HP 3000 Manuals HP 3000 Manuals
GLOSSARY This glossary contains an alphabetized list of some of the terms associated with HP LaserRX/MPE analysis software. Alphanumeric A character set that is composed of numbers or letters or both. Application An HP LaserRX/MPE application is a user-defined group of related processes. Application Bottlenecks Graph The Application Bottlenecks graph displays CPU utilization and physical disc I/Os for each application defined to HP LaserRX/MPE. Application Command An HP LaserRX/MPE command under the Zoom menu that selects a time period and displays a tabular list of the applications that were active in that time period. Application CPU Utilization Graph The Application CPU Utilization graphs display CPU utilization for each application defined to HP LaserRX/MPE in each of the four CPU scheduling queues. Application Data The data that is logged to HP LaserRX/MPE application logfiles that contain measurements of processes combined into user-defined groups (applications). Application Graph An HP LaserRX/MPE graph that displays application data. Application Logfile The raw logfile, LOGAPPL, where the SCOPE(XL) collection program places summarized measurements of the processes in each user-defined group (application). Application Queue Depth Graph The Application Queue Depth graphs display queue depth in terms of CPU, disc, memory, and impede for each application defined to HP LaserRX/MPE. Application Resource Usage Graph The Application Resource Usage graphs display the resources used per terminal transaction for each application defined to HP LaserRX/MPE. Application Response States Graph The Application Response States graphs display application response states ranked by CPU usage. Application Transaction Response Graph The Application Transaction Response graphs display terminal transaction activity and response time for each application defined to HP LaserRX/MPE. ASCII American Standard Code for Information Interchange. ASCII is a set of standard codes representing letters, numbers, and special characters. ASCII codes are used to exchange information between computers and peripheral devices. ASCII File A text file that contains ASCII code, representing letters, numbers, and special characters. The file does not contain any special nonprinting characters. Basic Serial Command File A file containing commands used to connect or disconnect a PC and HP 3000. The default PC file extension for command files used in HP LaserRX/MPE is .CMD. Batch File A file of commands and parameters that can be executed by a single command. Batch files can automatically perform a series of operations on your PC. Batch files on the PC have the .BAT extension. Batch Interface Command An HP LaserRX/MPE command that is entered from the MS-DOS command line. Batch Interface Command File A file containing HP LaserRX/MPE batch interface commands and having the .BIC extension. .BIC files are used to execute more than one batch interface command and overcome MS-DOS command line character limitations. Baud A unit for measuring the data communication speed of standard serial connections (for example, HP 3000 to PC). CD-ROM PC compact disc with read only memory. Collection The HP LaserRX/MPE procedure for gathering HP 3000 performance measurement data on system resource utilization, terminal transaction rates, and response times. The HP LaserRX/MPE SCOPE(XL) collector logs this data into from one to five different logfiles: global, application, process, disc space, and index (on MPE XL systems). Configure Menu An HP LaserRX/MPE menu that you use to set up the default options for connecting to the HP 3000, accessing files, and drawing graphs. Connect LAN An HP LaserRX/MPE command that establishes a LAN connection between HP LaserRX/MPE and a specific HP 3000. Connect Serial An HP LaserRX/MPE command that establishes a serial connection between HP LaserRX/MPE and a specific HP 3000. Copy An HP LaserRX/MPE command that transfers a selected graph from the HP LaserRX/MPE window to the Microsoft Windows clipboard. From the clipboard, the graph can be transferred to another Microsoft Windows application or deleted. CPU Central Processing Unit--The main part of a computer that executes program instructions. Data Communications Mode The method by which the PC and HP 3000 exchange information. Data Point A specific point in time, displayed on an HP LaserRX/MPE graph, in which data has been summarized every 5 minutes, hour, or day. Default Describes an option that is automatically selected or chosen by the system. You can override a default by selecting the appropriate command. Detail Data Raw data that is collected every 5 minutes by SCOPE(XL). Disc Space Graph The Disc Space graph is a stacked graph that shows the total available disc space over time and how it was used. Disc space use varies between MPE XL and MPE V systems. Disc Free Space Graph The Disc Free Space graph is a stacked graph. It