Specify tools

Tools are associated with a particular CI type, for example, Node or Net Device. When you run a tool, you run it from one or more events associated with CIs of the types for which the tool is specified. (You can also run a tool directly on one or more CIs.)

The name of the CI associated with the event is displayed in parentheses alongside the tool in the tools list:

• (CI)—impaired CI where the event occurred.

• (Node)—host system where the event occurred.

• (Source CI)—host system where the monitoring agent or probe is running.

The selected tool runs on the CI of your choice. If required, the tool also retrieves any runtime parameters from the CI. For example, the tool Ping (Node) runs on the node where the event occurred and also retrieves runtime parameters from the node.

In the context of a single event, available tools are displayed in the Launch > Tools > <tools> context menu and the Actions pane. Selecting a tool starts the Run Tool wizard, which you use to launch the tool and to evaluate the tool results. The tool is run on the target defined in the tool, for example the related node CI of the selected event. You can also launch a tool in the context of a single CI by selecting it in the View Explorer and clicking Launch Tool in the context menu.

To launch a tool on multiple CIs or nodes in parallel, select the events in the Event Browser or the CIs in the View Explorer. You can select multiple items by holding down the Ctrl or Shift key while selecting them. Clicking the Launch > Tool context menu opens the Run Tool wizard in which you select the tool, launch it, and view its results.

In this task, you learn how to launch a tool that is configured for a particular CI type. Tools are displayed in the context menus.

1. Open the Event Browser to display the list of known events:

   Workspaces > Operations Console > <select a perspective>

2. In the View Explorer pane, select a view containing the CI type with the tool you want to start.

3. To open the Run Tool wizard, make one of the following selections:

   • Right-click an event in the Event Browser and select a tool in the Actions pane. For details on the Actions pane, see Use the Actions pane.

   • Right-click an event in the Event Browser and select:

     Launch > Tools > <select a tool>

   • Select and right-click multiple events in the Event Browser and select:

     Launch > Tool

   • Right-click one or more CIs in the View Explorer and select:

     Launch Tool

   The Run Tool wizard opens.

4. If you opened the Run Tool wizard in the context of multiple events or CIs, select the tool you want to launch in the Select Tool page.

   Tip Enter the tool name or part of the tool name in the Search field to reduce the list of displayed tools. Similarly, select CI, Node, or Source CI to limit the list of displayed tools to those that apply to the related CI or the host node.

   If the tool does not require additional information, you can launch the tool directly from the Select Tool page by clicking the Run Tool button.

   If the tool requires any additional information, for example to resolve parameters, click Next and type the required information in the Specify Parameters page.

5. To run the selected tool, click Run Tool in the Preview page.

   For scripts and executable commands, the Execution Result page opens and displays the output of the tool execution.

   For URL launches, the target is opened in a browser.

   Additional options in the Execution Result page include:

   • Click the Stop Tool button to stop the execution of the tool. All processes initiated by the tool are stopped.

   • Use the Rerun Tool button to run the tool again if the first execution failed, did not yield the desired results, or was stopped.

   • Click the Word Wrap button to make sure that all output text is displayed within the output pane.

   • If the Execution Result page contains multiple execution results, you can sort and filter the results for better handling. To sort the results, click the Hostname or Status columns. To filter the results by status, click the status link to the right of the status icon.

6. Optional. Copy the execution results to the clipboard for further investigation or archiving. The results are deleted once the Run Tool wizard is closed.

   For scripts and executable commands, after the tool is run, click Close.

• No tools are available for the selected type of CI or the CI associated with the selected event.

• The selected event does not contain Related CI, Node, or Source CI information.

• The tool depends on external resources such as network or Internet connectivity that are not currently available.