Overview

High Availability software is only part of the solution in today’s distributed solutions, ensuring the system is always available requires notification of any system events that could impede application processing or lead to a system loss. This is not only pertinent for the production system but also for the recovery system, we have seen a number of occasions where an unmonitored recovery system has been offline for a significant period of time due to a lack of monitoring.

Nagios is a well-known player in the Enterprise Monitoring Solution market but has very little IBM i integration, even with the community plugins provided. At Shield Advanced Solutions we looked initially at the available plugins provided by community members and IBM to add monitoring of the IBM i to Nagios but soon decided that an alternative approach would be required, this resulted in a new agent for the IBM i and a new plugin for Nagios.

AAG is the Nagios plugin that allows system stats to be collected from the IBM i and reported back to Nagios, while NG4i is the IBM i responder application that provides the data back to AAG. NG4i is provided as an IBM LPP. Configuration is very simple using the panel groups provided, this means an IBM i instance can be installed and running in minutes.

Since V2R0-100323 AAG now supports the ability to monitor the HMC. Shield provides HMC specific check_commands and handles communication between your Nagios enviroment and the HMC, in a similar manner to how AAG monitors your IBM i.

Raspberry Pi

AAG is able to run on many different Linux platforms. We have had great success using a credit card sized Linux board called Raspberry Pi. Shield is able to provide a plug and play solution for your monitoring by shipping a pre-configured and assembled RPi that is matched to your infastructure. There is no need to question the relyability/longevity of micro-SD cards as all RPis provided by Shield will be converted to support NVMe drives. Due to the current chip shortage around the world, Raspberry Pis are in short supply. Contact us today to check availability.

Request a Demo TODAY!

With AAG being Shield's most recent development we are offering demos in order to provide a more personalized overview of our new solution. Contact us today to request a demo and find out what AAG can do for you!

FREE Demo

Pushover Notification Integration

AAG has been developed to alert users of their infrastructure's status as quickly and efficiently as possible. In order to keep the user informed AAG uses several methods of notification. Nagios provides standard email notification for host or service issues. To improve upon this AAG also implements the Pushover API to send notifications either directly to a user's device or broadcast to a user group.

Pushover is a cost effective, single purchase application that provides simple and effective notifications to either apple, android or a browser interface. Find out more here.

Integrated into the AAG Linux distribution is NagiosTV developed by Chris Carey. This browser application provides the user with realtime, accurate information regarding the status of their Nagios infrastructure.

HA4i Check Commands

The following list are the possible check commands to be run against an IBM i host. This set of commands relates to Shield's product HA4i and allow the user to monitor the host's replication status.

check_HA4i_RATE	Transfer rate between the HA4i MGT and NET system.
check_HA4i_APY	Apply status from the *NET system.
check_HA4i_RJRN	List each remote journal that is configured.
check_HA4i_OBJ	Object replication status from the *MGT system.
check_HA4i_SPLF	Spool file replication status from the *MGT system.
check_HA4i_SYNC	Sync Manager status from the *MGT system.
check_HA4i_RJOBS	Number of HA4i responder jobs running on the system.
check_HA4i_SPLFW	Number of spool files that have been marked for replication but are still waiting to be sent to the remote system.
check_HA4i_IJRN	Number of *INACTIVE journals, configured for replication.
check_HA4i_STATUS	HA4i Server status for each critical server running in the HA4i subsystem.
check_HA4i_AUDSTS	Returns information on the last audit that was run. Severity can be set on whether the audit has finished or not.
check_HA4i_NEWLIB	Lists libraries that have been added but not configured for replication.
check_HA4i_NEWDEV	Lists devices that have been created but not configured for replication.
check_HA4i_ROLESWAP	Returns information on the last Role-Swap.
check_HA4i_AUDERR	Returns any HA4i audits reporting errors in the last 24 hours.
check_HA4i_RSREADY	Returns Role swap ready state between your HA4i LPARs.

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EM4i Check Commands

This set of commands relates to Shield's product EM4i and allow the user to monitor the host's message monitoring application.

check_EM4i_RESPWAIT	Number of *INQ messages which EM4i is waiting for responses to.
check_EM4I_EMLOG	Returns Email notifications sent out by EM4i.
*NEW check_EM4I_MSGCFG	Returns unconfigured message IDs that EM4i picked up.

