Integration with Windows Performance Monitor

In this topic:

About Integration with Windows Performance Monitor

Opening the console

Adding counters for data collector sets

Configuring data collector sets

Also see:

Live Performance

Recorded Performance

About Integration with Windows Performance Monitor

This topic assumes the audience consists of administrators who are proficient with Windows Performance Monitor. This topic provides information and instructions about using the Integration with Windows Performance Monitor tool and the DataCore Performance Monitor Configuration console, but does not provide instructions for using Windows Performance Monitor. Refer to Microsoft documentation for more information about Windows Performance Monitor.

The Integration with Windows Performance Monitor feature exposes the performance counters of this software to the Windows Performance Monitor (perfmon) tool which logs and analyzes system performance. The DataCore Performance Monitor Configuration console is used to select the performance counters, create data collector sets, and export them to Windows Performance Monitor. A Windows service named DataCore Perfmon Agent (DcsPerfMonAgent) collects performance data for the configured data collector sets and reports the data to Windows Performance Monitor, where the data can be viewed, logged, and analyzed using the features of Windows Performance Monitor. The Integration with Windows Performance Monitor feature also enables other applications to access the performance data for this software from Windows Performance Monitor in order to monitor the data in third party management applications.

  • The Integration with Windows Performance Monitor tool is installed with the Server component during the installation of this software and runs locally on a DataCore Server in the server group.

    As most remote monitoring solutions utilize a single point to gather Windows Performance Monitor counters, start and run the DataCore Perfmon Agent (DcsPerfMonAgent) on the one DataCore Server in the group which will be used as the point of contact.

  • The Windows service startup type for DataCore Perfmon Agent (DcsPerfMonAgent) is initially set to Manual. Change the startup type to Automatic in order to start the service automatically after the computer is restarted or the DataCore Executive Service is restarted. The DataCore Perfmon Agent service must be running in order to report performance data to Windows Performance Monitor.
  • The DataCore Perfmon Agent service is dependent on the DataCore Executive Service (Dcsx). Performance data will not be collected or reported to Windows Performance Monitor while the Dcsx service is stopped on the DataCore Server running this feature. Performance data will not be collected or reported for any other server in the group while the Dcsx service is stopped on that server.
  • DataCore Perfmon Agent (DcsPerfMonAgent) runs independently from the DataCore Performance Monitor Configuration console, therefore the console does not need to be open in order to report data to Windows Performance Monitor.
  • Data is reported at approximately two second intervals. When using Windows Performance Monitor, change the properties of the intervals to sample every two seconds.

  • Click Refresh to update the console after making changes. Refresh is located in the icon context menu at the top left corner of the console.

  • When the console is opened, counters are verified. If invalid counters are found a prompt will appear. The administrator can select whether to allow the software to attempt to resolve unknown counters, delete them, or keep them intact.

Configuration

DataCore Performance Monitor Configuration is a standalone console that runs locally on a DataCore Server, independent from the SANsymphony Management Console. The console provides a way to quickly configure counters and data collector sets that are exclusive to SANsymphony performance instead of scrolling through an extensive list of all available system counters.

Opening the Console

  1. Open the DataCore Performance Monitor Configuration console from the Apps menu>DataCore>Performance Monitor Configuration.
  2. The Connect to Server Group dialog box will appear to login to the local server. To login to the server using the same credentials that were used when logging into Windows, select the Use default credentials check box. Otherwise, clear the check box and enter the required authorized credentials. (If credentials are domain-wide, include the domain with the name for example: DOMAIN\user name.)
  3. Click Connect.
  4. If the DataCore Perfmon Agent service is not set to Automatic, a warning will appear. If necessary, the service will be started when the console is opened, however the service startup type must be changed toAutomaticin order for it to remain persistent.

Adding Counters for Data Collector Sets

SANsymphony performance counters can be added and removed in the DataCore Performance Monitor Configuration console. Data collector sets, used to record data in Windows Performance Monitor, can be created from the counters that are added.

To add counters:

  1. In DataCore Performance Monitor Configuration, select a category, then select instances and counters for that category. Multiple selections can be made for counters and instances or all can be selected. To view counter descriptions, hover the mouse over the counter name in the list.
  2. Click Add to add the selected counters. The counters are added to the Counters Currently Exported to Perfmon list.
  3. Repeat the steps above to add counters for other categories.
  4. Configure data collector sets to record data in Windows Performance Monitor.

To delete counters:

Deleting counters that are used in data collector sets will prevent the data from being recorded.

  • In DataCore Performance Monitor Configuration, in the Counters Currently Exported to Perfmon list, right-click on the counter to delete and select Remove. Multiple selections can be made.

Configuring Data Collector Sets

Data collector sets can be created from counters that have been added in the DataCore Performance Monitor Configuration console. Data collector sets are used to record data in Windows Performance Monitor. The Data Collector Panel in the interface is used to create, modify, and delete data collector sets.

A configured data set must be set to Running in Windows Perfmon in order to use it.

To create a data collector set:

  1. In DataCore Performance Monitor Configuration, verify that the counters to be included in the data collection set have been added.
  2. Click Open Data Collector Panel.

    (Sets can also be created by selecting the counters directly from the list using a context menu.)

  3. Click New data collector set. Enter the data collector name for the set to be created and click Create.
  4. Select the counters to add from the Counters Currently Exported to Perfmon list and choose Add to Data Collector from the context menu. The counters are added to Included Counters for Select Set.
  5. After all desired counters have been added, click Save.

To add counters to an existing collector set:

  1. In DataCore Performance Monitor Configuration, click Open Data Collector Panel.
  2. In the Saved Data Sets, select the data collector set to modify.
  3. Select the counters to add from the Counters Currently Exported to Perfmon list and choose Add to Data Collector from the context menu. The counters are added to Included Counters for Select Set.
  4. After all desired counters have been added, click Save.

To remove counters from an existing collection set:

  1. In DataCore Performance Monitor Configuration, click Open Data Collector Panel.
  2. In Saved Data Sets, select the data collector set to modify.
  3. In Included Counters for Selected Set, select the counters to remove and choose Remove from the context menu. The counters are removed from Included Counters for Select Set.
  4. After all desired counters have been removed, click Save. The counters are removed from the selected set only, but remain in the list of counters added to Windows Performance Monitor.

To delete a data collection set:

  1. In DataCore Performance Monitor Configuration, click Open Data Collector Panel.
  2. In Saved Data Sets, select the data collector set to remove and choose Remove from the context menu.
  3. Click Save to remove the set from Windows Performance Monitor.