Implementing CICSPlex SM monitoring

Possibly the best way to implement CICSPlex SM monitoring is to start with no monitoring at all, and to implement it piecemeal for particular CICS® systems and CICS resource instances.

That is:
  1. Create a monitor specification, and associate it with every CICS system in the CICSplex. However, ensure that every sample interval remains at its default value of zero, and that monitor status remains set to “OFF”. This is because the one thing you must have in place before you can gather any monitoring data is a monitor specification. If you follow these instructions, monitoring will be enabled, but not activated.
  2. When you decide to monitor a particular resource instance, as used by one of the CICS systems in the CICSplex, you must:
    1. Update the CICS system definition to switch monitoring on, and to specify a sample interval for the resource. You make this change to an active CICS system, using the Topology Runtime MAS display view (MAS object), and it applies for the current execution of the CICS system only.
    2. Create a monitor definition to name the resource instance, and install it manually in the CICS system.
  3. Repeat this piecemeal approach to monitoring until it becomes apparent that you have some regular requirements. At that point, consider installing the monitor definitions automatically (and for every execution of the CICS system) by adding the monitor definitions to a monitor group, and associating the monitor group with the monitor specification. You can make the sample interval and monitor status permanent by setting them either in the monitor specification—in which case, they apply to all CICS systems associated with the monitor specification and for which an appropriate monitor definition has been provided—or in the CICS system definition, in which case they affect no other CICS system.
You can refine your approach to monitoring gradually, by creating additional monitor specifications for the CICSplex, for example, and by using timed monitor definitions, which are installed automatically for a specified duration. Remember that:
  • Although you can make changes to a monitor specification while it is in use, the effect of those changes is not felt until the CICS system is next started. Note, however, that you can use the MAS view to change monitoring values for an active CICS system.
  • A CICS system can be associated with only one monitor specification at a time.
  • You can associate a monitor specification with a CICS system that is already running, but the effect of that new association is not felt until the CICS system is next started.

Aim to ensure that any monitor specifications and monitor definitions you provide support the normal situation, and that CICS system overrides are used for the exceptions.