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Shield General Check Commands

This set of commands are Shield's general use commands. Using these checks a user is able to monitor general values on an IBM i.

check_Shield_KEYEXP	Number of days until a LPP license key expires.
check_Shield_SBSSRCH	Number of jobs running in a specified subsystem, with a *MSGW status.
check_Shield_JOBSRCH	Number of jobs that are running matching specified search criteria.
check_Shield_RPYW	Number of messages awaiting a reply in a specific message queue.
check_Shield_DSBPRF	Number of profiles that are in a disabled state.
check_Shield_SBSJOB	Number of active jobs for a given subsystem.
check_Shield_JOBQ	Number of jobs on a specified job queue.
check_Shield_RCVR	Quantity and total size of the receivers in a specified Library.
check_Shield_CACHEBAT	Cache battery state and quantity.
check_Shield_UPDLVL	Returns the information about an installed shield product. Displays PTF level, latest updates and maintenance expiry.
check_Shield_PRDSYNC	Ensures AAG and NG4i are in-sync after updates.
check_Shield_APTUPD	Returns information about possible apt updates for linux distro. Run this command against localhost of Nagios.
check_Shield_PTF	Returns PTF levels for OS. If a PTF is not up to date, both latest and installed levels are displayed.
check_Shield_JOBSCDE	Checks the status of a job schedule entry. Returns success state and time of last / next submission.
check_Shield_SSLCERT	Returns number of SSL Certificates expiring in the next x days is set in configs.
check_Shield_DSKSTS	Displays number of disks reported / configured and any disk errors.
check_Shield_UPTIME	Returns the number of Min since last IPL.
check_Shield_SYSVAL	Compares returned system value against a passed in parameter.
check_Shield_SECUPD	Returns security bulletins from IBM since a specified date.
check_Shield_AUTUPD	Can be configured to automatically update AAG OR notify users when an update is available for AAG.
check_Shield_RCVRBKLG	Returns a specified journal receiver backlog and estimated number of minutes to clear.
check_Shield_PING	Returns ping response time between IBM i and another address.
check_Shield_OSLVL	Returns current OS level on IBM i.
check_Shield_ASPSTS	Returns current status of passed ASP.
check_Shield_ASPAVL	Returns disk space available on passed ASP.
check_Shield_ASPMIR	Returns current mirror status of passed ASP.
check_Shield_ASPLIFE	Percentage of life remaining for NVMe drives in passed ASP.
check_Shield_ASPDSK	Returns Disk status for passed ASP.
check_Shield_ASPOVRFLW	Amount of overflow storage for passed ASP.
check_Shield_ASPGEOSTS	Geographic mirror data status.
check_Shield_DMGOBJ	Number of damaged objects in a library.
check_Shield_DEVSTS	Returns device status.
check_Shield_TOPINTTRANS	Top x jobs by interactive transactions.
check_Shield_TOPINTRS	Top x jobs by interactive response time.
check_Shield_TOPCPUTIME	Top x jobs by CPU time(ms).
check_Shield_TOPCPU	Top x jobs by CPU(%).
check_Shield_TOPDSKIO	Top x jobs by disk I/O.
check_Shield_JOBCPU	Returns the information about jobs that match the entered parameters specific to the CPU used and the runtime.
check_Shield_JOBSTG	Returns the information about jobs that match the entered parameters specific to the QTEMP size and the temporary storage used.
check_Shield_DQECOUNT	Returns number of data queue entries.
check_Shield_LIBSIZE	Returns library size.
check_Shield_WRKPRB	Problems on the IBM i returned by WRKPRB.
check_Shield_OUTQC	Returns spoolfile count on an out queue.
check_Shield_SSTP	Returns Status, Password Expiry or Password expiry Date of a SST Profile.
check_Shield_JOBESTS	Returns job END Status. Uses search criteria to pull single or multiple jobs.
check_Shield_PORTCONN	Returns connected users on a specified port.
check_Shield_PGMEXP	Returns Program exit point registered status.
check_Shield_QHST	Returns messages on QHST.
check_Shield_JOBFUNC	Returns jobs running specified function.
check_Shield_JOBSBSSTS	Returns jobs with specific status in subsystem.
check_Shield_FMWR	Returns system firmware level and if there are updates available.
check_Shield_USRCLS	Returns list of user profiles by user class.
check_Shield_SPCAUTH	Returns list of user profiles by Special Authority.
check_Shield_CPURESET	CPU usage with reset flag.
check_Shield_STLUSR	Returns count and list of Stale Users.
check_Shield_UPFFL	Returns count of failed loggins for user profile.
check_Shield_UPFSTS	User profile Status.
check_Shield_UPFPWDE	Days until password expiry for a user profile.
check_Shield_UPFCLS	User profile class.
check_Shield_UPFSA	User profile special authorities.
check_Shield_UPFSTG	Storage used by a user profile.
check_Shield_UPFEXP	User Profile Expiry Date.
check_Shield_MSGSEV	Messages in the last x min filterd by Severity.
check_Shield_JOBSCDE2	JOBSCDE Status with additional details compared to check_Shield_JOBSCDE.
*NEW check_Shield_IFSSTR	Search for SubString within an IFS file.
*NEW check_Shield_DTAASTR	Search for SubString within a Data Area.

