AS400 Storage Test

This test monitors the storage subsystem of the AS400 server and reveals how effectively the storage pools on the server are utilized.

Target of the test : An AS400 Server

Agent deploying the test : An external/remote agent

Outputs of the test : One set of results for every AS400 server being monitored.

Configurable parameters for the test
Parameter Description

Test Period

How often should the test be executed.

Host

The IP address of the host for which this test is to be configured.

Port

The port at which the specified host listens. By default, this is NULL

ServerName

This test connects to the AS400 server being monitored to extract the required metrics. Therefore, specify the name of the AS400 server to connect to in the ServerName text box.

UserID

To enable the test to login to the specified AS400 server, you need to provide the test with the credentials of a valid user to the AS400 server. Hence, specify a valid userid.

Password

Provide the Password that corresponds to the specified UserID.

Confirm Password

Confirm the password by retyping it in the Confirm Password text box.

Measurements made by the test
Measurement Description Measurement Unit Interpretation

Total auxillary storage

Indicates the total auxillary storage space on the server.

MB

 

System ASP

Indicates the storage capacity of the system auxillary storage pool.

Number

 

System ASP used

Indicates the percentage of the system auxillary storage pool used.

Percent

Auxiliary storage pools (ASPs) are individual disks reserved for particular objects (such as individual libraries). If the value of this measure increases consistently, it is indicative of excessive usage of the storage pool.

Current unprotected used

Indicates the current amount of storage space in use by temporary objects.

MB

 

Max unprotected used

Indicates the largest amount of storage for temporary objects used at any one time since the last IPL.

MB

 

Permanent addresses

Indicates percentage of the maximum possible addresses for permanent objects that have been used.

Percent

Each object has a single permanent address to which it is referred by all users and processes. A high value of this measure is indicative of a large number of permanent objects being created.

Temporary addresses

Indicates the percentage of the maximum possible addresses for temporary objects that have been used.

Percent

A high value of this measure is indicative of a large number of temporary objects being created.

Processing unit percentage

Indicates the average of the elapsed time during which the processing units were in use. For an uncapped partition, this is the percentage of the configured uncapped shared processing capacity for the partition that was used during the elapsed time. This percentage could be greater than 100% for an uncapped partition.

Percent

 

Main storage

Indicates the amount of main storage provided in the system. On a partitioned system, the main storage size can change while the system is active.

MB

 

Number of processors

Indicates the number of processors that are currently available on the server.

Number

 

Number of pools

Indicates the number of memory pools available on the server.

Number

A memory pool is a logical division of main memory or storage that is reserved for processing a job or group of jobs. Controlling the number and size of the memory pools, administrators can control how much work can be done in a subsystem. The greater the number of the pools in the subsystem, the more work can be done in that subsystem. Therefore, the value of this measure is preferred to be high. A low value of this measure could indicate the memory contention on the system, and would require investigation.

Number of partitions

Indicates that number of logical partions that are created on the server.

Number

Ideally, the value of this measure should be high. Logical partitioning is the ability to make the server run as if it were two or more independent servers. Each logical partitioned server operates as an independent logical server. The logically partitioned servers can reduce the number of physical servers that are needed within an enterprise. This eliminates the need for, and expense of, additional resources.

Active threads in system

Indicates the number of threads that are currently active on the server.

Number

Ideally, the value of this measure is desired to be high. A sudden/gradual drop in the value of this measure indicates that the jobs are executing slowly, and may lead to processing bottleneck on the server.

Current processing capacity

Indicates the number of processors that are currently allocated to the logical partitions on the server.

Number

 

Current interactive performance percentage

Indicates the percentage of interactive processors on the server .

Percent

Interactive processors are the processors that are currently assigned to the one-processor logical partitions. The interactive processing capacity of the interactive processors is calculated based on the ratio between the number of interactive processors and the total number of processors available on the server.

For example, for a server with six installed processors and three activated processors with three one-processor partition, you cannot allocate more than 50% of interactive capacity across all three processors. This is because you only have access to interactive capacity for the three activated processors. Therefore, if you create three one-processor partitions, you can allocate 16.7% interactive capacity for each partition. But if you attempt to allocate 16.7% interactive capacity for two partitions and 30% interactive for the third partition, the third partition will fail.

Shared processor pool used percentage

Indicates the percentage of shared processors that were utilized by the logical partitions from the shared processor pools.

Percent

The logical partitions can be configured to use the physical processors on the AS400 server as either dedicated or shared processors. The logical portitions that use the shared processors are called as capped partitions. The processing capacity of the shared processors is shared among multiple capped partitions. You can assign a specific amount of the processing capacity in the shared processor pool to each logical partition that uses shared processors.

Uncapped CPU capacity used percentage

Indicates the percentage of processors utilized by the uncapped logical partitions.

Percent

An uncapped logical partition is a logical partition that is assigned with a dedicated processor. The uncapped logical partition's access to processor resources can increase as demands warrant and availability supports.