Applied Uses

When CIAgent is installed, a master agent and multiple subagents are included. The master agent and subagents can report to a network manager with information about the machine where CIAgent is installed.

Monitor Important Applications. The Critical Application Monitor can be configured to carry out suitable actions when the application terminates, such as sending a trap or restarting an application.

Monitor System and Application Logs. The Log File Monitor examines log files and performs actions when user defined patterns are encountered or when the log file exceeds a certain size.

Monitor Available Capacity of File Systems. The File System Monitor shows current file systems and sends notification when the file system reaches near capacity. In addition, it adds the ability to perform actions based on file system problems. Other functions include execution of programs or scripts and/or sending traps.

Manage information via Web browsers. The DR-Web™ Extensible Agent enhances the EMANATE Master Agent, providing EMANATE with an HTTP interface. This allows Web access to the management information of CIAgent. Also, Web pages that retrieve and display customized sets of management data can be created using HTML editors.

Collect Network Statistics. The MIB II (RFC 1213, 2863, 3418, 4001, 4022, 4113, 4292, 4293, and 4898), a core component of SNMP agents, provides almost 200 objects of information about the performance and statistics of the TCP/IP stack.

Monitor Which Applications Are Currently Running. The System Application MIB (RFC 2287) supports configuration, fault detection, performance monitoring, and control of application software. This agent creates tables that define an application as a series of processes and services. This includes tables that show applications installed on the system, elements and processes that are included in an application, and current and previously run applications.

Monitor Resources on a System. The Host Resources MIB (RFC 1514 and RFC 2790) provides useful information about the system and applications running on the system. There are approximately 85 different objects available, including systems, storage, and software.

Schedule Activities. The Schedule MIB [DisMan] provides scheduling of actions either periodically or at specified dates and times.

Launch Any Script. The Script MIB allows any script, application, or other executable to be launched using an SNMPv3 Set operation from any SNMP manager directed to any CIAgent implementing the Script MIB. The executable can be found through the System Application MIB.

Reduce the Load on Centralized Managers. The Mid-Level Manager (MLM) [DisMan] reduces network traffic by shifting the continual management of a machine from the enterprise manager to the local machine. The MLM uses scripts to aggregate, summarize, and transform data into useful information. This information is then reported to the enterprise manager.

Reduce the Polling Load on Centralized Managers. The Event MIB [DisMan] monitors MIB objects and performs actions that are based on given conditions, such as exceeding a threshold. Event MIB allows the user to configure traps that are either standard or enterprise specific.

Monitor Network Services. The Service Monitor (optional) is an agent that allows the user to monitor network services. It is designed to determine whether a service, such as a Web server or FTP server, is operating properly. The services that can be monitored are DNS, FTP, HTTP, POP3, PING, TraceRoute, NsLookup.

Build in a Transition Plan. The Native Agent/Subagent Adapters allow for the smooth coexistence of CIAgent and the native SNMP agent, which is provided by the underlying operating system. However, the adapters are not necessary for platforms that use EMANATE as the default SNMP agent, such as HP-UX.

Monitor the Apache Web Server. The Apache Server Monitor instruments the Apache Server so that an operator may monitor the overall health and performance of their Web servers from their SNMP-based management systems.

Troubleshoot. The Trapsend utility allows traps to be sent from the command-line or from shell scripts. Trapsend supports SNMPv1, SNMPv2c, and SNMPv3.

Build Custom Extensions. The Subagent Development Kit (optional) makes it easy to create custom subagents that support new MIB modules.