Getting Started with the hIOmon WIOCS

As part of the WIOCS 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 WIOCS, simply double-click upon the "hIOmon Disk I/O Ranger" desktop icon or use the shortcut.

As described within the "WIOCS Installation Quick Start", the WIOCS automated configuration script is run during the installation of the WIOCS 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 Logical Disks, physical volumes, and 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 directs file I/O operations towards the Logical Disk(s) being monitored

Also note that the WIOCS "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 WIOCS "Settings" popup window to be displayed.

Brief Overview of the WIOCS Configuration Options

The WIOCS 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, files, or processes.  The drop-down list box will contain the names of those devices, files, 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).

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 real-time metrics does not stop of the collection of I/O operation performance metrics by the hIOmon I/O Monitor.

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

• The "A" 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 "B" group can be clicked to re-run the WIOCS 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.

  Also note that a restart of the computer system might be required as a result of re-running the script in order to complete the hIOmon software configuration changes.

• The "C" 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 Disk I/O Ranger Display can retrieve the I/O metrics for display.

The "Extend License" button can be used to extend the hIOmon WIOCS license; click here for more information about extending a hIOmon service subscription.

Additional detailed information about the various WIOCS 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 WIOCS software installation date and expiration date.  These values are shown within a separate pop-up display window as illustrated by the screenshot below.

The WIOCS 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.