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Using WebLogic Monitors when SSL is Enabled (Linux)
To use WebLogic Monitors when SSL is enabled on a Linux machine, do the following:
- Download the WebLogic certificate. Use the following steps to download the certificate from your WebLogic server or you can use any other method, such as downloading the certificate with the help of any Web browser.
- Open the terminal, and then change the directory and run following command:
openssl s_client -host <hostname or IP> -port <SSL enabled port number>
For example:openssl s_client -host 10.1.40.55 -port 7002
- Into a new file, copy the output text from
"-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----"
to"-----END CERTIFICATE-----"
and then save it.
- Open the terminal, and then change the directory and run following command:
- Import the certificate into Java truststore.
- Open a terminal and change the directory to
<Uptime Installation Directory>jre//lib/security
For example:cd /usr/local/uptime/jre/lib/security
- Run the following command:
keytool -keystore cacerts -importcert -alias <alias name> -file <certificate file full path>
For example:keytool -keystore cacerts -importcert -alias weblogic -file /root/Desktop/certs/newroot.cer
- Open a terminal and change the directory to
- Restart the uptime_core service.
- Open the terminal and run following command:
service uptime_core restart
- Open the terminal and run following command:
- Configure the WebLogic Service Monitor.
- While configuring the WebLogic Service Monitor, check the Use SSL checkbox and provide the SSL-enabled port number in the Port field.
Using WebLogic Monitors when SSL is Enabled (Windows)
To use WebLogic Monitors when SSL is enabled on a Windows machine, do the following:
- Download the WebLogic certificate. Use the following steps to download the certificate from your WebLogic server or you can use any other method, such as downloading the certificate with the help of any Web browser.
- Download OpenSSL. For Windows, use the following link: http://gnuwin32.sourceforge.net/packages/openssl.htm
- Install OpenSSL.
- Open a command prompt run as administrator, and change the directory to the bin location where you installed OpenSSL.
- Run following command:
openssl s_client -host <hostname or IP> -port <SSL enabled port number>
For example:openssl s_client -host 10.1.40.55 -port 7002
- Copy the output text from
"-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----"
to"-----END CERTIFICATE-----"
in a new text file and save it.
- Import the certificate into Java truststore.
- Open Command prompt (Run as administrator) and change directory to
<Uptime Installation Directory>/jre/lib/security
For example:cd C:\Program Files\uptimesoftware\uptime\jre7\lib\security
- Run the following command:
keytool -keystore cacerts -importcert -alias <alias name> -file <certifcate file full path>
For example:keytool -keystore cacerts -importcert -alias weblogic -file C:\certs\newroot.cer
- Open Command prompt (Run as administrator) and change directory to
- Restart Uptime services.
- Open services.msc.
- Restart the following services: Uptime Controller, Uptime Data Collector and Uptime Web Browser.
- Configure the WebLogic Service Monitor.
- While configuring WebLogic Service Monitor, check the Use SSL checkbox and provide the SSL-enabled port number in the Port field.
WebSphere
WebSphere is a software platform that provides firms with an environment for developing and deploying Web services and E-Commerce applications. Because WebSphere is large and complex, it can be difficult to pinpoint the source of a problem, especially when that problem is intermittent.
The Uptime Infrastructure Monitor WebSphere monitor collects data that you can use to generate a report, which gives you a historical view of problems that occur on a WebSphere server. For more information about viewing WebSphere issues, see See WebSphere Report.
The WebSphere monitor enables you to collect data so that you can:
- determine whether the server can cope with its load
- determine the cause of problems with the server
- collect and retain data for later graphing and reporting
The following table lists the counters the WebSphere monitor collects from a WebSphere Application Server.
