Getting Started with the hIOmon WIOPF

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

The hIOmon I/O Monitor software component must be properly configured in order to collect the hIOmon "Performance Threshold Range Metrics" for display by the hIOmon Disk I/O Ranger.  This proper configuration includes an active/loaded hIOmon "Filter Selection".

hIOmon "Filter Selection"

The hIOmon "Filter Selection" specifies the particular devices, files, and/or processes that are to be monitored by the hIOmon I/O Monitor, the specific types of I/O operations to be monitored, and the types of I/O operation performance metrics to be collected.  The collection of I/O operation performance metrics generally begins when the Filter Selection is loaded/activated (these metrics are also reset to zeros when a Filter Selection is re-loaded/activated).

Please note that the "summary" metrics collected by hIOmon are I/O operation performance metrics that are automatically-aggregated by the hIOmon I/O Monitor.  This aggregation can be performed in realtime based upon observations taken at points within the operating system where the individual I/O operations were actually processed.

As described within the "WIOPF Installation Quick Start", the WIOP automated configuration script can optionally be run during the installation of the WIOPF software.  This script configures the hIOmon software by automatically creating and activating a Filter Selection to monitor the chosen devices.  By default, the operating system physical disk associated with the system drive is selected to be monitored – or in response to input prompts issued by the script, you can explicitly specify the particular devices to be monitored.  Note that after the WIOPF software has been installed, you can use the Settings "Reconfigure" option to run the WIOP automated configuration script.

First Use

When first run after the installation of the hIOmon software package, the hIOmon Disk I/O Ranger Display application will by default determine whether there is an existing Filter Selection that is currently active.  Note that an active Filter Selection will be found if you selected the WIOP automated configuration script to be run during the installation of the WIOPF software. 

If no active Filter Selection is found, then the hIOmon Disk I/O Ranger Display application will automatically perform the following steps:

1. Create a Filter Selection (named "IORangerFS" by default) that will include a single filter specifying that both read and write I/O operations for all files upon the system drive (typically the "C:" logical disk) are to be monitored by the hIOmon I/O Monitor and that "summary" I/O operation performance metrics are to be collected for the monitored files.

2. In addition, "Device Summary" metrics will also be collected for the system drive; these "Device Summary" metrics reflect the combined totals for all of the monitored files that reside upon the system drive logical disk and for which the hIOmon I/O Monitor observed read and/or write I/O operations.

3. Will display an input prompt asking whether you also want both read and write I/O operations to be monitored by the hIOmon I/O Monitor for the operating system physical disk associated with the system drive logical disk.  If you enter a response indicating "Yes", then an additional filter for this physical disk will be included within the created Filter Selection; this filter will specify that "summary" I/O operation performance metrics are to be collected by the hIOmon I/O Monitor for both read and write I/O operations to the physical disk.

   If the associated physical disk is to be monitored, then an additional input prompt will be displayed asking whether you also want to collect "Data Transfer Size (DTS)" metrics for the physical disk.  Note that these DTS metrics will be collected upon a "device summary" basis for the physical disk.

4. After successfully creating this "IORangerFS" Filter Selection, the hIOmon Disk I/O Ranger Display application will then load/activate this Filter Selection.  The hIOmon I/O Monitor will immediately begin monitoring I/O operations for files residing upon the system drive logical disk and collecting summary metrics.

   Please note that no reboot/restart of the system will be required.

5. The hIOmon Disk I/O Ranger Display application will then make the "IORangerFS" Filter Selection the "default" Filter Selection.  The hIOmon Manager software component loads the "default" Filter Selection automatically each time the system is started.

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

Brief Overview of the WIOPF Configuration Options

The hIOmon Disk I/O Ranger Display "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 from a selected ETW input log file or 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 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 WIOPF 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 run the WIOP automated configuration script.  This enables you to specify additional (or other) devices to be monitored.  Note that 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.

  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; this includes enabling the necessary WMI security and firewall permissions upon the remote computer.  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.

  The remote computer can also be accessed via the Internet if the hIOmon REST API software is running and enabled upon the remote computer.  See the "Remote Computer" section with the hIOmon WIOP "Getting Started" guide for additional details on accessing a remote computer using the hIOmon REST API support.

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

• The "E" group are Filter Selection options that enable you to manually add, modify, and delete Filter Selections.  A Filter Selection can also be loaded/activated and/or made the default.  Note that only one Filter Selection can be the default and that there is only one active Filter Selection.  Some configuration option changes to a Filter Selection may require a system restart.

  Options are provided to explicltly specify particular devices and/or files to be monitored.  You can also enable the collection of "Data Transfer Size (DTS)" summary I/O metrics for a particular file and its associated device.

  Please note that all of the currently-collected real-time summary metrics will subsequently be reset to zeroes as a result of loading/activating a Filter Selection; in addition, a new Observation Period will begin.

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

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

The WIOPF 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.