HP Network Node Manager iSPI Performance for Quality Assurance Software Release Notes

for the Windows®, HP-UX, Linux, and Solaris operating systems

Software version: 9.10

Publication date: March 2011

This document is an overview of the changes made to HP Network Node Manager iSPI Performance for Quality Assurance Software (NNM iSPI Performance for QA). It contains important information that is not included in books or Help. You can find information about the following in this document:

What's New in This Release?
Installation Notes
Support Matrix
Known Problems, Limitations, and Workarounds
Documentation Updates
Local Language Support
Integration with Other HP Software Products
Support
Legal Notices

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What's New in This Release?

NNM iSPI Performance for QA 9.10 contains new features, feature enhancements, and other changes.

New Features

NNM iSPI Performance for QA 9.10 contains these new features and enhancements:

Global Network Management: This new feature in NNM iSPI Performance for QA is useful in large scale enterprise networks where you need to monitor the overall network performance. The Global Network Management feature provides distributed deployment capabilities in a network environment. You can configure regional manager connections. This facilitates to view and monitor the QA probes discovered across the regional managers from the QA Probe view of the global manager.You can consolidate site and threshold configuration at the global manager for the QA probes discovered in the regional managers. Also, you can do an on demand status polling of QA probes from the global manager.
Multitenant Architecture in NNM iSPI Performance for QA: The NNM iSPI Performance for QA supports multitenant architecture configured in NNMi. This feature is very useful when you want the customers to access only a portion of the network. Multitenant architecture establishes a node to tenant association and determines the nodes that can be accessed by the user. This feature enables you to access certain objects such as QA Probes, and Sites based on the tenant configuration, security group configuration, and user group configuration in NNMi. The multitenant architecture thus enables you to do the following:
- View the site based on the accessibility of the QA probes in the site.
- View the site map if any one of the QA probes of the source site can be accessed by the user
- View the reports using the Network Performance Server if the nodes can be accessed by the user
- View the Real Time Line graph if the source node or the probes can be accessed by the user
Probe Configuration: This robust feature enables you to configure probes in NNM iSPI Performance for QA. You can configure QA probes from a source node to a destination node and deploy the probes on the device managed by NNMi. You have the facility to create a probe template that can be reused and associated with any node. In addition, you can also do the following tasks using the new user interface designed for probe configuration:
- Save the probe configuration details to a file and deploy at a later point of time
- View the probe list and template list
- View the deployment status of the QA probe
- Reconfigure the QA probes if the deployment for the configured probes fail
- View the the real time line graph of the probes for which the deployment was successful
- View the preconfigured QA probes for a selected source and destination node
Configure Probes using Command Line: In addition to configuring probes by using the Probe Configuration user interface, you can configure QA probes by using the nmsqaprobeconfig.ovpl command line utility as well. You can also perform a batch upload of a number of QA probes by using the qa probe input file. The sample QA probe input file is available in the following directory:
On UNIX: /var/opt/OV/shared/qa/conf

