Set up your environment to manage performance

The iSeries server includes several tools that regularly collect system performance data and monitor your system for performance trends and potential problems. Your unique requirements and environment will determine both the tools you choose to invest in and the configuration choices you should make. Effectively setting up your system will allow you to do accurate capacity planning as your system grows and to resolve performance problems when they occur.

Use the following topics to learn about and configure tools that will collect, monitor, and analyze your system performance.

Collection Services

Collection Services manages the routine collection of your system performance data. This tool regularly collects data and creates archives called collection objects. These collection objects may be accessed directly by some tools or converted into sets of database files for analysis with your own custom queries or by other tools and reports. Because Collection Services mainly provides data for other applications, the other tools you are using will significantly affect your configuration choices, including how frequently you collect data, the types of data you collect, and the length of time you will keep the data on your system.

PM iSeries

PM iSeries uses Collection Services to gather non-proprietary performance data, and sends it to IBM^® for storage and expert analysis. This eliminates the need to store and maintain it yourself. You can then access detailed reports and recommendations about your system's performance with a web browser.

iSeries Navigator monitors

The monitors included in iSeries Navigator use Collection Services data to track the elements of system performance of specific interest to you. Moreover, they can take specified actions when certain events, such as the percentage of CPU utilization or the status of a job, occur. Use this topic to learn how to use these monitors and how to set them up on your system.