Secure Containers

Managing IBM Secure Container (and Docker containers)

Many IBM presentations on IBM Secure Container have left the impression that this was a "black box" - meaning that if there was a performance problem or a lack of resource or other things that could impact the workload, there was no mechanism for diagnosing the problem. Customers rarely want to trust important workloads to a black box as jobs are at risk when applications fail to meet requirements due to bad architectural decisions.

Velocity Software, in conjunction with the IBM Secure Container team, have developed an architecture and solution to this problem. The architecture of the IBM Secure Container does not allow for bi-directional requests which zVPS does to support Linux using SNMP. However, an open source package, collectd, can be installed and tailored to send data to an IP address using the UDP protocol. zVPS has been enhanced to support this data feed, and now provides full performance management for IBM Secure Container using the collectd open source package.

zVPS will provide operational alerts, historical data, capacity planning information, and performance diagnostic capabilities to the IBM Secure Container using this architecture.

Installations wishing to test this function may actually point their collectd collector at the Velocity Software cloud and see their data - send a note to Barton if interested, and the correct IP address and port will be provided for your testing.

The collectd package is also useful for monitoring other Docker container architectures as well. This is in addition to the Docker MIB as currently provided by Velocity Software.

The following examples show some of the data provided by collectd and some of the reporting provided by zVPS, the Velocity Software Performance Suite:

CPU Reporting:

1Report: ESASSCC      Secure Container Report                       Velocity Software Corporate   ZMAP 5.1.0 05/30/19   Page    1
 Monitor initialized: 05/27/19 at 15:30:01 on 2828 serial 0314C7    First record analyzed: 05/27/19 15:31:00
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Container                <-------------CPU Percents----------->  <-----Memory Used (GB)------>   <-----Memory Used (Percent-->
                                                                                                           
                          User SYST Nice Intr SIRQ STL Wait Idle  Used Buff Cach Free URcl Recl  Used Buff Cach Free URcl Recl
 -----------------------  ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- --- ---- ----  ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----  ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
 15:32:00
 cpca-mon1                 2.6  2.8  0.0  1.3  1.2 1.3  0.0  3.3  28.7 17.7 37.6 40.0 24.8 30.3   2.3  1.4  3.0  3.2  1.9  2.5
 sysdig_collectd_us_ash_c  1.8  1.5  0.0  1.3  0.6 0.0  0.0  3.4  18.5  0.0 16.4 22.8 13.5 14.0   2.8  0.0  2.5  3.3  1.9  2.0
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 15:33:00
 cpca-mon1                 2.6  2.8  0.0  1.4  1.3 1.6  1.0  3.3  28.7 17.7 37.6 40.0 24.8 30.3   2.3  1.4  3.0  3.2  1.9  2.5
 sysdig_collectd_us_ash_c  1.8  1.6  0.0  0.0  0.0 0.0  0.0  3.4  18.5  0.0 16.4 22.8 13.5 14.0   2.8  0.0  2.5  3.3  1.9  2.0
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 15:34:00
 cpca-mon1                 2.6  2.8  0.0  1.4  1.4 1.6  0.0  3.3  28.7 17.7 37.6 40.0 24.8 30.3   2.3  1.4  3.0  3.2  1.9  2.5
 sysdig_collectd_us_ash_c  1.7  1.5  0.0  1.3  0.0 1.3  0.0  3.4  18.5  0.0 16.4 22.8 13.5 14.0   2.8  0.0  2.5  3.3  1.9  2.0
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

Process Reporting:

