ViewPoint Manual

Introduction to ViewPoint
ViewPoint Manual—426801-001
1-7
Control and Inquiry
In addition to the event configuration file, event displays are controlled by filters, with
each filter kept in a filter object file. A filter can be associated with any EMS
distributor to control the event messages retrieved by ViewPoint event collection
servers. Default filters are supplied with ViewPoint.
The default filter for event messages displayed on the Primary Events screen is kept in a
filter object file that is specified when ViewPoint is installed. This filter cannot be
changed without stopping and restarting ViewPoint. The filter for alternate events,
however, can be configured during ViewPoint operation. Not only can the person
monitoring ViewPoint change filters for event messages displayed on the Alternate
Events screen, but this person can also pass parameters to the selected filter for dynamic
control over the filtering of event messages.
The person monitoring ViewPoint or managing applications, can use the Primary
Events Configuration screen to control the types of events displayed on the Primary
Events screen and the frequency with which event messages are updated. For example,
the Primary Events screen could be set to display only action events and critical events,
rather than all events (the default specification) or to update event messages every
30 seconds rather than every 10 seconds (the default time period).
The person monitoring ViewPoint or managing applications, can use the Alternate
Events Configuration screen to modify the display on the Alternate Events screen. The
operator can specify a number of configuration options that control what is displayed on
this screen. Changes to the Alternate Events screen do not affect the event messages
displayed on the Primary Events screen. Possible configuration changes include:
•
Specifying up to five EMS collectors to collect events from remote systems or EMS
Alternate Collectors
•
Specifying a particular filter to filter events sent to the screen
•
Restricting events to those occurring at a particular system, subsystem, CPU, or
process
•
Specifying a particular event number or event text to be displayed
•
Specifying an EMS log file to collect previous events
•
Passing custom parameters to the selected filter file
Control and Inquiry
Control and inquiry functions are provided through two related parts of the ViewPoint
application: the TACL screen and the Define Process library of commands.
Not all ViewPoint applications provide access to TACL and the Define Process library.
Although these features are always supplied with ViewPoint, you might choose to install
ViewPoint without access to TACL. You might prefer that ViewPoint run at one or
more dedicated terminals or as a program under direct Pathway control. Not allowing
access to TACL means more control over system security and less training for those
who are monitoring, such as an operator.