Tracking System Performance

Tracking system performance for the IBM® System i™ products server helps you to identify trends that can help you tune your system configuration and make the best choices about when and how to upgrade your system. Moreover, when problems occur it is essential to have performance data from before and after the incident to narrow down the cause of the performance problem and to find an appropriate resolution.

The System i server includes several applications for tracking performance trends and maintaining a historical record of performance data. Most of these applications use the data collected by Collection Services. You can use Collection Services to watch for trends in the following areas:

1. System resource utilization is used to plan and specifically tailor system configuration changes and upgrades.
2. Identify stress on physical components of the configuration.
3. Provide balance between the use of system resources by interactive jobs and batch jobs during peak and normal usage.
4. Collection Services data can be used to accurately predict the effect of configuration changes (for example, adding user groups, increasing interactive jobs) and other changes.
5. Identify jobs that might be causing problems with other activity on the system.
6. Determine utilization level and trends for available communication lines.

 The following tools will help you monitor your system performance over time:

Collection Services

Collection services gathers performance data at user-defined time intervals and then stores this information in collection objects on your system. Many of the other tools (including monitors, Graph history, IBM® PM iSeries™, and many functions in the Performance Tools licensed program) rely on these collection objects for their data.

 

Graph history

Graph history displays performance data that was collected with Collection Services over a specified period of time through a graphical user interface (GUI). The length of time available for display depends on how long you are retaining the collection objects and whether you are using PM iSeries.

 

PM iSeries

PM iSeries automates the collection, archiving, and analysis of system performance data and returns clear reports to help you manage system resources and capacity.