HP OpenView System Administration Handbook [Electronic resources] : Network Node Manager, Customer Views, Service Information Portal, HP OpenView Operations

20.1 DCE-RPC PROCESSES AND COMMUNICATIONS

In the RPC-based communications model, several OVO servers communicate directly with OVO processes on the managed node. They are referred to as the open agents. These processes are running at all times and are responsible for tasks ranging from checking the health of the managed node to forking helper programs during configuration distribution. The processes start (

opcsv start ) and stop (

opcsv stop ) along with the other management server processes.

20.1.1 Open Agents' Advantages

Introduced to allow easier development of new agent software for multiple managed node platforms, the open agents make it easier to add agents (sub-agents) or policies (such as smart plug-ins) to an existing management server without many programming code changes. One key benefit is that new agents can take immediate advantage of the server binaries and any new instrumentation is distributed using the general installation script (inst.sh).

20.1.1.1 RPC-based Open Agent Functional Areas

The open agent concept enables implementation of OpenView system management technology across multiple platforms. Through the development and use of shared open agent resources, a variety of agents are integrated into the management server environment, such as NT, Solaris, LINUX, AIX, and others. The agents and components for these platforms are initially installed on the management server and distributed to the managed node using the same distribution mechanism from the server. The distribution mechanism from the command line or GUI requires access to database tables. The initiating processes ensure the correct communications and query the database to build the configuration file for the node.

20.1.1.2 Agent Software Distribution

RPC-based OpenView processes rely on the remote procedure call daemon (rpcd) during distribution and update operations. The process name varies depending on the platform; check the managed node installation instructions for the naming convention of the local remote procedure call process.

20.1.1.3 Open Agent Process Descriptions

Open agent processes are shown in Figure 20-1 from the output of the

opcsv command.

Each open agent performs a unique task in facilitating agent and server communications. The processes are described in the following list:

• ovoareqsdr The request sender informs the control agent to start, stop, or update their local OVO agents. The request sender is also responsible for OVO self-monitoring of the management server processes and heath checks via heartbeat polling of the managed nodes.

• opcbbcdist The distribution manager distributes the node-specific configurations, scripts, and programs for automatic and operator actions to the managed node in response to requests from the distribution agent on the node. The distribution manager forks other processes as required such as the opctss sub-process and the inter-management server communications process called opccmm.

• opcmsgrd The message receiver collects all messages from the managed nodes.

Figure 20-1. OpenView Open Agent Server Processes are used for consistent information exchanges between the various heterogeneous agents and the management server.