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Monitoring a Database Instance

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In Monitoring a Database Instance, you can monitor the key metrics of the database server, information details on active sessions, lock tree, PQ tree, and process information in real time. You can also see the alerts that could be problematic warnings. By default, the collected data for the last 10 minutes is retrieved in real time. Collected data is updated every 5 seconds.

Basic screen guide

Instance Monitoring

Selecting the lookup time and target

By default, the collected data for the last 10 minutes is retrieved in real time. If you select values in Time and Instance, the collected data is automatically applied to the number2 graph chart and number4 Active sessions table.

  • To view the past data, click the green button in Time and then select the desired lookup time. You can search data up to the last 3 weeks.

  • To query a random date and time, select the Pause icon button in Time. If you click the text range for date and time, the option appears to select the date and time. To search data in real time again, select Real-time icon.

  • To search data from other agents, click Instance and then select a desired agent name.

Graph chart section

number3 Default displays 16 metrics saved as presets as a graph chart widget. The horizontal axis of each widget is time, and the vertical axis is the metric number. To know the meaning of each metric, select Information next to the name or see the following.

  • To change the position with another widget, select and drag the upper part of the widget. However, the size of the widget cannot be changed.

    Moving a widget

  • If you stop the real-time query mode of the time and click a specific time on the chart in the widget, you can check the session performed at the selected time in the Number 4 Active sessions table. After that, a time bar that allows you to view the data every 5 seconds appears on the Active sessions table.

    Note
    • The selected time can be seen on the upper right of the Active sessions table.

    • In the Active sessions table list, the text colors are changed black → orangeRed, which means that the performance of the session is getting slower.

  • After stopping the real-time query mode, you can download the chart data as a CSV file by clicking the More icon button on the upper right of the widget.

  • Top Stat: If the button displayed in the widget is selected, the top statistics about the user commits are provided. It displays the session information and key performance metrics for transaction commits occurred on the monitoring instance.

    • You can check whether transactions are concentrated in a specific sid or module.

    • The program column allows you to determine through which process a specific task was performed.

  • Top Event: If a button displayed in the widget is selected, the information about the major event waits for the metric is provided. This data can help you determine the cause of performance degradation and diagnose problematic sessions.

    • You can identify bottlenecks by checking sessions with high time waited values.

    • You can check whether wait events are concentrated in a specific module or program.

Note

The Top Stat or Top Event button may not be available depending on the provided metrics.

Active Sessions / Lock Tree / Process Info

You can search active sessions, lock trees, and processes information in real time. If you select a specific time of the chart in the widget, the real-time inquiry mode is stopped and the session performed at the selected time appears in the table. A time selection button appears above the table to search data in 5-second increments.

  • Active sessions: You can view active sessions and queries.

    • If you select a session running, the Session detail window appears. You can see the details for the selected session. For more information, see the following.

    • If you select an item in the rightmost query_text column in the table, the SQL details window appears. You can see the full text and plan information for the selected query. For more information, see the following.

  • Lock tree

    You can see the lock session information, and holder and waiter information in real time. For more information about the table columns, see the following.

  • Process Info

    You can query the resource usage of the database server in real time.

Tip

By adding a linked project, you can view information details about active transactions associated with active sessions in the Active sessions table in real-time. For more detailed information about adding and using a linked project, see [the following] (linked-projects).

Note
  • In the table list, the text colors are changed black → orangeRed, which means that the performance of the session is getting slower.

  • The Process Info can be checked only when the XOS agent has been installed. For more information, see the following.

Selecting metrics

To add or replace the metric graph to the widget, select More icon on the upper right of the widget. The Select a metric window appears. After completing the desired settings, select Save.

Metric Selection

  • number 5 Preview: You can preview the graph for the selected metric.

  • number 6 Title: Enter the widget name.

  • Number 7 It displays the metrics displayed on the chart of the selected widget. You can select up to 4 metrics.

    Note

    When you select Alert Icon on the right of a metric, the Event Configuration New menu appears, where you can configure the alerts based on the metric.

  • number 8 Recommendation Metrics / All Metrics: If you select Recommendation Metrics, the list of frequently viewed metrics in Database Monitoring appears. The metrics displayed in the list can be changed or added in the widget.

  • In the number 9 area, you can see the trend of metrics in a graph and add or change any widget. By selecting a desired tab, you can narrow down the list of metrics according to the category.

Adding metrics

Multiple metrics can be added in a widget. You can add up to four metrics.

  1. Select More icon on the upper right of the widget to add the metrics in.

  2. If the Metric Select window appears, in the number 8 metrics list or number 9 graph list, select Add icon on the right of the metric to add.

