Exadata Cell IO Test

In the Oracle Exadata Storage System architecture, one or more storage cells can support one or more databases. Each storage cell aka target Oracle Exadata Storage Server is connected to the databases via Infiniband switch and ethernet switch. If data transmission fails between the databases and the target storage server, user requests may be delayed and could not be served instantly. On the other hand, the load on an infiniband/ethernet interface may increase rapidly. To avoid such load balancing irregularities and to ensure smooth transmission of data between the databases and the storage server, it is essential to monitor the data transmission through the infiniband interfaces and the ethernet interfaces. The Exadata Cell IO test helps administrators in this regard!

This test reports the rate at which data was transmitted through/received from the infiniband interfaces and ethernet interfaces. Using this test, administrators can figure out load balancing irregularities while data is transmitted through infiniband interfaces and ethernet interfaces.

Target of the test : Oracle Exadata Storage Server

Agent deploying the test : A remote agent

Outputs of the test : One set of results for the target Oracle Exadata Storage Server 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 for which this test is to be configured.
Port	The port number at which the specified host listens. By default, this is NULL.
Username, Password and Confirm Password	By default, this test uses the Cell Control Command-Line Interface (CellCLI) to pull out the required metrics. To use the CLI, the test first needs to connect to the target storage server via SSH, and then run commands using CLI. For running the commands, this test requires the credentials of a cellmonitor user. Specify the login credentials of such a user in the Username and Password text boxes and confirm the Password by retyping it in the Confirm Password text box.
SSH Port	This test uses the Cell CLI to pull metrics from the target Oracle Exadata Storage Server. To run the CLI commands, this test first needs to establish an SSH connection with the target storage server. To enable the test to establish this connection, specify the SSH Port here.
Timeout	Specify the time duration for which this test should wait for a response from the storage system in the Timeout text box. By default, this is 120 seconds.

Measurements made by the test

Measurement	Description	Measurement Unit	Interpretation
InfiniBand interfaces received data	Indicates the rate at which data was received from infiniband interfaces.	MB/sec	Compare the value of this measure with Ethernet interfaces received data to figure out the type of interface through which maximum amount of data was received.
InfiniBand interfaces transmitted data	Indicates the rate at which data was transmitted through infiniband interfaces.	MB/sec	Compare the value of this measure with Ethernet interfaces transmitted data to figure out the type of interface through which maximum amount of data was received.
Ethernet interfaces received data	Indicates the rate at which data was received from ethernet interfaces.	MB/sec	Compare the value of this measure with InfiniBand interfaces received data to figure out the type of interface through which maximum amount of data was received.
Ethernet interfaces transmitted data	Indicates the rate at which data was transmitted through ethernet interfaces.	MB/sec	Compare the value of this measure with InfinBand interfaces transmitted data to figure out the type of interface through which maximum amount of data was received.