Designed as a hand-on guide to three OpenView products: Network Node Manager (NNM), Customer Views (CV), and Service Information Portal (SIP), this book begins with a review of network management and Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). It also covers Service Information Portal (SIP), which provides a web accessible interface to some of the data available in NNM and CV.
I. NETWORK NODE MANAGER, CUSTOMER VIEWS, AND SERVICE INFORMATION PORTAL.
1. Introduction to Network Node Manager, Customer Views, and Service Information Portal.
An SNMP Coke Machine.
A Review of SNMP.
What Network Node Manager Provides.
Continuous Status Monitoring of Managed Nodes.
User and Administrator Interfaces.
Integration with Trouble Ticketing Systems.
Third-Party Applications.
The Need for Network Management.
What Customer Views Provides.
What Service Information Portal Provides.
Obtaining Evaluation Copies of NNM, CV, and SIP.
Additional OpenView Products.
HP OpenView Operations (OVO).
HP OpenView Performance (OVP).
Some Helpful URLs.
2. Why Network and Systems Management Systems Fail.
…To Work Properly.
Incorrect Configuration of Hostname Resolution.
…To Effectively Manage the Enterprise Growth.
Lack of Hardware and Software Resources.
Lack of Human Resources.
Inadequate Training.
…To Manage Everything at Once.
…To Even Get Off the Ground.
Layers. and. of the OSI Model.
Other Groups Won’t Cooperate.
Summary.
3. Create a Deployment Plan.
Management Requirements.
Problem Detection.
Software Requirements.
Define the Management Domain.
What Will Be Managed?
Collection Station Requirements.
Distributed Consoles,Web Presenter, or the Java GUI?
Data Warehouse and Data Collection.
Are there Firewalls within the Management Domain?
Out-of-Band Network Management.
Backup and Recovery Requirements.
Authentication, Authorization, and Access Control Requirements.
Event Correlation Requirements.
High Availability and Fault Tolerance Requirements.
Configuration and Change Management Process Requirements.
Hardware Configuration Requirements.
Memory Requirements.
Disk Space and Disk I/O Requirements.
One Database Vendor.
Memory Amount and Kernel Parameter Requirements.
Summary.
4. Out-of-the-box Network Node Manager.
NNM Discovery.
ovw: Maps and Submaps.
The Menu Bar.
The Toolbar Icons.
Pan and Zoom.
Map Navigation.
Symbols and Objects.
View and Locate Object Attributes.
Symbol Status Colors.
Status Propagation Rules.
Alarm Categories.
All Alarms Browser.
Querying the MIB.
The MIB-II Subtree.
Graphing MIB Variables.
Loading Additional MIBs into NNM.
Web Access.
The OpenView Launcher.
The Network Presenter.
Dynamic Views.
Summary.
5. Network Discovery.
Seeding Initial Discovery.
Setting NNM Environment Variables.
netmon: the Discovery Process.
Excluding Devices from Discovery.
Testing SNMP Connectivity.
Re-discovering the Network.
The netmon.lrf File.
Additional Discovery Methods.
Discovery using loadhosts.
Discovery via the NNM GUI.
netmon Polling Statistics.
Configuring SNMP Community Names.
SNMP Manager Configuration.
SNMP Agent Configuration.
Firewall Considerations in Network Discovery.
Summary.
6. Customizing NNM from the GUI.
Customizing Submaps.
Setting the Default Map and Home Submap.
Submap Overlay,Window Geometry, and Symbol Hiding.
Setting Background Graphics and Automatic Layout.
Partitioning the Internet Submap.
Creating Executable Symbols.
MIB Applications.
Summary.
7. Advanced Customization.
Application Integration using Application Registration Files (ARFs).
Creating Your Own ARF.
Zman’s Sample ARF.
Zman’s Extra Cool Object Info ARF.
Limiting Menu Items by Setting the Submap Context.
Limiting Application Execution with the Selection Rule.
Output of ovobjprint.
Use Your ARF as an Executable Symbol.
The ovw Application Registration File.
Limiting Access to Applications using OVwRegDir.
Application Integration using Web Launcher Registration Files (WLRF) and Network Presenter Registration Files (NPRF).