  3. To add more metrics, repeat the step 2.

  4. To easily identify the widget, change the number 6 Title.

  5. Select Save on the lower right of the screen.

Charts are generated as many times added to the widget to which metrics are added. If you select information icon next to the widget name, you can see the name and description of the added metric. You can also check the figure through a tooltip by hovering your mouse over the chart.

Note

The tooltip of the Information Icon button is not supported in multiple languages.

Changing a metric

You can change a metric in the widget to another.

  1. Select More icon on the upper right of the widget to change the metrics in.

  2. If the Metric Select window appears, select a metric to change in the number 7 area.

  3. In the number 8 metrics list or number 9 graph list, select a desired metric.

  4. In the number 7 area, check that the name of the selected metric has been changed.

  5. Select Save on the lower right of the screen.

Deleting a metric

You can delete unnecessary metrics while multiple metrics have been set in the widget.

  1. Select More icon on the upper right of the widget to delete the metrics from.

  2. If the Metric Select window appears, select Delete icon on the right of the metric to delete from the number 7 area.

  3. Select Save on the lower right of the screen.

Note

At least one metric must be selected for a widget. You cannot delete all metrics in a widget.

Editing a dashboard widget

The widgets on the dashboard can be adjusted to the desired size and placed in the desired positions. You can also delete unnecessary widgets or add them again.

Resizing a widget

Resizing a widget

Click and hold the mouse on the Resize icon element at the lower right of the widget, and then drag it to the desired size. Grids with a uniform horizontal-to-vertical ratio appear and the size of the widget can be adjusted in each grid.

Moving a widget

Moving a widget

When you move the mouse cursor to the top of the widget, the cursor shape changes to Move icon. At this time, you can move the widget by dragging with your left mouse button and move to the desired position.

Deleting a widget

Deleting a widget

Right-click on a widget to delete. If you select Delete, the widget is deleted from the dashboard.

Adding a widget

Adding a widget

Move the mouse cursor to an empty space on the dashboard and then right-click on it. Select a widget to add from the pop-up menu. Place the widget to the desired position and then resize it.

Custom widget

The custom widget feature allows users to add their own metrics in addition to the metrics provided by default on the dashboard. If you have metrics to continuously monitor on the dashboard in addition to the metrics provided by default, use the custom widget feature.

Add

  1. Right-click an empty space on the dashboard.

  2. On the pop-up menu, select Add Custom Widgets.

  3. If Custom Widget is created on the dashboard, select Select indicator.

    Custom widget

  4. When the Add Custom Widgets window appears on the right of the screen, enter the widget name in Title.

    Custom widget

  5. In the metrics list at the bottom of the screen, select the Add icon button on the upper right of the metric to add.

  6. After the metric has been changed, select Save.

Note
  • You can add up to four metrics. To add metrics, select Add icon.

  • Ti change the metric, select a different metric in the metrics list. If you select Add icon, the metric is added.

  • If you do not enter the widget title, it is saved as a custom widget.

Selecting the chart type

In chart type of the Add Custom Widgets window, you can select the following types.

  • Graph icon Series: Time series chart that displays the metric changes over time.

  • Graph icon Equalizer: Bar graph chart that can compare the performance for multiple metrics. By visually displaying various metrics on one screen, you can easily see the overall performance status.

  • Graph icon Pie: Pie chart useful for checking the composition ratio for multiple metrics relative to the whole.

  • Text icon Text: It displays the figures for the metrics in text.

Changing a metric

You can change or add metrics for the metrics added to the custom widget.

  1. Select Configuration icon on the upper right of the custom widget added on the dashboard.

  2. When the Add Custom Widgets window appears on the right of the screen, select a metric to change.

    Custom widget

  3. Select a metric to change from the metric list at the bottom of the screen. To add a metric, select Add icon on the upper right of the metric to add.

  4. After the metric has been changed, select Save.

Tip

The features of the icon buttons in the list for added or changed metrics are as follows:

  • Delete icon: You can exclude the metric from the custom widget.

  • Alert icon: You can set the alert for the metric. When the button is selected, the Alert > Event Configuration appears. For more information about the Metrics event setting, see the following.

Using the widget options

The icons displayed on the widget function as follows:

  • Information icon: You can see the features and information for major widgets. (multilingual support planned)

  • Up arrow icon or Down arrow icon: You can enlarge or reduce the range of the vertical axis.

  • Fullscreen icon: You can view the widget's data on a wider screen.

  • Detail icon : A detail window appears where you can search the data of the widgets separately by agent.

Note

The provided options may differ depending on the widget.

