HP NNM iSPI for Performance Software Release Notes

Software Version: 8.11 / 31 January 2009

Introduction
Changes from Previous Release
Related Documents
Known Problems, Limitations, and Workarounds
Local Language Support
HP Software Support
Legal Notices

Introduction

NNM iSPI for Performance 8.11 is a patch release for version 8.10. It includes enhancements to the Performance Insight integration, allowing collected device and component data to be fed to the Device Resource Report Pack on a PI server. In addition, this patch fixes several defects. For details about defect fixes, see the text file bundled with the patch. This release must be installed on top of an existing 8.10 system.

This document describes known problems, limitations, and workarounds affecting HP NNM iSPI for Performance Software version 8.11. This document contains information not included in the support matrix, the installation guide, or online help. To check for updates to this document, visit the HP Product Manuals web site at http://h20230.www2.hp.com/selfsolve/manuals.

Previous Releases

The first release, version 8.01, was a comprehensive performance reporting solution for NNMi. Using data collected from the interface table (ifTable) of rfc1213 / MIB-II, the package produces a set of reports showing historical usage over time which integrated into NNM using URL actions. The product was available in English only and installed on the Windows platform. A link to OpenView Performance Insight was included for the collected data, allowing the Performance SPI to act as a data feed into the warehousing product.

The second major release, version 8.10, added many enhancements, including the collection of device and component metrics, language support for Japanese and Chinese, and operating system support for Solaris, HP-UX, and Linux. In addition, there were enhancements to the self-diagnostic reports for the application, multiple defect fixes, and enhancements to the links to and from NNMi.

Known Problems, Limitations, and Workarounds

Issues Related to Installation

The Windows version of this software is only supported on 64 bit versions of Windows; installation on 32 bit Windows systems may be possible but is not supported.
Although you can install this application on systems supporting Chinese characters, the install directory must not include any Chinese characters.
If you are running the PerfSPI enablement script on NNM and you choose to stop when the script presents you with a list of tasks, the message that displays does not take account of the fact that you have not done anything yet.
If jboss is not running when you run the PerfSPI enablement script on NNM, an error message will appear.
HP Software Installer will display some text in English even if the language you selected is not English.

Issues Related to Uninstallation

If the perfSPI is uninstalled, some directories may be left on the file system under HP and HP Software directory trees (the exact location will depend on your system). For example:
C:\Program Files\HP\HP BTO Software\
C:\Program Files\HP OpenView\nonOV\cognos
Running the uninstall utility will remove the license and it will also remove actions from the NNM menu; however, running the uninstall utility will not remove two items configured during installation, the operating system user and the network drive share.

Issues Related to Report Appearance and Navigation

If you select many filters using the prompt page, and then view a live report, the report may include unwanted page breaks when it automatically refreshes.
Drill-through capabilities are not available in reports presented in PDF format despite the fact that URLs are embedded in them. Clicking these links will result in browser 404 (Page not found) errors.
If you are looking at a report, then you leave for an extended period of time, an unfamiliar login page will appear. This page will not allow you to log back into NNM. You must point your browser at NNM and log in.
If you open the Report Menu from Cognos Connection, the Report Menu will display a prompt page. Ignore the prompt. The Report Menu contains no information other than report thumbnails and report links.
When you schedule a report, the filter options are pre-selected. If you are viewing a report that was generated using a schedule, and you try to display the options page, the options page will be empty.
You cannot schedule a detail archive report. Report scheduling applies to summary reports.
If you try to change the time selection options within the Data Explorer Live report, the system may display "Referenced data item '2008-10-07' is not found in the query 'Summary Cross Tab Query." This error can be avoided by not making multiple time selections.
Cognos utilizes an asynchronous communications mode between the user browser and the report server. Opening multiple browser windows and launching simultaneous perfSPI reports may result in the following error: "Absolute affinity request ‘asynchWait_Request' failed." This error may also be displayed if a local firewall is interfering with the operation of Cognos or if the system specification is significantly less than the minimum required for the Performance SPI.
Report URLs rely on Javascript. Various browser controls (for example, forward, back, and refresh) and bookmarks based on displayed URLs, will not work as expected. You will either see the "asynchWait_Request error" or you will return to the BI Server Portal.
The Firefox browser does not support the dragging and dropping of metrics within Query Studio. Other methods of inserting metrics are available (double-click or the ‘Insert’ button)
If you are using long polling intervals, for example, one hour polling, the Chart Detail report may display an incorrect time range. For example, the report will indicate 60 minutes, but it will show 6 hours.
The Heat Chart report type does not render correctly when you view it in PDF format. Cells in the first column will extend to match the same width as the header; these widths are supposed to be constant.
If you run a report from My Folders, the Add Bookmark panel displays a URL. This URL is not valid.
All reports in a package have a shared set of parameters which you can set to restrict what is displayed. In addition, many reports have additional, report specific, parameters. These report specific parameters are not captured when you create a bookmark; if you launch a report using a bookmark, you must set these parameters manually.
If you are running a browser with a non-English locale, bookmarks may not work properly. Changing the locale of the browser to English, making the bookmark, and then changing it back again, should allow the bookmark function to operate correctly.

