Pre-Installation Setup > Configuring Data Collector Policies in the Portal
   
Version 9.1.01
Configuring Data Collector Policies in the Portal
Before installing the Data Collector software, you must create data collection policies via the Portal.
For Fabric Manager, there are a number of Switch options:
Fabric Manager for Brocade Switches
Fabric Manager for Cisco Switches
Fabric Manager for McData Switches
Adding/Editing Data Collectors
To enable the Data Collector server to pass data to the Portal server, a corresponding Data Collector must be created in the Portal, along with Data Collector Policies for each of the vendor-specific enterprise objects. Data Collector Policies are specific to the type of data that is being collected; however, multiple types of policies often can be combined within one Data Collector.
The first step is to create a Data Collector. Once created, you can add enterprise object policies to it. Often one Portal Data Collector is sufficient for adding Data Collector policies for a variety of enterprise objects such as backup servers, arrays, and switches. Only Backup Manager TSM collection requires its own Data Collector.
To Add a Portal Data Collector
1. Select Admin > Data Collection > Collectors.
The list of currently configured Portal Data Collectors is displayed. If a Data Collector has already been created, rather than creating a new Data Collector, you may want to add your collection policies to an existing Data Collector.
2. Click Add and select Collector to create a new Data Collector. Refer to the details listed in To Edit a Portal Data Collector.
To Edit a Portal Data Collector
1. Select Admin > Data Collection > Collectors.
The list of currently configured Portal Data Collectors is displayed.
2. Select a Data Collector from the list.
3. Click Edit.
4. Enter or modify fields as necessary.
Field
Description
Sample Values
Collector Name*
Click Change to edit the unique name assigned to this Data Collector. The Data Collector will use this value for authentication purposes.
Changing the Collector ID or passcode requires manual changes to the corresponding Data Collector server. Collection will break if these corresponding changes are not made. See User ID and Passcode on the Data Collector Server.
BUEdc1
TSMdc1
HRdc1
Passcode*
Click Change to edit the passcode assigned to this Data Collector. It can be any character sequence.
Unlike other StorageConsole passwords (which are encrypted and then saved) this Data Collector passcode is not encrypted prior to saving in the StorageConsole database and may appear as clear case in certain files. It simply is intended as a “handshake” identification between the data collector and the policy.
Changing the Collector ID or passcode requires manual changes to the corresponding Data Collector server. Collection will break if these corresponding changes are not made. See User ID and Passcode on the Data Collector Server.
Password1
Short Notes
Descriptive notes associated with this Data Collector.
 
Enable SSL
Both secure (SSL) and non-secure Data Collectors can send data to the same Portal. Check this box to select the secure communication protocol (https) that the Data Collector will use.
This check box will not appear in the dialog box if SSL is not enabled in your environment. The Portal data receiver must be listening for https traffic; for example:
https://agent.mycollector.com
 
Auto-upgrade aptare.jar
Indicate if you want this configuration file upgraded automatically.
This part of the Data Collector is responsible for event and metadata processing threads. The .jar file contains the processing and parsing logic for data collection. The latest versions can be downloaded automatically and applied to the collector during upgrades. It is recommended that this setting be set to Yes.
Yes
Auto-upgrade Upgrade Manager
Indicate if you want this configuration bundle upgraded automatically.
This data collector component is responsible for managing Data Collector upgrades. The latest versions can be downloaded automatically and applied to the collector during upgrades. It is recommended that this setting be set to Yes.
Yes
User ID and Passcode on the Data Collector Server
Warning: Any Portal changes to the Data Collector Policy User ID and Passcode require manual modifications on the Data Collector server. Corresponding changes must be made to files on the Data Collector server so that it can continue to communicate with the Portal.
To change the User ID and Password on the Data Collector Server
1. Find and update the User ID and Password in each of the OS-specific files listed below. These entries are typically in the last line of a long string of configuration settings.
Windows:
\<HOME>\mbs\bin\updateconfig.bat
\<HOME>\mbs\conf\wrapper.conf
Example:
\opt\aptare\mbs\bin\updateconfig.bat
\opt\aptare\mbs\conf\wrapper.conf
Linux:
/<HOME>/mbs/bin/updateconfig.sh
/<HOME>/mbs/conf/startup.sh
Example:
/opt/aptare/mbs/bin/updateconfig.sh
/opt/aptare/mbs/conf/startup.sh
Note: Restart the Data Collector to trigger the updates.
Fabric Manager for Brocade Switches
Before adding the policy: A Data Collector must exist in the Portal, to which you will add Data Collector Policies. See Adding/Editing Data Collectors. For specific prerequisites and supported configurations, see Prerequisites for Adding Data Collectors and the APTARE StorageConsole Certified Configurations Guide.
1. Click Add and select Brocade Switch.
Best Practices: Interconnected switches should be configured in the same Data Collector policy.
2. Enter or select the parameters. Mandatory parameters are denoted by an asterisk (*):
Field
Description
Sample Value
Collector Domain
The domain of the collector to which the collector backup policy is being added. This is a read-only field. By default, the domain for a new policy will be the same as the domain for the collector. This field is set when you add a collector.
 