Preset

You can save and recall user-defined widget settings and active session table arrangements as presets. The following presets are provided by default, and the Default presets cannot be changed.

  • Default: It consists of major DB metrics.

  • Default(xos): It consists of key DB metrics and XOS metrics (CPU and memory utilization, memory SWAP usage, disk I/O, etc.).

  • Default(rds): It consists of key DB metrics and RDS CloudWatch metrics (CPU utilization, free memory space, free storage space, network, etc.).

Preset

Save Preset

In the Preset list, select a saved item to fetch the settings.

  1. Add or modify the widget metrics.

  2. On the upper right of the screen, select Save icon.

  3. In Save preset, change the name and then select Save.

Note
  • The Default preset cannot be modified.

  • Depending on the database environment, some presets may not be supported.

  • Including the modified metric graph, the column order, column width, and filter application content of the active sessions are also applied for custom presets.

  • You can save or modify the presets with the Edit project role. For more information about the member roles, see the following.

Creating a preset

  1. Place the widgets in the desired format on the dashboard. You can also resize and place only the widgets to be frequently checked.

  2. On the upper right of the screen, click the Save icon icon.

  3. Enter a new preset name.

  4. Click Save. You can see the newly saved preset from the preset list.

Note
  • If any changes are made to the newly created preset, save the preset again. Click the Save icon icon and then save the preset with the same name. Any changes are overwritten in the existing preset.

  • If you go to another menu without saving changes on the dashboard, the changes are not saved.

  • Presets are saved on a project basis and can be shared with other users.

Deleting presets

If you select Preset on the upper right of the screen, the preset list appears. Select Delete icon on the right of the preset to delete.

Using the active session section

Through Active sessions at the bottom of the screen, you can see the real-time active sessions. The following provides the guide for the button on the upper right of the table.

  • Filter icon: Using the column header entries in the table, the list can be filtered.

  • Refresh icon: The list of tables is refreshed.

  • Column icon: The column header entries in the table can be displayed or hidden.

  • Session Kill icon: The active session can be stopped.

    Note

    This feature is only available to the members with Edit role. For more information about member roles, see the following.

  • Download icon: You can download the content of the table as a CSV file.

  • Popup icon: A new window appears to see the list on a wider screen.

Checking the SQL statistics

You can see the list of top SQLs for the time period along with the trend of key performance metrics that occurred during the specific time in the past.

SQL statistics shortcut

  1. In Time, select Icon to switch from real-time mode to non-real-time mode.

  2. In Time, set the time zone to view.

  3. On the upper right of the Active sessions area, select SQL statistics.

SQL statistics appears in a new window. In Instance monitoring, you can see the top SQL list executed for the set time. For more information about SQL statistics, see the following.

Checking the session information details

If you select a session in the Active sessions tab, the Session detail window appears. You can see the information details about the selected session.

Session detail

  • The session information is viewed in real time by default. If you select Pause icon in the time selector, you can stop a real-time view and see the data based on the paused time. To refresh data while pausing a real-time view, select Refresh icon.

  • Kill Session: You can stop the selected session. If the Session kill window appears, enter the password (Parameter Key) and then select Apply.

    Note

    This feature is only available in real-time viewing mode.

  • Session history: You can go to the Session History menu to see the records of the selected session.

    Note

    For more information about Session History, see the following.

  • Session Stat: It provides various performance metrics and statistical information for the selected session. It includes the type and number of tasks performed in the session, resource usage, and more.

  • Delta / Sigma: The change rate and statistical analysis information for the selected session appear. You can check the amount of change in session activities.

  • Session Info: You can see the basic information of the selected session and the information details including the status.
  • Wait Info: The waiting event and waiting time of the selected session are provided. You can also see information about the waiting events that occur when the database system is waiting to execute a specific task.

  • SQL Text / Plan: You can see the SQL query statements and plans of the selected session. For more information, see the following.

View SQL Details

To check the SQL query information of the executing session, select the query (or sql_text) column in the Active sessions section. The SQL details window appears. You can check the SQL query statements and plan information.

Click the View SQL Statistics button to move to SQL statistics,
where you can view statistical information related to the selected SQL query.

SQL details

  • Runtime Plan: It provides the execution plan and runtime information for a selected SQL query. It provides the information details such as execution count, average execution time, and average physical reads.

  • Explain Plan: It displays the execution plan predicted by the optimizer. It provides information such as cost, job, object name, and cardinality.

  • Plan History: You can check the history of the execution plans of the SQL queries executed in the database.

  • Bind Capture: You can see the values ​​of the bind variables used in SQL queries executed in the database. This allows you to see actual content of query executions.

