Enabling Usage Monitor

To enable Usage Monitor, select the Enable Usage Monitoring option on the LifeCycle Tools Option page.

Navigation:

PeopleTools > LifeCycle Tools > Lifecycle Tools Options.

By default, this option is not selected. After selecting this option, ensure to restart the application server.

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Lifecycle Tools Options page with Usage Monitor options. You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

 Usage Monitoring page

Field or Control

Description

Enable Usage Monitoring

Select to enable the Usage Monitor so that system usage data can be collected for analysis and for incorporation with the PeopleSoft Testing Framework.

Buffer Size

Set the buffer limit which determines how much data should be collected in the buffer before storing the data in the database. Depending on the pages that are accessed and your testing needs, you can arrive at an optimum buffer size for your usage pattern.

The Buffer Size value affects the performance of the system. Setting the value too low will increase the number of buffer writes to the database and increase the amount of data aggregation required. A Buffer Size value of 2500 is a "minimum" production value. The actual value you set for a particular system should be based on a variety of factors, including:

  • number of users.

  • whether the monitoring is being recorded anonymously or by user ID.

  • number of objects accessed in the database during Usage Monitor tests.

  • amount of available system memory that can be allocated to the Usage Monitor buffers.

Setting the value too high prevents the buffers from being flushed, with no data being written to the database.

Note: To flush a partially full Usage Monitor buffer, the application server need to be restarted.

Data Collection Method

Use this option to capture

  • Anonymous- All users are monitored, and all users are set as anonymous unless it is a testing activity.

    Anonymous data is collected unless the user configures the Test Name and Test Case Name fields on the Usage Monitoring page.

  • By UserId- All users are monitored, and user name will appear in Usage Monitor data.

After <N> days

N specifies the retention period or the number of days during which the Usage Monitor data remains in the PSPTUMPMTAGR table.

Purge Data

Usage Monitor data older than the retention period gets deleted when you click the Purge Data button.

Process Monitor

Use this link to verify the status of the PTUMPURGE AE that is invoked after clicking the Purge Data button.

To verify the Usage Monitor configuration:

  1. On the Lifecycle Tools Options page, set the Buffer Size to 50.

    Note: Until the Buffer Size value is reached, no Usage Monitor data will be written to the database.

    Important! This buffer value of 50 is only for verifying the Usage Monitor configuration, ensuring that data will be quickly written to the Usage Monitor tables. When you are using the Usage Monitor, you need to increase the Buffer Size value to a more appropriate "production" value. The default is 2500. Refer to the Lifecycle Tools Options page documentation for further details on the Buffer Size field.

  2. Shutdown and restart the application server domain and the PeopleSoft Internet Architecture.

  3. Login to that application with your browser and navigate through a few pages and menus in the application.

  4. With your SQL query tool, submit the following query on the monitoring database:

    SELECT * FROM PSPTUMPMTAGR

  5. Verify that data is present in the view and that the timestamps correspond to the time you verified the Usage Monitor configuration.

  6. Repeat the previous steps when setting the Buffer Size value to your production value.