Creating Your Own WLRF.
Zman’s Sample WLRF.
Creating Your Own NPRF.
Zman’s Sample NPRF.
Defining Custom Symbols and Fields.
Description of the SRF.
Creating Your Own SRF.
Description of the FRF.
Limiting Access to Custom Symbols and Fields.
Summary.
8. Data Collection and Event Configuration.
Creating a Data Collection.
Defining and Displaying an MIB Collection.
Defining an MIB Expression for Collection.
Creating Threshold and Rearm Events.
Defining a Threshold Event for Data Collection.
Defining a Rearm Event for Data Collection.
Generating Actions Based on Custom Thresholds.
Creating Custom Alarm Categories.
Accessing Events from the Alarm Browser.
Customizing Existing Data Collections.
Customizing Existing Events.
Test Your Knowledge of Data Collection and Events.
Detailed Solution to Network Printer Exercise.
Summary.
9. Scalability and Distribution.
Remote Consoles.
Configuring Remote Consoles for UNIX.
Configuring Remote Consoles for Windows NT/2000.
Configuring Remote Consoles for UNIX/Windows.
Configuring the On-Demand Level for a Map.
Configuring the Polling Frequency.
Defining Filters.
The Default Filters File.
The Filters File Syntax.
Map Filters.
Discovery Filters.
Topology Filters.
Persistence Filters.
Important Nodes Filter.
DHCP Filters.
Failover Filers.
Distributed Internet Monitoring (DIM).
CS Configuration.
MS Configuration.
Overlapping versus Non-Overlapping Domains.
Troubleshooting DIM.
Summary.
10. Customer Views.
The Five Additional Views.
The Key Resources View.
The Customers View.
The Devices View.
The Internet Links View.
The Sites View.
The ovcustomer Utility.
Adding Customer Data.
Listing Customer Data.
Deleting Customer Data.
Tips for ovcustomer.
Configuring the Hierarchical Submap Builder.
Summary.
11. Service Information Portal.
Generic Net Demo.
Integrating SIP with NNM.
Configuring Users.
Configuring Roles.
User Role Packages.
Adding an NNM Station to SIP.
Integrating CV Organizations.
Summary.
12. Introduction to OpenView Operations (OVO).
Monitoring the Enterprise with OVO.
OVO Terminology.
OVO, VPO, ITO, and OPC: They’re All the Same.
The OVO Operator.
The OVO Administrator.
Template Administrators.
Summary.
II. OPENVIEW OPERATIONS.
13. Out-of-the-box with HP OpenView Operations.
Consider a Service Level Implementation.
Pre- and Post-software Installation Summary.
Implementation Tasks.
Installation: Frequently Asked Questions.
Installing the Management Server.
Hardware and Software Prerequisites.
Prerequisite Patches.
Installing Oracle and OVO Software.
Agent Software Installation.
OpenView Status Checks.
Check the OpenView Services (NNM).
Check the OVO Server.
Check the Agents.
OVO Automatic Startup at Boot Time.
The Administrator Console.
Windows and Menus.
Nodes, Node Groups, Node Layout Groups, Node Hierarchies.
Nodes.
Node Groups.
Node Layout Groups.
Node Hierarchies.
Message Groups.
Users and User Profiles.
Applications.
The Operator Console.
Configure a New OVO Operator.
Summary of the Process to Create a New Operator.
Functional Tests for the Operator Account.
Configure the Management Server.
Initial Message Management.
Control Duplicate Messages.
Example Server Duplicate Message Suppression.
Default OVO X-Window Controls.
Control the Message Group Pop-Up Window.
Colored Lines in the Message Browser.
Working from the Command Line.
Problem Solving with OpenView Operations.
OVO Server and Node Resources.
Processes and Queue Files.
Server Directory Structure.
Server Configuration Files.
Managed Node Directory Structure.
Managed Node Configuration Files.
Error and Log Files.
System Resource Files.
Documentation.
Tools and Resources.
Summary of Executing ovoinstall.
Summary.
14. Agents, Policies and Distribution.
The OVO Agents.
List of Tasks Performed by the Agents.
The Agent Processes.
The OVO Management Server Processes.
Tasks Performed by the Server.