Policy Domain
The Collector Domain is the domain that was supplied during the Data Collector installation process. The Policy Domain is the domain of the policy that is being configured for the Data Collector. The Policy Domain must be set to the same value as the Collector Domain.
The domain identifies the top level of your host group hierarchy. All newly discovered hosts are added to the root host group associated with the Policy Domain.
Typically, only one Policy Domain will be available in the drop-down list. If you are a Managed Services Provider, each of your customers will have a unique domain with its own host group hierarchy.
To find your Domain name select Admin > Hosts and Domains > Domains.
yourdomain
Brocade SMI agent address*
Enter the IP address of the Brocade SMI agent and port number in the format: <ip_address>:port_number The port number is NOT required if you want to use the default port numbers: 5988 (http) or 5989 (https).
192.1.1.1
User ID*
Use the User ID and passcode for accessing the switch. This typically would be an administrator privilege, but must be a minimum privilege of a view-only user.
Administrator
Password*
Note: The password is encrypted prior to saving in the database and is never visible in any part of the application.
Password1
Exclude Switches
Enter a switch WWN - e.g., 10:00:00:60:69:90:04:9F, 100000606990049F
Colons within the WWN are NOT required. A comma-separated list is supported.
10:00:00:60:69:90:04:9F, 100000606990049F
Switch Details
Click the check box to collect switch details.
Click the clock icon to create a schedule. Every Minute, Hourly, Daily, Weekly, and Monthly schedules may be created. Relative schedules are relative to when the Data Collector is restarted. Advanced use of native CRON strings is also available.
Examples of CRON expressions:
*/30 * * * * means every 30 minutes
*/20 9-18 * * * means every 20 minutes between the hours of 9am and 6pm
*/10 * * * 1-5 means every 10 minutes Mon - Fri.
 
FC Port statistics Active
Click the check box to collect FC Port statistics. This may have a performance impact, which can be optimized with the FC Port statistics schedule.
Click the clock icon to create a schedule.
 
 
Fabric Manager for Cisco Switches
Before adding the policy: A Data Collector must exist in the Portal, to which you will add Data Collector Policies. See Adding/Editing Data Collectors. For specific prerequisites and supported configurations, see Prerequisites for Adding Data Collectors and the APTARE StorageConsole Certified Configurations Guide.
 
