OS Parameter information
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OS Parameter information is a Labs feature that lets you query the kernel and system parameter values of multiple servers in a project on a single screen. Instead of connecting to each server one by one to check the sysctl result, you can view the parameters and setting values of the network, file system, and kernel areas gathered per server. It is a screen for operators who compare configuration differences between servers or check kernel settings that can cause performance problems. It is read-only and does not provide a feature to change values.
How to access the Labs menu
OS Parameter information is included in the Labs menu and appears after Time synchronization information in the Labs menu. For how to access Labs features and the precautions, see the Labs document.
Supported agent versions
- Linux: agent 2.9.21 or later
- AIX, HP-UX, Solaris: agent 1.4.12 or later
Only data from agents that meet the supported versions is displayed.
Windows does not collect kernel and system parameters, so it is excluded from the query targets.
Query items
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
oname | Server name (host name) |
os | Operating system type |
category | Area the parameter belongs to (for example, net, fs, kernel) |
parameter | Parameter name (for example, net.ipv4.tcp_keepalive_intvl) |
value | Current value of the parameter |
The default sort is ascending by operating system, server name, area, and parameter name. For more information about the collected fields, see the infra_os_parameter category description in Server metrics V2.
Collection settings
OS parameter collection is on by default. To adjust the collection interval or the collection targets, set the following options in the whatap.conf file. You must restart the agent after changing the settings for them to take effect.
| Item | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
os.parameter.enabled | true | Whether to use OS parameter collection |
os.parameter.interval | 3600 | Collection interval (seconds) |
os.parameter.custom | (empty) | Parameters to collect in addition to the predefined items. Separated by commas |
Collecting additional parameters
To collect parameters other than the predefined items, list the collection targets separated by commas in the os.parameter.custom option. You can write each item in the form parameter or parameter:category; if you omit the category, the collector determines the area automatically.
os.parameter.custom=net.ipv4.tcp_congestion_control,vm.swappiness,kernel.pid_max
Up to one hour until the values appear
The default collection interval of os.parameter is one hour, so it can take up to an hour for the values to appear on the screen after you add the option.
Setting the query range
Unlike the other system information screens, OS Parameter information does not provide a real-time query. The parameter values are collected every hour, so you must specify a range of at least two hours for the values to be displayed.
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When you first enter the screen, the last two hours are queried.
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In the time selection, choose one of the last 2 hours, 6 hours, 24 hours, 3 days, or 7 days, or specify the range directly.
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If you specify a range shorter than two hours, a message is displayed and the query does not run.
Comparing the history
You can place the parameter values of two points in time side by side and find the items that changed. Click the history comparison entry point in the list screen toolbar and then select the two points in time to compare.
What can be confusing here is that the value of the time you chose may not appear as is. The comparison screen queries the six hours following the chosen time and shows the most recently collected value within that window, because the collection interval is one hour and there may be no collection record at the exact time you chose. This rule is always shown as a notice below the condition area.
When the comparison does not run
- If there is not a single collected value in one of the ranges, the comparison does not run and a notice is displayed.
- If the two chosen points in time end up pointing to the same collected data, you are notified with a warning.
A query failure and no data are shown as two different notices.
Querying the change history
You can check, in chronological order, when a parameter value changed and what it changed to. Click the change history entry point in the list screen toolbar and then select the query conditions.
Common features
The System Information Inventory screens (File system operation info, NIC configuration info, Time synchronization info, OS Parameter info, and System configuration info) share the same query method.
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Real-time query: Reloads the latest data periodically. The refresh interval differs by screen and is described in each screen's section. You can also pause the real-time query to check data at a specific point in time. However, OS Parameter info and System configuration info do not provide a real-time query.
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Search: Enter a keyword in the search box to query only the items you want.
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Filter: Add filter conditions to display only items for specific servers or statuses.
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Column settings: Select the columns to display on the screen and adjust their order. The selected column configuration is saved in the browser and retained even after you refresh the page.
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CSV download: Download the current query results as a CSV file.
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Sort: Click a column name to change the sort to ascending or descending order.
Column labels and units
The column labels, units, and tooltip descriptions on each screen are displayed based on the collection metadata. The item names listed in each screen's field table are based on the collection fields and may differ from the column labels shown on the screen.
Real-time query not supported
The OS Parameter information screen does not provide the real-time query among the common features above. Search, filter, column settings, CSV download, and sort can be used in the same way.