IBM Tivoli Monitoring for Network Performance V2.1 The Mainframe Network Management Solution

Chapter 6. Monitor implementation and operation 157

Figure 6-22 CSM storage monitoring

6.5.5 Monitoring network interfaces

The network interfaces are used as paths to communicate with the network. A

single z/OS image can have different types of interfaces, such as OSA express

cards, XCF communication links, and channel attached interfaces, such as Cisco

and IBM routers.

The most used network interfaces are the OSA adapters. OSA adapters have

two different configurations: the QDIO mode and the non-QDIO mode or LCS

adapters. To learn more about OSA adapters, refer to the following publications:

򐂰 OSA-Express Customer’s Guide and Reference, SA22-7935 and SA22-7476

򐂰 OSA-Express Implementation Guide, SG24-5948

򐂰 OSA-2 Implementation Guide (Update), SG24-4770

The network interfaces have to be monitored to prevent network congestion and

to ensure that the network definitions are being followed. One of the ways to

verify the network routes and load balancing options is by checking the traffic

flow for inbound and outbound directions.

158 IBM Tivoli Monitoring for Network Performance V2.1: The Mainframe Network Management Solution

To learn more about network interfaces, look at the following documentation:

򐂰 Communication Server for z/OS V1R2 TCP/IP Implementation Guide Volume

4: Connectivity and Routing, SG24-6516

򐂰 z/OS V1R6 Communications Server: IP Configuration Guide, SC31-8775

򐂰 z/OS V1R6 Communications Server: IP Configuration Reference, SC31-8776

The status page shows the interfaces on all systems. Figure 6-23 shows the

interface’s capabilities. There is a filter applied to this page that selects only the

interfaces that have osa on their names.

Figure 6-23 Interface status

In Figure 6-24 on page 159, on the same status page, it is possible, as an

example, to see the maximum MTU supported by the interfaces.

Chapter 6. Monitor implementation and operation 159

Figure 6-24 Interface status (continued)

In Figure 6-25 on page 160, it is possible to monitor the interface statistics, such

as the traffic rate. It is possible to see, for example, if there are two interfaces

connected to the same lan and the TCP/IP profile is set to use multipath;

transmitted octets for both interfaces have to be similar.

160 IBM Tivoli Monitoring for Network Performance V2.1: The Mainframe Network Management Solution

Figure 6-25 Interface unicast performance metrics

For the multicast and broadcast traffic, there is a specific page, Interface

Multicast/Broadcast Performance Metric, which shows information about these

protocols. If the OSPF routing protocol is being used, it will generate some data

for the multicast traffic.