AXMonitoring¶

AX Monitor agent¶

The AxMonitor agent is a Windows service that can be installed on each server of a Microsoft Dynamics AX environment.

It has been designed to be integrated without the need for specific configurations in NetEye, once installed it is straightforward to create desireds Icinga agent-based Checks.

To facitate this task the agent comes with the PowerShell module AxMonitor with all needed cmdlets.

The AxMonitor agent is intended to monitor the operational health status of various Microsoft Dynamics AX functionalities in two ways:

reproducing some operations performed by both humans and software.
verification of well-defined settings which are essential for correct ERP’s operation.

The first point is the main reason for which it was decided to have an agent and not only a PowerShell module: interactions with Microsoft Dynamics AX requires a Windows Account registered as Microsoft Dynamics AX user while in principle the Icinga Windows agent uses a different Account.

The agent exposes some endpoints with data describing Microsoft Dynamics AX settings and status, some of these endpoints expose significant metrics in Prometheus data model and it can be moreover used as metric source for agents like Telegraf.

../_images/agent-schema.png — Fig. 159 Functional schema of AxMonitor agent¶

Usage Scenarios¶

Alert notifications for critical business processes¶

It is possible to get an alert in a wide range of critical scenarios, here a partial list:

An AOS service has stopped working
A Print service is not more responding
A MS SQL Reporting Service is not rendering correctly the requested reports
The Security settings for AX SQL database are not correct for AOS service user and .net BC user
The WCF services exposed by AOS service are not more reachable
The WCF services exposed by AOS service does not respond with the expected results
The SQL server instance is not reachable over network

AIF Web Services¶

AXCheck-AifWebServicesService¶

AXCheck-AifWebServicesService tests if service endpoint is reachable.

Table 17 Parameters¶
Parameter	Description
address	Address of server where AIF Web Services are hosted. Default value is localhost.
service	Service name to test, mandatory

AXCheck-AifWebServicesService [-address <String>] -service <String>

Example:

AXCheck-AifWebServicesService -address http://axpriis03:8081/MicrosoftDynamicsAXAif60/ -service AXAIFTEST22

Data Import Export Framework¶

AXCheck-DixfService¶

AXCheck-DixfService tests if service endpoint is reachable.

Table 18 Parameters¶
Parameter	Description
service	Mandatory, specify the Data Import Export Framework endpoint.

AXCheck-DixfService -service <String>

Example:

AXCheck-DixfService -service http://axprdixf.con.local:7000/DMFService/DMFServiceHelper.svc

AXCheck-DixfSharedPath¶

AXCheck-DixfSharedPath tests if path of file DIXFshare is reachable.

Table 19 Parameters¶
Parameter	Description
sharedFolder	Mandatory, specify the shared Folder path of the Data Import Export Framework

AXCheck-DixfSharedPath -sharedFolder <String>

Example:

AXCheck-DixfSharedPath -sharedFolder \\axpraos01.con.local\dixf

AX client¶

AXCheck-AxClientConnection¶

AXCheck-AxClientConnection tests if connection to an AOS Service if working, testing both RPC and WCF services.

Table 20 Parameters¶
Parameter	Description
aosServer	DNS entry for a valid AOS Service instance. If local AX client configuration cannot be found the cmdlet throws an exception.
rpcPort	In case this parameter is omitted this value can be read from local configuration. If local AX client configuration cannot be found default value is 2712.
wsdlPort	In case this parameter is omitted this value can be read from local configuration. If local AX client configuration cannot be found default value is 8101.
nettcpPort	In case this parameter is omitted this value can be read from local configuration. If local AX client configuration cannot be found default value is 8201.
configFile	Full path to AXC configuration file `configuration.axc`. If this parameter is used all other parameters are ignored. Ensure the AxMonitor agent service user has read rights on file `configuration.axc`.

AXCheck-AxClientConnection [-aosServer <String>] [-rpcPort <Int32>] [-wsdlPort <Int32>] [-nettcpPort <Int32>]

AXCheck-AxClientConnection [-configFile <String>]

Example with axpraosclicluster.con.local f5 load balancer and all ports:

AXCheck-AxClientConnection -aosServer axpraosclicluster.con.local -rpcPort 2712 -wsdlPort 8101 -nettcpPort 8201

Example with configuration file :file:’\axprfs.con.localaxcDATaxclient.axc’:

AXCheck-AxClientConnection -configFile \\axprfs.con.local\axc\DAT\axclient.axc

Reporting Services Extensions¶

AXCheck-SSRSservice¶

AXCheck-SSRSservice checks if reporting service are up and running.

Table 21 Parameters¶
Parameter	Description
endpoint	If omitted this value is retrieved directly from Microsoft Dynamics AX.

AXCheck-SSRSsvcCheck [-endpoint <String>]

Example:

AXCheck-SSRSsvcCheck -endpoint http://axprssrs02.con.local:8080/ReportServer

AXCheck-SSRSreportRender¶

AXCheck-SSRSreportRender checks if a report rendering request works.

