Test 000-434: IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless V9.1.2 Implementation

Section 1: Planning

1. Given IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless documentation collect customer requirements so that a diagram of the basic operations of the system is created. With emphasis on the following steps:
1. Read the documentation for Performance Manager for Wireless.
2. Understand the architecture required by the customer (distributed or single server).
3. Understand network size and volumes of data to be processed.
4. Identify which tech packs will be a part of the installation.
5. Determine how the system will gather data from the network elements.
6. Create a diagram of the IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless architecture describing the role of central and other components.


2. Given IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless gateway documentation, describe the gateway and its function so that the IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless gateway is described for a generic customer configuration. With emphasis on the following steps:
1. Read the documentation for Performance Manager for Wireless.
2. Define a gateway.
3. Understand the correspondence between gateways and tech packs.
4. Understand the role of gateways.
5. Determine how the gateway relates to the IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless system.
6. Describe the IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless Gateway for a generic customer configuration.


3. Given IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless Gateway Framework documentation describe the components and features of Gateway Framework so that the most important Gateway components are described. With emphasis on the following steps:
1. Read the Gateway Framework documentation for Performance Manager for Wireless.
2. Identify which tech packs will be a part of the installation and the type of gateway they will require.
3. Understand the transfer (collection) process.
4. Understand the LIF creation process and transformation of data.
5. Understand the Gateway Framework cron jobs.
6. Use the Gateway Framework log files during problems debug
7. Describe the Gateway Framework components.


4. Given IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless documentation, describe the data loading process for loading data for IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless system so that a diagram of the loading process is created. With emphasis on the following steps:
1. Understand what Network Configurtation tables are in the IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless system.
2. Understand what Traffic tables are in the IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless system.
3. Understand the connection between rulesets and load maps.
4. Understand that the gateway output LIF files are the input for the loader to load.
5. Diagram the loading process for loading data for Performance Manager for Wireless.


5. Given IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless documentation and customer technology packs explain the concept behind technology packs so that a diagram is created to illustrate the architecture of technology packs. With emphasis on the following steps:
1. Read the documentation for IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless and the Tech Pack development kit.
2. Explain each of the following terms in relation to a technology pack: Loadmap, Metalayer, Entity XMLs, report templates, data availability xml, summaries xml and stored busy hour xml.
3. Determine the layered structure of a tech pack as defined by various xml files.
4. Understand the role of the GOM, vendor neutral and Vendor specific models in producing the xml files for the various layers.
5. Identify the common inputs necessary to design and build a Tech Pack.
6. Identify the xml outputs of a Tech Pack development effort .
7. Create a diagram of the central layered components of a Tech Pack.


6. Given IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless documentation, identify and describe the underlying database so that a database architecture is described. With emphasis on the following steps:
1. Read the documentation for Performance Manager for Wireless.
2. Identify which tech packs will be a part of the installation.
3. Understand the database size required for the data to be processed.
4. Understand required sizes for Oracle variables configured in the database template file.
5. Understand the relationship between the entity and traffic tables in the database.
6. Understand the role of the loader configuration tables in populating the raw traffic tables.


7. Given the IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless documentation, describe the key administration features of the IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless system so that a list of the key administrative features understood. With emphasis on the following steps:
1. Understand how to find IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless software installed.
2. Understand how to stop and start the Performance Manager system.
3. List the Performance Manager processes.
4. Understand how to add and delete users to the system.
5. Understand how to verify data is loaded successfully.
6. Understand how to verify scheduled jobs/activities are running successfully.
7. Understand how to verify storebusy hour and summary computations are run.
8. Understand how data sources loader configurations are loaded into the database.
9. Understand how to administer Tech Packs.
10. Understand how reporting import export is done.
11. Understand partition maintenance.
12. Understand database space administration.


8. Given IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless documentation and potential customer configuration options, determine the server software prerequisites for installing IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless components so that the required prerequisites are identified. With emphasis on the following steps:
1. Read the documentation for IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless install guide.
2. Check what pre-requisites exist for the IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless Installation
3. Understand distributed versus single server deployment prerequisites.
4. Identify the prerequisites.


9. Given access to technical benchmarking staff, customer network topology, customer server deployment requirements and data retention policies, apply server sizing guidelines to size the deployment architecture so that server sizing guidelines and recommendations for hardware purchase are determined. With emphasis on the following steps:
1. Review existing customer network topology.
2. Identify data sources, potential data storage requirements.
3. Define long term data storage requirements.
4. Identify implications of policies on data storage capacity.
5. Identify implications of distributed versus single-server deployment.
6. Determine deployment architecture.
7. Determine server sizing, CPU, and memory specifications.
8. Determine database sizing.