Miscellaneous Issues

When running the about.ovpl script on a Unix platform, the user is advised to press 'Any Key' to continue. The user must in fact press 'Return'.
In some instances, when running the SHS collector, no data will be gathered on HPUX systems. This happens if the log file becomes too large and can be remedied by changing the logging levels for the product.
Data Explorer reports show tags for “unmanaged” items. These are dummy topology entries and have no metrics associated with them.
Some reports may be difficult to interpret when printed unless a color printer is used.
NNM administrators have access to extensive configuration options on the BI Server Portal (Cognos connection). Administrative users should familiarize themselves with portal features and capabilities. Use online help and the tutorials available from the help link on the BI Server Portal.
NNM and PerfSPI must exist on the same network domain. They can exist in different sub-domains. Placing NNM and the Performance SPI on separate systems which are on completely different network domains will result in double login issues when moving between NNM and the reports.
When you run a report, you may see an hourglass and an invitation to let your report run in the background. To do this you must select an alternative delivery method. Additional configuration is required to ensure that sending reports via email will work. To view a saved report, use the BI Server Portal.
When running the PerfSPI on a non-Windows platform, node group names received from NNM that contain multi-byte characters will be replaced with automatically generated node group names with a format of 'group' + 'groupid' where groupid is the internal reference number from NNM. This replacement is required due to a restriction in the underlying Cognos technology.
When running the PerfSPI on a non-Windows platform, days of the week will always appear in English, regardless of which language is in use by the report client.
Due to a defect in the MadCap Flare online help tool, the Kanji characters in the online help index generated by MadCap Flare are not in the correct order.

Local Language Support

HP NNM iSPI for Performance 8.11 supports the following locales:

English
Japanese
Simplified Chinese

HP Software Support

To visit the HP Support web site, click this link:

www.hp.com/go/hpsoftwaresupport

HP Software online support provides an efficient way to access interactive technical support tools. As a valued support customer, you can benefit by being able to do the following:

Search for knowledge documents of interest
Submit and track progress on support cases
Submit enhancement requests online
Download software patches
Manage a support contract
Look up HP support contacts
Review information about available services
Enter discussions with other software customers
Research and register for software training

Most of the support areas require that you register as an HP Passport user and sign in. Many also require an active support contract. To find more information about support access levels and HP Passport, go to the following URL:

support.openview.hp.com/new_access_levels.jsp

Legal Notices

The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.

The information contained herein is subject to change without notice.

Confidential computer software. Valid license from HP required for possession, use, or copying. Consistent with FAR 12.211 and 12.212, Commercial Computer Software, Computer Software Documentation, and Technical Data for Commercial Items are licensed to the U.S. Government under vendor’s standard commercial license.

Copyright Notices

Trademark Notices

Java™ is a U.S. trademark of Sun Microsystems,Inc.

Microsoft®, Windows® and Windows® XP are U.S. registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

Oracle® is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation, Redwood City, California

HP-UX Release 10.20 and later and HP-UX Release 11.00 and later (in both 32 and 64-bit configurations) on all HP 9000 computers are Open Group UNIX 95 branded products.

UNIX® is a registered trademark of The Open Group.

NOTE: For information about third-party license agreements, see the license-agreements directory on the NNM product DVD-ROM.