Ask the Expert: Tools for Service Assurance Suite. Sizing, Deployment and Diagnostic tools

Hi Paul, Hi Nathan!

In case of issues, what tools are better to use in Smarts/Watch4Net/NCM to collect extensive information about running installation for further troubleshooting?

Regards,

Fedor

Hi all,

This Ask the Expert discussion is now open for questions. We look forward to a lively and interactive discussion.

To get things started, here is a KB article describing the new Calypso 1.7  logs collector tool: Calypso.

Kind Regards,

Paul O'Rourke

Hi Fedor,

Good opening question!

Smarts, NCM and Watch4net are built on different platforms so there are different tools to gather information for each one.

Lets start with Watch4net - the above KB article which I have posted contains information regarding the Calypso log collection tool. This would be the best utility to use for gathering information. Calypso designed to simplify log collection and speed up the analysis of your Watch4net, Vipr SRM and SA Suite issues. Please review the KB and let me know if you have any questions.

In Smarts NCM, particularly in a distributed environment, we need to ensure we are collecting logs from the correct location to help with troubleshooting. For instance, if the issue is related to the communication between Smarts NCM and network device (Config Pull failing for instance) then the relevant logs are located on the Device Server (DS) which is communicating with this network device and attempting to pull the config.

The saveLogs.pl script is provided with Smarts NCM and is the best utility to use to gather the relevant log files. Please see KB article here for more information on running this script:

https://support.emc.com/kb/170920

Finally, for Smarts (SAM, IP Manager, NPM...etc)  the sm_getinfo tool is the best to use to gather information.

The sm_getinfo tool is used to collect data from the EMC Smarts installation to assist technical support in troubleshooting. It generates a backup copy (in tar file) of all essential files and customizations. The tool should be run with parameters to target the information you wish to gather, rather that gathering everything which can result in a very large tar file.

System information will be gathered in a log file named smgetinfo-versions.log .

Please find KB article below for details on using the sm_getinfo tool:

https://support.emc.com/kb/14535

Please let me know if you have any additional questions.

Kind Regards,

Paul O'Rourke

This Ask the Expert session is now open for questions. For the next couple of weeks our Subject Matter Experts will be around to reply to your questions, comments or inquiries about our topic. Let’s make this conversation useful, respectful and entertaining for all. Enjoy!

Have you ever tried planning a software deployment?  How do you know if system resources (Disk and Memory etc) are sufficient?

We have tools for that-  The Performance Benchmark and Sizing Guide.

We have created the following Knowledge Base articles to get you started:

Performance  Benchmark and Sizing Guides:

Smarts IP Manager  -  https://support.emc.com/kb/205132

Smarts Server Manager (ESM) - https://support.emc.com/kb/205130

Smarts Network Configuration Manager (NCM) - https://support.emc.com/kb/205078

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Hello,

My question is regarding tools available for a field device certification. What are the options and tools available to partners and customers?

Thanks,

Stan

Is there a way to combine OIDInfo output with sm_snmpwalk? Many times during troubleshooting we are being asked to provide snmpwalk from devices. Which makes sence. However obtaining a full and complete snmpwalk for some devices is many times a challenge. The device might be too busy, the MIB tree is too big (due to big routing or OSPF/BGP tables etc.), the snmpwalk itself increases a load on CPU or simply it's a faulty SNMP implemetation.

A typical workaround is to increase SNMP timeout and retry. But this is not a ideal thing to do for example in production environment. Some devices are producing snmpwalk 10+ or even 100+MB big.

However many times the complete walk might not even needed as Smarts is only using a tiny portion of the snmpwalk anyway. The MIBs/OIDs that are used by Smarts can be identified with OIDInfo tool.

Now if there would be a way to generate list of OIDs required for troubleshooting directly from OIDInfo. Which could be then fed as an input for sm_snmpwalk via --oidfile option (conf/discovery/snmpwalk.conf). This would allow us perform a targeted snmpwalk containing only OIDs really needed by Smarts with much less impact on the environment and quicker turn around.

Stan,

Great questions, thank you.  Regarding a tool for Device Field Certifications.  We are currently in the process of testing a tool for Device Field Certifications.  Please keep an eye out for updates in our SA Suite News Letter.

Is there a way to combine OIDInfo output with sm_snmpwalk?  unfortunately there is not.

One option If you have a very large device that needs additional time for the walk to complete- you can increase the timeout for the walk.

Regarding the use of the OIDInfo command capturing specific OIDS for Smarts troubleshooting, followed by utilizing the  --oidfile option with sm_snmpwalk.  Yes this should be possible.  We need to see what this would involve as it would be a two part process.  I'll get back with you

Hello,

the link for Smarts Network Configuration Manager (NCM) - https://support.emc.com/kb/207078

does not work.

Regards

Franta

Franta,

Please use the following link- http://support.emc.com/kb/205078.

Regards

Hi All,

Thanks for your contributions so far.  Lets keep the conversation going.

Do you need to migrate an older version of Smarts NCM (4.1.x for instance) to the latest version?

The Smarts NCM Data Migration scripts will help you move all your data and customizations from 4.1.x to 9.4.

Please find KB article here:

NCM Migration

Please let me know if you have any questions regarding these scripts. Thanks.

Kind Regards,

Paul O'Rourke

If you have plans to deploy ViPR SRM along with Service Assurance Suite Solution Packs, we have just the tool for you. 

How will you plan the infrastructure?  What ESX hardware should you use?  How many virtual machines will you need?

The Deployment Planner tool for ViPR SRM 3.6.1 and SA Suite Solution Packs.

For those already familiar with this tool please see some of the New features and Fixes:

     -Growth Factor can be applied at a global level or specifically to each solution pack

     -Improved collector placement which will account for total metrics, CPU usage, memory and co-residency requirements      for all solution packs

     -To avoid RAM over allocation, collector memory will be based on total number of collector managers on that VM

     -Improved export/import of plan files

     -Ability to export plan recommendation to OVF file

     -Ability to export plan recommendation to Excel file

Please see the following KB for more details. http://support.emc.com/kb/205211

Hi All,

Have you noticed differences between the topologies discovered by Smarts IP in different versions?

The Topology Change Analysis Tool (TCAT) identifies the key topology differences between various versions of Smarts IP releases and provides logical explanations based on any feature changes or enhancements. TCAT helps you to identify changes to a set of objects, relationships, and attributes which are related to device certifications for Smarts IP Manager upgrades from 8.1.3 - 9.4.

The two IP servers can be on the same machine or geographically separate machines, and in the same broker or different brokers. There is a built-in launcher to invoke this tool with the mandatory arguments for the broker host, broker port, and the domain manager name of both IP servers.

Please see comprehensive KB article here:

173784

Please let me know if you have any additional questions. Thanks.

Kind Regards,

Paul O'Rourke

Which Smarts tools do you find most useful?

What improvements would you like to see in the Service Assurance Suite tools that we have highlighted in this Ask the Experts forum?