Getting Started with the hIOmon WIOP

As part of the WIOP software installation process, a "hIOmon Disk I/O Ranger" icon is placed upon the desktop.  In addition, a “Start -> Programs -> hIOmon -> hIOmon Disk I/O Ranger” shortcut is created. To use/run the hIOmon WIOP, simply double-click upon the "hIOmon Disk I/O Ranger" desktop icon or use the shortcut.

As described within the "WIOP Installation Quick Start", the WIOP automated configuration script is run during the installation of the WIOP software.  This script configures the hIOmon software to monitor the devices that you selected.

hIOmon Manager Export Files

The script also automatically configures the hIOmon software so that three distinct types of hIOmon Manager Export Files are created and activated.  These export files are written in a Comma-Separated-Values (CSV) file format.  They are configured to contain a comprehensive set of automatically-summarized I/O operation performance metrics for the individual devices and processes that are monitored.  These summary metrics go far beyond simple I/O operation counts and data transferred amounts and include the hIOmon "Performance Threshold Range Metrics", DXTI, random and sequential access metrics, and much more.

The three different types of hIOmon Manager Export Files are:

1. Device summary I/O metrics for the individual physical disks being monitored
2. Data Transfer Size (DTS) summary metrics for the individual physical disks being monitored.  These DTS metrics are provided upon an individual data transfer size/length basis.  They reflect I/O operation activity observed by the hIOmon I/O Monitor for I/O operations whose data transfer size/length was that of the corresponding size/length.
3. Process summary I/O metrics for each individual process instance that has its respective I/O operations performed by the physical disks being monitored

Also note that the WIOP "Settings" window display "Reconfigure" button can be used to modify which particular devices are to be monitored and that the use of this button does not modify the configuration of any existing hIOmon Manager Export File.

A "Settings" button is located at the bottom of the "Main Display" window.  Clicking this button causes the WIOP "Settings" popup window to be displayed.

Brief Overview of the WIOP Configuration Options

The WIOP Settings window provides a variety of configuration options, which are briefly described below.

At the top of the Settings window you can select whether summary I/O metrics are to be displayed for monitored devices or processes.  The drop-down list box will contain the names of those devices or processes respectively for which summary I/O metrics are available to be shown within the "Main Display".  This applies to both real-time metrics as well as historical displays (i.e., when the summary I/O metrics are retrieved from a selected hIOmon Manager Export File or a selected ETW input log file).

You can also specify the time interval between the refreshes/retrieval of the metrics displayed within the Main Display.  Note that stopping the refresh update of the Main Display for metrics does not stop of the collection/processing of I/O operation performance metrics by the hIOmon ETW I/O Monitor (either ETW realtime or using an ETW input log file).

The screenshot below illustrates several of the other primary groups of the WIOP configuration options:

• The "A" group are Sort Order options that you can use to select a particular sort-order sequence for the devices and processes shown within the drop-down name list boxes.  Over 70 different sort order options are available, including I/O operation count, maximum response time, maximum IOPS, and many more.  This hIOmon Disk I/O Ranger Display feature enables you to quickly hone in on a performance aspect of particular interest to you.

• The "B" group are display options that you can use to select which particular I/O metrics are to be shown within the Main Display (e.g., which of the various "Performance Threshold Range Metrics").  You can select any number and combination of items to be displayed.

• The "Reconfigure" button in the "C" group can be clicked to re-run the WIOP automated configuration script.  This enables you to specify additional (or other) devices to be monitored.  Note that re-running the script will cause the currently-collected real-time summary I/O metrics to be reset to zeroes but it will not modify the configuration or contents of any existing hIOmon Manager Export File.

  The drop-down list box located to the right of the “Reconfigure” button contains the file names of automated configuration scripts available to be used for reconfiguration.  The selected script name is highlighted with a green background within the drop-down list box.

• The "Remote Computer" checkbox in the "D" group enables you to select whether the hIOmon Manager upon the local computer or instead upon a remote computer is to be the source of the metrics to be displayed.  The “local” computer is the computer upon which the hIOmon Disk I/O Ranger Display software has been installed.

  Unless the "REST API" option is used, the remote computer is accessed using the hIOmon WMI support and requires that the Microsoft remote WMI access support also be enabled upon both the local and the remote computers.

  If the "Use REST API" checkbox is checked, then the remote computer is accessed using HTTP requests in accordance with the "hIOmon REST API" web service.  Note in this case the "hIOmon REST API" software support must be installed upon the targeted remote computer with the hIOmon REST API web service running.

  The remote computer can be identified by specifying either the computer name or IP address.  A user name and associated user password must also be specified when accessed using the hIOmon WMI support.

  If the hIOmon REST API is used, the remote computer name (or IP address) can be followed by a specific port (e.g., xxx.xxx.x.x:9000).  The default port will be used is a specific port is not appended to the remote computer name or IP address.

  In addition, the remote computer name or IP address must be prefixed by "SSL:" if the HTTPS support is enabled within the targeted hIOmon REST API web service (i.e., "SSL:xxx.xxx.xx.xx:ppppp").

  The hIOmon Disk I/O Ranger will display a prompt asking whether you want to connect to the remote computer.  It will also provide you an option to save separately the remote computer name, user name, and user password.

  If a remote computer was being accessed when the hIOmon Disk I/O Ranger Display was closed, then the hIOmon Disk I/O Ranger Display when next started will attempt to reconnect to the remote computer using the saved values.  Click on the "Clear" button to delete the saved values from the configuration file.

  Check the "Remote Computer" checkbox to indicate that the hIOmon Manager at the specified remote computer is to be accessed.  Clear the checkbox to indicate that the hIOmon Manager upon the local computer is to be accessed.

  "REST API" will be displayed when the hIOmon REST API support is being used to communicate with the hIOmon Manager upon a remote computer.

  Please note the ability to connect to remote computers is available with the hIOmon WIOP Workstation/Server version and with the hIOmon User-Interface (UI) AddOn software package.

• The "E" group are export options that enable you to write the currently-displayed I/O metrics to a Comma-Separated-Values (CSV) formatted file.  The particular metrics that you select to be exported are written to the specified export file each time that the Main Display is refreshed.

  Note that this export file is distinct from the hIOmon Manager Export Files.  However, you can select an export metrics option whereby the metrics are written to the export file within the "hIOmon Manager Export File" format.  The resulting hIOmon Manager Export File can then be subsequently used as an input source file from which the hIOmon Disk I/O Ranger Display can retrieve the I/O metrics for display.

The "Activate Key" button can be used to activate or extend the hIOmon WIOP licensed subscription; click here for more information about extending a hIOmon WIOP subscription.

Additional detailed information about the various WIOP Settings configuration options can be found within the Disk I/O Ranger help information in Documentation.

Display of the hIOmon Product ID, Installation and Expiration Dates

Click on the "About" button at the bottom of the Settings window to display the hIOmon Product ID along with the hIOmon WIOP software installation date and expiration date.  These values are shown within a separate pop-up display window as illustrated by the screenshot below.

The hIOmon WIOP supports the display of summary I/O metrics that have been saved within a hIOmon Manager Export File.  Click here for additional details about this historical display.