# Glossary

3-tier architecture

  The Sun Management Center server stands between the Sun Management Center console on one end and the Sun Management Center agents on the other.

  Sun Management Center agents provide the data required for manageability.

  Sun Management Center console components provide the system monitoring, control, and configuration user interfaces.

  The Sun Management Center server acts as a request broker between the agent and the console.

ACE

  Authentication, Compression, Encryption. The ACE layer provides authentication, compression, and encryption functions for communication across the interface.

ACLs

  Access Control Lists. The Sun Management Center agent MIB supports the specification of multiple levels of SNMP read or write access controls. These access control (ACL) specifications define the minimum security level required of users and/or groups to perform SNMP read or write operations on objects in the MIB.

active nodes

  An active node is a managed object or managed property that has refresh information associated with.

agent

  A software process, usually specific to a particular local managed host, that carries out manager requests and makes local system and application information available to remote users.

agent MIB

  The MIB that corresponds to a specific agent.

alarm

  An abnormal event, which may be indicative of current or impending problems, is detected by a Sun Management Center agent. The agent passes information about the abnormal event to the Sun Management Center server. The server passes this information on to the user as an alarm when the abnormal event matches a predefined alarm threshold.

alarm acknowledgment

  Sun Management Center users can acknowledge alarms indicating that the alarm does not represent a serious problem or that the problem is being resolved. Acknowledged alarms take a lower priority than unacknowledged alarms.

alarm file

  The Alarm File defines information used by alarm checks performed on managed properties. This file is loaded by the Agent File.

API

  Application Programming Interface. Examples are alarm API, authenticate API, data API, and so forth.

Attribute Editor

  A window that provides information about the selected object. In addition, the Attribute Editor in the Sun Management Center software enables you to customize various monitoring criteria for that object. The monitoring criteria are dependent on the type of object. There are Attribute Editors for domains, hosts, modules, and data properties.

Base-modules.dat file

  This file contains three module entries: `mib2-system`, `agent-stats`, and `fscan+syslog`.

Bourne shell service

  Essentially an object maintaining a pipe to one or more shell processes to which commands can be directed and the results returned asynchronously.

check operations

  Provides a mechanism for triggering refresh operations based on some criteria tested by the check operation.

community

  A string similar to a password that is used to authenticate access to an agent's monitored data.

complex alarm

  A complex alarm is based on a set of conditions becoming true. Unlike simple alarms, you cannot set thresholds for complex alarms. See also simple alarm.

console window

  A graphical user interface component of Sun Management Center software based on Java technology that is used to view monitored hosts (and managed objects) information and status and to interact with Sun Management Center agents.

DAQ

  Data aquisition.

data cascade

  The dissemination of a buffer of data into a tree of managed objects and managed properties is known as the data cascade.

derived nodes

  Derived nodes establish dependency relationships with the nodes on which they rely through the use of the refresh triggers specification.

digitalFilter

  This function provides a multiply and accumulate function to provide digital filtering capabilities.

discovery

  A Sun Management Center tool available from the main console window that is used to find hosts, routers, networks, and Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) devices that can be reached from the Sun Management Center server.

domain

  An arbitrary collection of hosts and networks that are monitored by the software as a single hierarchal entity. Users may choose to divide their enterprise into several domains, each to be managed by different users.

dynamic loadable modules

  A Sun Management Center agent module that can be loaded or unloaded at runtime, enabling monitored properties to be displayed on the main console window without having to restart the console or agent.

event

  An occurrence that triggers a change in the state of a managed object.

enterprise module parameter

  The enterprise module parameter is used to specify the OIDs file in which the location of the module is defined.

getFilter

  The getFilter qualifier specifies a Tcl command or procedure that is used to convert the data from how it is stored (in the data slice) to how it is returned after a 'get' operation. To function properly, the type of the object needs to match the type of the output of the getFilter.

file scanning

  The act of scanning a file (usually a log file) for certain patterns (regular expressions) that may be indicative of problems or significant information. Sun Management Center agents use file scanning to assist in the monitoring of systems and applications when these components do not provide direct access to status information.

filter file

  These filters are used to extract the pertinent information from the raw results of data acquisition commands.

