PostgreSQL Access Test

This test emulates a client executing a configured query on the database server, and in the process reports whether the server is available, and if so, how quickly it responds to the client queries. The unavailability of a network connection to the server and bottlenecks to responsiveness can thus be promptly isolated.

Target of the test : PostgreSQL server

Agent deploying the test: An external agent; if you are running this test using the external agent on the eG manager box, then make sure that this external agent is able to communicate with the port on which the target PostgreSQL server is listening. Alternatively, you can deploy the external agent that will be running this test on a host that can access the port on which the target PostgreSQL server is listening.

Outputs of the test : One set of results for the target PostgreSQL server.

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 on which the server is listening. The default port is 5432.

Username

In order to monitor a PostgreSQL server, you need to manually create a special database user account in every PostgreSQL database instance that requires monitoring. When doing so, ensure that this user is vested with the superuser privileges. The sample script we recommend for user creation for eG monitoring is:

CREATE ROLE eguser LOGIN

ENCRYPTED PASSWORD {‘eguser password’}

SUPERUSER NOINHERIT NOCREATEDB NOCREATEROLE;

Specify the name of this user in the Username text box.

Password

The password associated with the above Username (can be ‘NULL’). Here, ‘NULL’ means that the user does not have any password.

Confirm Password

Confirm the Password (if any) by retyping it here.

DB Name

The name of the database to connect to. The default is “postgres”.

Include DB

Specify a comma-separated list of databases that you wish to monitor in the Include DB text box.

Query

Specify the select query to execute. The default is “select * from pg_tables”. Every DATABASE being monitored, should have a corresponding Query specification.

SSL

If the PostgreSQL server being monitored is an SSL-enabled server, then set the SSL flag to Yes. If not, then set the SSL flag to No.

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

Availability:

Indicates whether the database server is currently available or not.

Percent

The availability is 100% when the server is responding to a request and 0% when it is not. Availability problems may be caused by a misconfiguration/malfunctioning of the database server, or because the server has not been started.

Response time:

Indicates the time taken by this database to respond to a user query during the last measurement period.

Secs

A sudden increase in response time is indicative of a performance bottleneck at the database server.