Variable | Counters | |
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Connection pools | PoolSizeThe size of the connection pool to the data source. FreePoolSizeThe number of free connections in the pool. PercentUsedThe percentage of the connection pool that is currently in use. WaitTimeThe average time, in milliseconds, that a connection is used. The average time is the difference between the time at which the connection is allocated and the time at which it is returned. | |
| CreateCountThe total number of connections that were created. CloseCountThe total number of connections that were closed. WaitingThreadCountThe number of threads that are currently waiting for a connection. UseTimeThe average time, in milliseconds, that a connection is used. The average use time is the difference between the time at which the connection is allocated and that time at which it is returned. | |
Per EJB | CreateCountThe number of times that the Enterprise JavaBeans that are running on the server were created. RemoveCountThe number of times that the EJBs were removed. PassivateCountThe number of times that EJBs were removed from the cache. Note that passivation preserves the state of the EJBs on the disk MethodCallCountThe total number of method calls that were made to the EJBs. MethodResponseTimeThe average response time, in milliseconds, on the bean methods. | |
Java Virtual Machine | cpuUsageThe percent of CPU resources that were used since the last query. HeapSizeThe total amount of memory that is available for the JVM. UsedMemoryThe amount of memory that is used by the JVM. | |
Other | ActiveCountThe number of global transactions which are concurrently active. CommittedCountThe total number of global transactions that are committed. RolledBackCountThe total number of global transactions that were rolled back. LiveCountThe number of servlet sessions that are currently cached in memory. PoolSizeThe average number of threads in the servlet connection thread pool. TimeSinceLastActivatedThe difference, in milliseconds, between the previous and current access time stamps of a servlet session. This counter does not include session time out values. |
Before Uptime Infrastructure Monitor can start collecting performance data from a WebSphere server, you must deploy the WebSphere performance servlet.
Deploying the WebSphere Performance Servlet
The WebSphere performance servlet uses WebSphere’s Performance Monitor Interface (PMI) infrastructure to retrieve performance information from a WebSphere Application Server. The information that the servlet collects is saved to an XML file.
By default, the PMI is enabled on the WebSphere server and is set to collect the performance metrics that Uptime Infrastructure Monitor supports. Before Uptime Infrastructure Monitor can begin collecting information from a WebSphere server, you must deploy the performance servlet in the WebSphere directory that contains your Web application.
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The following steps must be completed for each Web application server that you want to monitor with Uptime Infrastructure Monitor. |
To deploy the performance servlet do the following:
- On the WebSphere server, locate the following file:
install_root/perfServletApp.ear
Where install_root is the directory under which WebSphere is installed. - Copy the file perfServletApp.ear to the directory in which your Web application is installed. For example:
install_root/installedApps/<cell_name>/DefaultApplication.ear/DefaultApplication.war/WEB-INF/classes
Where:- install_root is the directory under which WebSphere is installed.
- <cell_name> is the name of the WebSphere node under which your Web application is installed.
Deploying the Performance Servlet on WebSphere
If you are using WebSphere Application Server, you must change two settings in the WebSphere management console to avoid an Access Denied error when Uptime Infrastructure Monitor attempts to connect to the performance servlet to collect metrics.
To make the changes, do the following:
- In the WebSphere management console, modify the following settings:
- Under Security - Secure administration, applications, and infrastructure, enable the Application Security option.
- Under Enterprise Applications - perfServletApp - Security role to user/group mapping, disable the Everyone option, and enable the All authenticated option.
- Restart the server. Uptime Infrastructure Monitor should now be able to connect to the servlet and gather performance metrics.
Configuring WebSphere Monitors
To configure a WebSphere monitor, do the following:
- On the WebSphere monitor template, complete the monitor information fields.
To learn how to configure monitor information fields, see Monitor Identification. - Complete the following fields:
- WebSphere Port
The number of the port number on which WebSphere is listening. The default is 9080. - Response Time
Enter the Warning and Critical Response Time thresholds. For more information, see Configuring Warning and Critical Thresholds.
- WebSphere Port
- Optionally, click the Save for Graphing checkbox beside the Response Time option to save the data for a metric to the DataStore, which can be used to generate a report or graph.