fileFilter

  The filter file defines data filters implemented with Tcl/TOE procedures. These filters are used to extract the pertinent information from the raw results of data acquisition commands.

hardware modules

  These modules mamage hardware for the host on which the agent is running. For example boards, SIMMs, and so on.

hierarchy view

  A window view that defines objects in a hierarchy or tree relationship to one another. Objects are grouped depending on the rank of the object in the hierarchy.

initHoldoff

  This qualifier specifies the time, in time specification, to wait before running the refresh command for the first time.

initInterval

  This qualifier specifies, in time specification, the time window within which the node should run the refresh command for the first time after the module initializes.

instance

  A single word or alpha-character string that is used internally within the Sun Management Center agent to identify uniquely a particular module or a row within a module.

internal service

  The internal service should be specified when the refresh command is a Tcl/TOE command or procedure to be executed in the current node's context.

localization/internationalization

  Sun Management Center consoles and associated GUI clients operate in a global environment. To do this, a mechanism is required to isolate the language dependent code/information from the language independent code and provide a straightforward method for graphical developers to reference the language dependent information.

managed entities

  The physical and logical components of a system that are being managed. For example disks, boards, hosts and networks.

managed object table primitive

  This branch primitive is used in conjunction with the MANAGED-OBJECT-TABLE-ENTRY primitive when constructing a managed object with a table of managed properties

manage

  In Sun Management Center software, manage is defined as being able to monitor, as well as manipulate an object. For example, management privileges include acknowledging and closing alarms, loading and unloading modules, changing alarm thresholds, and so on. Management privileges are similar to read, write, and execute access.

managed object classes

  Building blocks used to model managed entities.

mandatory parameters

  All modules must specify the standard set of parameters.

managed object primitive

  A primitive used by managed object nodes that are branch nodes in the object tree.

managed property classes

  These classes are used to group together related managed properties of one managed object .

managed property class

  This primitive is used to group related managed properties of a managed object together.

MEL

  pg 396

MIB

  Management Information Base. A MIB is a hierarchical database schema describing the data available from an agent. The MIB is used by Sun Management Center agents to store monitored data that can be accessed remotely.

MIB node service

  This type of service should be used when the refresh command is to be executed in the context of another MIB node.

model file

  Defines the building blocks used to monitor an entity to be managed.

module

  A software component that can be loaded dynamically to monitor data resources of systems, applications and network devices.

monitor

  In Sun Management Center software, monitor is defined as being able to observe an object, view alarms and properties. Monitoring privileges are similar to read-only access.

nested managed object

  This managed object contains other managed objects.

node

  A node is a workstation or server.

object

  A particular resource (computer host, network interface, software process, and so on), which is subject to monitoring or management by Sun Management Center software. A managed object is one that you can manipulate. For example, you can acknowledge and turn off an alarm condition for an object that you can manage. A monitored object is one that you can observe but not acknowledge or otherwise manage.

object manager primitive

  This primitive is used to identify the start of a subtree in the hierarchy where the contents of the subtree may change and must be discovered dynamically.

operating system modules

  These modules manage operating system entities for the host on which the agent is running. For example swap, cpu usage, and so on.

optional parameters

  These additional parameters are specified in the module's Parameter File to facilitate user input for the requisite information when the module is loaded.

pctFilter

  This function computes the value of a named managed property as a percentage of another managed property.

passive nodes

  Nodes that do not actively collect data but instead have data cascaded into them.

Parameter File

  Specifies the parameters which the module requires when it is loaded by the agent.

Prevalidate Actions

  The purpose of prevalidate actions is to ensure that the value can be set into the node

postrowActions

  These actions are triggered to execute after the set but before the postvalidate actions.