 
1. Click Add, and then select Product Type—in this case, Cisco Switch.
Requirement: Interconnected switches, which share the same VSAN, must be configured in the same Data Collector policy for Cisco Switches.
Note: Data collection for Cisco switches uses SMI, however, a non-default port number is not configurable. See also, Before You Start Cisco Switch Data Collection.
2. Specify Data Collector Properties.
3. Add or select the parameters. Mandatory parameters are denoted by an asterisk (*):
Field
Description
Sample Value
Domain
The domain identifies the top level of your host group hierarchy. The name was supplied during the installation process. All newly discovered hosts are added to the root host group associated with this domain. Typically, only one Domain will be available in the drop-down list.
If you are a Managed Services Provider, each of your customers will have a unique domain with its own host group hierarchy.
To find your Domain name select Admin > Hosts and Domains > Domains.
yourdomain
Cisco switch or DSNM SMI Agent IP address*
Enter the IP address of the Cisco switch. Multiple switch IP addresses, separated by commas, can be entered for this field. Interconnected switches, which share the same VSAN, must be included in the same Data Collector policy.
If you are using the Data Center Network Manager (DCNM) for central control, a separate Data Collector policy is needed for each DCNM. Enter the DCNM SMI agent address (and optionally, its port number) in the format: <ip_address>:<port_number>
For DCNM v6.2.x, you will need a valid (or temporary) license in order for the SMI agent to be able to get data.
192.1.1.1
User ID*
Use the User ID and passcode for accessing the switch. This typically would be an administrator privilege, but must be a minimum privilege of a view-only user.
Administrator
Password*
Note: The password is encrypted prior to saving in the database and is never visible in any part of the application.
Password1
Switch Details
Click the check box to collect switch details.
Click the clock icon to create a schedule. Every Minute, Hourly, Daily, Weekly, and Monthly schedules may be created. Relative schedules are relative to when the Data Collector is restarted. Advanced use of native CRON strings is also available.
Examples of CRON expressions:
*/30 * * * * means every 30 minutes
*/20 9-18 * * * means every 20 minutes between the hours of 9am and 6pm
*/10 * * * 1-5 means every 10 minutes Mon - Fri.
 
FC Port Statistics Active
Click the check box if you want to collect FC Port statistics. This may have a performance impact, which can be optimized with the FC Port schedule.
 
Before You Start Cisco Switch Data Collection
The Data Collector uses SMI-S to communicate with the Cisco switches to gather data. To ensure that the SMI-S provider is running, be sure to enable the Common Information Model (CIM) Server on the switch using the following CLI commands:
cimserver status
To execute this command, you need to be in enable mode.
show cimserver
 
config t
This puts you into configuration mode.
cimserver enable
Once you are in configuration mode, this command turns on the SMI-S provider.
 
 
Fabric Manager for McData Switches
Before adding the policy: A Data Collector must exist in the Portal, to which you will add Data Collector Policies. See Adding/Editing Data Collectors. For specific prerequisites and supported configurations, see Prerequisites for Adding Data Collectors and the APTARE StorageConsole Certified Configurations Guide.
 
1. Click Add and select McData Switch.
Best Practice: Interconnected switches should be configured in the same Data Collector policy.
2. Enter or select the parameters. Mandatory parameters are denoted by an asterisk (*):
Field
Description
Sample Value
Domain
The domain identifies the top level of your host group hierarchy. The name was supplied during the installation process. All newly discovered hosts are added to the root host group associated with this domain. Typically, only one Domain will be available in the drop-down list.
If you are a Managed Services Provider, each of your customers will have a unique domain with its own host group hierarchy.
To find your Domain name select Admin > Host and Domains > Domains.
yourdomain
McData SMI agent address*
Enter the IP address of the McData switch.
192.1.1.1
User ID*
Use the User ID and passcode for accessing the switch. This typically would be an administrator privilege, but must be a minimum privilege of a view-only user.
Administrator
Password*
Note: The password is encrypted prior to saving in the database and is never visible in any part of the application.
Password1
Exclude Switches
Enter a switch WWN - e.g., 10:00:00:60:69:90:04:9F, 100000606990049F
Colons within the WWN are NOT required. A comma-separated list is supported.
10:00:00:60:69:90:04:9F, 100000606990049F
Switch Details
Click the check box to collect switch details.
Click the clock icon to create a schedule. Every Minute, Hourly, Daily, Weekly, and Monthly schedules may be created. Relative schedules are relative to when the Data Collector is restarted. Advanced use of native CRON strings is also available.
Examples of CRON expressions:
*/30 * * * * means every 30 minutes
*/20 9-18 * * * means every 20 minutes between the hours of 9am and 6pm
*/10 * * * 1-5 means every 10 minutes Mon - Fri.
*/15 * * * *
FC Port Statistics Active
Click the check box if you want to collect FC Port statistics. This may have a performance impact, which can be optimized with the FC Port schedule.
Click the clock icon to create a schedule.