10. Given IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless documentation and site specific documentation, prepare a customer installation specification so that a site summary spreadsheet is created.
1. Read the documentation for Performance Manager for Wireless.
2. Read the site specific documents created by the pre-sales team.
3. Gather customer-related documents relating to connectivity.
4. Document and consolidate the information into a site specific spreadsheet.

Section 2: Installation

1. Given a complete installation, product documentation, customer requirements, and various customer specific software package design templates create a customer specific configuration package so that a customer client installation can be performed. With emphasis on the following steps:


1. In SQLPLUS run the EXEC analyze user tables command.
2. Run the database sizing script for each ruleset and each table type.
3. Import all outputs of the sizing script into the database sizing template.
4. Allocate each table of each tech pack to a database tablespace
5. Use the table name and tablespace name columns for each tech pack to create a mapping file of the tech pack tables to a tablespace for each tech pack.
6. Name each tech pack table to tablespace mapping file according to the rules in the default.properties file.
7. Using the instructions in the customer specific configuration guide use the Oracle DBCA tool to create the customer specific database template.
8. Place all customer specific installation configuration files in the directory structure per the customer specific configuration guide
9. Use a packaging system to create the customer specific configuration files
10. Tar and Gzip the customer specific configuration files.
11. Create a response file with applicable information using the customer specific configuration guide.


2. Given a UNIX server and an installation guide, verify server prerequisites are met so that IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless can be installed. With emphasis on the following steps:
1. Verify that the server adheres to the requirements in the sizing document.
2. Verify ports are configured as described in the IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless Installation guide.
3. Verify the UNIX users, virtuo and oracle, are set up.
4. Verify the prerequisite non-IBM software listed in the installation guide is installed.
5. Verify the UNIX kernel settings are set to those prescribed in the installation guide.
6. Verify that the environment variables are set when log on as oracle user


3. Given IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless documentation, software and a customer server, install the IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless core components so that the IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless core components are installed on the server. With emphasis on the following steps:
1. Read the documentation for IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless Installation.
2. Obtain downloaded files.
3. Confirm version of software for installation is correct.
4. Follow the installation guide step by step through the installation.
5. View the logs and verify each step has completed successfully.


4. Given IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless documentation, software, customer specific software package, customer specific response file and a customer server, install the IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless core components, gateways, technology packs, and customer specific configuration software package so that all IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless components are installed on the server. With emphasis on the following steps:
1. Read the documentation for IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless Installation.
2. Obtain downloaded files.
3. Confirm version of software for installation is correct.
4. Verify customer specific software package and response file is available.
5. Perform an auto installation with the customer specific response file following the installation guide.
6. View all the installation logs and verify each step has completed successfully.


5. Given access to the IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless product documents, project plan, and client specific deployment architecture, obtain the gateway installation requirements and install the gateways so that the applicable gateways are installed on the specified server. With emphasis on the following steps:
1. Read the technical product documents
2. Read the customer project plan
3. Read the customer deployment architecture documents
4. Determine required gateway packages to deploy
5. Determine if gateway installation is part of standard auto-install script or will be deployed using the deploy_gateways.sh script
6. Assuming standalone gateway deployment log in to the designated gateway server as non-root user
7. Download applicable gateway packages to the server
8. Place all gateways packages in /appl directory
9. Run ./appl/virtuo/admin/common/install/scripts/
   deploy_gateways with applicable options
10. Verify no errors in install log


6. Given IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless documentation, customer server and available mapping file, manually install technology packs so that technology packs are installed on the server. With emphasis on the following steps:
1. Read the Installation Guide for the Performance Manager for Wireless.
2. Read the Technology Packs README documentation.
3. Verify all GOM technology pack dependencies are fulfilled.
4. Verify that the schema has sufficient sizing within the tablespace.
5. Verify the customer specific table mapping files exist.
6. Deploy the technology pack.
7. Configure the technology pack.
8. Perform post technology pack install checks (installation logs, technology pack administration commands and load map administration commands, database commands).


7. Given IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless documentation, initialize the IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless system so that a complete system start up can be performed. With emphasis on the following steps:
1. Read the documentation for Performance Manager for Wireless.
2. Restart the application server.
3. Verify the application server has started
4. Run system initialization command.
5. Start all registered processes.
6. Verify the system logs to ensure process started successfully.
7. Confirm the data source is linked in the interface.


8. Given an IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless installation, perform basic health checks on the installation so that a successful installation can be verified. With emphasis on the following steps:
1. Verify no errors exist in any installation log files.
2. Verify database installation was correctly performed.
3. Verify IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless directory structure.
4. Verify appropriate ports are available.
5. Verify all registered processes are started.
6. Verify system will launch.