Postvalidate Actions

  Post-validate actions can be specified to validate the set value.

procedure file

  Objects in the MIB tree may need to perform special data acquisition functions or alarm status actions.This provides a simple mechanism to override or extend the functionality of the core MIB object primitives.

rCompareRule

  This rule performs numeric comparisons, regular expression checks, or string comparisons.

rateFilter

  This function accepts the name of a managed property and returns the rate of change per second for the managed property since the previous sample.

reference node

  Reference nodes are objects that are loaded for use as a template in the model file.

refreshFilter

  The refreshFilter qualifier specifies a Tcl command or procedure that is used to process the data acquired by the refresh command.

refreshMode Qualifier

  The refreshMode qualifier specifies the execution mode of the refresh command.

refresh operation

  The refresh operation consists of performing DAQ and disseminating the acquired data into the appropriate managed property nodes.

refreshParams

  The refreshParams qualifier can be used to specify arguments to be passed to the refresh command.

refresh service

  A refresh service is an object within the agent that can be used for the purposes of data acquisition.

refreshTrigger

  Derived nodes establish dependency relationships with one or more nodes on which they rely on through the use of the refresh triggers specification.

remote modules

  Capable of managing entities on remote hosts. For example Oracle, Sybase, and so on.

remote server context

  A remote server context refers to a collection of Sun Management Center agents and a particular server layer with which the remote agents are associated.

request caching

  The Sun Management Center server consolidates duplicate outstanding requests originating from multiple consoles and eliminates the execution of redundant requests.

rollbackActions

  The purpose of rollback actions is to restore the state of the object after the failed set.

RMI

  Remote Method Invocation.

rule

  A rule is an alarm check mechanism that allows for complex or special purpose logic in determining the status of a monitored host or node.

seed

  The password for the Sun Management Center user group called `esmaster`. The seed is an alpha-numeric string of up to 8 characters. (This is not necessarily a UNIX password.) You can select your own seed, or accept the default seed (`maplesyr`) provided by the Sun Management Center software. If you select your own seed, be sure to record it for later reference.

shadow MIB

  supports SNMP access to attributes associated with the managed objects and properties in the agent MIB

superior service

  The superior service should be specified when the refresh command is a Tcl/TOE command or procedure to be executed in the context of the current node's superior in the tree hierarchy.

server

  The collection of programs and processes (SNMP-based trap, event, topology, configuration, and Java server) that work on behalf of a Sun Management Center user to help manage a particular set of networks, hosts and devices. Usually sends requests to Sun Management Center agents, accepts collected data from them, and passes the data to the main console window for display.

server context

  See "remote server context."

setActions

  The setActions specification defines one or more actions to execute when the value of the object is set via SNMP.

simple alarm

  Simple alarms are based on one condition becoming true. You may set alarm thresholds for simple alarms.

SNMP

  Simple Network Management Protocol. A complex protocol designed to allow networked entities (hosts, routers, and so on) to exchange monitoring information.

SNMP Service

  The SNMP service should be specified when the refresh command is an SNMP get request for acquiring data from another SNMP agent.

SNMPv2 usec

  SNMP version 2, user-based security model security standards.

Sun Management Center superuser

  Sun Management Center superuser is a valid user on a server host. The superuser decides what the agents are in the context of the server. By default, the superuser password is used as a seed for security key generation.

Sun Management Center user

  Sun Management Center users are the members of the `symon` group in the
  `/etc/group` file.

tableRateFilter

  This function is similar to rateFilter function, except that it operates on a list of data instead of a scalar.

Tcl

  Tool Command Language.

testcallback

  This is a reserved word. This is encountered in the context of the TCL `triggerCommandorMethod` command.

Time

  A time specification format that permits the entry of complex time specifications, including time windows, specific points in time, and time intervals.

timeoutInterval

  If the refresh command does not complete within the specified time out interval, then the command will be aborted.

transposeFilter

  A useful data filter is the transposeFilter, which can be used to transpose a table of data

TOE

  Tcl Object Extension.

tooltip

  Proxy monitoring.

topology view

  The topology view displays the members of the object selected in the hierarchy view.

transposeFilter

  TransposeFilter can be used to transpose a table of data.

updateFilter

  The update filter specifies a Tcl command or procedure that is used to process the data being cascaded into the passive node.

URL

  Uniform Resource Locator. A URL is a textual specification describing a resource which is network-accessible.

userFilter

  Loops through each line to determine the console user and count the number of unique users and sessions.

.x file

  A Sun Management Center file used to represent TOE objects.

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