    Note

    This is a value captured in the database (v$sql_bind_capture), not a bind value executed in real time. If the number of cases is too large, it displays up to 100.

AI Tuning Guide

The AI Tuning Guide analyzes SQL queries, plans, and statistical information to diagnose performance issues and suggest optimization strategies.
It helps developers and DBAs quickly identify bottlenecks and improve performance through efficient SQL optimization.

Caution

Usage Conditions and Notes

For PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SQL Server, query plan retrieval is required.
If the plan is not retrieved, the AI Tuning Guide icon appears as Disabled AI Tuning Guide Icon (disabled), and the feature cannot be used.

  • Please note that AI-generated results are based on automated analysis and may not be 100% accurate.
  1. Click the SQL you want to analyze and diagnose to move to the SQL details screen.

  2. On the SQL details screen, click the AI Tuning Guide icon AI Tuning Guide Icon at the bottom right to start the AI analysis.

  3. Review the AI analysis results.

    Result ItemDescription
    Query Plan and SummaryProvides the purpose and execution summary of the query.
    Analyzes execution count, cumulative execution time, and overall database load ratio to assess the query’s impact on system performance.
    Performance AnalysisProvides performance scores and diagnostic results based on overall analysis.
    Analyzes detailed resource usage such as CPU, disk, cache hit rate, and wait time to visually identify bottleneck areas during query execution.
    Key Issues FoundSummarizes detected major issues.
    Optimization RecommendationsSuggests optimized queries based on identified issues.

Viewing the default plan

When creating the default plan user file, you can configure the agent to automatically view the plan by using the predefined DB information. After checking the box for Default plan inquiry, search for the plan through the specified DB connection information as follows.

  1. Add the plan_db option to the agent configuration (whatap.conf) file and then enter the DB name.

    whatap.conf
    plan_db=(dbname)
  2. After configuring the DB, use the planuid.sh script to set the user and password.

    ./planuid.sh user pwd
    Note

    If the user (user) and password (pwd) include special characters, add backslashes (\) before each special character.

    e.g. user$exampleuser\$example

Checking the linked projects

In Correlated Project Management, when another application project is added, the Correlations icon button is added to the active session entry.

Correlated project

Through the Correlation analysis window that appears when the Correlations icon button is selected, you can check active transactions of the applications linked to active sessions. You can check specific metrics such as transaction ID, thread ID, client IP, and CPU usage time, along with basic information such as transaction URL and database connection information, DB type, HTTP method, and execution time. Additionally, you can monitor the SQL query execution time, number of SQL calls, DB connection time, and such, which allows you to comprehensively analyze the system performance.

In particular, it provides the call stack information and SQL queries through stack traces, helping you trace and resolve detailed causes when problems occur. This allows you to perform in-depth analysis of interactions between applications and databases, and to quickly diagnose performance bottlenecks.

Note

For more detailed information about adding and using a linked project, see [the following] (linked-projects).

Stopping an active session

  1. Select Session Kill icon on the upper right of the table.

  2. Select the session to stop from the table list. You can select multiple items.

  3. Select Stop.

  4. If the Session kill window appears, enter the password (Parameter Key). You can check the password in the [paramkey.txt] file located in the agent installation directory.

  5. Select Apply. The selected session is stopped.

Note
  • Through the paramkey.txt file in the DBX agent installation path, you can find the password.

  • This function can be used by only the members with the Edit role. For more information about the member roles, see the following.

Zooming in the graph chart section

If the current screen is small and difficult to check the widgets, you can see the graph chart widget on a wider screen. Select Down arrow icon at the bottom of the Active sessions section. The Active sessions section is collapsed and the graph chart widget section is expanded.

To zoom out the graph chart widget, select Up arrow icon at the bottom of the Active sessions section.

Setting the table columns

You can hide the table header columns or add any of them. You can also change the column order. Select Column icon.

Note
  • After configuration, select Confirm to apply the settings in the table.

  • In the number 3 search bar, enter text to search the desired columns. Only the columns that meet the entered text are displayed.

  • Images may differ depending on the product, project, or menu.

Adding columns

From the Number 1 list, select the items to add as table header columns. To select all items, select Select All.

Deleting columns

From the number 1 list, unselect the columns to delete. Alternatively, select Delete icon on the right of the item to delete from the number 2 list.

Changing the column order

Drag an item to reposition from the number 2 list, and then move it to the desired position.

Initializing the configuration

To cancel all changes and reset them, select Reset icon Initialized.

