Table Of Contents
Starting IPM Server on Solaris
Starting IPM Server on Windows
Starting IPM Client From the CiscoWorks Homepage
Starting IPM as a Standalone Client
Starting IPM Standalone Client on Solaris
Enabling the IPM Password on Solaris
Starting IPM Standalone Client on Windows
Starting IPM Client from the Windows Command Prompt
Enabling the IPM Password on Windows
Running Simultaneous IPM Sessions
Configuring the IPM Components
Viewing Network Performance Statistics
Viewing Network Performance Statistics in Real Time
Viewing Historical Network Performance Statistics
Getting Started With IPM
This chapter provides information about starting the IPM application and configuring a collector to gather latency data. It includes the following major sections:
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Running Simultaneous IPM Sessions
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Starting IPM
Since the IPM application is comprised of a server component and a client component, you must start both components to run the application. If the IPM server and client are installed on the same system, you can start the IPM server and client using a single command, or you can start them separately.
The following sections provide details for starting the IPM server and client:
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Starting IPM Server on Solaris
To start the IPM server on a Solaris system, enter:
#cd /opt/CSCOipm/bin#./ipm startTo enter the ipm start command, you must be logged in as the root user, or your login must have administrator privileges.
Starting IPM Server on Windows
To start the IPM server on a Windows system, enter:
cd c:\Program Files\Internetwork Performance Monitor\Server\binipm startTo enter the ipm start command, you must be logged in as the administrator, or your login must have administrator privileges.
Starting IPM Client
You can access the IPM Client in two ways: As a web client from the CiscoWorks homepage, or as a standalone client.
This section describes:
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Starting IPM Client From the CiscoWorks Homepage
You can start IPM from an Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator Web browser if:
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Windows 2000 Terminal Services Remote Administration mode (with SP3, SP4) or Windows 2003 Server (Standard Edition and Enterprise Edition).•
To start the IPM client from the CiscoWorks homepage:
Step 1
Step 2
The homepage for the IPM Client Software appears (Figure 2-1).
Figure 2-1 IPM CiscoWorks Homepage
If you do not have this URL, contact the system administrator who installed the IPM server software.
Step 3
The Java applet loads and the IPM Main Window is displayed.
The IPM Main Window is the starting point from where you can carry out the various IPM operations. In addition to and accessing the IPM Main Window from the CiscoWorks homepage, you can also launch the IPM Main Window from a standalone Solaris or a Windows client.
For details on starting IPM on Solaris, see Starting IPM Standalone Client on Solaris. For details on starting IPM on Windows, see Starting IPM Standalone Client on Windows.
Starting IPM as a Standalone Client
This section describes the following:
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Starting IPM Standalone Client on Solaris
To start only the IPM client on a Solaris system, enter:
#cd /opt/CSCOipm/bin#./ipm start clientTo start the IPM server and client on a Solaris system, enter:
# cd /opt/CSCOipm/bin#./ipmThe default directory for installing IPM is /opt. If you installed IPM in a different directory, you must specify that directory instead of /opt.
If you installed the IPM client and IPM server on different Solaris systems, you must enter the ipm start command from the /opt/CSCOipmClient/bin directory:
# cd /opt/CSCOipmClient/bin# ./ipm start clientTo start the IPM client and connect to an IPM server other than the default server, enter:
#cd /opt/CSCOipmClient/bin# ./ipm start client server_namewhere server_name is the Solaris or Windows system on which the IPM server is running.
To protect the device credentials, IPM does not allow you to disable the administrative password. IPM will prompt you to enter the password at the time of launching the standalone client.
When the IPM client starts, it displays the IPM Main Window (Figure 2-2). The name of the system on which the IPM server is running, appears in the title bar of the IPM Main Window.
Figure 2-2 IPM Main Window
You can also access the IPM Main Window from the CiscoWorks homepage. For more details, see Starting IPM Client From the CiscoWorks Homepage. Alternatively, you can click View > CiscoWorks Home Page to access the CiscoWorks homepage.
When you start IPM for the first time, the IPM Main Window contains no collectors. As you configure collectors, they appear in this window. Each collector is a combination of a configured source, a target, and an operation. For each collector, you can specify parameters for gathering statistics and scheduling.
Enabling the IPM Password on Solaris
To enable IPM passwords on Solaris:
Step 1
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#cd /opt/CSCOipm/bin#./ipm password
Note
IPM prompts you to enter a password.
Step 3
The password is case sensitive and should begin with an alphabet. You can enter only a maximum of 15 characters and you can enter only alphanumeric characters.
