3.2.2 ICCP walkthrough wizard
ICCP also has a Walkthrough Wizard helper which takes the IBM representative, with the input from a client’s statistics, through a series of prompts to enable a model to be created for estimating the various system loads, for example the CPU % usage, the network data throughput, the user activity over time and batch processes (depending on the type of software) and so on
The Walkthrough Wizard will build a complete IBM Content Capacity Planner project file after taking the user through a series of query forms. The forms prompt the user for the products to be configured for the target system, and then it prompts with questions about how each product will be used.
From the answers to the questions, a project file is built called Walkthru.sct.
When the wizard is closed, the IBM representative can view and modify the project to add additional system resources or data workloads if required. The ICCP tool can be run through several iterations and the resources changed to answer what-if scenarios to provide some assurance to the client that the hardware and workloads that they anticipate requiring in the future will provide a reasonable throughput for their business.
Conclusion
This chapter covered the procedures to follow, to identify and enter the sizing and capacity data required, as input for the IBM Content Capacity Planner tool, as exemplified by the IBM Watson Advanced Care Insight software, in order to assist with planning for installation. It covered the techniques required to interpret and evaluate the ICCP graphs for selecting adequate network and Server hardware, and to support the anticipated workload.
Points to remember
• There is context-sensitive help available for each screen in the IBM Content Capacity Planner tool.
• There is an ICCP Walkthrough wizard Skip Entry checkbox at the beginning of each product definition screen. This allows you to skip past the next selected product.
• The IBM Content Capacity planner utilization is analyzed using Windows performance reports which are generated by the IBM System Dashboard software product.
• Usually, the recommended thresholds, for a physical server is 40% CPU utilization and 80% for virtual servers.