Statistics Management

This chapter includes the following sections:

Statistics Management

Cisco UCS Central enables you to generate standard and customized reports from the Statistics tab. You can generate reports on the following data in the registered Cisco UCS domains:

  • Cooling
  • Network
  • Power
  • Temperature
Important:

You must be logged in as an admin or as a user with statistics privilege to create, modify or delete a report. Other users can only run reports and view available data.

When you generate a report, you can specify the option to view the report either in the format of a table or a chart. Using the display options, you can select top or bottom domains for a specific report type. You can also use overlay to overlay the data for a report type. The following are the two report options:

  • Standard Reports: Predefined reports on Peak Fan Speed, Receive Traffic(Rx), Transmit Traffic (Tx), Average Power, and Peak Temperature. You can run any of these predefined reports any time to view reports. You can also modify the predefined configurations, but cannot create any new standard report.
  • Custom Reports: Option to create customized reports from any of the available report options. Based on your requirements, you can create either create individual reports in the Ungrouped Reports or create Report Groups and then create reports under the groups or sub-groups. You can create, edit or delete the custom report groups at anytime.

Statistics Data Collection in Cisco UCS Central

Cisco UCS Central collects and aggregates statistics data on Network, Temperature, Cooling and Power from the registered Cisco UCS domains. During Cisco UCS Central installation, you must specify a default location to store the statistics data. You can store the statistics data in the internal PostgreSQL database called "ucscentral-stats-db" or in an external database such as Oracle 11g, MSSQL, or Postgre SQL. If you have chosen internal storage as the default location during installation, the statistics data is stored only for a maximum of two weeks. If you want to retain the collected data for more than two weeks, it is recommended that you set up an external database, see External Database for Statistics.

The collected data is aggregated based on daily, hourly, weekly and real time records and stored in tables. You can run SQL query in this database to retrieve data specific to each of the report components, see Retrieving Data from the External Database. Cisco UCS Central database is the default database to store the data.

You can set up statistics collection interval using Cisco UCS Central CLI, to collect information from the registered Cisco UCS domains at a specified interval. When a new Cisco UCS domain is registered in Cisco UCS Central, Cisco UCS Central subscribes the new domain to the statistics collection interval you have specified. If you reconfigure the collection interval, the data is updated in the registered domains. The registered Cisco UCS domains send statistics to Cisco UCS Central based on the specified collection interval.

Statistics collection interval can be one of the following:

  • 15 minutes (default)
  • 30 minutes
  • never—disables statistics collection
Important: You can specify the statistics collection interval only in the Cisco UCS Central CLI. You cannot set it from the Cisco UCS Central GUI. You can view the statistics reports only in the Cisco UCS Central GUI and not in the Cisco UCS Central CLI.

External Database for Statistics

You can set up an external database to retain the collected data for more than two weeks or to collect statistics data from more than 5 registered Cisco UCS domains. The following are the two supported databases that you can use as external database from Cisco UCS Central:

  • Oracle Database 11g Enterprise Edition Release 11.2.0.1.0 - 64-bit Production or higher
  • PostgreSQL Server 9.1.8 64-bit or higher
  • Microsoft SQL Server 2012 (SP1) - 11.0.3000.0 (X64) or higher
  • Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 10.50.1600.1 (X64) SP1 or higher

Make sure you have the following information to access and setup either of these databases as your external database:

  • Database server host name
  • Database name
  • Username
  • Password
  • Port number

Note

You must open the firewall ports in the database server so that Cisco UCS Central can access the configured external database.

Setting up an External Database

You can set up the external database either during initial Cisco UCS Central set up or at anytime you have a requirement to set up an external database for statistics collection:

  • Setting up external database with initial setup: When you are doing the initial set up for Cisco UCS Central, you are prompted to enable statistics collection. If you choose Yes, you are prompted to enter information on the external database. If you choose No, the collection of statistics data from registered Cisco UCS domains is disabled.
  • Anytime: You can use the Cisco UCS Central CLI to connect to the external database and set up statistics collection for registered Cisco UCS domains. For information on setting up an Oracle database, see Connecting to an External Oracle Database. For information on setting up an PostgreSQL database, see Connecting to an External PostgreSQL Database.

