Using self-describing agents (SDA)

ITCAM for Transactions V7.4 and later supports self-describing agents (SDA). This function enables you to install Tivoli Enterprise Monitoring Server and Tivoli Enterprise Portal Server support files automatically when installing ITCAM for Transactions agents. This function is only supported on ITM IBM Tivoli Monitoring V6.2.3 and later.

The support files are included with the agent installation files. When an SDA-enabled agent connects to the Tivoli Enterprise Monitoring Server or Tivoli Enterprise Portal Server, it automatically pulls the Transaction Tracking support files from the computer on which the agent is installed and updates the Tivoli Enterprise Monitoring Server or Tivoli Enterprise Portal Server.

Before you can use SDA, it must be enabled for each agent that you want to install.

For IBM Tivoli Monitoring V6.3, to enable SDA for all agents, run the following command:

tacmd editSdaInstallOptions -t default -i on

For IBM Tivoli Monitoring V6.3, to enable SDA for a particular agent and specified version, run the following command in the system where

tacmd addSdaInstallOptions -t product_code -v 07400000

where product_code is the product code of the agent, such as IS for Internet Service Monitoring.

For IBM Tivoli Monitoring V6.2.3, to enable SDA for all agents, set the variable KMS_SDA=Y in the following file:

install_dir/config/hostname_ms_temsname.config

Draft comment:
There are no steps given to enable a specific agent for 6.2.3 - Is it the same as for 6.3

If you attempt to install Tivoli Enterprise Monitoring Server and Tivoli Enterprise Portal Server support automatically with an agent installation without enabling SDA, you will see an error similar to the following error in the agent log:

(518B678E.0004-10:kraaulog.cpp,755,"IRA_OutputLogMsg") Self-Describing Agent 
Register/Install failed with STATUS (1024/0x400) for PRODUCT "IS", with TEMS 
"HUB_TIVVM340", VERSION_INFO "product_vrmf=07400000;tms_package_vrmf=07400000;
tps_package_vrmf=07400000;tpw_package_vrmf=07400000;

Note: If you use SDA to install Tivoli Enterprise Portal Server support automatically for the Application Management Console (T3) or Transaction Collector (TU) agents, restart the Tivoli Enterprise Portal Server to complete the installation.

Note: If you are using SDA with Transaction Reporter, reconfigure the Tivoli Enterprise Portal Server using the Manage Tivoli Enterprise Monitoring Services. This corrects some inconsistencies in the installation.

For more information on SDA, see the IBM Tivoli Monitoring documentation, search for 'Enabling self-describing agent capability at the hub monitoring server'

Draft comment:

Does SDA have to be enabled on the ITM side as well as the agent side before it will function? Harriet: SDA is only enabled on ITM
Is SDA enabled at the Response Time Agent level or does it have to be enabled seperately at the level of the individual agents: Application Management Console (T3 Client Response Time (T4) Web Response Time (T5) Robotic Response Time (T6)