IPM prompts you to confirm the password.
Step 4
IPM displays:
IPM Administrative Password is Changed.Use IPM Administrative Password to access standalone IPM Client and CLI commandsThe administrative password is required for launching the IPM standalone client.
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Starting IPM Standalone Client on Windows
When you install the IPM client on a Windows 2000 Professional and Server (with SP3 and SP4), Windows 2000 Advanced Server (with SP3, SP4), Windows XP Pro (SP1a) or Windows 2000 (WS2K3) system, the installation program adds two icons to your desktop: one icon for connecting to the IPM server you specified during installation, and one icon for connecting to any IPM server.
To start the IPM client on a Windows system and connect to the default IPM server:
Step 1
Step 2
The IPM client starts and displays the IPM Main Window (Figure 2-2).
You can also access the IPM Main Window from the CiscoWorks homepage. For more details, see Starting IPM Client From the CiscoWorks Homepage. Alternatively, you can click View > CiscoWorks Home Page to access the CiscoWorks homepage.
To start the IPM client on a Windows system and connect to any IPM server:
Step 1
Step 2
A prompt appears asking you for the name of the IPM server to which you want to connect.
Step 3
The IPM client starts and displays the IPM Main Window (Figure 2-2)
Starting IPM Client from the Windows Command Prompt
To start the IPM server and client from the command prompt on a Windows system, enter:
cd c:\Program Files\Internetwork Performance Monitor\Server\binipmThe default directory for installing IPM is C:\Program Files\Internetwork Performance Monitor\. If you installed IPM in a different directory, you must specify that directory instead of C:\Program Files\Internetwork Performance Monitor\.
To start only the IPM client on a Windows system, enter:
cd c:\Program Files\Internetwork Performance Monitor\Server\binipm start clientIf you installed the IPM client and IPM server on different Windows systems, you must enter the ipm start command from the c:\Program Files\Internetwork Performance Monitor\client\bin directory:
cd c:\Program Files\Internetwork Performance Monitor\client\binipm start clientTo start the IPM client and connect to an IPM server other than the default server, enter:
cd c:\Program Files\Internetwork Performance Monitor\client\binipm start client server_namewhere server_name is the Solaris or Windows system on which the IPM server is running.
Note
When the IPM client starts, it displays the IPM Main Window (Figure 2-2). The name of the system on which the IPM server is running appears in the title bar of the IPM Main Window.
When you start IPM for the first time, the IPM Main Window contains no collectors. As you configure collectors, they are displayed in the window. Each collector is a combination of a configured source, a target, and an operation. For each collector, you can specify parameters for gathering statistics and scheduling.
Enabling the IPM Password on Windows
To enable an IPM password on Windows:
Step 1
Step 2
cd c:\Program Files\Internetwork Performance Monitor\Server\binipm passwordThe default directory for installing IPM is c:\Program Files\Internetwork Performance Monitor. If you installed IPM in a different directory, specify that directory instead of c:\Program Files\Internetwork Performance Monitor.
IPM prompts you to enter a password.
Step 3
The password is case sensitive and should begin with an alphabet. You can enter only a maximum of 15 characters and you can enter only alphanumeric characters.
IPM prompts you to confirm the password.
Step 4
IPM displays:
IPM Administrative Password is Changed.Use IPM Administrative Password to access standalone IPM Client and CLI commandsThe Administrative password is required for launching the IPM standalone Client.
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Running Simultaneous IPM Sessions
IPM allows you to run multiple sessions of the IPM client simultaneously. Central services and database functions are provided on an IPM server that communicates to multiple IPM clients. You can install the IPM client software on the same system as the IPM server, or on a different system on the same network as the IPM server.
Running more than one IPM client on the same workstation can degrade the workstation's performance.
Configuring the IPM Components
To collect network performance metrics using IPM, you must define a collector in a source router. A collector is a definition of a source router, a target device, an operation, and a collector schedule.
To define a collector, complete the following tasks:
Defining a Source Device
IPM source devices are the devices from which packets are sent to measure and store statistical data, including network latency, jitter, availability, packet loss, and errors. Each source device must contain the Cisco IOS software SA Agent feature.
The types of operations you can use are determined by the version of the Cisco IOS software running on the source device. IPM automatically checks the Cisco IOS software version on the device and limits the creation of operations to those supported by the source device.
For information about the recommended versions of Cisco IOS software to use with IPM, see the "Cisco IOS Software Requirements" section of the Installation Guide for Internetwork Performance Monitor.