On Windows: %NnmDataDir%\shared\qa\conf
Probe Maintenance: This feature allows you to enable, disable or delete the QA probes that are discovered. You can view the enable status, disable status, and deletion status as well.
Site Map: The performance of a network can be analyzed by viewing the QA probe inventory view or form view. However, in a large enterprise networks, you need to assess the performance of each site, and monitor the overall network performance. This new feature -- Site Map enables you to easily identify the performance of any site and gives a holistic view of the network. Site Map represents the sites, status of the QA probes in the site, and the links between the source and destination sites. Site map is very useful to identify the site which is encountering problems and understand the underlying reason for the problem. The analysis pane is added, which is used to view the important details of the selected site in the map .
Enhancements in QA Probes View A new column manager is added to filter the QA Probes view based on the regional manager or global manager.
Critical Probes View: An additional user interface is added to segregate and view only the QA probes whose status is critical.
Threshold Exceptions Probes View: An additional user interface is added to view a set of probes, which has violated the threshold for any one or more of the metrics
Baseline Exceptions Probes View: An additional user interface is added to view the set of baseline exception QA probes
Analysis Pane: Analysis pane is very useful when you want to view the key details or a snapshot of a specific object selected. You can view the Analysis pane below the following views:
- QA Probes, Critical Probes, Threshold Exceptions Probes, Baseline Exceptions Probes inventory view, and Site Map
- Two new tabs to view the pie charts of the QA probes configured for the selected node is added in the Analysis pane of the Nodes inventory
Reporting: NNM iSPI Performance for QA extension pack is used extensively to generate various reports based on the requirement. The new reports added in this release are — Baseline Sleeve Report, Peak Period Report, and Top N Chart Report. A new topology filter — Management Server is added to the list of topology filters in the Quality Assurance extension pack for reporting purpose in a GNM environment. New Metric Filters are added to view the bad polls. Apart from reports, a provision to create dashboard reportlets is available in this release. Dashboard reportlets can be generated to quickly view the key details of a report, and understand the performance of the network. You can create custom dashboards using the reportlets.
Quality Assurance Configuration Console
A new console is added in the NNMi console to facilitate you to perform the configuration of objects specific to NNM iSPI Performance for QA. Some examples of objects are sites, threshold, probes, discovery filters and regional managers. This console also gives an overview of the configuration details.
Site Configuration: Enhancements are done in this feature to view the site configuration, and configure sites on a global manager or a regional manager. Sites configured and exported in the previous version of NNM iSPI Performance for QA can be accessed in this version as well.
Site Based Threshold: Enables you to configure thresholds for QA probes in a site. The two new methods to configure threshold for a site are as follows:
- Count Based Threshold Configuration
- Time Based Threshold Configuration
Apart from the time based and count based threshold configuration, you can also do a dynamic baseline monitoring. A new user interface to configure baseline deviation setting is added, which facilitates to generate an incident by comparing the extent of deviation from the average real-time data of the metric with the previous average values in a similar situation.
Configure Thresholds for Probes: In addition to the site based threshold configuration, you have a provision to configure threshold for probes as well. You can configure or override thresholds for probes, which may or may not be associated to a site. This is specifically useful when you want to assign a different threshold value for some of the probes in a site. You can configure either Count Based Threshold Configuration or Time Based Threshold Configuration for probes. Likewise, you can also do a dynamic baseline monitoring.
- Probe Specific Threshold: You may require to view the list of thresholds that are configured for probes. So a new user inteface is added to view the list of QA probes for which you have configured the threshold.
Discovery Filters: Enhancements are done in this user interface to easily distinguish the type of discovery filters and filter the QA probes based on IP address and Service Types as well. The three types of discovery filters that can be set are as follows:
- Discovery filter: You can use this filter to exclude the QA probes discovered on the network
- Regional Data Forwarding filter: You can use this filter to exclude the QA probes forwarded to the global manager
- Global Receiver filter: You can use this filter to exclude the QA probes received by the global manager
Real Time Line Graph: The Real Time Line graph is useful to view how the metric values fluctuate for QA probes of nodes. The Real Time Line Graph enables you to do the following:
- View the graph for QA probes configured on a node
- Analyze the graph based on the real-time data of the metrics
- View the graph for for selected QA probes
- View the trend of the selected metric value, and analyze the performance based on the metric values at polling intervals
QA Application Health Report: A new report is added to check the health of NNM iSPI Performance for QA in the NNMi management server.
Additional Supported MIBS

JNX-RPM-MIB

Additional Supported Vendor-Specific Technologies

JUNIPER RPM

Changes

NNM iSPI Performance for QA contains these changes:

Unsupported Platforms
- Does not support Windows Server 2003 platform
- Does not support MCSD Service Guard
For information on supported environments and MIBs, see the Support Matrix.

Installation Notes

Installation requirements, as well as instructions for installing NNM iSPI Performance for QA, are documented in the Installation Guide for NNM iSPI Performance for QA provided in PDF (.pdf) format. You can find the Installation Guide on the product installation media at this location:

For Windows: The Installation Guide is available in the DVD Main Drive (root) as: nmQASPI_InstallGuide_en.pdf

For UNIX: The Installation Guide is available in the root directory as: nmQASPI_InstallGuide_en.pdf

After installation the document can be found at this location:

Help → NNM iSPI Documentation Library → iSPI Performance for QA Install Guide

To obtain an electronic copy of the most up-to-date version of the Installation Guide, point your browsers to http://h20230.www2.hp.com/selfsolve/manuals.

Support Matrix

You can find the Support Matrix for this product that lists all software and hardware requirements at this location: HP Support matrices.

Note: 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, go to: Access levels.

To register for an HP Passport ID, go to: HP Passport Registration

Known Problems, Limitations, and Workarounds

This release contains certain unresolved problems, some limitations, and there are workaround to help solve certain problems.

While you run the ovstop -c qajboss command, an error message appears without stopping the qa jboss process

PROBLEM:	While you run the `ovstop -c qajboss` command, an error message appears without stopping the qa jboss process
WORKAROUND:	Run the `nmsqahalt.ovpl` command to stop the qa jboss process

Site recomputation may not occur due to an internal error and displays an overlay "Recompute in progress"

PROBLEM:	Site recomputation may not occur due to an internal error and displays an overlay "Recompute in progress"
WORKAROUND:	You can run the following command to reset the internal queue and the gateway flag to allow subsequent probe associations: nmsqasiteconfigutil resetrecomputeQ

The sites deleted at the regional manager may not be propagated to the global manager

PROBLEM:

The sites that are deleted at the regional manager may not be propagated to the global manager.

WORKAROUND:

Run the following command to synchronize the deletion of sites at regional manager to the global manager:

nmsqasiteconfigutil synchronize <regional manager name>

Run the following command to synchronize the deletion of all sites associated to the regional managers at the global manager:

nmsqasiteconfigutil synchronize all

Single Sign On is disabled in NNMi 9.10 version and NNM iSPI Performance for QA 9.10 version

PROBLEM: By default Single Sign-On is disabled in NNM iSPI Performance for QA, and you need to enable the Single Sign-On.

