COMTEK /400 iSeries Agent

COMTEK /400 V4.1 Available September 21, 2012

What is COMTEK /400?

COMTEK /400 monitors IBM iSeries Servers.

The COMTEK /400 product lets Network Managers such as SiteScope or SolarWinds monitor IBM Servers running OS400. (AS/400, iSeries, Systemi)

COMTEK will Monitor the Server, and ALERT the Network Manager instantly if a problem is detected - so action can be taken before users are impacted.

COMTEK ALERTS include: Disk Nearly Full, CPU Overload, Critical Application Stopped, Hardware Failure, User Defined Alert, Communications Failure, others.

COMTEK will Monitor and Filter Queues, including QSYSOPR. COMTEK will watch the QUEUE for important messages and forward those messages to the Network Manager for appropriate action. Multiple queues may be monitored.

NEW Features in Version 4.1

4.1 QUICK INSTALL

Version 4.1 includes an application which installs COMTEK on the iSeries system for you. COMTEK 4.1 can be installed and be performing useful work in less than an hour. All you need to do is supply an IP address and an account to use. The Installer does the rest. Detail knowledge of OS400 or network management is not required.

4.1 ADMINISTRATION

The new Administration program supplied with COMTEK provides a single screen to configure and operate COMTEK. You can Start / Stop, Configure, and control all aspects of COMTEK /400 installation and operation from one Administration Screen.

4.1 CONFIGURATION

COMTEK /400 is pre-configured to perform useful work right away. Right out of the box, COMTEK will monitor for CPU Overload, Disk Nearly Full, Important QSYSOPR Messages, and report on a Critical Process.

In addition, COMTEK will begin sending TEST ALERTS to the Network Manager to assist your people in making the Network Manager connect with COMTEK.

4.1 RAPID DEPLOYMENT

These new 4.1 features above make installing COMTEK on multiple iSeries machines easy. This is important to users with many iSeries systems and / or multiple locations.

Other COMTEK /400 Features and Functions

COMTEK /400 works with the IBM-supplied SNMP master agent. This means that only IBM TCP and SNMP software are used for communications. It is not possible for COMTEK to affect network performance.

What is in the COMTEK MIB?

The COMTEK /400 MIB (Management Information Base) is the most comprehensive 400 MIB in the industry.

The COMTEK MIB includes status information on CPU Usage, Jobs in System, Storage Capacity and % used, Pools, Disks, Users Signed On, Batch Jobs Running, Job Queues, Communications Lines and Controllers, and many others. More MIB information follows below.

COMTEK can provide any of this information to your SNMP manager at all times. Your Network Manager can POLL for information at whatever interval you wish. This allows you to take corrective action BEFORE users are impacted.

Another use for this information is to learn about the usage of the system, and plan for future requirements.

NMServer monitors many critical aspects of the AS/400, warns of potential problems, and allows remote console operations. NMServer checks how busy the CPU is, how full the disks are, what processes are running, etc., and reports this information to the SNMP Manager when requested.

COMTEK ALERTS

COMTEK /400 provides user configurable alerts for Excessive CPU Utilization, Disk Nearly Full, Critical Process Missing, Important QSYSOPR Message, User Message, and Cold Start.

Client PACKs

COMTEK /400 client PACKS offer a convenient method of purchasing Licenses.

A license is required for each AS/400 to be monitored. Client PACKS are available for 5, 10, 25, or larger quantities, including Enterprise PACKS. Client PACKS allow a significant license price reduction, as well as cost savings on the ordering and administration of licenses.

Prior Versions of COMTEK /400

Beginning with version 3.06, COMTEK /400 does not require a “lock” on QSYSOPR. This means that QSYSOPR can be “shared” by other applications while COMTEK /400 is monitoring QSYSOPR. An operator can have QSYSOPR in “break” mode while COMTEK /400 is monitoring it.

All other features in 3.06 are the same as previous v3.x versions. Configuration files from previous v3.x versions of COMTEK NMServer for AS/400 can be used.

Recent Releases: 3.06 March 10, 2008;.3.07 July 18, 2008; 3.08 February 12, 2009, Version 3.11 available February 18, 2011. Version 4.1 available September 21, 2012.

Version 4.1 contains all functions from prior versions. Configuration files from any Version 3.06 or later can be used with Version 4.1.

New QSYSOPR Feature in V3.06 and V3.07

All other features in 3.06 are the same as previous v3.x versions. Configuration files from previous v3.x versions of COMTEK NMServer for AS/400 can be used.

Recent Releases: 3.06 March 10, 2008;.3.07 July 18, 2008; 3.08 February 12, 2009

What does NMServer for AS/400 monitor? (What is in the MIB?)

In SNMP terminology, the information gathered and maintained by an SNMP agent is represented in a Management Information Base or MIB. The MIB for NMServer for AS/400 was tailor-made for the AS/400, not adapted from some other operating system.

System Information	System Name · System Model · History Table
Resource Information	CPU · Disk · Active Processes · Job Queue
Status Information	QSYSOPR Messages · Traps
Agent Configuration	Configuration Information · User Specified Trap Thresholds · User Specified Time Intervals for Statistics Gathering
Communication Line, Controller, and Device Information	Communications Line · Controllers · Devices

Click here to see the more details on the AS/400 MIB.

What alerts (SNMP traps) does NMServer for AS/400 provide?

As a proactive system management tool, NMServer provides a variety of trap types. Traps are issued by NMServer for AS/400 when system conditions exceed thresholds that you have set.

Resource Information Traps	Excessive CPU Utilization · Total Disk Space Full · Mission Critical Process Missing
System Status Traps	QSYSOPR Message · QSYSOPR Help Text
Agent Status Traps	Cold Start
User Trap	Send Your Data as Traps to SNMP Manager
Generic Queue Monitor	Monitor User-Specified Queues

Will NMServer for AS/400 work with the IBM-supplied SNMP agent?

Yes. NMServer for AS/400 is implemented as a series of SNMP subagents that extend the capabilities of the OS/400 SNMP agent.

How would I use NMServer for AS/400?

SNMP network management is composed of two major pieces - an Agent (such as NMServer) running in each element that you wish to monitor and a Manager (such as HP OpenView). Your organization may be using an SNMP Manager to monitor its local or wide area network presently. If so, NMServer would allow this same Manager to monitor and manage your AS/400 systems. Similarly, if you are implementing a new network management system, you may wish to include your local or remote AS/400 systems.

What is the Remote Console feature?

NMServer includes a remote command entry feature which can be used to send AS/400 commands from the SNMP manager to the NMServer agent. The agent processes the AS/400 command and returns any results to the manager. This is an optional feature which may be easily disabled when there are concerns about security.

How can I monitor my own queues?

NMServer's Generic Queue Monitor Subagent can be configured to watch any AS/400 queue for new messages. A trap is sent to the SNMP manager for each new message placed in the queue.

Messages can be filtered by Severity
Messages can be filtered by Age
User can enter Responses to messages
User-specified filter file
Multiple message queues can be monitor simultaneously
Traps can be throttled

This feature is optional.

What is included with NMServer for AS/400?

NMServer for AS/400 is a complete package - it includes the NMServer for AS/400 SNMP Agent, MIB, Installation Aids, HP OpenView Integration Tools, Documentation and Support.

Click here to request a Price Quote for this product.