F5 Users Test

In a large and shared application delivery environment, BIG-IP APM enables multiple users connect to the environment and access a wide variety of applications in a seamless ans secure way. In such environments, excessive load imposed by a single user could impact the performance for other users. Therefore, continuous monitoring of the activities of each and every user accessing the applications through the target APM is critical. Towards this end, the F5 Users test auto-discovers the users who access the applications through the target APM and reports the total number of F5 sessions established by each user. In the process, this test reveals the count of Citrix sessions established by each user. These results can be used to proactively detect the total work load imposed by each user and also isolate the workload on the target APM due to the Citrix sessions. In addition, for each user, this test also reports the amount of data and number of packets received/transmitted. This way, administrators can identify the user who created maximum traffic on the target APM.

Target of the test : A Big-IP Access Policy Manager (APM)

Agent deploying the test : An external agent

Outputs of the test : One set of results for each user connecting to the Big-IP APM that is 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 that is being monitored.

Timeout

Specify the duration (in seconds) beyond which this test should time out in this text box. The default is 10 seconds.

Detailed Diagnosis

To make diagnosis more efficient and accurate, the eG Enterprise embeds an optional detailed diagnostic capability. With this capability, the eG agents can be configured to run detailed, more elaborate tests as and when specific problems are detected. To enable the detailed diagnosis capability of this test for a particular server, choose the On option. To disable the capability, click on the Off option.

The option to selectively enable/disable the detailed diagnosis capability will be available only if the following conditions are fulfilled:

  • The eG manager license should allow the detailed diagnosis capability
  • Both the normal and abnormal frequencies configured for the detailed diagnosis measures should not be 0.
Measurements made by the test
Measurement Description Measurement Unit Interpretation

Total F5 sessions

Indicates the total number of F5 sessions established by this user.

Number

This measure is a good indicator of F5 session load created by each user.

Using the detailed diagnosis of this measure, you can identify following:

  • IP address of the client.
  • Name of the access profile through which the user is connected to the target APM
  • Virtual server configured on the access profile
  • Port number of the virtual server
  • Type of the sessions

Total Citrix sessions

Indicates the total number of Citrix sessions established by this user.

Number

This measure reveals the workload caused by the Citrix sessions

Data received

Indicates the amount of data received by this user during the last measurement period.

MB

Compare the value of these measures across users to figure out the user who is transmitting/receiving the maximum amount of data. The user who is most active can thus be determined.

 

Data transmitted

Indicates the amount of data transmitted by this user during the last measurement period.

MB

Packets received

Indicates the number of packets received by this user during the last measurement period.

Packets

Compare the value of these measures across users to figure out the user who is transmitting/receiving the maximum packets.

 

Packets transmitted

Indicates the number of packets transmitted by this user during the last measurement period.

Packets