The external database stores statistical data on network traffic, temperature, cooling and power from the registered Cisco UCS domains. You can run queries on the external database to retrieve statistics data on network, temperature, cooling and power. For information on running queries on the database, see Retrieving Data from the External Database.


Note

When you set up an external database to store the statistical data, you must determine the time interval to purge old records from the database. You are responsible for maintaining the external database.

Guidelines for Configuring an External Database

When you configure the database for statistics collection, make sure to restart the Cisco UCS Central services. You must restart the services in the following scenarios:

  • After upgrading to the latest version of Cisco UCS Central using the ISO image Earlier versions of Cisco UCS Central did not have the capability for statistics collection. After the upgrade process is complete, you can use the Cisco UCS Central CLI to set up an external database for statistics data collection.
  • You set up an external database for statistics collection after installing Cisco UCS Central. The external database can be either an Oracle database or a PostgreSQL database.
  • After switching from an Oracle database to a PostgreSQL database or switching from a PostgreSQL database to an Oracle database.

Backing up and Restoring Cisco UCS Central Statistics Database

The Cisco UCS Central database is not backed up during a full state backup. If you have set up an external database to store statistical data, then you must follow standard database backup and restore procedures. However, prior to restoring an external database, you must stop the Cisco UCS Central service. To stop this service, you must login to the Cisco UCS Central CLI, and run the pmon stop command in the local-mgmt command mode. After the database is restored, start the Cisco UCS Central service by running the pmon start command in the Cisco UCS Central CLI.

Troubleshooting Faults with the External Database

When Cisco UCS Central fails to connect to an external database, a fault is raised. You can view the fault details in the Cisco UCS Central CLI using the show fault command or in the Cisco UCS Central GUI, Fault panel.. When the problem is resolved ,Cisco UCS Central automatically retries to connect to the external database. If the connection is established, the fault is cleared from the Cisco UCS Central CLI.

Standard Reports

Standard Reports are pre-defined reports in Cisco UCS Central. You can use these standard reports to view top and bottom 10 transmitted (Tx) or received (Rx) data aggregated at the domain, chassis or server level. While you cannot create any additional standard reports in Cisco UCS Central, you can modify the parameters for these standard reports.

Important:

You must be logged in as an administrator user or as a user with statistics privilege to modify the parameters of the standard reports. Other users can only run the currently available reports, and cannot edit any of the report parameters.

The following table describes a standard network report in Cisco UCS Central.

Name Description
Default View

The view of the report. It can be one of the following:

  • Chart
  • Table

By default, the Chart option is selected.

Display

The nature of the data to be included in the report. It can be one of the following:

  • Top Tx or Rx
  • Bottom Tx or Rx

By default, the Top Tx or Rx option is selected.

For

The endpoints for the report. It can be one of the following:

  • FI Ethernet Ports
  • FI FC Ports
  • HBAs
  • NICs

By default, Fi Ethernet Ports is selected.

Duration

The specified time period for which the report is run. It can be one of the following:

  • Customized date and time range
  • Last 3 hours
  • Last 6 hours
  • Last 12 hours
  • Last 24 hours
  • Last 48 hours

By default, Last 12 hours is selected.

Overlay

To include overlay information in the report.

Context

The context for the report. It can be one of the following:

  • Domains
  • Chassis
  • Servers

You can specify a context for the report, only when you have specified the endpoint as HBAs or NICs. By specifying a context, you can view server NIC or HBA traffic at the domain, chassis or server level. For the other endpoints, such as FI Ethernet Ports or FI FC Ports, you cannot change the default selection of Domains for the context.

When you specify Domains as the context, the chart renders the report at the domain level, which can be further drilled down to the chassis level of a selected domain. From a specific chassis level, you can further drill down to a server.

When you specify Chassis as the context, the data is rendered at the chassis level, which can be further drilled down to the server level.

When you specify Servers as the context, the data is rendered at the server level, and you cannot drill down further.

