UNIX Master Agents

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UNIX Master Agents

On UNIX, master agents are provided through licensing agreements. The following table lists these master agents.

Master Agent	Company	Web Site Home Page
EMANATE, Version 14.2	SNMP Research	www.snmp.com
Patrol, Version 2.3	BMC Software	www.bmc.com

For some UNIX platforms, you might be able to use a master agent other than the one provided with the database server. To see whether this applies to your platform, see your release notes.

Assuring Compatibility

The following guidelines assure master agent compatibility:

Only one master agent is provided, usually EMANATE or Patrol, for each UNIX platform type.
The subagent that works with the master agent is also provided with the database server.
In some cases, the platform vendor also supplies a master agent that works with the subagent provided with the database server. This is generally true only if the platform vendor supplies the same type of master agent as that provided with the database server and if the version number of the vendor-supplied master agent is greater than or equal to that of the version provided with the database server.
You should run only one instance of a master agent on a platform. You can run multiple instances of subagents, including multiple instances of onsnmp, if multiple database server or coserver instances exist.
Informix subagents can coexist with subagents that platform or third-party vendors supply if all the subagents share a common, compatible master agent.

Installing and Configuring a Master Agent Manually

The runsnmp.ksh script automatically performs the steps in this section for the master agents provided with the database server. If you bought a master agent from another vendor, follow the installation instructions that the vendor provides.

To configure the EMANATE master agent

Set the following environment variables:
- Make sure that the PATH environment variable includes $INFORMIXDIR/bin.
- Set SR_AGT_CONF_DIR to the directory for the EMANATE configuration file.
- Set SR_LOG_DIR to the directory for the EMANATE log file.
The EMANATE configuration files are located in the $INFORMIXDIR/snmp/snmpr directory. The log files are located in the /tmp directory. The /tmp directory is the default location if the variable is not set.
Make sure that either the Network Information Services or the /etc/services file configures UDP ports 161 and 162 as the SNMP ports.
1. Use the grep command to search /etc/services for snmp. The output from grep should be similar to the following lines:
```
snmp         161/udp
snmp-trap    162/udp
```
2. Make sure that UDP port 161 is available so that the master agent can be the owner of the port.

To configure the Patrol master agent

Make sure that the PATH environment variable includes $INFORMIXDIR/bin.
Make sure that either the Network Information Services or the /etc/services file configures UDP ports 161 and 162 as the SNMP ports and port 199 as the SMUX port.
1. Use the grep command to search /etc/services for snmp and smux. The output from grep should be similar to the following lines:
```
snmp         161/udp
snmp-trap    162/udp
smux         199
```
2. Make sure that UDP port 161 is available so that the master agent can be the owner of the port.
If necessary, modify the configuration parameters.
The Patrol configuration file is located in the $INFORMIXDIR/snmp/peer directory. For information about the Patrol configuration values, see the BMC Software Web site, which is listed in UNIX Master Agents. The Patrol log files are located in the /tmp directory.

Starting and Stopping a Master Agent

Start the master agent before you start an Informix database server or coserver, and stop all Informix database servers and coservers on a workstation before you stop the master agent.

The best way to start a master agent is to run the runsnmp.ksh script as part of the startup procedure for the system. Similarly, the best way to stop a master agent is to run the runsnmp.ksh script as part of the shutdown procedure. However, you can start or stop a master agent manually if you prefer. Additionally, while a master agent is running, you can make sure that it is running correctly.

If you bought a master agent from another vendor, follow the instructions that the vendor provides.

Starting and Stopping a Master Agent Automatically

The runsnmp.ksh script automatically starts the EMANATE or Patrol master agent at startup and stops it at shutdown.

Starting and Stopping a Master Agent Manually

This section describes how to start or stop a master agent if you do not use the runsnmp.ksh script.

To start a master agent manually

Log in as root.
If you do not have root user privileges, ask your system administrator to start the master agent.
Stop or kill any master agents and daemons that are running on the workstation.

Enter the following command:

For EMANATE:

snmpdm &

For Patrol:

snmpdp $INFORMIXDIR/snmp/peer/CONFIG NOV &

To stop a master agent manually

Log in as root.
If you do not have root user privileges, ask your system administrator to stop the master agent.
Kill the following process:
For EMANATE, snmpdm

For Patrol, snmpdp

The following table describes the command-line options that you can include in the snmpdm command for the EMANATE master agent.

Option: Description
-apall: Turn on all messages.
-aperror: Turn on error messages. Error messages are already turned on by default.
-aptrace: Turn on trace messages.
-apwarn: Turn on warning messages. Warning messages are already turned on by default.
-d: Run the master agent in the foreground.

To make sure that a master agent is running correctly

Check the master agent log file to verify that the master agent has not generated any errors. The log file is located in the /tmp directory unless the environment variable mentioned in *** is set to a different directory.
Verify that the process is running:
For EMANATE, snmpdm

For Patrol, snmpdp