Query related to EMS framework.

[Uma Ramaswamy]

Hi,

I have the following queries related to EMS framework.

1. How can we monitor the actual disk space of a particular filesystem (non root)?
2. How can we monitor the "metadata" of a directory?

From what I have read, there are some default events that can be monitored using the EMS framework.
Filesystem monitoring is one among them. (/system/filesystem/availMb)

However, the default event can be configured to check the available space in a partcular filesystem.
In other words, we can configure an event to be reported, if the available space in the filesystem is "X" bytes.
There is no default event which checks for the directory size & reports when it reaches a limit say : 600 KB.

So, I would like to know, if there is some way in which the "metadata" of a directory of a particular filesystem (non-root) can be monitored.

Thanks & Regards,
Uma.

[Stephen Doud]

Start here:
http://docs.hp.com/en/ha.html#Event%20Monitoring%20Service%20and%20HA%20Monitors

In particular these two documents:

"Using the Event Monitoring Service" and "Using EMS HA Monitors", particularly page 79, which may answer your question.

[Steven E. Protter]

Shalom Uma,

1. How can we monitor the actual disk space of a particular filesystem (non root)?

This should be done via shell scripting not EMS. Have the script send an email. There are dozens of possible scripts available here:

http://forums13.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=178514

2. How can we monitor the "metadata" of a directory?

Define meta data.

SEP

[Uma Ramaswamy]

Hello Stephen,

Thanks for the pointers. I have gone through the same. In page 79 we have :

The MIB variables fileSystemBavail, and fileSystemBsize from the hp-unix MIB are used to calculate the number of available Kb in the file systems. The number is then divided by 1024 to get the number of
available Mb.

However, when I try to configure EMS using SAM, the only monitoring available to me is availMb.
So, looks like we cant find the current size of the filesystem. Right?

Also, it seems that, its not possible to monitor the size of the individual directories in a filesystem.
Is that so..? Can u please confirm the above 2 points?

Thanks & Regards,
Uma.

[Uma Ramaswamy]

Hello Steven,

Thanks for the pointers on shell scripts.
However, our current requirement is to do it using EMS monitors.
We want the EMS to send an SNMP trap when the size of the directory crosses a threshold, say "700KB".
Our application will process this SNMP trap & take necessary action.
So, wanted to know, if such a monitoring is possible through EMS or not.

In addition to storing the data contained in files, a file system also stores and manages important information about the files and about the file system itself. This information is commonly referred to as metadata.

File metadata includes date and time stamps, ownership, access permissions, other security information such as access control lists (ACLs) if they exist, the fileâ s size and the storage location or locations on disk.

When we execute "ll", the directory size mentioned is the meta data size.
Anyways, to avoid confusion, we can just say "large directories", say above "700KB".
We want to be notified when the directory size crosses this threshold.

Can this requirement be fulfilled through EMS?

Thanks & Regards,
Uma.

[Carsten Krege · Accepted solution]

The only filesystem related resource that you can monitor is availMb. You neither can monitor the size of a filesystem nor can you monitor any "metadata". The EMS monitors that exist rely on the hp_unixagt subagent to provide the info that is monitored. Because the subagent does not provide what you need, the fsmond EMS monitor cannot provide it either.

Please note that EMS is on its way out. It will continue to exist but no patches or enhancements will be done. See
http://www.hp.com/softwarereleases/releases-media2/proginfo/EMS_Future_Directon.pdf . Therefore I'm not sure how reasonable it is to continue to use EMS for new setups.

Like Steven I recommend using shell scripts to obtain the data you require. There should be means to generate SNMP traps from the output of these shell scripts.

Carsten

[Uma Ramaswamy]

Hello Carsten,

Thanks a lot for your reply.
That's exactly what I wanted to know..! :-)

Best Regards,
Uma.