Table 22 Parameters¶
Parameter	Description
endpoint	If omitted this value is retrieved directly from Microsoft Dynamics AX.
reportPath	This parameter is limited to two possible values: /DynamicsAx/SRSReportServerWarmup.AutoDesign (default) /DynamicsAx/SysUserLicenseCountReport.Report

AXCheck-SSRSreportRender [-endpoint <String>] [-reportPath <String>]

Example:

AXCheck-SSRSreportRender -endpoint http://axprssrs02.con.local:8080/ReportServer -reportPath /DynamicsAx/SysUserLicenseCountReport.Report

AXCheck-SSRSDBConnection¶

AXCheck-SSRSDBConnection tests if SQL Reporting Service Database is accessible. This test makes sense only on servers hosting a SQL Reporting Service.

Table 23 Parameters¶
Parameter	Description
sqlInstance	SQL instance name. Mandatory since this value is protected by encryption and cannot be read by users different from SSRS service user.
dbName	Database name. Mandatory since this value is protected by encryption and cannot be read by users different from SSRS service user.

AXCheck-SSRSDBConnection -sqlInstance <String> -dbName <String>

Example:

AXCheck-SSRSDBConnection -sqlInstance axprsql01.con.local/SqlI03 -dbName axrepordingDB

Application Object Server¶

AXCheck-AOSactiveUserSession¶

AXCheck-AOSactiveUserSession tests if AOS Service is running and respectively the numbers of active users and sessions on a AOS Service instance. Valid only on servers hosting one ore more instances of AOS Service.

Table 24 Parameters¶
Parameter	Description
aosId	AOS Service instance Id. Default value is 01.

AXCheck-AOSactiveUserSession [-aosId <String>]

Example:

AXCheck-AOSactiveUserSession -aosId 01

AXCheck-IsBatchServer¶

AXCheck-IsBatchServer tests if AOS Service is configured as batch server. Valid only on servers hosting one ore more instances of AOS Service.

Table 25 Parameters¶
Parameter	Description
aosId	AOS Service instance Id. Default value is 01.

AXCheck-IsBatchServer [-aosId <String>]

Example:

AXCheck-IsBatchServer -aosId 01

AXCheck-WaitingBatchjobsStats¶

AXCheck-WaitingBatchjobsStats retrieves the number of waiting batchjobs. Valid only on servers hosting one ore more instances of AOS Service.

Table 26 Parameters¶
Parameter	Description
aosId	AOS Service instance Id. Default value is 01.

AXCheck-WaitingBatchjobsStats [-aosId <String>]

Example:

AXCheck-WaitingBatchjobsStats -aosId 01

AXCheck-IsLoadBalancer¶

AXCheck-IsLoadBalancer tests if AOS Service is configured as load balancer. Valid only on servers hosting one ore more instances of AOS Service.

Table 27 Parameters¶
Parameter	Description
aosId	AOS Service instance Id. Default value is 01.

AXCheck-IsLoadBalancer [-aosId <String>]

Example:

AXCheck-IsLoadBalancer -aosId 01

AXCheck-SQLDatabaseConnection¶

AXCheck-SQLDatabaseConnection tests if SQL Database is accessible. Valid only on servers hosting one ore more instances of AOS Service.

Table 28 Parameters¶
Parameter	Description
aosId	AOS Service instance Id. Default value is 01.
sqlInstance	SQL instance name. If omitted this value is read from AOS Service configuration.
dbName	Database name. If omitted this value is read from AOS Service configuration.

AXCheck-SQLDatabaseConnection [-aosId <String>] [-sqlInstance <String>] [-dbName <String>]

Example:

AXCheck-SQLDatabaseConnection -aosId 02 -sqlInstance axprsql.con.local -dbName AxDB

AXCheck-SQLModelstoreDBConnection¶

AXCheck-SQLModelstoreDBConnection tests if SQL Modelstore Database is accessible. Valid only on servers hosting one ore more instances of AOS Service.

Table 29 Parameters¶
Parameter	Description
aosId	AOS Service instance Id. Default value is 01.
sqlInstance	SQL instance name. If omitted this value is read from AOS Service configuration.
dbName	Database name. If omitted this value is read from AOS Service configuration.

AXCheck-SQLModelstoreDBConnection [-aosId <String>] [-sqlInstance <String>] [-dbName <String>]

Example:

AXCheck-SQLModelstoreDBConnection -aosId 01 -sqlInstance axprsql.con.local -dbName AxDB_model

AXCheck-AOSRpc¶

AXCheck-AOSRpc tests if RPC port of an AOS Service is reachable.

Table 30 Parameters¶
Parameter	Description
aosServer	DNS entry for a valid AOS Service instance. Default value is localhost.
rpcPort	In case this parameter is omitted this value can be read from local configuration of AOS Service. If local AOS Service configuration cannot be found default value is 2712.

AXCheck-AOSRpc [-aosServer <String>] [-rpcPort <Int32>]

Example:

AXCheck-AOSRpc -aosServer localhost -rpcPort 2712

AXCheck-AOSWsdl¶

AXCheck-AOSWsdl tests if WCF services’ wsdl description services exposed by AOS service are reachable and reply correctly.