The Management Server Processes.
Agents Alive and Well at all Times.
RPC Service.
HTTPS Communication Service.
Functional Tests for Primary Communications.
Agent Installation.
Automatic Install.
Semi-automatic Install for Windows Nodes.
Manual Installation.
Agent Installation using Secure Shell (ssh).
Command Line Distribution of Agent Components.
Agent Configuration.
Agent Configuration Files.
Server Configuration Files.
The Message Stream Interface (MSI).
Policies.
Working with Policy Templates from the GUI.
Working with Template Files.
Template Administrator.
Template Groups.
Template Assignment.
Template Files.
Template Status.
Actions, Monitors, Commands and External Notification Services.
Actions.
Monitors.
Trouble Ticket Interface.
External Services.
Using Templates for Message Suppression.
Control Messages with Message Correlation.
Distribution.
Template Group to Node Group Assignment.
Summary.
15. Smart Plug-Ins.
Installing an SPI.
Installation Summary.
Components of an SPI.
Component in the Message Group Bank.
Component in the Node Group Bank.
Components in the Application Bank.
Components in the Message Source Templates.
The Message Browser.
Directories and Files on the Management Server.
Directories and Files on the Managed Node.
Types of SPIs.
OpenView SPIs Available from Hewlett Packard.
SPIs Available from HP Partners.
SPI Documentation and White Papers.
SPI Training.
Summary.
16. Built-in Performance Tools.
Embedded Performance Agent (OVOA).
OVOA Installation.
Performance Data Provided by OVOA.
OVOA versus OVPA.
OVOA Configuration.
Interface with Other Programs.
Commands and Files.
The Performance Agent.
OVPA Installation.
OVPA (3.x) Process Environment.
OVPA Startup.
OVPA Configuration.
Data Source Integration (DSI).
OVPA Interface with Other Programs.
OVPA Commands and Files.
OVPA 4.x.
Examples Directory.
Available Metrics.
Other Performance Tools.
OV GlancePlus Pack.
OpenView Performance Manager (OVPM) 4.x.
Glance versus OV Performance Manager.
OVPA Applications Integration with OVO.
Network Node Manager.
Databases.
Operating System Built-in Performance Tools.
Operating System Tools Integration Example.
Documents and References.
Summary.
17. Server Administration.
System Administration Responsibilities.
System Startup and Shutdown.
Execution Scripts.
Configuration Variable Files.
Link Files.
The Sequencer Script.
File Systems and Disks.
Check the Disks Available on the System.
Check the Available Capacity of the File Systems.
OVO Server Backup.
Develop a Backup Procedure.
OVO Tools to Perform the Backup.
Configuration Download.
Why Download the Configuration?
What Can You Download?
Where Will the Downloaded Configuration End Up?
How Can You Distribute the Downloaded Configuration?
Configuration Upload.
What Are the Prerequisites for Configuration Upload?
What If You Only Want to Upload Part of the Configuration?
How Can You Create a Backup Server?
History Download.
What Is the Process to Download the History Information?
Auditing.
Reporting.
Operator Reports.
Administrator Reports.
External Report Programs.
Sample Reports from OV Storage Area Manager.
Utilities and Contributed Tools.
Utility Programs.
Contributed Tools.
Summary.
18. Oracle for OpenView.
Database Terminology.
Database Structures.
Logical Components.
Physical Components.
Memory Components.
User Processes.
Dedicated Server Processes.
Background Processes.
Environment Variables.
User Environment.
Database Files and Directory Locations.
Database startup and shutdown.
Automatic Database Startup and Shutdown.
Manual Database Startup and Shutdown.
Database Queries.
Basics of Writing SQL Statements.
Examples of Database Queries using SQL.
Database Report.
Database Tools and Resources.
Summary.
19. Enterprise Management Flexibility with Multiple Management Servers.
Distributed OpenView Server Concepts.
Backup Server.
Competence Center and Escalation.
Follow-the-sun.
Terminology.
OpenView Domain.
Message Forwarding.
Responsible Manager.
Primary Manager.
Original Manager.
Secondary and Action Allowed Managers.
Failover/Takeover/Failback/Takeback.
Escalation.
Switch Control Responsibility.
