8. CA MICS NSM Integration (MTI) › 8.2 CA MICS NSM Integration (MTI)
8.2 CA MICS NSM Integration (MTI)
CA MICS processes data from many different z/OS data sources
and distributed computing platforms such as UNIX (via HP's
Measureware), Tandem, DOS/VSE, and DEC. In response to
client requests to support systems such as AIX, Sun, and
Microsoft NT servers, CA MICS provides support for these
platforms using NSM Systems Performance.
MTI provides the base technology to read the NSM Systems
Performance data and extends standard DIA support by
providing the tools for installations to create and customize
their own components for integrating NSM Systems Performance
data into the CA MICS architecture.
MTI technology includes a new approach for delivering
metrics. The standard approach is that DIAs define metrics
that may prove useful. The DIAs activate those metrics that
are expected to be useful to most clients in most
environments. With distributed systems, the quantity of
metrics is so great that the majority are actually delivered
turned off. The client tailors distributed definitions by
activating inactive metrics or de-activating metrics not
applicable to specific client requirements.
While the standard approach of using pre-delivered metrics
with user-tailoring works for existing DIAs, this approach
has proven impractical for NSM Performance Management data.
NSM Systems Performance allows different machines to
selectively monitor different items (called resource
subtypes). The standard, static DIA model would include
everything NSM Systems Performance could monitor. The cost
to manage a component built this way would be excessive given
the possibility of monitoring thousands of systems, each with
thousands of populated (or empty) metrics.
A unique paradigm is needed for processing NSM Systems
Performance data. With this new model, the installation
could create one or more components to process the NSM
Systems Performance data and the components would be
customized to the contents of the data itself. This approach
allows the installation to configure MTI to suit the client's
needs by creating components tailored to the input data. In
other words, you tailor NSM to collect what you need and then
MTI automates bringing that data into the CA MICS database
structure.
This paradigm also resulted in the construction of
technologies to provide for rapid implementation and
deployment of MTI components. MTI provides the ability to
create the CA MICS Component Generator statements. Using
MTI, a site's component developer does not write the
component statements but rather uses MTI capabilities.
As a whole, the CA MICS NSM Integration component, MTI,
provides all the tools to perform resource management using
CA MICS across the many distributed systems monitored with
NSM Systems Performance.