Table 31 Parameters¶
Parameter	Description
aosServer	DNS entry for a valid AOS Service instance. Default value is localhost.
wsdlPort	In case this parameter is omitted this value can be read from local configuration of AOS Service. If local AOS Service configuration cannot be found default value is 8101.
wcfservice	Mandatory, use as value the conventional name of WCF services.

AXCheck-AOSWsdl [-aosServer <String>] [-wsdlPort <Int32>] -wcfservice <String>

Example:

AXCheck-AOSWsdl -aosServer localhost -wsdlPort 8101

AXCheck-AOSNetTcp¶

AXCheck-AOSNetTcp tests if WCF services exposed by AOS service are reachable and respond correctly.

Table 32 Parameters¶
Parameter	Description
aosServer	DNS entry for a valid AOS Service instance. Default value is localhost.
nettcpPort	In case this parameter is omitted this value can be read from local configuration of AOS Service. If local AOS Service configuration cannot be found default value is 8201.
wcfservice	Mandatory, use as value the conventional name of WCF services. For AxManageabilityServiceGroup, AxMetadataService and AxQueryService is carried out a response validation check. For other services is tested only if they are reachable.

AXCheck-AOSNetTcp [-aosServer <String>] [-nettcpPort <Int32>] -wcfservice <String>

Example:

AXCheck-AOSNetTcp -aosServer localhost -nettcpPort 8201 -wcfservice AxManageabilityServiceGroup

AXCheck-AOSstatus¶

AXCheck-AOSstatus tests:

That the service is up and running
That the link to MS SQL server instance is working
That the AX databases (business db and model db) are readable
That the loadbalancer configuration is active
That the batch configuration is active
The active sessions number
The active client user number
The number of batch jobs in waiting status
The metadataservice status
The queryservice status
The manageabilityservicegroup status

Valid only on servers hosting one ore more instances of AOS Service.

Table 33 Parameters¶
Parameter	Description
aosId	AOS Service instance Id. Default value is 01.

AXCheck-AOSstatus [-aosId <String>]

Example:

AXCheck-AOSstatus -aosId 01

Enterprise Portal¶

AXCheck-EnterprisePortal¶

AXCheck-EnterprisePortal tests if service endpoint is reachable.

Table 34 Parameters¶
Parameter	Description
address	Mandatory, specify Enterprise Portal address.

AXCheck-EnterprisePortal -address <String>

Example:

AXCheck-EnterprisePortal -address http://axprep.con.local/sites/DynamicsAx

Help Server¶

AXCheck-HelpService¶

AXCheck-HelpService checks if Help Server service is responding.

Table 35 Parameters¶
Parameter	Description
endpoint	Valid endpoint for Help Server.

AXCheck-HelpService -endpoint <String>

Example:

AXCheck-HelpService -endpoint http://axprhs.con.local:9100/DynamicsAX6HelpServer

AXCheck-HelpServerSearch¶

AXCheck-HelpServerSearch checks if Help Server search function is responding.

Table 36 Parameters¶
Parameter	Description
endpoint	Valid endpoint for Help Server.
language	Language used for Text Search, value must be compliant to ISO Language Code Table. Default value is EN-US.
testphrase	Phrase used for Text Search. To ensure a significative result the phrase must be in the same language of language parameter. Default value is Help+Server.

AXCheck-HelpServerSearch -endpoint <String> -language <String> -testphrase <String>

Example:

AXCheck-HelpServerSearch -endpoint http://axprhs.con.local:9100/DynamicsAX6HelpServer -language EN-US -testphrase 'Enterprise+Portal'

Debugger¶

AXCheck-DebuggerInstalled¶

AXCheck-DebuggerInstalled tests if debugger is installed.

AXCheck-DebuggerInstalled

AXCheck-DebuggerIsActive¶

AXCheck-DebuggerIsActive tests if debugger is active. Valid only for servers hosting an AOS Service.

Table 37 Parameters¶
Parameter	Description
aosId	Default value is 01. Specify the AOS Service instance ID.

AXCheck-DebuggerIsActive [-aosId <String>]

Example:

AXCheck-DebuggerIsActive -aosId 02

.NET Business Connector¶

AXCheck-NETBusinessConnector¶

AXCheck-NETBusinessConnector test connection to an AOS Service. Valid only on servers where .NET Business Connector is installed.

Table 38 Parameters¶
Parameter	Description
aosServer	DNS entry for a valid AOS Service instance. If omitted this value is read from .NET Business Connector configuration.

AXCheck-NETBusinessConnector [-aosServer <String>]

Example

AXCheck-NETBusinessConnector -aosServer axprAos02.con.local

OfficeAddins¶

AXCheck-OfficeAddins¶

AXCheck-OfficeAddins test connection to an AOS Service. Valid only on servers where OfficeAddins is installed.

Table 39 Parameters¶
Parameter	Description
aosServer	DNS entry for a valid AOS Service instance. If omitted this value is read from OfficeAddins configuration.

AXCheck-OfficeAddins [-aosServer <String>]

Example:

AXCheck-OfficeAddins -aosServer axprAosClientCluster.con.local