Agents Administration - Tests
 

Configuration of CtxNsLBTest

For each virtual server configured on the NetScaler appliance, this test does the following:

  • Verifies and promptly reports the non-availability / abnormal state of the virtual servers;
  • Continuously monitors the load on the load-balancing virtual servers and reveals how well each server processes client requests;
  • Detects inconsitencies in load-balancing early on;
  • Warns administrators of these deviations proactively;
  • Helps initiate changes in the load-balancing algorithm (if required);

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.

  • Specify the host for which the test is to be configured in the HOST text box.

  • To monitor a NetScaler device, the eG agent should be configured with the credentials of a user with read-only privileges to the target NetScaler device. Specify the credentials of such a user in the NETSCALER USERNAME and NETSCALER PASSWORD text boxes.

  • Confirm the password by retyping it in the CONFIRM PASSWORD text box.

  • The eG agent collects performance metrics by invoking NITRO (NetScaler Interface Through Restful interfaces and Objects) APIs on the target Netscaler device. Typically, the NITRO APIs can be invoked through the HTTP or the HTTPS mode. By default, the eG agent invokes the NITRO APIs using the HTTPS mode. This is why, the SSL flag is set to Yes by default. If the target Netscaler device is not SSL-enabled, then the NITRO APIs can be accessed through the HTTP mode only. In this case, set the SSL flag to No.

  • The default setting of the SHOW UP SERVER ONLY flag is No; this indicates that this test, by default, monitors all the load-balancing virtual servers configured on the NetScaler appliance. If you want the test to monitor only those virtual servers that are up and running currently, then set this value to Yes.

  • By default, SHOW PRIMARY NODE ONLY flag is set to No; this indicates that this test, by default, monitors and report metrics for both primary and secondary nodes in the target environment. If you wish the test to monitor only the primary node, then set this flag to Yes.

  • Provide a comma-separated list of virtual server names or name patterns that need to be excluded from monitoring. By default, the EXCLUDE SERVERS is set to none, indicating that all virtual servers are by default monitored.

  • To make diagnosis more efficient and accurate, the eG system 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 for a specific 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 check box will appear in this page. Clicking on this check box 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.