Overview
The IBM Support Assistant provides a tooling platform for users to easily download and use various problem determination and analysis tools at no charge.
Why use tools through the Support Assistant?
- The Support Assistant provides a single point of access for all your troubleshooting, analysis and problem resolution tooling.
- When new tools become available, you can easily use the Support Assistant Updater to find out more about these tools and install them.
- When updated versions of tools become available, the Support Assistant can automatically notify the user and retrieve the latest version with a few clicks.
Summary of Tools Available in the Support Assistant
Jump to Tool:
Log Analyzer
What it's used for: Correlates logs from different products to identify problem causes and solutions. Works on a wide variety of IBM and non-IBM software products, including z/OS logs.
Description: Log Analyzer is a graphical user interface which provides a single point of contact for browsing, analyzing, and correlating logs produced by multiple products. Logs can be imported from IBM Support Assistant's Case and Topology managers. In addition to importing log files from multiple products, Log Analyzer enables you to import and select symptom catalogs against which log files can be analyzed and correlated.
Symptom Editor
What it's used for: Builds custom symptom catalogs for use in correlating log events by the Log Analyzer. Works on a wide variety of software products, including z/OS logs.
Description: A symptom catalog is an XML file which contains symptom definitions that can have associated rules, recommendations, and actions. Log records can be analyzed using a symptom catalog to interpret known events and error conditions, and to provide detailed information on how to resolve problems.
IBM Monitoring and Diagnostic Tools for Java - Dump Analyzer V2.0
What it's used for: Analyzes Java dumps and isolates problem and solution, or recommends actions for continued troubleshooting.
Description: The IBM Monitoring and Diagnostic Tools for Java - Dump Analyzer will read the file produced when the jextract process is run against the dump produced by a JVM. The analysis will attempt to identify common problems in the dump and provide enough information to allow the problem to be rectified. If the analysis cannot determine the specific problem it will produce summary information intended to aid diagnosis.
WebSphere Application Server extensions for Dump Analyzer
What it's used for: To diagnose problems in WebSphere Application Server, by analyzing system dumps from a WebSphere JVM.
Description: The WebSphere Application Server modules for the IBM Monitoring and Diagnostic Tools for Java™ - Dump Analyzer extend the functions provided by the base Dump Analyzer tool, by providing several new analysis modules that examine WebSphere-related data structures within a system dump from a WebSphere JVM. Various modules are provided for basic health-check and general status information, as well as several "drill-downs" into specific functional areas of WebSphere Application Server. In addition, a special module provides an interactive shell using the Jython scripting language, similar to the WebSphere "wsadmin" tool, that allows a user to interactively examine data structures in the dump when no specific pre-defined analysis module is available.
Memory Dump Diagnostic for Java (MDD4J)
What it's used for: Analyzes Java dumps primarily to identify memory leaks. Analyzes data from IBM JVM on AIX, Linux, Windows, i5/OS, z/OS. Solaris JVM, HP-UX JVM.
Description: The Memory Dump Diagnostic for Java tool analyzes common formats of memory dumps (heap dumps) from the virtual machine (JVM) that is running the WebSphere Application Server or any other stand-alone Java application. The analysis of memory dumps is targeted towards identifying data structures within the Java heap that might be root causes of memory leaks. The analysis also identifies major contributors to the Java heap footprint of the application and their ownership relationship. The tool is capable of analyzing very large sized memory dumps (will require 2 GB or more RAM) obtained from production environment application servers encountering OutOfMemoryError issues.
Pattern Modeling and Analysis Tool (PMAT)
What it's used for: Analyzes Java verbose garbage collection logs and presents results in graphical and tabular formats. Analyzes data from IBM JVM on AIX, Linux and Windows, Solaris JVM, HP-UX JVM and z/OS JVM.
Description: IBM Pattern Modeling and Analysis Tool for Java Garbage Collector (PMAT) parses IBM verbose GC trace, analyzes Java heap usage, and recommends key configurations based on pattern modeling of Java heap usage. Only verbose GC traces generated from IBM JDKs are supported.
Port Scanning Tool
What it's used for: To get information about active and configured ports in the system.
Description: The IBM Port Scanning Tool scans the system for active and some configured ports to help determine port availability or port conflicts. The results include a comprehensive list of active and/or configured ports in the system found by the tool with relevant information about each port. You can use the IBM Port Scanning Tool for problem determination or during installation, configuration or activation of an IBM product, or just to get more information about a specific port on the system.
