Novell Audit monitor tab and monitor channel uses

  • 7003355
  • 26-May-2009
  • 26-Apr-2012

Environment

Novell Audit 2.0.2

Situation

What is the Monitor Channel and Monitor Tab used for?

Resolution

The monitor tab in iManager is present to show statistics for the Novell Audit Secure Logging Server (SLS) when events are sent to the Monitor channel.  The tab also shows connection information to the SLS from Platform Agents so an administrator can get an idea of how many servers have connected to the SLS.  The Monitor channel documentation includes the full set of data on the channel itself and is available at the following location:  https://www.novell.com/documentation/novellaudit20/index.html

With current operating systems and the last version of novell Audit it is often easier and more-conclusive to use the native Operating System (OS) tools than the Monitor Channel and tab.  The monitor channel has also been found in some environments to significantly degrade or impair performance of Novell Audit.  Checking connections with the 'netstat' command or throughput with another network tool will use cross-application skills to properly determine what is happening without this performance or functionality impact.

With the release of Novell Sentinel and other similar tools that no longer use the SLS but which may still use the Novell Audit Platform Agent (PA) components the Monitor channel loses its value entirely.  Using OS tools still accomplishes the same result and works for all products so that still remains an option for all customers.