- Complete the following settings:
- Timing Settings (see Adding Monitor Timing Settings Information for more information)
- Alert Settings (see Monitor Alert Settings for more information)
- Monitoring Period settings (see Monitor Timing Settings for more information)
- Alert Profile settings (see Alert Profiles for more information)
- Action Profile settings (see Action Profiles for more information)
- Click Finish.
Web Application Transactions
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Web Transaction Monitor is Java-based and does NOT work with modern browsers. Creating Legacy customers with older setups may use this feature, however creating new monitors is disabled. This monitor works only if your UIM installation already has previously-captured Web Transaction monitor recordings. This does not affect previously-configured Web Transaction Monitors. |
A Web transaction is a series of Web pages that together fulfill a specific function for end users. A common Web transaction example is the checkout process on an e-commerce site, during which end users select a shipping option, pay for their items, and have their credit card verified. During this transaction, many calls are made to the application and data layers as the end-user provides, and the servers process, information.
Although the type of Web application that is monitored by Uptime Infrastructure Monitor users is typically different (e.g., intranet applications), the structure of the transaction is the same: an end user steps through a sequence of Web pages that take inputted information and initiate appropriate actions with application or database servers.
The Uptime Infrastructure Monitor Web Application Transaction monitor tests the speed and availability of an end-user Web transaction. Specifically, the Web Application Transaction monitor performs two roles:
- it confirms the general availability of an end-user Web transaction by executing a previously recorded script then reporting whether all pages that make up the web transaction were successfully processed
- it reports on the speed of the Web transaction both as a whole, and broken down by previously defined stages
Both the availability and speed of Web transactions can be used in reports and as triggers for alerts.
Using the Web Application Transaction Monitor
Use the Web Application Transaction monitor to record a series of URLs that together make up a transaction. This recording should be of a transaction that acts as a suitable test of your Web application delivery infrastructure.
During the recording process, declare checkpoints that demarcate significant stages in the Web transaction. Isolating the different stages in an end-user transaction allows you to view stage-specific speed tests in reports, which ultimately helps you identify where problem areas exist.
For example, if a transaction relies on processing on the application layer, makes multiple calls to the data layer, and is accessible worldwide, creating checkpoints during the recording phase helps you ascertain whether the application server, database management server, or network may be the reason behind a poorly performing transaction.
The following sample checkpoints could be created for an e-commerce transaction:
- Browse Catalog
- Add to Shopping Cart
- Checkout
- Credit Card Validation
The following sample checkpoints could be created for an internal office transaction:
- Login
- Browse Orders
- View Order Details
Configuring Web Application Transaction Monitors
You can define Web application transactions by manually stepping through one and declaring checkpoints at key stages:
- Open a Web browser, and configure its proxy settings so that you can record a transaction:
- Open the dialog where network and connection settings are made.
- Configure the browser’s proxy to “localhost” on port 8001.
- Ensure these settings also are applied to SSL or secure communications.
- Set the proxy to bypass the Monitoring Station.
This step requires you to select an option such as “no proxy” or “bypass proxy server,” and may also require you to manually enter your Monitoring Station URL or IP address.
- In the browser, navigate to the starting point of the Web application whose performance you are monitoring.
In the Uptime Infrastructure Monitor Add Service window, select the Web Application Transaction monitor, then click Continue.
The Web Application Transaction Recorder is displayed, and the monitor is now listening on port 8001 for traffic.Info Ensure your browser's Java plugin is updated to the latest, most secure version.
Begin stepping through the Web transaction as an end user, providing the required data or actions.
Every URL visited during the transaction is logged and displayed in the recorder.Info The Web Application Transaction monitor records all data inputted during recording: this includes any login information. It is recommended that you use a test account for the Web application, otherwise any user data is visible in the recorded script. At each major step in the Web transaction that signals a new analysis point, enter a checkpoint name in the text box at the top of the window, then click Mark Checkpoint.
For example, create a checkpoint at a transaction step where the application takes user-inputted data and makes database calls.Info You can later set Warning and Critical thresholds that apply to every segment declared in your recording. It is recommended that the divisions between your checkpoint intervals are reasonably consistent. - Continue to repeat steps 4 and 5 until you have completed enough of the Web transaction to test it, then click Next.