displays overall disc free space fragmentation over time by showing the total disc space available in contiguous pieces of varying sizes. Size ranges are in sectors. Disc Space Users Graph Use the Disc Space Users graphs to display the permanent file space used by accounts or disc groups over time. Disc Space--Transient Graph The Disc Space Transient graph shows the Peak transient disc space used each day, the amount of disc space reserved for transient, and the amount of available disc space for permanent files. On MPE XL, space for permanent files may also be used for transient space if necessary. Disc Space--Virtual Graph The Disc Space Virtual graph shows the Peak Virtual disc space used each day, the amount of disc space Reserved for virtual space, and the amount of available disc space for permanent files. Disconnect LAN An HP LaserRX/MPE command that terminates an established LAN connection between HP LaserRX/MPE and an HP 3000. Disconnect Serial An HP LaserRX/MPE command that terminates an established serial connection between HP LaserRX/MPE and an HP 3000. Draw Graphs Command An HP LaserRX/MPE command that you use to display performance measurement graphs on the screen. Edit Menu An HP LaserRX/MPE menu that transfers data to or deletes data from the Microsoft Windows clipboard. Empty Space The difference between the overall size of a logfile and its current size divided by the average number of bytes per day consumed by the data already in the logfile. Encryption/Decryption Altering the contents of a file to make it unreadable by unauthorized users. This is a file security mechanism. Event An event in HP LaserRX/MPE is any series of actions resulting from the execution of one or more commands. Export Logfile An HP LaserRX/MPE command that copies logfile data to a Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet or data base format file. Its functionality is similar to the Export Window command except that it also lets you export more than a window of textual application or process data Export Window An HP LaserRX/MPE command that copies logfile records to a Lotus 1-2-3, flat ASCII format file, or graphics file for use by other programs. Extension The period and three letters at the end of a file name on the PC. An extension identifies what kind of information a file contains. EXTRACT An HP LaserRX/MPE program that allows you to create extracted logfiles (PC format) that contain selected performance data for specific analysis needs. Extracted Logfile A performance measurement logfile created by the HP LaserRX/MPE EXTRACT program. It contains user-selected data ranges and types of data. An extracted logfile is usually smaller than the raw logfile from which it is extracted. It is formatted for optimal access by the PC analysis tool. You can transfer an extracted logfile to a PC disc for local analysis or store it on the HP 3000 for remote access. Extracted logfiles can be either remote or local. Extraction The process of selecting desired data using the HP 3000 EXTRACT program. File Menu An HP LaserRX/MPE menu that (1) establishes or breaks connections to the HP 3000, (2) opens or closes HP LaserRX/MPE logfiles, (3) prints HP LaserRX/MPE graphs on a supported printer, (4) exports selected HP LaserRX/MPE logfile records for use by other programs, and (5) exits HP LaserRX/MPE. File Equations MPE commands used to redirect the file attributes for programs. For example, you may use a file equation to change the name of the extracted file. Global A qualifier implying the whole system. Global Bottlenecks Graph The Global Bottlenecks graph displays system-wide activity for three critical system resources: CPU, disc, and memory, which are areas of potential performance constraint on the computer. Global CPU Utilization Graph The Global CPU Utilization graph displays the use of a computer's central processing unit in terms of the five major consumers of the CPU resource. Global Data The data that is logged to HP LaserRX/MPE global logfiles that contain measurements of the system-wide activity. Global Disc Detail Graph The Global Disc Detail graphs display the utilization percentage and read-write rates for individual discs. Global Disc Summary Graph The Global Disc Summary graph displays the read-write rates (logical, physical, and memory manager) for all disc device input-output activity and the peak utilization of the busiest disc. Global Graph An HP LaserRX/MPE graph that displays global (system-wide) data. Global Jobs & Sessions Graph The Global Jobs & Sessions graph shows the number of interactive sessions and batch jobs that were logged on and busy (that is, consumed some CPU time) during the day. Global Logfile The raw logfile, LOGGLOB, where the SCOPE(XL) collector places summarized measurements of the system-wide workload. Global Physical Disc by Task The Global Physical Disc by Task graph displays overall disc I/O activity attributable to four types of processes: