Configuration of DiskActivityTest

The DiskActivityTest reports statistics pertaining to the input/output utilization of each of the disk partitions of a system. The default parameters associated with this test are as follows:

• The TEST PERIOD list box helps the user to decide how often this test needs to be executed.

• In the HOST text box, the host name of the server for which the test is to be configured has to be specified.

• Setting the USEEXE flag to true, ensures that the disk activity metrics are collected by executing a binary instead of dynamically linking to the Performance instrumentation library. By default, this is set to false.

• To obtain disk activity metrics for both logical and physical disks, enter all in the DISKS text box. To collect metrics for physical disks, set the DISKS parameter to Physical and to collect metrics for logical disks, set the parameter to Logical.

• By default, the TRACE flag is set to No, indicating that the test does not generate in-depth details such as details on files that are read from/written to the disk, by default, so as to conserve storage space. However, if you want the test to generate and store details for each and every file that is read from/written to the disk, set the TRACE flag to Yes.

• The DISK BUSY PERCENT parameter is applicable only when the TRACE flag to Yes. Specify the percentage of time beyond which the test should reveal the detailed diagnosis for the Disk Busy measure. By default, this parameter is set to 20. However, you can override this value as per your requirement.

• The READ SIZE IN KB parameter is applicable only when the TRACE flag to Yes. By default, the value of this parameter is set to 10 KB indicating that this test will additionally report the detailed measures for the files that are read from the disk only when the size of files is minimum of 10 KB. This setting helps you to conserve space on the database. However, you can override the default value of this parameter as per your requirement.

  By default, the value of this parameter is set to 10 KB indicating that this test will report the additional details on the files in the detailed diagnosis only when the files with minimum size of 10 KB is read from the disk. This setting will help you conserve the storage space on the database. However, you can override the default value as per your requirement.

• The WRITE SIZE IN KB parameter is applicable only when the TRACE flag to Yes. By default, the value of this parameter is set to 10 KB indicating that this test will report the detailed measures only when the files with minimum size of 1 KB is written on the disk. This setting will help you conserve the storage space on the database. However, you can override the default value as per your requirement.

• The DISK RESPONSE TIME SECS parameter is applicable only when the the TRACE flag to Yes. By default, the value of this parameter is set to 1 second. This implies that the test will report the detailed measures only when the files with minimum size of 10 KB is read from/written to the disk within the time specified against this parameter. This setting will help you conserve the storage space on the database. However, you can override the default value as per your requirement.

• The EVENT CAPTURE INTERVAL IN SECS parameter is applicable only when the the TRACE flag to Yes. By default, the value of this parameter is set to 10 seconds. This implies that the test will monitor the files involved in the disk operations performed within the time specified against this parameter. However, you can override this value as per your requirement.

• To make diagnosis more efficient and accurate, eG embeds an optional detailed diagnostic capability. With this capability, the eG agents can be configured to run detailed, more elaborate tests as and when specific problems are detected. To enable the detailed diagnosis capability of this test, by default, for a particular server, choose the On option against DETAILED DIAGNOSIS. To disable the capability, click on the Off option.

  The option to selectively enable/disable the detailed diagnosis capability will be available only if the following conditions are fulfilled:

  • The eG manager license should allow the detailed diagnosis capability.

  • Both the bad and normal frequencies configured for the detailed diagnosis measures should not be 0.

• If multiple components of the same component type are awaiting configuration, then an APPLY TO OTHER COMPONENTS check box will appear in this page. Clicking on this check box will allow you to apply the configuration to all/selected components of that type.

• Once the necessary values have been provided, clicking on the UPDATE button will register the changes made.

When changing the configuration for specific servers, a “*” beside the text box corresponding to the parameter signifies that these values have to be manually configured by the user. The parameter values that require to be configured will typically be prefixed with a “$” or contain a series of “*”. A value of “none” in the parameter value indicates that the corresponding parameter value can be changed if required.