Thread Analyzer
What it's used for: Analyzes Java thread usage and identifies deadlocks. Analyzes javacores from IBM JVM on AIX, Linux, Windows, zLinux
Description: ThreadAnalyzer provides analysis for Java Thread dumps (or Javacores) such as those from WebSphere Application Server. Thread usage can be analyzed at several different levels, starting with a high-level graphical view, and drilling down to a detailed tally of individual threads. If any deadlocks exist in the thread dump, ThreadAnalyzer will detect and report them.
Visual Configuration Explorer
What it's used for: Visually explore and troubleshoot cross-product configurations. Analyzes data from DB/2, WS MQ, WAS, Tivoli Dir Server, Portal, WCCM on multiple platforms
Description: Visual Configuration Explorer (VCE) is a visual tool for middleware configuration exploring, analysis, and diagnosis. VCE allows you to visualize your middleware configuration and easily search for specific property values, compare snapshots of different configurations and generate and share configuration analysis results.
IBM Monitoring and Diagnostic Tools for Java - Garbage Collection and Memory Visualizer (GCMV)
What it's used for: Visualizes verbose GC data and provides recommendations as to how to tune your application
Description: The IBM Monitoring and Diagnostic Tools for Java TM - Garbage Collection and Memory Visualizer parses and plots J9 and Sovereign verbose GC logs and -Xtgc output (and is extensible to parse and plot other forms of input). It provides a graphical display of a wide range of verbose GC data values and it handles optthruput, optavgpause, and gencon GC modes. It has raw log, tabulated data and graph views and can save data to jpeg or .csv files (for export to spreadsheets). Multiple logs can also be viewed and compared.
Log Analyzer
What it's used for: Correlates logs from different products to identify problem causes and solutions. Works on a wide variety of IBM and non-IBM software products, including z/OS logs.
Description: Log Analyzer is a graphical user interface which provides a single point of contact for browsing, analyzing, and correlating logs produced by multiple products. Logs can be imported from IBM Support Assistant's Case and Topology managers. In addition to importing log files from multiple products, Log Analyzer enables you to import and select symptom catalogs against which log files can be analyzed and correlated.
Symptom Editor
What it's used for: Builds custom symptom catalogs for use in correlating log events by the Log Analyzer. Works on a wide variety of software products, including z/OS logs.
Description: A symptom catalog is an XML file which contains symptom definitions that can have associated rules, recommendations, and actions. Log records can be analyzed using a symptom catalog to interpret known events and error conditions, and to provide detailed information on how to resolve problems.
IBM Monitoring and Diagnostic Tools for Java - Dump Analyzer V2.0
What it's used for: Analyzes Java dumps and isolates problem and solution, or recommends actions for continued troubleshooting.
Description: The IBM Monitoring and Diagnostic Tools for Java - Dump Analyzer will read the file produced when the jextract process is run against the dump produced by a JVM. The analysis will attempt to identify common problems in the dump and provide enough information to allow the problem to be rectified. If the analysis cannot determine the specific problem it will produce summary information intended to aid diagnosis.
WebSphere Application Server extensions for Dump Analyzer
What it's used for: To diagnose problems in WebSphere Application Server, by analyzing system dumps from a WebSphere JVM.
Description: The WebSphere Application Server modules for the IBM Monitoring and Diagnostic Tools for Java™ - Dump Analyzer extend the functions provided by the base Dump Analyzer tool, by providing several new analysis modules that examine WebSphere-related data structures within a system dump from a WebSphere JVM. Various modules are provided for basic health-check and general status information, as well as several "drill-downs" into specific functional areas of WebSphere Application Server. In addition, a special module provides an interactive shell using the Jython scripting language, similar to the WebSphere "wsadmin" tool, that allows a user to interactively examine data structures in the dump when no specific pre-defined analysis module is available.
Memory Dump Diagnostic for Java (MDD4J)
What it's used for: Analyzes Java dumps primarily to identify memory leaks. Analyzes data from IBM JVM on AIX, Linux, Windows, i5/OS, z/OS. Solaris JVM, HP-UX JVM.