sessions, jobs, system processes, and memory manager Global Queue Depth Graph The Global Queue Depth graph displays the average number of processes using or waiting on resources: CPU, disc, memory, impede Global System CPU Utilization Graph The Global System CPU Utilization is a stacked graph that shows the percentage of CPU used by specific system overhead activities: memory manager, cache (MPE V only), dispatch (MPE XL only), ICS, processes, and paused. Global Transaction Response Graph The Global Transaction Response graph displays system-wide interactive session activity and response time. Graph An HP LaserRX/MPE diagram that displays system performance measurements. Graph Features HP LaserRX/MPE features that allow you to see more specific data, using the vertical and horizontal scroll bar and zoom. Graph Options HP LaserRX/MPE options that determine how data in global, disc space, and application graphs is presented. Help Menu An HP LaserRX/MPE menu that displays help on HP LaserRX/MPE features and options in a special window on your screen. Help Index An HP LaserRX/MPE help command that displays a list of HP LaserRX/MPE topics that you can select to display a help message. Horizontal Scale The X-Axis on an HP LaserRX/MPE graph that represents a time scale or a period of time. Host Computer See "HP 3000 server." HP 3000 Server The HP 3000 in which the HP LaserRX/MPE software is installed to provide you access to remote data. HP LaserRX/MPE An HP 3000 system performance management tool. System managers can use HP LaserRX/MPE to evaluate their system's performance over time. HP OfficeShare Hewlett-Packard's AdvanceNet Personal Computer local area network. See "LAN." ICS Interrupt control stack. The principal ICS activity is handling interrupts. ID An HP LaserRX/MPE configuration option that you use to identify a system by using a string of characters. Interesting Process A process that is logged into a process logfile. A process becomes interesting when it is first created, when it terminates, or when it exceeds certain user-defined thresholds. Intervals Specific HP LaserRX/MPE time periods during which the SCOPE(XL) collector logs data. Job The data represented on an HP LaserRX/MPE graph as the percentage of elapsed CPU time spent executing instructions for batch processes. LAN Local Area Network--A data communications network of limited size such as HP OfficeShare that serves a locality such as a single company or a group of companies. HP OfficeShare consists of one or more workstations and one or more servers connected by twisted pair cable (StarLAN) or coaxial cable (ThinLAN) to share files and peripheral resources. Linear Scale One of two vertical scale types (Y-Axis) in a graph that represents performance metric values. The linear scale is the more familiar type of graph scaling. Local Logfile A logfile that resides on a disc known to MS-DOS (the PC's hard disc, CD-ROM, or flexible disc). Local logfiles must be extracted logfiles. LOGAPPL An HP LaserRX/MPE raw logfile that contains measurements of the activity in each user-defined application. Logarithmic Scale One of two vertical scale types (Y-Axis) in a graph that represents performance measurements. The logarithmic scale emphasizes the variance in the graph's lower values. LOGDISC The raw logfile of summarized measurements of disc space usage. This is the disc space logfile. It is created whenever the LOG DISC directive is found in the PARM file. It may also be created using UTILITY if you want a nondefault size. Logfiles HP LaserRX/MPE performance measurement data files that are either raw or extracted. Raw logfiles usually contain data measurements for long periods of time. Extracted logfiles often contain a selection of shorter periods of time. Extracted logfiles are optimized for quick retrieval by the PC programs. LOGGLOB An HP LaserRX/MPE raw logfile that contains measurements of the system-wide activity. LOGINDX The raw logfile (MPE XL only) of information used to rapidly index into the logfiles when retrieving information. On MPE V systems, this information is kept in each of the other logfiles, so the LOGINDX file is not needed. LOGPROC An HP LaserRX/MPE raw logfile that contains measurements of selected "interesting" processes. Log Scaling Vertical (Y-Axis in a graph). See "Logarithmic Scale." Macro A macro is a group of instructions that the user can combine into one instruction for HP LaserRX/MPE to execute. Main Memory Computer memory that is used by the CPU directly. MAXTHINK A THRESHOLD parameter that sets a filter used in calculating terminal response times. Any terminal transaction where the think time was greater than MAXTHINK seconds is ignored. Measurement Interface An HP 3000 performance data source that is used by HP LaserRX/MPE's performance data collection facility. Memory Manager The part of the operating system that controls main and virtual memory. This activity can consume both CPU and