Skip to main content

Configuring IBM PowerVM Integration

  1. From the Settings tab, click Integrations in the Probes and Integrations section.

    The Integrations page is displayed.

  2. Click View for the software integration.

    The IBM PowerVM page is displayed.

    Table 34. IBM PowerVM Inventory

    Field

    Definition

    Name

    User-defined name for the integration, often the integration IP address or the type of integration. For example, HMC_1 or HMC_2.

    Subscription

    Subscription status: Unsubscribed or Subscribed.

    Last Discovery

    Date and time that the integration was last discovered, discovering for currently discovering, no discovery, Discovery failed, or Warned. For Discovery fail or discovery Warned, you can mouse over the cell shows the error or warning as a tool tip.

    Last Metrics Collection

    Date and time of last metrics collection, Collecting metrics for metrics collection in progress, Metrics collection failed for failed metrics collection, no collection for no metrics collection, or Warned followed by a timestamp for a warning. For both failures and warnings, a mouse-over the cell generates a tool tip.

    You are notified if a software integration fails to collect metrics for two hours. The notification takes the form of a IPM Health Notification alert as well as an email notification.



    At the end of each row is a down arrow, which, if you click it, provides a short cut to Configure, Test Connection, Start Discovery, or Delete the integration in the associated row.

  3. Click New.

    The Discover New Integration for IBM PowerVM Integration page displays.

  4. Make your selections on the Discover New Integration page.

    The default method of discovery and metrics collection is using the HMC, with the HMC executing commands against the VIOS. This provides the simplest method of configuration as only a single SSH connection from the Appliance to the HMC is required. The configuration requires “hmcoperator” privileges to execute commands against the VIOS servers using the “viosrvcmd” functionality. Use of “viosrvcmd” has security implications as it allows root level access to the VIOS without additional authentication.

    The “enable direct VIOS authentication” check box offers an alternative configuration method. This alternative removes the need for “hmcoperator” privileges for the main HMC user and allows that user to run with “hmcviewer” privileges.

    So that the VIOS level information can be discovered (vSCSI disk maps and HBA mappings), an additional service account with view-only privileges is required on each VIOS server to be monitored.

    This account should have common credentials across the VIOS servers and can be authenticated by password or SSH key. There should be network connectivity that allows SSH access between the IPM Appliance and the VIOS to be monitored.

    Complete the information for the Discover New Integration page as follows:

    Field

    Definition

    HMC Hostname

    HMC host name or IP address. Required.

    Username

    Username for the HMC. Required.

    Password or SSH Key

    Password or SSH key for the HMC. Required.

    VIOS Username

    Username for the VIOS. Only required if VIOS direct authentication is in use.

    Password

    Password or SSH key for the VIOS. Only required if VIOS direct authentication is in use.

    The Enable direct VIOS authentication check box enables connection from the Appliance to the VIOS.

  5. Click Next.

    IPM tests the connection (hostname and credentials) and tries to find all the IBM PowerVM Integration hosts. If the VIOS Username and Password are provided, IPM also tests connections to the VIOS. This process can take up to five minutes.

    When this process is complete, the Create New Integration page displays.

  6. The HMC Hostname, Username and Password are carried forward. If the VIOS username and password are provided, they are also carried forward. The Metrics Polling Interval is auto-detected. The Name field is user-configurable.

    Enter the Integration Name.

    By default, regularly scheduled discovery is enabled for IBM PowerVM Integration configurations. If you would like to disable regularly scheduled discovery, uncheck the Enable scheduled discovery check box.

    If you would like to have discovery scheduled regularly, keep the box checked and choose a discovery frequency and time of day. By default, the frequency and time of day for IBM PowerVM Integration is every day and 1am appliance time.

  7. Optionally, click Test Connection to test the connection to the HMC, and VIOS if the VIOS username and password are provided.

  8. The IBM PowerVM Integration Hosts in the IBM PowerVM Integration Hosts table on the Create New Integration for IBM PowerVM Integration window are those IBM PowerVM Integration hosts that were auto-detected.

    Use the information in the IBM PowerVM Integration Hosts table to subscribe/unsubscribe specific IBM PowerVM Integration Hosts. The columns headings in the IBM PowerVM Integration Hosts table are defined as follows:

    Field

    Definition

    Name

    Name of the IBM PowerVM Integration Host.

    IP

    IP address of the IBM PowerVM Integration Host.

    CPU Cores

    Number of CPU cores of the IBM PowerVM Integration Host.

    Sampling Rate

    Sampling rate of IBM PowerVM Integration Host in seconds. Sampling should be enabled on the HMC to allow metric collection to take place.

    If the sampling rate is shown as disabled, IPM is not able to collect metrics from that host.

    Subscription

    Subscribed or Unsubscribed.

  9. All IBM PowerVM Integration Hosts are unsubscribed by default. Subscribe to a IBM PowerVM Integration Host by selecting the IBM PowerVM Integration Host or IBM PowerVM Integration Hosts to which you would like to subscribe and click Subscribe.

  10. Click Save to save all of your changes.

    The Discovery dialog box displays, asking if you want the discovery process to start upon saving. Virtana recommends immediate discovery as no metrics are collected into discovery is complete.

  11. Click Yes to start immediate discovery.

    You return to the main grid of all software integration configurations, and the integration that you just created has "Discovering…" in its last discovery time column.

    If you drill down into the integration configuration again, a banner displays stating that discovery is taking place. While the discovery is taking place you are in read-only mode. You cannot make any changes to the integration or switch configuration.