To define a new source router:
Step 1
If you want to receive traps at your network management system (NMS), verify that the router is configured to send SA Agent-generated traps to your NMS.
For information about trap configuration on the source router, see the "Configuring Your Routers to Send SA Agent-Related Traps" section in the "Preparing to Install" chapter of the Installation Guide for Internetwork Performance Monitor.
Step 2
The Configuration window (Figure 2-3) appears. By default, Sources is selected in the navigation pane and the Source Configuration window appears within the Configuration window.
Figure 2-3 Configuration Window—Source Configuration
Step 3
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Step 5
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Step 7
IPM attempts to locate the source and determine whether or not it is SNMP-enabled with the correct Read and Write community string. If the router is successfully located, IPM adds it to the IPM database. If IPM cannot reach the router, IPM displays an error message.
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Step 8
If you must add a large number of source routers to IPM, you can use the Source Configuration window to add them one by one, but it is more efficient to use a seed file. For information about using a seed file to add source routers to IPM, see the "Adding Components Using Seed Files" section. For information about viewing or deleting source routers, see the "Working With Source Devices" section.
Defining a Target
IPM targets are destination devices for which you want to gather data. A target can be any IP-addressable device, an SA Agent Responder, or an SNA host.
To define a device as a target:
Step 1
The Configuration window (Figure 2-3) appears.
Step 2
The Target Configuration window(Figure 2-4) appears within the Configuration window.
Figure 2-4 Target Configuration Window
Step 3
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This target type is required for Enhanced UDP operations measuring jitter, or if the target uses the SA Agent (to avoid potential connection problems).
You must enable the SA Agent Responder at the router using the rtr responder configuration command.
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NSPECHO must be installed on the VTAM mainframe to be used as the target. The NSPECHO application is provided on the IPM product CD. For information about installing NSPECHO, see the "Installing NSPECHO to Measure SNA Response Times" chapter of the Installation Guide for Internetwork Performance Monitor.
Step 4
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Step 5
Step 6
IPM adds the newly defined target to the IPM database.
If you specify an IP address instead of a host name, and that IP address cannot be resolved by standard address resolution techniques, then IPM assumes that the IP address is valid and does not resolve to a host name.
Step 7
If you must add a large number of targets to IPM, you can use the Target Configuration window to add them one-by-one, but it is more efficient to use a seed file.
For information about using a seed file to add targets to IPM, see t Adding Components Using Seed Files. For information about viewing or deleting targets, see Working With Target Devices.
Defining a Collector
Defining a new collector involves selecting a source, a target, an operation, and a collector schedule.
IPM configures collectors on the source device.
There are two modes in which IPM configures a collector:
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You can set the desired mode by modifying the configuration parameter IPM_USE_MANAGED_SRC_INTF_ADDR in the ipm.env configuration file. If the value of this variable is `0', IPM works in mode1. If the value is 1, IPM works in mode 2.
In addition to the above configuration modes, you can also specify the IP address of the interface on source device to which packets have to be returned from the destination device to source device.
When IP packets are forwarded to the destination device, the SAA fills in the source IP address and the destination address in the packet. The source address is the IP address of one of the source device interfaces and it determines the interface to which the packets are returned from the destination.
For information about setting the source interface address as the managed interface address, see Managed Source Interface Settings.
Defining a collector involves selecting a source router, a target, an operation, and a collector schedule.
To define a new collector:
Step 1
The Configuration Window (Figure 2-3) appears.
Step 2
The Collector Configuration window (Figure 2-5) appears within the Configuration window.
Figure 2-5 Collector Configuration Window
Step 3
Though the Name field in the Collector Settings dialog box allows you to enter more than 15 characters, the trap PDUs displays only the first 15 characters. The IPM database, however, will contain the complete collector name you have entered.
Step 4
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Step 5
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Figure 2-6 Set Date Range Window
Step 6
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If the date selected is in the future, then the collector's status in the
IPM Main Window is Schedule Pending. At the scheduled start time, IPM configures the collector in the router and the status is reflected in the
IPM Main Window.Step 7
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Step 8
The specified start time and end time are defined for the collector.
Step 9
The cursor moves to the matching router in the Sources list.
Step 10
The Source Interface field is an optional field. If you do not specify an IP address, IPM configures collector based on the properties specified in the ipm.env file.
Step 11
The cursor moves to the matching target in the Targets list.
If you select a DNS, DHCP, or HTTP operation, the Targets list is disabled because these operations do not use targets.
Step 12
The cursor moves to the matching operation in the Operations list.
When you install IPM, a group of predefined operations is provided. The predefined operations are described in Table 2-1.
