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User Guide for Internetwork Performance Monitor
OL-11291-01
Chapter 1 Overview of IPM
How Does IPM Work?
How Does IPM Work?
IPM measures and displays network performance statistics (latency, availability, jitter, packet loss, and
error information) between a source and a target device.
The target can be an IP-addressable device, an IBM MVS mainframe, or an SA Agent-enabled Cisco
router:
• If the target is an IP-addressable device, it can be a network device, a server, or a workstation.
• If the target is an IBM MVS mainframe, it must be running an IPM Virtual Telecommunications
Access Method (VTAM) application called NSPECHO for measuring SNA latency. See the
“Installing NSPECHO to Measure SNA Response Times” chapter of the Installation Guide for
Internetwork Performance Monitor for more information.
• If the target is an SA Agent-enabled, the source must be running version 12.1 or later of the Cisco
IOS software. The IPM application is used to configure the SA Agent in each source device. The
SA Agent measures the performance between the source router and the target device.
The source aggregates all measurements into a single sample value for each network performance
statistic. IPM gathers the data from the source and stores it in the IPM database.
IPM also provides a real-time feature that allows you to display the data without waiting for the one-hour
data collection interval. However, the data displayed in the Real Time window is not stored in the IPM
database.
Additionally, IPM provides an extensive set of reports and graphs for viewing and analyzing the
collected performance metrics. IPM supports both standalone and Web-based clients in a multi-platform
environment.
Client/Server Architecture
IPM provides central services and database functions on an IPM server, which communicates through a
messaging interface to multiple IPM clients (Figure 1-1). The IPM software consists of server software
and client software components that can be installed on the same workstation or on different
workstations.