Section 3: Configuration

1. Given IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless documentation and customer server, configure and verify the Gateway Framework and vendor gateways so that the server is processing actual customer data for technology pack. With emphasis on the following steps:
1. Read the Gateway Framework and vendor gateways documentation.
2. Configure transfer component.
3. Configure parsing component.
4. Configure post parser component.
5. Verify proper loading of generated LIF files


2. Given IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless documentation, configure the cron jobs so that the IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless basic cron job can be created and started. With emphasis on the following steps:
1. Read the documentation for Performance Manager for Wireless.
2. Run the command described in the Installation Guide to update the permissions for the /data directory
3. Run the command described in the Installation Guide to install and configure the cron file
4. Add the gateway commands to the cron file.
5. Start the cron file


3. Given a IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless installation, check basic system functionality so that the successful installation of IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless can be verified. With emphasis on the following steps:
1. Verify that new users can be added and deleted into system interface.
2. Configure and test a stored busy hour.
3. Configure and test a simple stored summary and verify the integrity of the data.
4. Configure and test one data block for data availability.
5. Create and verify an alarm context.
6. Verify applicable report templates appear in the vault.
7. Verify that rehoming events are logged.
8. Create a User Defined Calculation (UDC).
9. Create a report incorporating the UDC and verify report runs successfully.
10. Schedule a report, verify the report runs successfully and verify the integrity of the data.
11. Verify that all PMW scheduled activities/jobs have run and that no failures have been reported.

Section 4: Administration

1. Given an installed IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless system and documentation, understand the key features and tools required of system administrators so that the IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless administrator can be able to use the most import system administration tools. With emphasis on the following steps:
1. Read the documentation for Performance Manager for Wireless.
2. Understand the summarizer administration tool to use it during the system administration
3. Understand the schedule administration tool to use it during the system administration
4. Understand the Partition Administration tool to use it during the system administration
5. Understand the database space Administration tool to use it during the system administration
6. Understand the report import/export administration tool to use it during the system administration
7. Understand the agent administration tool to use it during the system administration
8. Understand the loader configuration management administration tool to use it during the system administration
9. Understand the stored busy hour administration tool to use it during the system administration
10. Understand the Tech Pack Admin to use it during the system administration
11. Understand the KPI Cache Admin to use it during the system administration
12. Understand the sap tool to use it during the system administration


2. Given a IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless installation verify that the UNIX server and database contain sufficient free disk space and database free space so that IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless can process normally. With emphasis on the following steps:
1. Identify the UNIX file systems that contain the IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless database.
2. Identify the UNIX file system that Oracle writes its log files to.
3. Identify the UNIX file systems that contain the IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless system, including log files and spool file systems.
4. Verify that the UNIX files systems have sufficient free disk space.
5. Verify that all the tablespaces in the IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless database have sufficient free space.


3. Given IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless documentation and installed and running IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless server, monitor the IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless log files so that it can be seen that information is correctly written to them. With emphasis on the following steps:
1. Read the documentation for Performance Manager for Wireless.
2. Check the location of the log files for each of the processes, for example, loaders, application server, summaries, stored busy hour, vmm and lcm
3. Monitor each of the log files.
4. Verify all processes are being run successfully.
5. Confirm the log files are updated as actions are performed.
6. Implement corrective actions as needed.
7. Verify the behavior of the log files when they roll-over on time basis or become full.

Section 5: Performance Tuning and Problem Determination

1. Given an IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless installation, documentation and data, configure a second instance of a loader so that an additional loader is successfully processing files. With emphasis on the following steps:
1. Configure the loaders as detailed in the product documentation.
2. Verify via sap that the new loader can be started.
3. Verify the new loader log file is logging that files are being successfully processed.


2. Given IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless documentation and gateway knowledge, recognize some common techniques to enhance the gateway loader performance so that the gateway and loader performance can be improved. With emphasis on the following steps:
1. Read the documentation for Performance Manager for Wireless.
2. Understand the Gateway PIF and LIF files creation
3. Understand the Gateway transfer, pre-parsing and post-parsing functions
4. Understand the effect of LIF size on loader performance.


3. Given an IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless installation, set loader shared memory size and Oracle SGA size to appropriate values so that the IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless system performs better and is more stable. With emphasis on the following steps:
1. Verify that the UNIX kernel shared memory settings are set according to the PMW installation guide.
2. Verify that the loaders shared memory is set according the size of the network configuration segment. If not verify that all loaders are not running and alter the shared memory size.
3. Verify that oracle SGA size is set to the recommend SGA size that is output from the database sizing.
4. Verify that when the ORACLE SGA size and loaders size are added together that the UNIX server still has sufficient free memory to process normally.


4. Given IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless system, run UNIX performance monitoring system commands so that IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless system performance information is obtained. With emphasis on the following steps:
1. Understand the IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless system processes and UNIX operating system.
2. Run UNIX process monitoring commands.
3. Run UNIX shared memory commands.
4. Run UNIX disk and file usage commands
5. Run UNIX network port monitoring commands.