XIO Initiator Group Folders Test

An initiator group folder comprises of multiple initiator groups. This test auto-discovers the initiator group folders of the target storage array and helps administrators to figure out the initiator group folder that is busy processing I/O requests, detect irregularities in the distribution of I/O load across the initiator group folders and thus enables administrators to initiate pre-emptive measures.

Target of the test : An EMC XtremIO Storage array

Agent deploying the test : A remote agent

Outputs of the test : One set of results for each initiator group folder of the EMC XtremeIO being monitored.

Configurable parameters for the test
Parameter Description

Test Period

How often should the test be executed.

Host

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

Port

The port number at which the storage array listens. The default is NULL.

XtremIO User and XtremIO Password

Provide the credentials of a user who has read only privileges to access the XtremIO storage array in the XtremIO User and XtremIO Password text boxes.

Confirm Password

Confirm the password by retyping it here.

XMS IP

This parameter is applicable only for EMC XtremIO 4.x. By default, None will be chosen from this list. If the target EMC XtremIO storage array is within a XMS Management Server that is auto-discovered, then the IP or host name of that XMS Management Server will be displayed in this list. Select that particular XMS IP to configure this test. If you wish to monitor an EMC XtremIO Storage Array that is either not an integral part of the auto-discovered XMS Management Server or a brand new EMC XtremIO Storage Array, choose the Other option. This will enable you to add a new XMS Managament Server. To know how to add a new XMS Management Server, refer to Adding a new XMS.

SSL

The eG agent collects performance metrics by invoking Restful APIs on the target Storage array. Typically, the Restful APIs can be invoked through the HTTP or the HTTPS mode. By default, the eG agent invokes the Restful APIs using the HTTPS mode. This is why, the SSL flag is set to Yes by default. If the target storage array is not SSL-enabled, then the Restful APIs can be accessed through the HTTP mode only. In this case, set the SSL flag to No.

Measurements made by the test
Measurement Description Measurement Unit Interpretation

Number of sub folders

 

Indicates the number for sub-folders that were created from this initiator group folder.

Number

 

Bandwidth

 

Indicates the amount of data utilized for performing I/O operations per second on this initiator group folder.

MB/Sec

 

Read bandwidth

 

Indicates the amount of data utilized for performing read I/O operations per second on this initiator group folder.

MB/Sec

High values for these measures indicate high bandwidth usage by this initiator group folder. By comparing the values of these measures across the initiator group folders, you can isolate those initiator group folders that consume bandwidth excessively, and also understand which operation consumed too much of bandwidth – is it reading? or writing?

Write bandwidth

 

Indicates the amount of data utilized for performing write I/O operations per second on this initiator group folder.

MB/Sec

IOPS

 

Indicates the rate at which I/O operations were performed on this initiator group folder.

IOPS

Compare the value of this measure across the initiator group folders to know which initiator group folder id handling the maximum number of I/O operations.

Read IOPS

 

Indicates the rate at which read operations were performed on this initiator group folder.

IOPS

 

Write IOPS

 

Indicates the rate at which write operations were performed on this initiator group folder.

IOPS

A high value is desired for this measure. A low value for this measure may indicate a poor throughput thus resulting in a decrease in the free space of the initiator group folder and the overall performance.

Reads

 

Indicates the number of read operations performed on this initiator group folder per second during the last measurement period.

Reads/Sec

Compare the value of this measure across initiator group folders to know which initiator group folder is handling the maximum number of read requests.

Writes

 

Indicates the number of write operations performed on this initiator group folder per second during the last measurement period.

Writes/Sec

Ideally, the value of this measure should be high. A steady dip in this measure value could indicate a potential writing bottleneck. By comparing the value of this measure across the initiator group folders, you can quickly identify the initiator group folder which is the slowest in processing write requests.

Data reads

 

Indicates the rate at which data was read from this initiator group folder during the last measurement period.

MB/Sec

Compare the values of these measures across the initiator group folders to identify the slowest initiator group folder in terms of servicing read and write requests (respectively).

Data written

 

Indicates the rate at which data was written to this initiator group folder during the last measurement period.

MB/Sec

Average read size

 

Indicates the amount of data read from this initiator group folder per I/O operation during the last measurement period.

MB/Op

Compare the values of these measures across the initiator group folders to identify the slowest initiator group folder in terms of servicing read and write requests (respectively).

Average write size

 

Indicates the amount of data written to this initiator group folder per I/O operation during the last measurement period.

MB/Op