Introduction to monitoring IBM MQ for z/OS

Use this topic as an overview of the monitoring facilities available for IBM MQ for z/OS . For example, obtaining snapshots, using IBM MQ trace, online monitoring, and events.

This topic describes how to monitor the performance and resource usage of IBM MQ.

• It outlines some of the information that we can retrieve and briefly describes a general approach to investigating performance problems. (We can find information about dealing with performance problems in the Problem determination on z/OS .)
• It describes how we can collect statistics about the performance of IBM MQ by using SMF records.
• It describes how to gather accounting data to enable you to charge your customers for their use of the IBM MQ systems.
• It describes how to use IBM MQ events (alerts) to monitor the systems.

Here are some of the tools you might use to monitor IBM MQ; they are described in the sections that follow:

• Tools provided by IBM MQ:
  • Use DISPLAY commands
  • Use CICS adapter statistics
  • Use IBM MQ events

• z/OS service aids:
  • Use System Management Facility

• Other IBM licensed programs:
  • Use the Resource Measurement Facility
  • Use Tivoli Decision Support for z/OS
  • Use the CICS monitoring facility

Information about interpreting the data gathered by the performance statistics trace is given inInterpreting IBM MQ for z/OS performance statistics.

Information about interpreting the data gathered by the accounting trace is given inInterpreting IBM MQ for z/OS accounting data.

• Getting snapshots of IBM MQ using the DISPLAY commands
  IBM MQ provides the MQSC facility which can give a snapshot of the performance, and resource usage using the DISPLAY commands.
• Use CICS adapter statistics
  If we are an authorized CICS user, we can use the CICS adapter control panels to display CICS adapter statistics dynamically.
• Use IBM MQ trace
  We can record performance statistics and accounting data for IBM MQ by using the IBM MQ trace facility. Use this topic to understand how to control IBM MQ trace.
• Use IBM MQ online monitoring
  We can collect monitoring data for queues and channels (including automatically defined cluster-server channels) by setting the MONQ, MONCHL, and MONACLS attributes.
• Use IBM MQ events
  IBM MQ instrumentation events provide information about errors, warnings, and other significant occurrences in a queue manager. We can monitor the operation of all your queue managers by incorporating these events into your own system management application.
• Use System Management Facility
  We can use SMF to collect statistics and accounting information. To use SMF, certain parameters must be set in z/OS and in IBM MQ.
• Use other products with IBM MQ
  We can use other products to help you to improve the presentation of, or to augment statistics related to, performance and accounting. For example, Resource Measurement Facility, Tivoli Decision Support, and CICS monitoring.
• Investigating performance problems
  Performance problems can arise from various factors. For example, incorrect resource allocation, poor application design, and I/O restraints. Use this topic to investigate some of the possible causes of performance problems.

Parent topic: Monitor performance and resource usage on z/OS