|
|
Traffic Monitor is the most general TrafficDirector network monitoring tool. TrafficDirector gives you a top-level view of your network by monitoring selected MAC-layer statistics for the agents or switches you select (agents must contain the RMON domain).
By monitoring statistics such as utilization, multicasts, and network errors with Traffic Monitor, you can quickly assess the performance and functionality of your network. You can use Traffic Monitor to graphically display network traffic statistics simultaneously for a number of selected agents and compare multiple network segments. You can monitor network traffic patterns to see where bottlenecks are occurring and help isolate and eliminate problems. You can use Traffic Monitor to detect high collision rates, error packets, and broadcast storms, among other conditions.
To begin working with Traffic Monitor, you must be logged in to the network management console where TrafficDirector is installed, and have the TrafficDirector main window open. Select the Traffic radio button to display all the TrafficDirector applications that are related to your network traffic level.
Traffic Monitor lets you monitor all traffic statistics at the MAC level. When you monitor the traffic on your network with Traffic Monitor, you see a complete picture of your network operation.
You can use Traffic Monitor to establish a baseline of normal or expected performance, then note any deviations that might signal layer network problems. You can then launch additional TrafficDirector applications to examine the suspect areas, or simply monitor certain aspects of your network in greater detail.
You can choose from several options to change how information is displayed in the Traffic Monitor window. Depending on the type of devices you are monitoring, you can use some, all, or just one of the available Traffic Monitor display and format options.
Traffic Monitor displays selected network information as graphical displays. These displays give you an at-a-glance overview of your network. From the Format menu in each graphical display main window, you can display selected network data as a 2-D bar graph, a 3-D bar graph or a 3-D pie chart. You can also transpose or invert the displays.
You transpose the bar graph and pie chart displays to create two different views of the same data. In the Traffic Monitor default display, the statistics you select are displayed as functions of different agents. When you group the bar graph or pie chart display by statistic (Format>Group By Stat), the agents are displayed as functions of the statistics.
You can view a bar graph in inverted or horizontal bar format. In this format, the axes of the two bar graph displays (2-D and 3-D) are inverted. Depending on the data you are displaying, you can switch the x and y axes as a matter of viewing preference.
In any 3-D graph, such as a bar graph or pie chart, you can manipulate the elevation, depth, and angle of the displayed graph to increase or decrease the three-dimensional effect.
To manipulate the displayed 3-D graph, take the following steps:
Step 1 Move the cursor over the three-dimensional graph you want to manipulate.
Step 2 Do one of the following:
Step 3 Drag the cursor to manipulate the graph. When the graph is positioned the way you want it, release the mouse buttons.
You can display several different Traffic Monitor windows and select different data types to monitor for each. Each window you open uses additional TrafficDirector resources.
While working with any TrafficDirector multiagent monitoring application, you can view a description of the system information and interface configuration for any agent. See Chapter 16, "Testing the Operational Status of an Agent."
To quickly access agent information from Traffic Monitor, take the following steps:
Step 1 Do one of the following to display the Launch Application window:
The Launch Application window opens. Depending on whether you are viewing statistics for an agent group, switch, or Frame Relay agent, the right list box changes to display agents, ports, or DLCIs.
Step 2 Select Application>Agent Info if it is not already highlighted.
Step 3 Select the agent, port, or DLCI from the list box on the right.
Step 4 Click Launch to display the Agent Information window.
Step 5 When you have read the information, click OK to close the window.
This section, describes how to start and use Traffic Monitor to monitor network traffic patterns and MAC-layer statistics.
To display Traffic Monitor from the TrafficDirector main window and begin monitoring network traffic by MAC-layer statistics, take the following steps:
Step 1 From the Traffic level of the TrafficDirector main window, select the Agent, AgentGroup, Switch, or FrameRelay radio button to display a list of available items for that category.
Step 2 Do one of the following:
Step 3 Click the Traffic Monitor icon.
The Traffic Monitor window for the selected agent, group, or switch opens (Figure 17-1).
You can select the type of data you want to monitor, the type of display, and the sample interval. Although you can only monitor one data type at a time, you can launch several Traffic Monitor windows at the same time.
You can select the type of data you want to monitor by selecting a data type from the View menu. You can monitor the following data types:
| Utilization | The average percentage of bandwidth utilization on the network during the sample interval. |
| Multicasts | The number of multicasts during the sample interval, displayed as a percentage of the network traffic. |
| Broadcasts | The number of broadcasts during the sample interval, displayed as a percentage of the network traffic. |
| Errors | The sum of the total errors that occurred during the sample interval, displayed as a percentage. |
| Collisions | The number of collisions during the sample interval, displayed as a percentage. |
| Vital Signs | The sum of the general status of the network, including broadcast, multicasts, utilization, and errors per second. This is the default. |
| Size Distribution | The number of packets of a given size. |
| Packet Destination | The number of packets being utilized for broadcasts, multicasts, and unicasts. |
| Ethernet Errors | The number of error packets per second when monitoring an Ethernet segment. |
| WAN Errors | The number of errors per second when monitoring a WAN. |
| Frame Relay Errors | The number of errors per second when monitoring a Frame Relay DLCI. |
| FDDI Errors | The number of errors per second when monitoring an FDDI segment. |
| Token Ring Errors | The number of errors per second when monitoring a Token Ring network. |
| Speed | The segment speed in bits per second (bps). |
| Show Agent Name | The name of the agent as defined by the network administrator |
| Show Agent Address | The IP address of the agent's management interface. |
| Agent Information | The system and interface information involving an agent. |
Use Scope to edit your display to include only specific agents when monitoring an agent group or switch. For example, if you are monitoring an agent group consisting of five agents, you can change the scope of your display to focus on only three of those agents.
If you selected a switch before launching TrafficMonitor, Scope lets you edit your display to include:
To change the scope of your display, take the following steps:
Step 1 Select Scope>Agent.
The Scope window, with a list of ports on the switch or the agents you are currently viewing, opens (Figure 17-2).
Step 2 Select only the agents or ports you want to include in the display. Click Select All to include all agents or ports or Clear All to deselect all agents or ports.
Step 3 Click OK to see the redefined display or Cancel to exit Scope without applying any changes.
|
|