forgot the password.
Usage: /opt/SUNWrasag/bin/save_password
Verify that the tokens of a specific T3 are working. T3 token files elemprop.html and sysprop.html must be available for the Network Storage Agent probing capabilities to work properly. Running this utility from the command line will require that you know the IP Address of the Sun StorEdge T3 Array being probed.
Usage: /opt/SUNWrasag/bin/testt3
Help | [ Back ] |
The help for the GUI portion of the Network Storage Agent provides instructions for when you are interfacing with the various maintenance, monitoring, log review, and agent related system functions.
All Menus | [ Back ] |
This is used to display all the available options for each section in the left frame window all at once.
Remove the Network Storage Agent | [ Back ] |
To remove the Network Storage Agent (SUNWrasag) package, use the pkgrm(1M) command:
# pkgrm SUNWrasag
END | [ Back ] |