WORKAROUND:

Open the /var/opt/OV/shared/nnm/conf/props/nms-ui.properties file available in the NNMi management server:

Set "com.hp.nms.ui.sso.isEnabled = true"
Make a note of the initString
Run nnmsso.ovpl –reload

Open the /opt/OV/nonOV/qa/jboss/server/nms/conf/lwssofmconf.xml file available in the NNM iSPI Performance for QA:

Edit the enableLWSSOFramework="false" to enableLWSSOFramework="true"
Make sure the initString in NNM iSPI Performance for QA is same in NNMi
Restart NNM iSPI Performance for QA process.

See the topic Using Single Sign-On with NNMi in the NNMi 9.10 Deployment Reference guide for more information

While you restore the backup of NNM iSPI Performance for QA from a different server, NNM iSPI Performance for QA fails.

PROBLEM:

While you restore the backup of NNM iSPI Performance for QA from a different server, NNM iSPI Performance for QA fails.

WORKAROUND:

You must edit the nms-qa.address.properties file, nms-qa.jvm.properties file, and the nnm.extended.properties file available in the following directory:

On Windows:%NnmDataDir%\shared\qa\conf

On UNIX: /var/opt/OV/shared/qa/conf

1) Edit and specify the correct hostname or FQDN in the appropriate entry in the nms-qa.address.properties file

2) Make sure that you type the correct self signed signature with updated <FQDN>.self.signed in the " -Dcom.hp.ov.nms.ssl.KEY_ALIAS= " entry in the nms-qa.jvm.properties file.

3) Make sure that you edit the hostname values with the correct hostname/FQDN for the following entry in the nms-qa.jvm.properties file:

-Djava.rmi.server.hostname=<FQDN>

4) Edit the hostname values with the correct hostname/FQDN for the following entries in the nnm.extended.properties file:

com.hp.ov.nms.spi.qa.Nnm.hostname=<FQDN>
com.hp.ov.nms.spi.qa.spi.hostname=<FQDN>

Limitations

The ICMP echo, and UDP echo services support only RTT metric for Juniper RPM device in this version of NNM iSPI Performance for QA
Before you upgrade to NNM iSPI Performance for QA 9.10, you must run the ovstop -c qajboss and nmsqahalt.ovpl commands to stop the qa jboss process
You can enable the QA probes of Cisco devices without the schedule details in the Probe Maintenance user interface
Sub-minute polling is not supported for Juniper QA probes

Documentation Updates

The first page of this release notes document contains the following identifying information:

Version number, which indicates the software version.
Publish date, which changes each time the document is updated.

To check for recent updates or to verify that you are using the most recent edition, visit this URL: HP Software Product Manuals

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Localization Support

HP supplies NNM iSPI Performance for QA localized software and documentation in these languages:

English
Simplified Chinese
Japanese

HP Software Product Integration

NNM iSPI Performance for QA integrates with these HP Software products:

HP Network Node Manager i Software Smart Plug-In for Metrics 9.10
HP Network Node Manager i Software Smart Plug-In for IP Telephony 9.10
HP Network Node Manager i Software Smart Plug-In for MPLS 9.10

HP Software Support

This web site provides contact information and details about the products, services, and support that HP Software offers. For more information, visit the HP Support web site at: HP Software Support Online.

HP Software support provides customer self-solve capabilities. It provides a fast and efficient way to access interactive technical support tools needed to manage your business. As a valued support customer, you can benefit by being able to:

Search for knowledge documents of interest
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Enter discussions with other software customers
Research and register for software training

To access the Self-solve knowledge base, visit the Self-solve knowledge search home page.

To register for an HP Passport ID, go to: HP Passport Registration.

Legal Notices

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.

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.

For information about third-party license agreements, see the license-agreements directory on the product installation media.

Trademark Notices

Acrobat® is a trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated.

DOM4J® is a registered trademark of MetaStuff, Ltd.

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.

Oracle and Java are registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates.

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

UNIX® is a registered trademark of The Open Group.

Oracle Technology — Notice of Restricted Rights

Programs delivered subject to the DOD FAR Supplement are ‘commercial computer software’ and use, duplication, and disclosure of the programs, including documentation, shall be subject to the licensing restrictions set forth in the applicable Oracle license agreement. Otherwise, programs delivered subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulations are ‘restricted computer software’ and use, duplication, and disclosure of the programs, including documentation, shall be subject to the restrictions in FAR 52.227-19, Commercial Computer Software-Restricted Rights (June 1987). Oracle America, Inc., 500 Oracle Parkway, Redwood City, CA 94065.

For the full Oracle license text, see the license-agreements directory on the NNM iSPI Performance for QA product DVD.

Acknowledgements

This product includes software developed by the Apache Software Foundation. (http://www.apache.org)

This product includes software developed by the Indiana University Extreme! Lab. (http://www.extreme.indiana.edu)

This product includes software developed by The Legion of The Bouncy Castle. (http://www.bouncycastle.org)

This product contains software developed by Trantor Standard Systems Inc. (http://www.trantor.ca)