Reusing analysis specifications and analysis groups

In this example you will use the WUI to see how to use an analysis specification and an analysis group for more than one type of resource checking.

This example is an extension of the previous example (Monitoring resources permanently), in which you saw how to monitor the number of DB2® thread aborts in CICS® system group CSGAORS1 on a regular basis. In this example, you'll be monitoring files in the same CICS system group, CGSAORS1. The details are as follows:
  • Files PAYFILA1, PAYFILA2, and PAYFILB1 are all used by an application that must be available during prime shift, which starts at 09:00. The application can run in either of the regions CICSPA01 and CICSPA02. The files are owned by region CICSPF01.
    Files PAYFILA1 and PAYFILA2 are the only remote files with names of the format PAYFILA* defined to CICSPA01 and CICSPA02. However, a local file PAYFILA9 and a remote file PAYFILB9 are also defined in CICSPA02. Because of this, two evaluation definitions will be required:
    • The first evaluation definition will check on remote files whose names begin with the characters PAYFILA. The file PAYFILA9 will not be checked by this definition because it is a local file in CICSPA02, and CICSPlex®Â SM distinguishes between local and remote files.
    • The second evaluation definition will check on the single remote file PAYFILB1. A generic name cannot be used in this definition, because the file PAYFILB9, which you do not want to monitor, is also remote.
  • To ensure that the application can be used when required, CICSPlex SM will check that the files are available in CICSPA01 and CICSPA02 from 08:00, one hour before prime shift starts. The checking will continue for the first 30 minutes of prime shift.
  • An external message and an event notification (severity VHS) are to be issued if any of the files is not ENABLED between 08:00 and 09:30.
  1. Create a time period definition.
    1. From the main menu, click Administration views > RTA system availability monitoring > Time period definitions to open the Time period definitions tabular view.
    2. Click the Create... button and type in the following information:
      Name
      PDFCHECK
      Description
      Prime shift lead in
      Start time
      08:00
      End time
      09:30
      Time zone
      U
      Time zone adjustment factor
      0
    3. Click Yes to confirm.
  2. Create the first evaluation definition.
    1. From the main menu, click Administration > RTA MAS resource monitoring > Evaluations to open the Evaluation definitions tabular view.
    2. Click the Create... button and provide the following information:
      Name
      RTEPAY12
      Description
      REMFILE PAYFILA* enabling
      Sample interval
      60
      Resource table
      REMFILE
      Instance identifier of evaluated resource
      PAYFILA*
      Method of evaluating results in result set
      ANY
      Separate task indicator
      NO
      Field being evaluated
      ENABLESTATUS
      Evaluation logical operator
      NE
      Evaluation data value
      ENABLED
      Severity assigned when result meets criteria
      VHS
      You can leave the remaining fields blank.
  3. Create the second evaluation definition.
    1. In the Evaluation definitions tabular view, select the entry for RTEPAY12 and click the Create... button. This opens the Evaluation definitions create panel showing the values you entered when creating RTEPAY12.
    2. Update the name, description, and instance values as follows:
      Name
      RTEPAY13
      Description
      REMFILE PAYFILB1* enabling
      Instance identifier of evaluated resource
      PAYFILB1
      The other fields can remain the same as for RTEPAY12.
  4. Create an action definition.
    1. From the main menu, click Administration views> RTA MAS resource monitoring > Definitions to open the Action definitions tabular view.
    2. Click the Create... button and provide the following information:
      Action
      RTAPAY12
      Description
      Prime shift files not ENABLED
      Generate event
      YES
      Name of view that may provide useful information
      REMFILE
      Action priority
      255
      Message to send when event occurs
      Prime shift files not ready
      Generate external message
      YES
      External message sent when event occurs
      Prime shift files not ready
      External message sent when event is cleared
      Prime shift files now ENABLED
      Generate SNA generic alert
      NO
      MVS automatic restart
      NO
      You can leave the other fields blank.
    3. Click Yes to confirm. The Action definitions tabular view is redisplayed and includes an entry for the new definition RTAPAY12.
  5. Create the analysis definition.
    1. From the main menu, click Administration views > RTA MAS resource monitoring > Definitions to open the RTA definitions tabular view.
    2. Click the Create... button and provide the following information: The evaluation count fields (Count of true evaluations before VLS raised and so on) should all contain the default value of 1. You can leave the other fields blank.
    3. Click Yes to confirm. The RTA definitions tabular view is redisplayed and includes an entry for the new definition RTDPAY02.

    The evaluation expression causes CICSPlex SM to issue a notification if either evaluation returns a true condition.

    Note: For a description of the RTA definitions view, see RTA definitions.
  6. Associate the new analysis definition with the existing analysis group.
    1. In the RTA definitions tabular view, select the entry for RTDPAY12, and click the Add to RTA group... button.
    2. In the Resource group name field, type in RTGPAY02, and in the Period Definition name field, type PDFCHECK.
    3. Click Yes to confirm.
The Analysis Group RTGPAY02 already exists (you created it in the previous example) and it has already been associated with the analysis specification RTSPAY02. Therefore, analysis definition RTDPAY12 is installed automatically in the CICS systems in group CSGAORS1 when those systems are next started, for the period of time defined in PDFCHECK.