Essential Database Visibility for VMware Projects
IT needs additional visibility when databases are moved from physical to virtual servers. VMware tools do not cover the database layer, and conventional database tools cannot capture meaningful resource information from virtual servers. DBAs cannot manage what they cannot see. IgniteVM removes the
availability and performance uncertainty that comes with shifting critical databases from physical servers to VMware.
IgniteVM is the only VMware performance monitoring tool that exposes the multiple layers of the database and virtual machine architecture, including database instance, virtual server and physical host server resources. By knowing what changes in the virtual server impact CPU, memory, or I/O, a DBA can ensure reliable
operations and service levels.
5 Key Risks of Running Databases on VMware
| VMware Obscures DBA Visibility - IgniteVM Restores it |
|---|
| Inaccurate metrics |
All the server level statistics DBAs depend on, such as CPU, I/O, and memory resources are no longer accurate on a virtual server. IgniteVM shows the real resource pool. |
| Dynamically changing resources |
Physical resources can change fast, and without the DBA knowing that resources have been re-allocated. IgniteVM gives the DBA notice. |
| No control over host resources |
A new VM on the same host can steal resources and affect the database. IgniteVM shows the DBA when this is happening. |
| No Management system visibility |
DBAs cannot see the vCenter console, but with IgniteVM performance monitoring tool, they can see essential parameters and statistics affecting their VM and database, with no vCenter accees needed. |
| Silos between DBAs and VM administrators |
DBAs and VMware administrators often don't share information, but IgniteVM brings the database layer and server layers together, to improve communications and problem solving |
Agentless Architecture
Our VMware performance monitoring tool, IgniteVM, takes advantage of the Ignite agentless architecture to monitor database instances, virtual hosts, and vCenter without installing any software on the monitored systems. It is the lightest, least-intrusive method of capturing combined database, physical server, and virtual server data.
How Does IgniteVM on VMware Work?
Ignite captures database performance and resource statistics directly from the instance and stores them in the data warehouse repository. Ignite uses read-only access to vCenter and to the VMware ESX/ESXi server to capture data and store it in the same way. Then Ignite correlates the samples and presents them to the DBA in the browser based interface, tying the database and VMware stats together in the easy to understand graphical display.
Important details:
- IgniteVM monitors all database instances simultaneously, whether on physical or virtual servers.
- IgniteVM on VMware discovers the virtual server home and details of each registered instance, and detects when virtual servers move to different physical hosts.
- Data is stored in an Oracle or SQL Server instance, typically non-production. Detailed history for any point in time stays accessible, to answer the question 'what was going on with VMware changes and database bottleneck' at a specific minute when we had a problem.
- Read-only access to vCenter (recommended) and ESX and ESXi 4.0 and higher is needed. VMware admins can grant IgniteVM access to vCenter without ever sharing VMware credentials with DBAs, and credentials are encrypted to prevent DBA users from ever seeing them.
- On its own, IgniteVM on VMware focuses on availability and high-level instance performance. When used in combination with Ignite8, it expands to provide a detailed database tuning and monitoring solution along with virtual server data.
Download our VMware performance monitoring tool free trial and be installed and running in minutes.
Ignite System Requirements
A single Ignite installation can simultaneously monitor multiple database instances running on VMware including, Oracle, SQL Server, Sybase, and DB2. There are two choices for download, depending on the type of server that Ignite will be installed on: Windows or UNIX/Linux. For each, a single download and packaged installation sets everything up, so you are running in minutes.
Server Running Ignite Software
- The Ignite software can be installed on almost any Windows, Unix or Linux server, either physical or virtual. It only needs an operating system that can support Java JRE 1.5 or higher. Repository hardware and configuration must meet minimum requirements as shown below.
| # Number of monitored instances | Minimum # of CPU | RAM | Architecture |
|---|
| <20 |
1 |
1 GB |
32 or 64 bit |
| 20-50 |
2 |
2 GB |
32 or 64 bit |
| 51-100 |
4 |
4 GB |
64 bit |
| 101-250* |
4 |
8 GB |
64 bit |
* For over 250 monitored instance enable Ignite Central.
Ignite Repository Server:
- An Oracle or Microsoft SQL Server instance is utilized by Ignite to collect and process data from monitored servers. A dedicated instance is not required, but it cannot be the "monitored" instance. The data collection server is defined as the Ignite Repository server, and the requirements are listed below.
- Ignite Repository requires either:
- Oracle 8.1.7 or higher (8i, 9i, 10g, 11g)
- Microsoft SQL Server 2000 SP3 or higher (2000, 2005, 2008, 2012)
- "Express" editions of both Oracle and SQL Server can hold a repository but will likely run out of space due to the 4GB limitations.
- Do not put the repository into an instance that will be monitored. Doing so will affect the performance of that instance.
- Installation requires access to a DBA (Oracle) or Sysadmin (MSSQL) user for the install which will hold the repository.
- Repository hardware and configuration must meet minimum requirements as shown below.
| # Number of monitored Instances | Minimum # of CPU | RAM | Architecture |
|---|
| <20 |
1 |
2 GB |
32 or 64 bit |
| 20-50 |
2 |
4 GB |
64 bit |
| 51-100 |
4 |
8 GB |
64 bit |
| 101-250 |
4 |
16 GB |
64 bit |
Note: if Ignite software and repository server are co-located the numbers are additive.
Ignite Repository Storage:
Free Disk Space in Repository Instance: varies with number of monitored database instances and level of activity on each:
| Monitored Database Activity | Repository Disk Space per Monitored Instance |
|---|
| Light |
1 GB |
| Medium |
3 GB |
| Heavy |
5 GB |
Client Browser
- Internet Explorer 8 and higher
- Firefox 3.6 and higher
- Chrome (latest stable)
Monitored Database Instances
These requirements apply to monitored database instances, hosted on either physical or virtual servers.
Oracle Monitored Database Instances:
- Ignite for Oracle supports monitoring of Oracle 8.1.7 and higher (8i, 9i, 10g,11g)
-
- SYS user privileges are required for initial setup
- The server holding the Ignite software must be able to connect to the monitored Oracle server
SQL Server Monitored Database Instances:
- Ignite for SQL Server supports monitoring of SQL Server 2000 SP3 and higher ( 2000, 2005, 2008, 2012)
- SYSADMIN privileges are required to setup Ignite
- The server holding the Ignite software must be able to connect to the monitored MSSQL server.
Sybase ASE Monitored Databases:
- Ignite for Sybase supports monitoring of ASE 12.5.0.3 and higher.
- SA_ROLE privileges are required to setup Ignite
- The server holding the Ignite software must be able to connect to the monitored Sybase server.
DB2 Monitored Databases:
- Ignite for IBM DB2 LUW supports monitoring of DB2 LUW 8.1 FixPack 13 and higher (8.2.2,...)
- SYSADM privileges are required to setup Ignite
- The server holding the Ignite software must be able to connect to the monitored DB2 server.
VMware Monitoring
These requirements apply to monitoring of the vCenter server for use with IgniteVM.
VMware vCenter Servers:
Confio supports connections to ESX/ESXi and/or vCenter. vCenter is not required, but highly recommended.
- VMware ESX/ESXi 4.0 and higher
- VMware vCenter 4.0 and higher
- Ignite VM installs on any Windows, Linux, or UNIX server with Java JRE 1.5 or higher
- One time entry of a read-only VMware password will be required. Password is not visible to IgniteVM users.
Learn more about Oracle on VMware monitoring.
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