Filtering the table data

Filter

  1. Select Filter icon on the upper right of the table.

  2. Select a column header and a condition in the table.

  3. Enter a desired value in the Enter conditions field.

  4. Select Save.

Column information guide

For more information about columns, see the link.

ItemDescription
sidSession ID
cpu(xos)CPU utilization collected by the installed XOS
serial#Value to increment to determine if the same session ID has been used.
usernameDB user name.
commandSame as COMMAND_TYPE; SQL command number
statusSession status
schemanameSchema. Same as the username.
osuserUsername of the OS that accessed the session.
spidOS process ID.
processID of the client process that accessed the session.
logon_timeSession created time point.
last_call_etIf the session is active, it is the elapsed time (sec) since activation.
sql_textquery, running statement, SQL statement that separates literal strings
sql_paramLiteral value separated from query
prev_sql_textPreviously executed query
prev_sql_paramPreviously executed query param
programProgram information executed by client
typesession type - can be adjusted in user background recursive (whatap.conf).
seq#Number that uniquely identifies the current or last wait (incremented with each wait)
eventNumber of the resource or event if the session is waiting.
p1First waiting event parameter (decimal point)
p2Second waiting event parameter (decimal point)
p3Third waiting event parameter (decimal point)
wait_classClass name of the waiting event
wait_timeThe value is 0 if the session is waiting. It is the last waiting time (milliseconds) if the value is greater than 0.
seconds_in_waitTime spent waiting for the wait if the session is waiting. Otherwise, it is the time elapsed since the last waiting.
stateWaiting state: WAITING, WAITED UNKNOWN TIME, WAITED SHORT TIME, WAITED KNOWN TIME
machineName of the client server that accessed the session (hostname)
portClinet port number
terminalClient terminal name
moduleName of the module set by the user of the program executed on the client.
actionAction name set by the user of the running module.
client_infoClient information set by user
client_identifierClient ID set by user
session logical readsNumber of times data was read into the buffer cache
physical readsNumber of data reads from the physical disk
execute countSQL execution count
parse count (hard)Total number of syntax analysis calls (actual syntax analysis)
parse count (total)Total number of syntax analysis calls (hard, soft, describe)
opened cursors currentNumber of open cursors
db block changesChange count of all blocks in the database
session pga memorySession's current PGA size
undo_segidUndo information ID
undo_blkUndo block count
undo_recUndo record count
sql_addressSQL statement identification data
sql_hash_valueSQL statement identification data
sql_idSQL ID of the running SQL statement
sql_child_numberSub number of the running SQL statement
sql_exec_startStart time point of SQL running in the session
sql_exec_idSQL running ID
prev_sql_addrInformation that identifies the last run SQL statement
prev_child_numberSub number of the last SQL statement executed
prev_exec_startStart time point of the last SQL statement executed
prev_exec_idStart ID of the last SQL statement executed
plsql_entry_object_idObject ID of the top PL/SQL subprogram on the stack.
plsql_entry_subprogram_idID of the top PL/SQL subprogram on the stack.
plsql_object_idSubprogram ID of the running PL/SQL object
taddrTransaction address
lockwaitlock wait address (lock address where the session is waiting)
row_wait_objObject ID of the table containing the row specified in ROW_WAIT_ROW#
row_wait_fileID of the data file containing the row specified in ROW_WAIT_ROW#
row_wait_blockID of the block containing the row specified in ROW_WAIT_ROW#
row_wait_rowCurrently locked row
pdml_statusIf the value is ENABLED, the session is in PARALLEL DML activation mode. If the value is DISABLED, the session does not support the PARALLEL DML activation mode. If the value is DISABLED, the session does not support the PARALLEL DML activation mode.
pq_statusIf the value is ENABLED, the session is in PARALLEL QUERY activation mode. If the value is DISABLE, the session does not support the PARALLEL QUERY activation mode. If the value is FORCED, it indicates the session was changed to force the use of PARALLEL QUERY.
blocking_session_statusIt provides details about whether there is a blocking session.
blocking_instanceInstance ID for the blocking session
blocking_sessionSession ID for the blocking session
final_blocking_session_statusIt provides details about whether there is a last block session.
final_blocking_instanceInstance ID for the last blocking session
final_blocking_sessionSession ID for the last blocking session
service_nameService name of the session. It is similar to the DB name.
saddrSession address
con_idID of the container associated with the data (only for multi-database support)
rss(xos)OS metrics collected by the XOS agent
pss(xos)OS metrics collected by the XOS agent
ioread(xos)OS metrics collected by the XOS agent
iowrite(xos)OS metrics collected by the XOS agent
Note

WhaTap basically stores the client-related information.