Question & Answer
Question
How do I collect VIOS Performance Advisor data in VIOS Level 2.2.2.0 or later?
Answer
Starting with VIOS Level 2.2.2.0, a command is included as part of VIOS. The command is called PART and stands for Performance Analysis and Reporting Tool and documented in the Documentation Center (https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/power10/9028-21B?topic=managing-virtual-io-server-performance-advisor)
The tool has two modes of operation: On Demand Monitoring Mode and Post Processing Mode.
Both modes output data into a .tar file containing:
- XML file
- Raw NMON data (non-standard, may not work in NMON Analyzers)
- Style sheets, images, and other files needed to format the XML file in a browser
Step 1: Collect data using the On Demand Monitoring Mode:
1) Run the tool on your VIOS partition for 5-60 minutes. If a specific problem timeframe is known, the tool should be run long enough to span the problem timeframe.
Example:
$ part -i 30
$ Reports are successfully generated and placed in vios146_130529_20_33_37.tar
$ ls vios146*
$ vios146_130529_20_33_37.tar
In the example above the collection ran for 30 minutes.
Output was placed in the .tar file.
The .tar file can be extracted on the VIO Server or moved to a PC first.
Step 2: Review or send your IBM Support Representative the vios_advisor_report.xml file for recommendations.
1) Extract the .tar file on the VIO server
$ ls vios146_130529_20_33_37
images style.css vios_advisor_report.xml
logs vios146_130529_2033.nmon
popup.js vios_advisor.xsl
2) If the images folder, style.css, popup.js, and vios_advisor.xsl already exist in a folder on your PC, then all that you really need to get is vios_advisor_report.xml file. Place the XML file in that directory
and open it with a browser.
Step 3: E-Mail or FTP the vios_advisor_report.xml file to your IBM Support Representative
See the following URL for detailed instructions on sending data to IBM: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/644037
Additional information about the part command:
$ part -?
usage: part {-i INTERVAL | -f FILENAME} [-t LEVEL] [--help|-?]
-i <minutes> interval can range between 10-60
-f <file> any nmon recording
-t <level> 1 - Basic logging, 2 - Detailed logging
-? usage message
-f filename
Specifies the nmon recording to be analyzed by the part command and generates advisory reports based on the recording.
-i Interval
Specifies the duration for which the part command must monitor the VIOS and generate advisories based on it.
-t level
Specifies the trace level, which is either 1 or 2 for basic, detailed tracing, and logging facility respectively.
Note: Options -i and -f are mutually exclusive.
Related Information
Was this topic helpful?
Document Information
Modified date:
08 December 2025
UID
nas8N1000037