Note that you can define one or more new operations to fit your needs. For information about defining, modifying, or deleting operations, see Working With Operations.
Note
IPM does not provide a predefined HTTP or FTP operation. Therefore, before you create an HTTP collector or a FTP collector, you must first create the respective HTTP or FTP operation.
Step 13
IPM adds the newly defined collector to the IPM database.If you selected a DNS operation, the Extra DNS Settings window appears (Figure 2-7).
Step 14
Figure 2-7 Extra DNS Settings Window
Step 15
IPM Main Window.The newly defined collector has been added to the list of collectors in the
IPM Main Window.If you must add a large number of collectors to IPM, you can use the Collector Configuration window to add them one-by-one, but it is more efficient to use a seed file.
For information about using a seed file to add collectors to IPM, see Adding Components Using Seed Files. For information about viewing or deleting collectors, see Working With Collectors.
Viewing Network Performance Statistics
As your collectors begin to gather network performance statistics and store the information in the IPM database, you can view the resulting data.
IPM provides two methods for reviewing network performance statistics:
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Viewing Network Performance Statistics in Real Time
The Real Time Statistics window allows you to view statistics for an active collector as the data is being collected. This data appears only in real time, it is not stored in the IPM database.
The Real Time Statistics window displays up to 1000 points of data; the most recent 1000 points are always displayed. That is, when a real time graph reaches 1000 points of data, as the most recent points are added to the right side of the graph the earliest points disappear from the left side. If you watch the last data point at the far right of the graph, you can see it change at the end of a sampling interval.
For example, if your sampling interval is once every 60 seconds, in less than a day the real time graph will have reached 1000 points of data. After that time, you can see the last data point on the right of the graph change every 60 seconds.
To view statistics in real time:
Step 1
Step 2
The Real Time Statistics window (either Figure 2-8 or Figure 2-9) appears.
Figure 2-8 Real Time Statistics Window
Figure 2-9 Jitter Real Time Statistics Window
Statistics appear as soon as the frequency interval elapses. Data points are added to the graph for each interval that the statistics are measured for the selected collector.
Table 2-2 describes the actions you can perform in the Real Time Statistics window.
Viewing Historical Network Performance Statistics
To view statistics gathered over an historical monitoring period:
Step 1
Step 2
The Statistics Data Filter window (Figure 2-10) appears.
Figure 2-10 Statistics Data Filter Window
Step 3
You can view statistics for all or part of the time that the data was collected. The window displays the currently defined start date and end date.
Step 4
The Set Date Range window appears (Figure 2-6).
Step 5
The start time and end time you specified for the collector for viewing statistics appears.
For more information about changing the date range, see the Defining a Collector.
To make graphs easier to read, IPM provides optional popup labels for historical graphs. (Popup labels are always on for real-time graphs.)
When you turn on popup labels for a graph, you can roll the cursor over a collection point on the graph and see a popup label containing key information for that point, such as the exact latency value.
To turn on popup labels for a graph, select the Show Popup Labels checkbox. To turn off popup labels, clear the checkbox.
Step 6
For Weekly statistical graph, the start time is always the beginning of the Week i.e. Sunday.
For Monthly statistical graph, the start time is always the beginning of the Month.
Consider a Collector started on 15 January 2004. The Monthly statistical graph for that Collector would have a time plot on 1 January 2004 (the start date of that month) and the Weekly statistical graph would have a time plot on 13 January 2004 (the start date of that week)
By default, IPM selects the option that best matches the amount of data currently in the IPM database for the selected collector. For additional information about how IPM gathers and calculates hourly, daily, weekly, and monthly data, see Setting IPM Database Preferences.
Step 7
The Historical Statistics window (Figure 2-11, Figure 2-12, or Figure 2-13) appears.
Figure 2-11 Historical Statistics Window—Echo Collector
Figure 2-12 Historical Statistics Window—Path Echo Collector
Figure 2-13 Historical Statistics Window—Enhanced UDP Collector
If you selected more than one collector, their statistics appear in a single graph in the Historical Statistics—Multi-Collector Graph window (Figure 2-14). Multi-collector graphing is not available for Enhanced UDP, HTTP, or Path Echo collectors.
Figure 2-14 Historical Statistics Window—Multi-Collector Graph
Table 2-3 describes the tasks you can perform in the Historical Statistics window.
Table 2-3 Historical Statistics Window Options
Zoom in on a specific point on the graph.
Press Shift and click a point on the graph.
Zoom in on a specific area of the graph.