1Report: ESASSCH      Secure Container Process Report               Velocity Software Corporate   ZMAP 5.1.0 05/30/19   Page    1
 Monitor initialized: 05/27/19 at 15:30:01 on 2828 serial 0314C7    First record analyzed: 05/27/19 15:31:00
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Node            <---Percents------->  <------------Time---------->
  Process  core  Dispatch Thread Mgmt  Dispatch Thread Mgmt  Online
 --------- ----  -------- ------ ----  -------- ------ ---- -------
 15:32:00
 cpca-mon1
  CSDEV1      0     1.89    1.90 1.24         0      0    0    1.00
  CSSTAG1     0     1.97    1.99 1.65   1313.00      0 4.3G    1.00
  CS1         0     1.39    1.39 1.03  4294967K      0    0    1.00
  DBCIM1      0     1.76    1.78 1.24         0      0    0    1.00
  DBCIW1      0     2.01    2.03 1.43         0   1.00    0    1.00
  DBCIW3      0     2.01    2.04 1.36         0      0    0    1.00
  DBM1        0     1.91    1.93 1.36         0      0    0    1.00
  DBPFM1      0     1.59    1.63 1.16         0      0    0    1.00
  DBPFW1      0     1.54    1.55 1.16         0      0    0    1.00
  DBPFW3      0     1.56    1.56 1.03  4294967K  4295M    0    1.00
  DBSREM1     0     1.92    2.02 1.43  4294967K  4295M    0    1.00
  DBSREM2     0     1.90    1.91 1.32         0      0    0    1.00
  DBSREW1     0     2.94    3.00 1.88         0      0    0    1.00
  DBSREW2     0     3.03    3.21 1.90         0   1.00    0    1.00
  DBSREW2     1     2.96    3.10 1.86         0      0    0       0
  DBSTAGM1    0     1.52    1.57 1.03         0      0    0    1.00
  DBTESTD     0     1.66    1.67 1.16         0      0    0    1.00
  DBTESTM1    0     1.63    1.65 1.24         0      0    0    1.00
  DBTESTW1    0     2.63    2.65 1.93         0   1.00    0    1.00
  DBW1        0     1.49    1.50 1.03         0      0    0    1.00
  MGMT1       0     1.73    1.76 1.16         0  4295M    0    1.00
  MGMT2       0     1.89    1.89 1.16     22.00  27.00    0    1.00
  MON1        0     3.05    3.10 1.98         0      0 4.3G    1.00
  SRETEST     0     1.58    1.63 1.03         0      0    0    1.00
  VMPF1       0        0       0    0         0      0    0       0
  VMPF2       0     1.64    1.67 1.03         0      0    0    1.00
  VMPF3       0     1.28    1.51 1.03         0      0    0    1.00
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 15:33:00
 cpca-mon1
  CSDEV1      0     1.66    1.67 1.16         0      0 2.00    1.00
  CSSTAG1     0     1.92    1.93 1.32         0      0    0    1.00
  CS1         0     1.41    1.41 1.03         0      0    0    1.00
  DBCIM1      0     1.87    1.88 1.45         0      0    0    1.00
  DBCIW1      0     2.62    2.68 1.76         0      0    0    1.00
  DBCIW3      0     3.07    3.15 1.94         0   1.00    0    1.00
  DBM1        0     2.04    2.06 1.45         0      0    0    1.00
  DBPFM1      0     1.32    1.45 0.00  4294967K      0    0    1.00
  DBPFW1      0     2.96    2.97 2.14     61.00      0    0    1.00
  DBPFW3      0     1.43    1.47 1.03         0      0    0    1.00
  DBSREM1     0     2.02    2.09 1.39         0  19.00    0    1.00
  DBSREM2     0     1.92    1.94 1.52         0      0    0    1.00
  DBSREW1     0        0       0    0         0      0    0       0
  DBSREW2     0     1.97    2.01 1.47  4294967K  4295M    0    1.00
  DBSREW2     1     2.96    3.10 1.86         0      0    0       0
  DBSTAGM1    0     1.63    1.66 1.03         0      0    0    1.00
  DBTESTD     0     1.70    1.74 1.16         0      0    0    1.00
  DBTESTM1    0        0       0    0         0      0    0       0
  DBTESTW1    0     1.63    1.64 1.16         0      0    0    1.00
  DBW1        0     1.65    1.65 1.24     14.00      0    0    1.00
  MGMT1       0     1.91    1.91 1.24         0      0    0    1.00
  MGMT2       0     1.88    1.88 1.16         0      0    0    1.00
  MON1        0     2.07    2.26 1.43         0      0 2.00    1.00
  SRETEST     0     1.67    1.70 1.03         0      0    0    1.00
  VMPF1       0     1.36    1.39 0.00         0      0    0    1.00
  VMPF2       0        0       0    0         0      0    0       0
  VMPF3       0     1.55    1.57 1.03         0      0    0    1.00
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Disk Reporting:

1Report: ESASSCD      Secure Container Disk Report                  Velocity Software Corporate   ZMAP 5.1.0 05/30/19   Page    1
 Monitor initialized: 05/27/19 at 15:30:01 on 2828 serial 0314C7    First record analyzed: 05/27/19 15:31:00
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Node      <----I/O--->  <--Time----> <--DiskIO--->
 DISKName   Read  Write   Read   Write  Read  Write   Read  Write
 --------  -----  -----  -----  ------ ----- ------ ------ ------
 15:32:00
 cpca-mon1
 sdc1      4295M  4291M    0.9     0.5   0.0    1.0      0      0
 sdd           0   48.0      0   56149     0      0      0      0
 sdd1          0   48.0      0   56149     0      0      0      0
 dm-0          0  134.0      0   33074     0    0.1      0      0
 o      0   15.0      0       0     0      0      0      0
 dm-1          0   50.0      0  4096.0     0    1.2   10.0    1.0
 dm-2          0  111.0      0   38082     0      0      0      0
 dm-3      4295M   370M      0     0.0     0      0      0      0
 dm-4          0  111.0      0   38082     0      0      0      0
 dm-5          0  272.0      0   58157     0    0.0   20.0    0.1
 sde           0   22.0      0   34071     0      0      0      0
 sde1          0    3.0      0  4096.0     0      0      0      0
 sde2          0   19.0      0   38804     0      0      0      0
 sdh           0   39.0      0   69632     0    0.5      0      0
 sdh1          0   39.0      0   69632     0    0.5      0      0
 sdi           0   23.0      0   35617     0      0      0      0
 sdi1          0    4.0      0  8192.0     0      0      0      0
 sdi2          0   19.0      0   41391     0      0      0      0
 sdl1          0   50.0      0   52019     0    0.5      0      0
 sdm           0   24.0      0   37035     0      0      0      0
 sdm1          0    5.0      0  7372.8     0      0      0      0
 sdp1          0   45.0      0   59984     0      0      0      0
 sds           0   23.0      0   27782     0      0      0      0
 sds2          0   18.0      0   32540     0      0      0      0
 sdr           0   45.0      0   58800     0      0      0      0
 sdr1          0   45.0      0   58800     0      0      0      0
 sdu           0   20.0      0   26419     0      0      0      0
 sdu1          0    3.0      0  5461.3     0      0      0      0
 sdu2          0   17.0      0   30118     0      0      0      0
 sdx           0   45.0      0   54704     0      0      0      0
 dm-7          0  272.0      0   58157     0    0.0   20.0    0.1
 dm-8          0  272.0      0   58157     0    0.0   20.0    0.1
 sda           0   37.0      0   33100     0    1.2      0      0
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 15:33:00
 cpca-mon1
 sda1          0    7.0      0  9362.3     0   21.4      0      0
 sdd           0   24.0      0   62976     0      0      0      0
 sdd1          0   24.0      0   62976     0      0      0      0
 dm-0          0  159.0      0   27513     0    0.0      0      0
 o      0   15.0      0       0     0      0      0      0
 dm-1          0   46.0      0  4096.0     0    0.3   10.0    0.2
 dm-2          0  140.0      0   29901     0      0      0      0
 dm-3      13968  3925M      0     0.0     0      0      0      0
 dm-4          0  140.0      0   29901     0      0      0      0
 dm-5          0  141.0      0   59348     0    0.0   10.0    0.1
 sde           0   26.0      0   30878     0      0      0      0
 sde2          0   24.0      0   33109     0      0      0      0
 sdh           0   25.0      0   52265     0      0      0      0
 sdh1          0   25.0      0   52265     0      0      0      0
 sdi           0   27.0      0   20480     0      0      0      0
 sdi1          0    4.0      0  8192.0     0      0      0      0
 sdi2          0   23.0      0   22617     0      0      0      0
 sdl           0   22.0      0   59578     0      0      0      0
 sdl1          0   22.0      0   59578     0      0      0      0
 sdm           0   26.0      0   30247     0    1.0      0      0
 sdm1          0    4.0      0   12288     0   37.5      0      0
 sdm2          0   22.0      0   33513     0      0      0      0
 sdp           0   24.0      0   64512     0    0.5      0      0
 sdp1          0   24.0      0   64512     0    0.5      0      0
 sds           0   27.0      0   22300     0      0      0      0
 sds2          0   22.0      0   25507     0      0      0      0
 sdr           0   23.0      0   61440     0    0.6      0      0
 sdr1          0   23.0      0   61440     0    0.6      0      0
 sds1          0   15.0      0  2730.7     0      0      0      0
 sdu           0   26.0      0   30090     0      0      0      0
 sdu1          0    3.0      0   15019     0      0      0      0
 sdu2          0   23.0      0   32056     0      0      0      0
 sdx           0   23.0      0   55563     0      0      0      0
 dm-7          0  143.0      0   58518     0    0.0   10.0    0.1
 dm-8          0  143.0      0   58518     0    0.0   10.0    0.1
 sda           0   27.0      0   31403     0      0      0      0
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

File System Reporting:

1Report: ESASSCF      Secure Container File Systems                 Velocity Software Corporate   ZMAP 5.1.0 05/30/19   Page    1
 Monitor initialized: 05/27/19 at 15:30:01 on 2828 serial 0314C7    First record analyzed: 05/27/19 15:31:00
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Container     <-----------Storage (GB) ------------->
  File System    Size    Free  Reserved    Used     PCT
 ------------- ------ ------- -------- ------- -------
 15:32:00
 cpca-mon1
  hostfs           7.7     3.4     1.9     2.4     0.6
  hostfs-v           0       0       0       0       0
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 15:33:00
 cpca-mon1
  hostfs           7.7     3.4     1.9     2.4     0.6
  hostfs-v         8.1     3.2     1.9     3.1     0.6
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 15:34:00
 cpca-mon1
  hostfs           7.7       0       0       0       0
  hostfs-v         8.1     3.2     1.9     3.1     0.6
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

As always, Velocity Software is open to suggestions and requirements on managing your z performance.