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features.shtml |
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Created by tdb1 30/10/2000 |
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Last edited 10/05/2001 |
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<html> |
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<head> |
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<title>Overview and Features</title> |
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<meta name="description" content="The i-scream Project is a central monitoring system for Unix, Linux and NT servers."> |
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<meta name="keywords" content="i-scream, project, central monitoring system, unix, linux, nt, server, alert"> |
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<meta name="generator" content="notepad on acid, aye."> |
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<center><h3>Key Features of The System</h3></center> |
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<ul> |
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<li>A centrally stored, dynamically reloaded, system wide configuration system</li> |
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<li>A totally extendable monitoring system, nothing except the Host (which |
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generates the data) and the Clients (which view it) know any details about |
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the data being sent, allowing data to be modified without changes to the |
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server architecture.</li> |
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<li>Central server and reporting tools all Java based for multi-platform portability</li> |
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<li>Distribution of core server components over CORBA to allow appropriate components |
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to run independently and to allow new components to be written to conform with the |
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CORBA interfaces.</li> |
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<li>Use of CORBA to create a hierarchical set of data entry points to the system |
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allowing the system to handle event storms and remote office locations.</li> |
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<li>One location for all system messages, despite being distributed.</li> |
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<li>XML data protocol used to make data processing and analysing easily extendable</li> |
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<li>A stateless server which can be moved and restarted at will, while Hosts, |
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Clients, and reporting tools are unaffected and simply reconnect when the |
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server is available again.</li> |
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<li>Simple and open end protocols to allow easy extension and platform porting of Hosts |
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and Clients.</li> |
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<li>Self monitoring, as all data queues within the system can be monitored and raise |
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alerts to warn of event storms and impending failures (should any occur).</li> |
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<li>A variety of web based information displays based on Java/SQL reporting and |
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PHP on-the-fly page generation to show the latest alerts and data</li> |
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<li>Large overhead monitor Helpdesk style displays for latest Alerting information</li> |
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</ul> |
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<center><h3>An Overview of the i-scream Central Monitoring System</h3></center> |
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<p align="left"> |
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The i-scream system monitors status and performance information |
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obtained from machines feeding data into it and then displays |
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this information in a variety of ways. |
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</p> |
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<p align="left"> |
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This data is obtained through the running of small applications |
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on the reporting machines. These applications are known as |
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"Hosts". The i-scream system provides a range of hosts which are |
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designed to be small and lightweight in their configuration and |
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operation. See the website and appropriate documentation to |
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locate currently available Host applications. These hosts are |
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simply told where to contact the server at which point they are |
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totally autonomous. They are able to obtain configuration from |
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the server, detect changes in their configuration, send data |
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packets (via UDP) containing monitoring information, and send |
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so called "Heartbeat" packets (via TCP) periodically to indicate |
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to the server that they are still alive. |
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</p> |
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<p align="left"> |
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It is then fed into the i-scream server. The server then splits |
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the data two ways. First it places the data in a database system, |
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typically MySQL based, for later extraction and processing by the |
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i-scream report generation tools. It then passes it onto to |
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real-time "Clients" which handle the data as it enters the system. |
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The system itself has an internal real-time client called the "Local |
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Client" which has a series of Monitors running which can analyse the |
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data. One of these Monitors also feeds the data off to a file |
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repository, which is updated as new data comes in for each machine, |
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this data is then read and displayed by the i-scream web services |
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to provide a web interface to the data. The system also allows TCP |
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connections by non-local clients (such as the i-scream supplied |
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Conient), these applications provide a real-time view of the data |
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as it flows through the system. |
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</p> |
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<p align="left"> |
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The final section of the system links the Local Client Monitors to |
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an alerting system. These Monitors can be configured to detect |
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changes in the data past threshold levels. When a threshold is |
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breached an alert is raised. This alert is then escalated as the |
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alert persists through four live levels, NOTICE, WARNING, CAUTION |
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and CRITICAL. The alerting system keeps an eye on the level and |
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when a certain level is reached, certain alerting mechanisms fire |
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through whatever medium they are configured to send. |
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