Sync Configurations.
Directories.
Directories on the Management Server.
Commands and Utilities.
Templates.
Template Types.
Management Server Templates.
Managed Node Templates.
Template Distribution.
Template Syntax.
Sample MoM Templates.
Message Forwarding.
Message-Forwarding Cookbook.
Building a Backup Server.
OpenView Failover Concepts.
Escalations.
Process Steps to Create the Escalation Template.
Sample Escalation Template.
Configuration Variables.
Summary.
III. BEST PRACTICES.
20. Security.
DCE-RPC Processes and Communications.
Open Agents’Advantages.
General TCP/IP and RPC Communications.
Non-RPC Agents.
HTTP Proxy Agent.
Users and Passwords.
Administrators.
Operators.
Files and Data.
Audits.
Enhanced Security.
Data Encryption Standard (DES)–Private Key.
RSA–Public Key.
Kerberos.
Distributed Compute Environment (DCE).
GSS APIs.
HTTP and S-HTTP.
Secure Socket Layer (SSL).
PAM Authentication.
SOAP (XML).
General Security Measures.
Sudo.
Download the Public Domain Sudo Program.
Secure Shell (SSH) for HP-UX.
General Installation and Configuration.
OVO Agent Installation Using SSH.
The Firewall.
Proxy Filter.
Summary.
21. Plan, Document, Take Corrective Actions, Administer Changes.
Planning the OVO Environment.
Architecture.
The Systems.
The Applications.
OVO Documentation.
Documenting the Network Layout.
Documenting Nodes, Node Groups, and Templates.
Documenting Applications and Operator Configuration.
Documenting SPIs.
Operator Documentation.
Corrective Actions.
Changing the OVO Environment.
Administrator Changes.
Template Administrator Changes.
Operator Changes.
Summary.
22. Troubleshooting Tools and Techniques.
Data Gathering Techniques and Tools.
Check for Errors.
Check, Stop, or Start the OpenView Processes.
Utilize the Online Help.
The itochecker Report.
Functional Checks.
When the Processes Will Not Start.
Problem Solving.
Self-Healing Services (SHS).
Summary.
IV. OPENVIEW OPERATIONS FOR WINDOWS.
23. Introducing OVO for Windows.
Architecture.
Management Server.
OVOW Management Console.
Managed Nodes.
Installation.
Product Summary.
Installation Summary.
Product Directory Structure.
Product Documentation.
Product Demonstration.
Training.
Exploring the Features of the Console.
Message Processing.
Policies, Actions and Tools.
Summary.
24. OVO Windows and OVO UNIX Interoperability.
OVOW and OVOU Communications.
Server-to-Server Alive Checks.
Message Forwarding.
Message Forwarding Rules.
Policy, Template, and Service Data Exchange.
OVOW to OVOU.
OVOU to OVOW.
Interoperability Commands.
Comparing Features of OVOU and OVOW.
Summary.
25. OVOW Implementation Tasks.
Auto-discovery and Auto-deployment.
Service Discovery.
Node Discovery.
Add Nodes.
Create and Deploy Policies.
Tools, Automatic Commands, and Services.
Tools.
Automatic Commands.
Services.
Summary.
Appendix A: OpenView Commands Quick Reference Guide.
Network Node Manager Commands.
Customer Views and Service Information Portal Commands.
OpenView Operations Commands.
Appendix B: Hostname Resolution.
The Definition of Hostname.
Setting a Systems Hostname.
Incorrect /etc/hosts, NIS, and DNS Configuration.
Are /etc/hosts, NIS, and DNS Configured Properly?
Proper Configuration of Naming Services.
NNM, SNMP, and Hostname Resolution.
Properly Configured NIS.
Windows NT and Hostname Resolution.
Summary.
Appendix C: Resources.
Books.
Certification.
Databases.
HP Information and Resources.
Java.
LDAP.
Managed Nodes.
MIBs.
Networking and Service Management.
OpenView Self Healing Services.
OpenView Documentation, Support, and Product Resources.
Performance.
RFCs.
Security.
Software.
SNMP.
System Administration.
Training.
Troubleshooting.
User Groups.
UNIX.
White Papers.
Index.