Press Shift and drag and click on an area of the graph. Release the mouse button and the graph zooms in on the area you selected.
Zoom out to the graph's original view.
Click anywhere on the graph.
Shift the x-axis or y-axis of the graph through the data.
Press Ctrl and click a point on the graph, then drag left or right to go backward or forward, or drag up or down to shift the x-axis of the graph.
Print or save the graph.
Select File > Print to print or save the graph.
For more information, see Printing IPM Statistics.
Request an immediate poll of statistics (single-collector graphs only).
Select View > Demand Poll. IPM typically polls a collector once per hour.
If you are between polls and do not want to wait until the next polling period, you can use the Demand Poll function to request an immediate poll of the collector. The graphs are updated with the new statistics.
If for some reason the poll fails and new statistics are not collected, the following error message appears.
Demand Poll Failed, make sure router is available.Change settings in the Statistics Data Filter window.
Select View > Filter Data to change the time period and granularity of the graphs.
Display statistics for the next time period.
Select View > Next Range. The graphs are updated to reflect the new range.
For more information, see Understanding Next Range.
Display statistics for the previous time period.
Select View > Prev Range. The graphs are updated to reflect the new range.
For more information, see Understanding Previous Range.
Hide the legend bar at the bottom of each graph.
Select View > Hide Legend.
Show the legend bar at the bottom of each graph.
Select View > Show Legend.
Show combined statistics in one graph for all paths in the path list, or all hops in a selected path (Path Echo collectors only).
Select Path List, or select a specific path, then select View > Show Combined.
A single graph is displayed showing combined statistics for all the paths in the path list (up to 128 paths), or all the hops in the hop list (up to 25 hops) for the selected path. The combined graph shows only average statistics.
If a path has no data available, IPM displays (No Data) for that path in the right side of the window.
If a path never reaches its target, it is an invalid path, and IPM displays (No Target) for that path in the right side of the window.
Show separate statistics in one or more graphs for all paths in the path list, or all hops in a selected path (Path Echo collectors only).
Select Path List, or select a specific path, then select View > Show Separate. Multiple graphs are displayed, one for each path in the path list, or hop in the hop list for the selected path. Each graph shows minimum, maximum, and average statistics.
If a path has no data available, IPM displays No Data Available for that path instead of a graph.
Understanding Next Range
Keep the following points in mind when you select View > Next Range:
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For example, if the current start time is midnight April 11 and the current end time is midnight April 12, the duration is 24 hours. So the new start time is midnight April 12, and the new end time is midnight April 13.
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Could not get operation stats from the server for the given time range, chart will be empty.This means there was no statistical data available for the next time period. The IPM server or source router might have been down during that time period, and no statistical data was collected. When you click OK, IPM displays blank graphs for the next time period.
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No Path List could be found. Forcing a demand poll. Wait a few minutes and try again.This means there was no statistical data available for the next time period. The IPM server or source router might have been down during that time period, and no statistical data was collected. When you click OK, IPM still displays graphs for the current time period.
Understanding Previous Range
Keep the following points in mind when you select View > Prev Range:
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For example, if the current start time is midnight April 11 and the current end time is midnight April 12, the duration is 24 hours. So the new start time is midnight April 10, and the new end time is midnight April 11.
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Could not get operation stats from the server for the given time range, chart will be empty.This means there was no statistical data available for the previous time period. The IPM server or source router might have been down during that time period, and no statistical data was collected. When you click OK, IPM displays blank graphs for the previous time period.
Printing IPM Statistics
IPM provides the following printing options for the Real Time Statistics and Historical Statistics windows:
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To access the printing options:
Step 1
Step 2
The printing options require you to define a printer on your system. If you click the Print button or select the File > Print menu option and the Print Dialog window does not appear, make sure you have defined a printer on your system.
Step 3
Step 4
IPM sends the output to the printer or file you specified.
Exiting the IPM Client
When you are finished monitoring network performance statistics, you can exit the IPM client by completing the following steps:
Step 1
The Exit IPM confirmation window appears.
If you are running IPM as an applet and you exit the Web browser or close the active window, IPM exits but the confirmation window does not appear.
Step 2
Collectors that were still running when you closed the IPM client will continue to run and gather statistics until they reach the end date specified in the collector configuration. Collectors defined to run forever, continue to run and gather statistics until you stop them.
To shut down the IPM servers completely, use the ipm stop command. To stop gathering statistics, stop the collectors before exiting the IPM client. When you stop a collector, the gathered data for that collector is still available for viewing.
Collectors remain in the IPM database until you do one of the following:
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