theGuard! ApplicationManager is a stable and proven software solution with a flexible and scalable architecture. Its modern three-pronged architecture serves as a basis for various valuable features for practical application. It consist of:

Applications run on servers called managed nodes. There is one active agent per managed node that establishes communication between the respective server and the central management server.

Data collectors (DC) are installed for every type of application on a managed node and uphold a permanent connection to the monitored application instance. This relieves the application because a user session is initiated only once.

Data collectors transfer all information via the agent to a central management server, with the option for synchronous or asynchronous configuration.

Each DC features extensive functionalities for efficient monitoring and secure application management. They form the core of the application management, without the employment of script languages or interpreters.

Data collectors are programs compiled in C++ on the respective platform that require only few megabytes of disk space.

A data collector contains all specific application information and models this information close to the CIM model.

Filters and metrics operate on the managed node reducing network load between managed node and management server.

The entire communication between internal components (agents, data collectors, management server, alert server) is permanently monitored.

Data collectors and agent updates can be distributed automatically through a build-in installer. At the same time the “metarepository” is automatically adapted. Configuration of individual data collectors can be distributed among different servers (profile copy). Thanks to a new upgrade procedure, agents with the new functionality can now be installed and registered in the database at any time.

The management server is the heart of the theGuard! ApplicationManager. It is based on the up-to-date CORBA technology (Common Object Request Broker Architecture) where all gathered events and statistical values are modeled on the CIM model. The data is analyzed and then collected in the theGuard! MonitoringRepository database, which is based on Microsoft SQL servers. There the information is available for later analysis (reporting, service level analysis).

One server and the database can be configured for high-availability because they support the 2-active-node cluster.

The management server is highly scalable: A single server can manage large amounts of data from various applications on more than 250 servers. A second server is employed for larger systems.

The management server also automatically transfers all data to the registered user interfaces in real-time, thus being the basis for the active monitors.

A build-in user manager permits safe operation of theGuard! ApplicationManager furnished with the respective authorizations.

theGuard! CommCenter is the powerful alerting system inside theGuard!. It supports a large number of alerting methods such as pager, GSM short messages, e-mails and fax.

The escalation system built into the theGuard! ApplicationManager guarantees the forwarding of critical error messages.

The intuitive and personalized user interface inside theGuard! ApplicationManager allows for a fast access without time-consuming software training.

The navigation is context-sensitive – even beyond Windows. This makes it possible, for example, to easily access associated information through the “locate” feature.

The various monitors permit comprehensive views of the current and historical situation within all applications.

You can connect to various management servers through a single interface in order to directly monitor and control several locations.

For each data collector theGuard! ApplicationManager sports a comprehensive and context-sensitive online help that describes event type, category and class.

Integration of theGuard! ServiceCenter will allow you to access a knowledge base with respect to the managed objects and their attributes, events and performance data. There, all events are already stored as knowledge base entries including title and description.

theGuard! ApplicationManager is directly integrated into the theGuard! ServiceCenter:

• automated transformation of events into service requests (including the closing of an event after the closing of the service request)
• views on all managed objects within the ServiceCenter business maps 
• configured transfer of all events into the business maps and into the event correlation server inside the ServiceCenter
• Context-specific knowledge base entries are visible inside the event display within the ApplicationManager interface. Therefore information has to be entered only once.

theGuard! ApplicationManager allows for the automated dispatch of events to other recipients or servers through theGuard! CommCenter.

Many times, theGuard! ApplicationManager is the central management cockpit, therefore requiring the integration of external information. For this, the OpenMonitor DC is available.

• central database
• high scalability
• high security levels
• simple operation