If you run a standard network report with the default selections, the generated report will show top and bottom transmitted (Tx) or received (Rx) data for Fi Ethernet Ports in Cisco UCS domains, for the last 12 hours, in a chart format.

Related Topics

Generating a Network Report

Before You Begin

You must be logged in as an administrative user or as a user with statistics privilege to modify the parameters of the standard reports. Other users can only run the currently available reports, and cannot edit any of the report parameters.

Procedure
    Step 1   On the menu bar, click Statistics.
    Step 2   In the navigation pane, expand Standard Reports.
    Step 3   Expand Network and click one of the following options to generate the type of network report that you want to generate.
    • Receive Traffic (Rx)
    • Transmit Traffic (Tx)
    Step 4   (Optional)In the work pane, click Configure if you want to modify the parameters for the report.
    Step 5   In the work pane, click Run/Refresh.

    The work pane displays the report. If you selected the chart type display, you can mouse over the chart to view total transmitted traffic (Tx) or total received traffic (Rx) bytes. If you selected NICs or HBAs as the endpoint and Domains or Chassis as the context for the report, then you can drill down by clicking on the bars of the report.

    Generating a Peak Fan Speed Report

    You can a generate peak fan speed report on the following end points, Chassis Fans, Fabric Interconnect Fans or Rack Unit Fans. You can overlay Average Fan Speed in the peak fan speed report. The Context is Domains.

    Before You Begin

    You must be logged in as an administrator user or as a user with statistics privilege to create a report, or modify the parameters of a report. Users, other than administrators, or users without the statistics privilege can only run the currently available reports.

    Procedure
      Step 1   On the menu bar, click Statistics.
      Step 2   In the navigation pane, expand Standard Reports > Cooling and click Peak Fan Speed.
      Step 3   If you want to run the report with existing options, click Run Report To Load Data.
      Step 4   If you want to modify existing configuration, click Configure. In the Configure Peak Fan Speed dialog box, modify the options and click Save & Run.

      Generating a Peak Temperature Report

      You can a generate reports on the Server Inlet Temperature in the registered Cisco UCS Domains. You can choose to overlay Average Temperature in the peak temperature report.

      Before You Begin

      You must be logged in as an administrator user or as a user with statistics privilege to create a report, or modify the parameters of a report. Users, other than administrators, or users without the statistics privilege can only run the currently available reports.

      Procedure
        Step 1   On the menu bar, click Statistics.
        Step 2   In the navigation pane, expand Standard Reports > Temperature and click Peak Temperature.
        Step 3   If you want to run the report with existing options, click Run Report To Load Data.
        Step 4   If you want to modify existing configuration, click Configure. In the Configure Peak Temperature dialog box, modify the options and click Save & Run.

        Generating an Average Power Report

        You can a generate average power report on the following end points,Chassis (Input Power - AC), Blade (Consumed Power - DC) or Rack (Input Power - AC). You can overlay Peak Power in the average power report. The Context is Domains.

        Before You Begin

        You must be logged in as an administrator user or as a user with statistics privilege to create a report, or modify the parameters of a report. Users, other than administrators, or users without the statistics privilege can only run the currently available reports.

        Procedure
          Step 1   On the menu bar, click Statistics.
          Step 2   In the navigation pane, expand Standard Reports > Power and click Average Power.
          Step 3   If you want to run the report with existing options, click Run Report To Load Data.
          Step 4   If you want to modify existing configuration, click Configure. In the Configure Average Power dialog box, modify the options and click Save & Run.

          Custom Reports

          Custom reports are reports that you can create in Cisco UCS Central. To create these reports, you must be logged in as an administrator or as a user with stats-privilege. If you are not an administrator, or a user without the stats-privilege, you cannot access the Statistics tab in the UCS Central GUI. You can create, modify and delete a custom report in UCS Central.

          You an create custom reports based on your requirements either in Report Groups or in Ungrouped Reports. A report group functions as a container for grouping custom reports. Custom reports have the same report type options as the standard reports, such as Network, Cooling, Power and Temperature.