disc I/O resources and may be found on CPU and disc graphs. MINTHINK A THRESHOLD parameter that sets a filter used in calculating terminal response times. Any terminal transaction where the think time was less than MINTHINK seconds is assumed to be a hardware-generated transaction, such as a terminal status read. MPE Multi-Programming Executive--HP 3000 operating system. MS-DOS Microsoft Disc Operating System--A PC-based operating system. MS-DOS Executive Window A window that displays MS-DOS root directories and sub-directories. Network Administrator The person responsible for the operation and maintenance of a system network, such as in an HP OfficeShare network tying together PCs and an HP 3000. Node Name Address name of the HP 3000 to which you want to connect from a PC through a LAN. NOKILLED A THRESHOLD parameter that causes any process that would have been considered "interesting" only because it was a terminating process (the process was not interesting for any other reason during the interval) to not be logged. NONEW A THRESHOLD parameter that causes any process that would have been considered "interesting" only because it was a NEW process (the process was not interesting for any other reason during the interval) to not be logged. NOSHORT A THRESHOLD parameter that cause any process that would have been considered "interesting" only because it was created or terminated and has a run time less than or equal to the SHORT= parameter to not be logged. Parameters Options used, for example, in the HP LaserRX/MPE collection process that permit customization of the collection by specifying collection parameters. PARM An HP LaserRX/MPE file containing directives that customize HP LaserRX/MPE data collection. Performance Measurement Data The data collected in logfiles on an HP 3000 to measure the effects of user-defined and system overhead processes on that system. PRF An HP LaserRX/MPE logfile extension that denotes a file containing performance measurement data. Process The execution of a program file. This execution may represent an interactive user (session), batch user (job), or operating system. Process Command An HP LaserRX/MPE command that you select from the Zoom menu that selects a time period and displays a tabular list of the processes that were active in that time period. Process Control Block An internal table that is used by MPE to manage processes. Process Data The data that is logged to an HP LaserRX/MPE process logfile that contains measurements of selected interesting processes. Process Logfile The raw logfile, LOGPROC, where the collection program places summarized measurements of selected interesting processes. A process becomes interesting when it is first created, when it terminates, or when it exceeds certain user-defined thresholds. Raw Logfile A file containing summarized measurements of system data. The SCOPE(XL) program collects data into raw logfiles: LOGGLOB, which contains global measurements; LOGAPPL, which contains application measurements; LOGPROC, which contains process measurements; LOGDISC, which contains summarized measurements of disc space usage; and LOGINDX (MPE XL only), which contains information used to rapidly index into the logfiles when retrieving information. Raw logfiles reside under the MPE operating system. Remote Logfile An HP LaserRX/MPE file that resides on an HP 3000 under the MPE file system. Resizing Changing the overall size of a logfile. If the new size is larger and the empty space remains the same or is not increased by more than the size is to be increased, all UTILITY does is update the SIZE parameter in the PARM file. Note: the new size does not take effect until SCOPE(XL) is restarted and reads the PARM file. If a smaller new size is specified and the empty space remains the same or is increased, a rollback is performed. Then the SIZE parameter is updated in the PARM file. Response Time The time between pressing ENTER or RETURN on the keyboard and the response from the computer system. HP LaserRX/MPE captures two different response times; "First Response" occurs when the first piece of data is written to the user, and "Response to Prompt" occurs when the system is ready to accept additional input (upon issuance of a new prompt). Rollback Deleting one or more days worth of data from a logfile, oldest data deleted first. Rollbacks are caused by resizing a logfile downwards or increasing the amount of empty space. RXLOG.SCOPE.SYS The file created by the EXTRACT program. This file can be accessed on the host (via remote file access) or downloaded to the PC workstation. SCOPE(XL) The HP LaserRX/MPE collector program that runs on the HP 3000 under the MPE operating system. It collects data from several sources in the HP 3000, but mainly from the measurement interface (MI). It writes (logs) this raw performance measurement data to raw logfiles, which reside on an HP 3000 under the MPE file system. SCOPE2 This is the daily