IBM 4.3-W manual Collection Formulas

Chapter 7: Collection Formulas

This chapter discusses the following topics:

Topic	Page
Overview	175
Data Collection	176
Formulas and Metrics	176
Formula Reference	177

Overview

This technology pack provides the following types of collection formulas:

•SNMP collection formulas specific to the associated network devices and technologies on which it operates. These SNMP collection formulas are installed with the Cisco IP Telephony Technology Pack.

•Bulk collection formulas. Unlike an SNMP collection formula, a bulk collection formula has no executable instructions. However, the Bulk Collector requires database IDs for the value it returns after reading Bulk input files. Bulk collection formulas provide these unique database IDs. The Formula Table (FRML_DESC) must contain an ID for each metric the Bulk Collector might return. If the entry in the Formula Table does not exist, the Bulk Collector cannot report the value.

Typically, a Bulk collection formula consists of a name that maps to a statistic that resides in a Bulk input file. Typically, the device or devices that the technology pack supports generate the statistics that reside in these Bulk input files. In many cases, the statistics reside in these Bulk input files as data records or data fields.

Each Bulk collection formula name has an associated ID. It is the Bulk collection formula ID (along with the sub-element ID and timestamp) that identify a specific location in the database where the statistic resides. In other words, the Bulk collection formulas do not perform any calculations, but merely serve as pointers to the actual statistics residing in the database.

There are many formats associated with Bulk input files, for example CSV, XML, and binary. Typically, a technology pack provides a Bulk Adaptor Design File (implemented as a JavaScript file) that defines the format or formats of the Bulk input files for which it is responsible for processing. This Bulk Adaptor Design File processes both inventory and statistics from the same Bulk input file. More specifically, this Bulk Adaptor Design File provides a function that creates the Bulk collection formula names.

Netcool/Proviso Cisco IP Telephony Technology Pack User’s Guide, Version 4.3-W 175