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PowerHA Check Commands

This set of commands relates to the high availability product PowerHA.

check_PowerHA_SYNC

Returns sync percentage complete for PowerHA.

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BRMS Check Commands

This set of commands relates to the product BRMS.

check_BRMS_WERR	Returns number of Write errors.
check_BRMS_RERR	Returns number of Read errors.
check_BRMS_USED	Returns number of times volume is used.
check_BRMS_FULL	Returns if volume is full.
check_BRMS_EXPD	Returns volume expiry status.
check_BRMS_EDAT	Returns days until volume expiry.
check_BRMS_DUPD	Returns duplication status for media.
check_BRMS_STS	Returns BRMS status for control group.

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MiMiX Check Commands

This set of commands relates to your MiMiX replication status.

check_MMX_JRNSTS	Mimix Journal Status.
check_MMX_SYSSTS	Mimix System Status.
check_MMX_AGSTS	Mimix Application Group Status.
check_MMX_ARSTS	Mimix Reciever Information.
check_MMX_APYSTS	Mimix Apply Status.
check_MMX_CNTRSTS	Mimix Container Replication Status.
check_MMX_CFGCHG	Mimix Config Changes.
check_MMX_OTESTS	Mimix Object Tracking Entries.
check_MMX_ITESTS	Mimix IFS Tracking Entries.
check_MMX_FESTS	Mimix File Tracking Entries.
check_MMX_OBJAPY	Mimix Object Replication Process.
check_MMX_RJLNK	Mimix Remote Journal Link.
check_MMX_SWSTS	Mimix Switch Status.
check_MMX_DBSND	Mimix DB Send Status.

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IBM i Status Check Commands

This set of commands are oriented around the general status of the IBM i.

check_Status_AVLDISK	Available disk as a percentage.
check_Status_TOTDISK	Total disk in GB.
check_Status_AVLDISKGB	Available disk in GB.
check_Status_SYSNAME	System name.
check_Status_SYSSTATE	Returns system state.
check_Status_CPUUSED	Percentage of processor used.
check_Status_NUMJOB	Number of jobs running on system.
check_Status_PADDR	Percentage of permanent addresses used.
check_Status_TADDR	Percentage of temporary addresses used.
check_Status_ASP	Size of system ASP in GB.
check_Status_STORAGE	Total storage size in GB.
check_Status_UNPSTG	Size of unprotected storage in MB.
check_Status_MAXUNPSTG	Max size of unprotected storage in MB.
check_Status_NUMPART	Number of partitions on system.
check_Status_PARTID	Partition ID for host.
check_Status_CPUCAP	Processor capacity as a percentage.
check_Status_CPUSHARE	Processor sharing status.
check_Status_NUMCPU	Number of processors that are licensed.
check_Status_ACTJOB	Number of *ACTIVE jobs running on system.
check_Status_ACTTHD	Number of *ACTIVE threads on system.
check_Status_MAXJOB	Maximum number of jobs on system.
check_Status_TMP256	% of temporary 256MB segments used.
check_Status_PRM256	% of permanent 256MB segments used.
check_Status_TMP4GB	% of temporary 4GB segments used.
check_Status_PRM4GB	% of permanent 4GB segments used.
check_Status_UCAP	% of uncapped CPU used.
check_Status_SPOOL	% of shared processor pool used.
check_Status_MAINMEM	Amount of main memory in GB.
check_Status_PRCTTU	Amount of processor unit time used in ms for each job.
check_Status_INTTRN	Number of interactive transactions per job listed.
check_Status_DBLCKW	Amount of database lock waits per job listed.
check_Status_INTLCW	Amount of internal machine lock waits per job listed.
check_Status_NDBLCKW	Amount of non-database lock waits per job listed.
check_Status_AUXIOR	Amount of auxiliary I/O requests per job listed.
check_Status_PEAKTS	Amount of peak temporary storage per job listed.
check_Status_QTEMPS	Size of QTEMP library in MB per job listed.
check_Status_RESPTT	Total response time in seconds per job listed.
check_Status_TSDBLW	Total seconds spent in database lock wait, per job listed.
check_Status_TSINTL	Total seconds spent in internal lock wait, per job listed.
check_Status_TSNDBL	Total seconds spent in non-database lock wait, per job listed.
check_Status_TMPSTG	Temporary storage used in MB, per job listed.