Complete the monitor information fields.
To learn how to configure monitor information fields, see Monitor Identification.Info Even though the Web application performance is not directly tied to an Element’s performance, making this selection is still required: the service based on this monitor needs to be associated with an Element in order to be viewed in areas such as Global Scan or Infrastructure. - Configure the Web Application Transaction Settings:
- Script to play back
If desired, optimize the playback script (e.g., remove extraneous URLs such as image downloads). - Text that must appear
Enter a text string that can be used to confirm the script playback was successful (e.g., a phrase that appears on the final page of the application). If the monitor does not find this text, its status changes to Critical. By providing mandatory text, you can ensure an alert is triggered in cases where a Web application is malfunctioning, but checkpoint-to-checkpoint times are fast enough to fulfill response time requirements. - Text that must not appear
Enter a text string that should not appear at any point during the script playback (e.g., a client- or server-error HTTP status code). If the monitor finds this text, its status changes to Critical. Use this feature, as you would use mandatory text, to ensure a malfunctioning application triggers an alert. - User Agent String
Select the Web browser and version used to record the script. This selection determines the user agent string used in the HTTP requests to the application server, and should be provided in case the application blocks access by scripts. - Checkpoint Times
Enter the Warning and Critical Checkpoint Time thresholds. An alert is generated with these thresholds if any of the recorded Web transaction’s checkpoint times exceeds the supplied values. - Response Time
Enter the Warning and Critical Response Time thresholds. An alert is generated with this threshold if the entire transaction playback time exceeds the supplied values. For more information, see See Configuring Warning and Critical Thresholds .
- Script to play back
- Enter Warning- and Critical-level thresholds for the overall response time of the monitor.
Most of the monitor’s Response Time is comprised of the Delivery Time and the Retrieve Time. Ensure the values provided for the Response Time thresholds roughly correspond with those provided for the other thresholds. For more information, see Configuring Warning and Critical Thresholds. - Complete the following settings:
- Timing Settings (see Adding Monitor Timing Settings Information for more information)
- Alert Settings (see Monitor Alert Settings for more information)
- Monitoring Period settings (see Monitor Timing Settings for more information)
- Alert Profile settings (see Alert Profiles for more information)
- Action Profile settings (see Action Profiles for more information)
- Click Finish.
Viewing and Diagnosing Web Transaction Performance
To view Web transaction performance via playback, create a Service Metrics graph for the Web Application Transaction monitor’s system. To generate a Service Metrics graph, either select the system to which the Web Application Transaction monitor is associated in Infrastructure, or the monitor itself in the main Services panel. Click the Graphics tab, then click Service Metrics.
The Service Metrics graph shows how long each transaction segment took to complete during playback, and in doing so, provides an end-to-end performance snapshot of the components of your infrastructure that deliver applications to users. For example, the following metrics graph shows that the execution of the comments found in checkpoint3 took excessively long to complete:
Because other checkpoints performed well, the poor performance of a single checkpoint indicates possible issues with a particular server, and not the network infrastructure. This theory can be further investigated by looking at the performance metrics for the server in question.
Use the Web Application Transaction monitor’s playback script to verify which servers are used during a problem checkpoint. In the Service Instances panel, click the monitor to view the script, then locate the system that is accessed (e.g., with GET and POST commands). Use this as an investigative starting point: although an application or Web server is often referenced in the script, the problem may be found deeper in the application stack (e.g., a database server to which the referenced Web server makes calls during the checkpoint).
Using Web Transaction Performance in SLA Reports
Your Web applications typically call on systems on the application and database tiers, as well as make use of internal- and external-facing network devices. Because the Web Application Transaction monitor directly reports on the performance of a Web transaction, it in effect indirectly reports on the health of your IT infrastructure as a whole.
This broad reporting coverage makes the Web Application Transaction monitor an ideal monitor to include in service level agreement reports.
For more information on SLA reports, see Reports for Service Level Agreements.
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