Description: The Memory Dump Diagnostic for Java tool analyzes common formats of memory dumps (heap dumps) from the virtual machine (JVM) that is running the WebSphere Application Server or any other stand-alone Java application. The analysis of memory dumps is targeted towards identifying data structures within the Java heap that might be root causes of memory leaks. The analysis also identifies major contributors to the Java heap footprint of the application and their ownership relationship. The tool is capable of analyzing very large sized memory dumps (will require 2 GB or more RAM) obtained from production environment application servers encountering OutOfMemoryError issues.
Pattern Modeling and Analysis Tool (PMAT)
What it's used for: Analyzes Java verbose garbage collection logs and presents results in graphical and tabular formats. Analyzes data from IBM JVM on AIX, Linux and Windows, Solaris JVM, HP-UX JVM and z/OS JVM.
Description: IBM Pattern Modeling and Analysis Tool for Java Garbage Collector (PMAT) parses IBM verbose GC trace, analyzes Java heap usage, and recommends key configurations based on pattern modeling of Java heap usage. Only verbose GC traces generated from IBM JDKs are supported.
Port Scanning Tool
What it's used for: To get information about active and configured ports in the system.
Description: The IBM Port Scanning Tool scans the system for active and some configured ports to help determine port availability or port conflicts. The results include a comprehensive list of active and/or configured ports in the system found by the tool with relevant information about each port. You can use the IBM Port Scanning Tool for problem determination or during installation, configuration or activation of an IBM product, or just to get more information about a specific port on the system.
Thread Analyzer
What it's used for: Analyzes Java thread usage and identifies deadlocks. Analyzes javacores from IBM JVM on AIX, Linux, Windows, zLinux
Description: ThreadAnalyzer provides analysis for Java Thread dumps (or Javacores) such as those from WebSphere Application Server. Thread usage can be analyzed at several different levels, starting with a high-level graphical view, and drilling down to a detailed tally of individual threads. If any deadlocks exist in the thread dump, ThreadAnalyzer will detect and report them.
Visual Configuration Explorer
What it's used for: Visually explore and troubleshoot cross-product configurations. Analyzes data from DB/2, WS MQ, WAS, Tivoli Dir Server, Portal, WCCM on multiple platforms
Description: Visual Configuration Explorer (VCE) is a visual tool for middleware configuration exploring, analysis, and diagnosis. VCE allows you to visualize your middleware configuration and easily search for specific property values, compare snapshots of different configurations and generate and share configuration analysis results.
IBM Monitoring and Diagnostic Tools for Java - Garbage Collection and Memory Visualizer (GCMV)
What it's used for: Visualizes verbose GC data and provides recommendations as to how to tune your application
Description: The IBM Monitoring and Diagnostic Tools for Java TM - Garbage Collection and Memory Visualizer parses and plots J9 and Sovereign verbose GC logs and -Xtgc output (and is extensible to parse and plot other forms of input). It provides a graphical display of a wide range of verbose GC data values and it handles optthruput, optavgpause, and gencon GC modes. It has raw log, tabulated data and graph views and can save data to jpeg or .csv files (for export to spreadsheets). Multiple logs can also be viewed and compared.
How to Install and Run Tools through the IBM Support Assistant
To install and run tools from the IBM Support Assistant, follow these simple steps:
Install the Tools:
- If you don't already have the Support Assistant Workbench, download and install the IBM Support Assistant Workbench.
- From the Support Assistant Workbench, click on the "Update" menu item, then click "Find New..." and select "Tool Add-ons".
- In the window that pops up, select the tools that you would like to install and follow the simple on-screen instructions to complete the installation. When the installation is completed, the Workbench will restart.
Run the Tools:
- Start the IBM Support Assistant.
- From the welcome page, click on the "Analyze Problem" link.
- On the "Analyze Problem" tab, select the "Tools" sub-tab. You will see a list of all the installed tools.
- Select the tool you would like to run and click on the "Launch" button to run the tool.
IBM Support Assistant Licensed Materials - Property of IBM. (C) Copyright IBM Corp. 2006, 2008. All Rights Reserved. U.S. Government Users Restricted Rights - Use, duplication or disclosure restricted by GSA ADP Schedule Contract with IBM Corp. IBM, Lotus, Rational, Information Management, Tivoli, and WebSphere are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the United States, other countries, or both. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both. Java and all Java-based trademarks are trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States, other countries, or both. Other company, product, or service names may be trademarks or service marks of others.
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