          Creating a Custom Report Group

          Custom report groups in Cisco UCS Central act like folders within which you can create custom reports. You can also create a report group within a report group.

          Before You Begin

          You must be logged in as an administrator user or as a user with statistics privileges.

          Procedure
            Step 1   On the menu bar, click Statistics.
            Step 2   In the navigation pane, right-click Custom Reports and select Create Group.
            Step 3   (Optional)In the work pane, click Create Group.
            Step 4   In the Create Group dialog box, specify the Name and Description for the report group.
            Step 5   Click OK.

            The report group is displayed in the navigation pane under Custom Reports.

            What to Do Next

            You can create custom reports within this report group.

            Deleting a Report Group

            Important:

            When you delete a report group from the Cisco UCS Central GUI, all reports you created within this group are also deleted.

            Before You Begin
            • You must be logged in as an administrator user or as a user with statistics privileges to perform this task.
            • Evaluate the list of custom reports created within the report group.
            Procedure
              Step 1   On the menu bar, click Statistics.
              Step 2   In the navigation pane, expand Custom Reports.

              The list of report groups you created are displayed.

              Step 3   Right-click on the report group you want to delete, and click Delete.

              A dialog box appears prompting you to confirm the deletion of the report group.

              Step 4   Click Yes.

              The report group, along with the custom reports within it, is deleted from the Cisco UCS Central GUI.

              Creating a Custom Report

              You can create a customized report to view specific statistics data of the registered UCS domains. In Cisco UCS Central, you can create a custom report group and create a report within it.

              Before You Begin

              You must be logged in as an admin user or a user with stats-privilege to create a custom report.

              Procedure
                Step 1   On the menu bar, click Statistics.
                Step 2   In the navigation pane, expand Custom Reports.
                Step 3   Right-click on Ungrouped Reports and select Create Report.

                To create a report within a report group, right-click the desired report group in the navigation pane and select Create Report.

                For information on creating a report group, see Creating a Custom Report Group.

                Step 4   In the Create Report dialog box, specify the Name for the report.
                Step 5   (Optional)Specify a description for the report.
                Step 6   In the Properties area, specify the required information.

                Based on the report type you select, the required data in the Properties area changes. Make sure to specify all required information for the type of report you want to generate.

                Step 7   Click OK.

                The report is listed under Custom Reports in the navigation pane and in the work area.

                What to Do Next

                You can run the report to view the data.

                Running a Custom Report

                Before You Begin

                You must be logged in as an administrator user or as a user with statistics privilege to create a report, or modify the parameters of a report. Users, other than administrators, or users without the statistics privilege can only run the currently available reports.

                Procedure
                  Step 1   On the menu bar, click Statistics.
                  Step 2   In the navigation pane, expand Custom Reports.
                  Step 3   (Optional)If the report you want to run is in a report group, then expand the report group name.

                  If the report you want to run is not in a report group, then expand Ungrouped Reports.

                  Step 4   Select the name of the report, and click Run/Refresh in the work pane.
                  Step 5   (Optional)You can toggle between chart and table display by clicking the respective option on the report.

                  In the Table view of the report, you may see values such as 0 and -1. The 0 value indicates that the data displayed in the report is actual data collected from a registered UCS domain. The -1 value indicates that Cisco UCS Central did not receive statistical information from the UCS domain for the specified time period or for the specified endpoint. This occurs when the connection to the UCS domain was lost and statistical data for the domain was not collected till the connection was restored. In the Chart view, this is indicated by broken lines on the report.

                  Deleting a Custom Report

                  Before You Begin

                  You must be logged in as an administrator user or as a user with statistics privileges to perform this task.

                  Procedure
                    Step 1   On the menu bar, click Statistics.

                    Step 2   In the navigation pane, expand Custom Reports.

                    The list of report groups you created are displayed.

                    Step 3   Expand the report group which contains the report you need to delete.

                    If there are no report groups, then expand Ungrouped Reports.

                    Step 4   Right-click on the report name, and click Delete.

                    A dialog box appears prompting you to confirm the deletion of the report.

                    Step 5   Click Yes.

                    The report is deleted from the Cisco UCS Central GUI.