disc space collection program for MPE V. SCOPEXL2 This is the daily disc space collection program for MPE XL. SCOPEIN This is a message file used for communicating between the UTILITY and SCOPE(XL) programs. SCOPEOUT This message file appears whenever UTILITY is awaiting a response from the SCOPE(XL) collector. It should be purged automatically whenever UTILITY terminates. The SCOPEOUT file is created in the logon group of the user that runs UTILITY. It may be purged manually if it accidentally remains after UTILITY is executed. SCOPEJOB.SCOPE.SYS The HP LaserRX/MPE jobstream that starts the collector program. Screen/Menu Help An HP LaserRX/MPE help command that changes the mouse pointer into a question mark. You can select a menu, command, or other context (object or term) on the screen and receive a help message. Note that under Microsoft Windows 3.0 the question mark reverts back to a pointer--but remains active for context-sensitive help--when you point to a menu command. Stacked Graphs Illustrated (or filled) variable values in a graph that are stacked on top of the previous variable's value. STATUS The file created by the SCOPE(XL) collector to record status, data inconsistencies, or errors. This file appears automatically to contain noteworthy events in the life of the SCOPE(XL) collector. The collector starting, stopping normally or abnormally, resizing a raw logfile may be logged to this file. The file is a circular ASCII file and may be printed using FCOPY or the MPE XL PRINT command. The file may be resized to hold more or less data, but care should be taken to preserve its characteristics (circular, record length, and other parameters). STATUS.OLD The file STATUS.OLD is created if the RUN file exists, but SCOPE(XL) is not running. Summary Data Raw data that is summarized into one data point per hour. (Disc space data is collected once a day. Therefore summarized disc space data represents one data point per day.) Summarization reduces the size of global data to approximately one-tenth to one-twelfth of the detail data size. Summarized data is also faster to graph on HP LaserRX/MPE since fewer data records must be handled to produce a graph. Swap To transfer some or all of a process's main memory resources to or from slower mass memory (disc). Switch To move from one application to another, bringing the second application to the front of the screen and making it active. System ID The string of characters that identifies your system. System Manager The person responsible for the operation and maintenance of a computer system, such as the HP 3000. System Resources Those parts of a computer system that are used to fulfill user processing demands. The most common system resources are CPU, disc, and main memory. Tabular Data The application or process data arranged in columns in a table. Tabular data can be displayed by enabling HP LaserRX/MPE's Application or Process command under the Zoom menu. Tabular Window A window that displays application or process data in columns in a table. Terminal Emulator A program that is run on a PC such as HP OfficeShare's AdvanceLink that mimics an HP 3000 terminal. Think Time Analogous to the time a typist needs to think and type at a terminal. A computer is not working on a transaction during think time. THRESHOLD An HP LaserRX/MPE host configuration directive that sets CPU, disc, and transaction response values; any process that exceeds these values becomes interesting and is logged. Throughput The number of transactions that take place in a computer during a given amount of time. Time An HP LaserRX/MPE command that you select from the Zoom menu that enlarges a specific time period on a graph. Transaction An HP LaserRX/MPE interactive session that is delimited by an ENTER or a RETURN. UTILITY An HP LaserRX/MPE host program that is used to determine the contents and amount of disc space required for HP LaserRX/MPE raw logfiles. The UTILITY program is also used to resize HP LaserRX/MPE raw logfiles. Wildcard Character A character, such as an asterisk (*), that can be included in a file name to indicate any character or group of characters that might match that position in other file names. Workload The collection of requests submitted to a computer system over some period of time consisting of programs, data files, and commands. Variables Items that can contain different values. Vertical Scale The Y-Axis on an HP LaserRX/MPE graph that measures values of performance variables. The Y-Axis is automatically scaled on the Global Jobs & Sessions and all disc space graphs. Virtual Memory The portion of a disc (or other storage device) used as an extension of main memory and controlled by the operating system memory manager. X-Axis The horizontal scale on a graph. Zoom An HP LaserRX/MPE feature that focuses on data in a segment of a currently displayed graph. Zoom has three function modes: zoom-by-time, zoom-by-process, and zoom-by-application.