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HMC Check Commands

AAG now provides the ability to create a HMC host and monitor with the following check_commands.

check_HMC_MSYSCON	Returns managed systems connection status.
check_HMC_MEMSTS	Returns HMC memory status.
check_HMC_SRVEVNT	Returns HMC managed system service events.
check_HMC_SYSLED	Returns managed system LED status.
check_HMC_PARTLED	Returns partition LED status.
check_HMC_MAINTEXP	Returns managed system hardware maintenance expiry.
check_HMC_PARTSTS	Returns partition name, status, os.
check_HMC_UPD	Returns HMC available updates.
check_HMC_MIGSTS	Returns partition migration status.
check_HMC_LOGINS	Returns current loggins via ssh or webui to HMC.
check_HMC_FSSIZE	Returns file system sizes & available space.
check_HMC_CERT	Returns HMC certificate validity.
check_HMC_SYSSRC	Returns managed system SRC code.
check_HMC_PARTSRC	Returns partition SRC code..
check_HMC_SYSFMWR	Returns system firmware level.

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FT4i Check Commands

This set of commands relates to the product FT4i for FTP security.

check_FT4i_LOG

Returns FTP log entries matching criteria.

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VIOS Check Commands

This set of commands relates allows you to monitor your VIOS partitions.

check_VIOS_OSLVL	System OS level.
check_VIOS_SEASTAT	VIOS SEA status.
check_VIOS_USRSTS	VIOS user status.
check_VIOS_ERRLOG	VIOS error log entries.
check_VIOS_ENTSTATUS	VIOS ENT status.
check_VIOS_DEVSTAUS	VIOS device status.
check_VIOS_PVSIZE	Returns VIOS physical volume size.
check_VIOS_FLOGINS	VIOS failed logins.
check_VIOS_VMSTATUS	VIOS VM status.
check_VIOS_FMWRLVL	VIOS firmware level.
check_VIOS_LPARINFO	VIOS LPAR info.

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What's new!

HMC monitoring.
15 HMC specific check_commands.
11 VIOS specific check_commands.
Now available 185+ Nagios check_commands.
Major improvements and Updates across the board.
User profile checks.
Update and install improvements.

More Info

Support

AAG is able to be installed by most IBM i/Nagios administrators, however, if you need assistance we provide highly trained consultants who will be able to install and configure AAG to ensure you are monitoring everything correctly.

Any customer with a current maintenance contract in place can use the support portal to raise tickets for issues and questions they have about the products. The support portal also lists a number of FAQs that can help with product set up and configuration. Any tickets raised via the portal are immediately flagged to the support team to ensure a rapid response to your question(s). Access to the support portal is available Here If you are requested to start a remote desktop session (teamviewer) use the following link to install the correct version of teamviewer from our site Teamviewer Version 8

At-A-Glance Monitoring

ONLY ~$50/month!

Overview

Raspberry Pi

Request a Demo TODAY!

Pushover Notification Integration

HA4i Check Commands

EM4i Check Commands

Shield General Check Commands

PowerHA Check Commands

BRMS Check Commands

MiMiX Check Commands

IBM i Status Check Commands

HMC Check Commands

FT4i Check Commands

VIOS Check Commands

What's new!

Support

AAG Latest Update: 1AAG210 Product level: AAG1072225

NG4i Latest PTF: 1NG2100 Product level: NG4I072225