Agents Administration - Tests
 

Configuration of MsSqlThreadStTest

This test monitors the thread utilization on the target Microsoft SQL server, and alerts administrators to insufficiency of threads and excessive/abnormal utilization. Additionally, the test also tracks the idle threads and threads and in the queue, thus revealing if the SQL Server Database Engine is configured to process the workload. In the process, administrators are also notified on the count of threads that are waiting for CPU resources.

The default parameters associated with this test are:

  • The TEST PERIOD list box helps the user to decide how often this test needs to be executed. By default, this is set to 60 minutes.

  • In the HOST text box, specify the IP address of the Microsoft SQL server.

  • Specify the port number through which the Microsoft SQL server communicates in the PORT text box. The default port is 1433.

  • If a Microsoft SQL Server 7.0/2000 is monitored, then provide the name of a SQL user with the Sysadmin role in USER text box. While monitoring a Microsoft SQL Server 2005 or above, provide the name of a SQL user with all of the privileges outlined in User Privileges Required for Monitoring Microsoft SQL server.

  • Specify the password corresponding to the mentioned user in the PASSWORD textbox.

  • Confirm the PASSWORD by retyping it in the CONFIRM PASSWORD textbox.

  • Enter the name of a specific Microsoft SQL instance that is to be monitored against INSTANCE parameter. The default value of this parameter is “default”. To monitor a Microsoft SQL instance named “CFS”, enter this as the value of the Instance parameter.

  • By default, none is displayed in the DOMAIN text box. If the ‘SQL server and Windows’ authentication has been enabled for the server being monitored, then the Domain can continue to be none. On the other hand, if ‘Windows only’ authentication has been enabled, then, in the Domain text box, specify the Windows domain in which the managed Microsoft SQL server exists. Also, in such a case, the User name and Password that you provide should be that of a user authorized to access the monitored SQL server.

  • In some Windows networks, NTLM (NT LAN Manager) may be enabled. NTLM is a suite of Microsoft security protocols that provides authentication, integrity, and confidentiality to users. NTLM version 2 (“NTLMv2”) was concocted to address the security issues present in NTLM. By default, the ISNTLMV2 flag is set to No, indicating that NTLMv2 is not enabled by default on the target Microsoft SQL host. Set this flag to Yes if NTLMv2 is enabled on the target host.

  • If the value of ISPASSIVE chosen is Yes, then the Microsoft SQL server under consideration is a passive server in a SQL cluster. No alerts will be generated if the server is not running. Measures will be reported as “Not applicable” by the agent if the server is not up.

  • By default, the SSL flag is set to No, indicating that the target Microsoft SQL server is not SSL-enabled by default. To enable the test to connect to an SSL-enabled Microsoft SQL server, set the SSL flag to Yes.

  • DD FREQUENCY refers to the frequency with which detailed diagnosis measures are to be generated for this test. The default is 1:1. This indicates that, by default, detailed measures will be generated every time this test runs, and also every time the test detects a problem. You can modify this frequency, if you so desire. Also, if you intend to disable the detailed diagnosis capability for this test, you can do so by specifying none against DD FREQUENCY.

  • To make diagnosis more efficient and accurate, eG embeds an optional detailed diagnostic capability. With this capability, the eG agents can be configured to run detailed, more elaborate tests as and when specific problems are detected. To enable the detailed diagnosis capability of this test, by default, for a particular server, choose the On option against DETAILED DIAGNOSIS. To disable the capability, click on the Off option.

    The option to selectively enable/disable the detailed diagnosis capability will be available only if the following conditions are fulfilled:

    • The eG manager license should allow the detailed diagnosis capability.

    • Both the bad and normal frequencies configured for the detailed diagnosis measures should not be 0.

  • If multiple components of the same component type are awaiting configuration, then an APPLY TO OTHER COMPONENTS button will appear in this page. Clicking on this button will allow you to apply the configuration to all/selected components of that type.

  • Once the necessary values have been provided, clicking on the UPDATE button will register the changes made.

When changing the configuration for specific servers, a “*” beside the text box corresponding to the parameter signifies that these values have to be manually configured by the user. The parameter values that require to be configured will typically be prefixed with a “$” or contain a series of “*”. A value of “none” in the parameter value indicates that the corresponding parameter value can be changed if required.