How OTG Monitors the Server Cluster

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Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

This section briefly discusses the tools that the administrators in the Operations and Technology Group (OTG) use to monitor the condition and configuration of the Exchange server cluster. Proactive monitoring has several key components that include managing performance, configuration, and fault tolerance. The primary monitoring tool OTG uses is Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM).

Microsoft Operations Manager

OTG relies on Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM) as a proactive tool to monitor the health of its Exchange environment. MOM consolidates event performance and alert data in a centralized database. Cluster administrators can use this data to anticipate and react to server conditions.

MOM includes predefined downloadable solutions called Management Pack modules. Management Pack modules provide immediate monitoring of specific application and environments such as Exchange 2003. The Exchange module includes built-in knowledge of common problems. In addition, documentation is included to begin the steps to resolve issues when MOM identifies problems.

With the Exchange module, OTG can proactively manage and report on Exchange 2003 installations, which helps to avoid outages. For example, the Management Pack Exchange module performs the following tasks to alert OTG of possible critical conditions:

  • Monitors vital performance data, which can indicate that the server is running low on resources.

  • Collects important warning and error events from Exchange 2003 servers and alerts operators to problems.

  • Monitors disk capacity and alerts operators when disk capacity is running low.

  • Provides knowledge about which Exchange files are on the affected drives.

  • Monitors the Exchange services that are expected to be running on a specific server.

  • Monitors whether an Exchange database can actually be reached by a MAPI client logon, which verifies both the Exchange database and the Active Directory functionality.

  • Monitors high queue lengths that are caused when e-mail cannot be sent to a destination server.

  • Monitors and alerts operators to a high number of simultaneous connections, which can indicate a denial-of-service attack.

  • Monitors configuration errors or resource shortages affecting service levels.

In addition, OTG uses MOM to monitor backup and restore of all Exchange servers from a central console.

Other Monitoring Tools

OTG uses a variety of other tools besides MOM to monitor and report the overall performance of servers and Exchange 2003.

  • HP Storage Management Appliance (SMA). The SMA is a centralized, appliance-based monitoring and management server for the storage area network (SAN) fabric. The SMA performs management functions without involving the host servers and allows data transfers to proceed independently between servers and storage devices whether the appliance is operating or not. OTG primarily uses the SMA to remotely manage regional and local SANs.

  • HP Open SAN Manager. This tool provides a Web-based aggregation and entry point (or portal) for all SMA software applications. With this tool, administrators can organize, visualize, configure, and monitor storage from a single navigation point on the SAN. It also provides a centralized launch site for a variety of external management applications (that is, fabric management).

  • Command View EVA (HSV Element Manager). This is a graphical storage monitoring and configuration tool for the HP StorageWorks Enterprise Virtual Array (EVA). Administrators can use it to remotely manage HP SANs.

  • HP StorageWorks Secure Path. Secure Path is multipath software that manages and maintains continuous data access to HP storage systems to ensure that no single point of failure occurs from server to storage. Secure Path is host-resident software that monitors the data paths between server and storage to increase availability of information.

  • Secure Path Manager 4.0x. This tool provides simplified management of secure paths through a Web-based GUI that can integrate with the Storage Management Appliance. This tool can host and store views of preferred and available paths.