APM (Application Performance Monitoring), at least the new way to do APM is new to me. I understand the concept of sensors, and combining the sensor log data and combining that data into useful slice-able dice-able data. But the different approaches I am getting used to. Its like a million different simple tasks working in Unison creating what feels like a really complex tech echo sphere. What I am doing now is going through some of these popular tech APM echo spheres and trying my best to break them down, not do decide which is best, but to provide information so the best for you and me and our situation can be made.
The List
Dynatrace
DataDogHQ
AppDynamics
If you think there is another one that should be reviewed, please let me know. I am sure there are other great ones to review. Here are some ideas on owler
Dynatrace
Was very easy to setup, very smart installer almost self aware of the environment. Didn’t have to do hardly anything except run an agent installer.
Data came streaming in about 10 minutes
Data was intuitively useful(most of it)
Cost was on the higher end
Sales rep was easy to work with
Support is unknown at this time, I did not purchase the product. Everyone knows support changes not for the better once you are a customer. Not saying Dynatrace is the exception or not. Just no data to base support off of.
Pricing is one price per host for everything(At least I believe at this time). More hosts, cheaper the per host price.
DataDobHQ
Was easy to setup, but windows server required a reboot
Even though I did not reboot, data streamed in about 10 minutes
User interface was complicated to get something meaningful
Nice that they had many integrations. Integration is a sensor for a particular technology you are interested in monitoring. Think PRTG sensors
Setting up integrations may based on the integration (think asp.NET as an integration example) takes a little work to install and enable.
Pricing is Al a carte. So you can use it for free with minimal features, or do add-ons. I am pretty sure if you add everything to a host, the host price total is cheaper than the Dynatrace host price.
Recently I joined the Mac OS Beta program; not because I have oodles of time to burn, or want to be on the bleeding edge, but rather as a last effort to continue to use Mac as one of my operating systems before completely ditching the platform.
In 2019 Apple release the Catalina operating system with some major under the hood changes. First, it went 100% 64 bit, not 32 bit applications will run period, and any 64 bit applications that had some 32 bit libraries will crash. Second, drivers like your video card use with Catalina are required to use the DriverKit framework. DriverKit runs in the user space and not the Kernel like previous operating system before Catalina allowed. Before Catalina, if you used two monitors and a video card that was older not using Driverkit, and that drivers had an error, your OS would crash and your Mac would reboot. Catalina, the OS is not even letting those drivers run now. So you would either need to upgrade the driver, or replace the video card. Sounds good right?
This leads into why I wrote this article. Since Catalina, two out of three of my Mac computers started crashing, a lot, like every 10 minutes. One is a 2013 iMac, the other is 2018 Mac Book Pro. The third mac is too old for Catalina. The 2013 was the worst, and both had problems upgrading. Both would crash upgrading even from a clean install. Eventually I was able to get them both to take.
After searching blog after blog and realizing this was a global issue, I came to the belief this was definitely on Apples radar; not because I heard something, but because I speculated that Apple would not ignore the many reported issues. But also felt strongly they would not admit publicly that there is an issue, but rather fix it, quietly and quickly. And make the problem just go away; no Press. I do not blame Apple and understand, just do not like it. I believed the best way to get my issue resolved was to get the latest code so joined the beta program. When their is a fix, I will have it first. Almost first.
Download the configuration profile from the download page
Open the macOS Developer Beta Access Utility and follow the instructions
Once installation is complete, you’ll be presented with the macOS Beta in the Mac App Store. click the Download button to install the beta.
When a new macOS beta becomes available, you will receive a notification and can install it in the Software Update section of System Preferences.
Once I had beta 10.15.2 installed on my iMac, my problems of frequent kernel panics got better. I should note that by the time I got on the beta program, 10.15.1 was out which fixed my Mac Book Pro. The iMac crashed less but still could not get 30 minutes out of the iMac. Also note the following things helped which I noted on the following thread. https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250717203?answerId=251578985022&page=1
Check > Settings >> Energy Saver >> Prevent computer from sleeping automatically
Uncheck > Settings >> Energy Saver >> Put hard disks to sleep when possible
If you have two monitors, unplug them. Use built in display only
Make sure screen savor turns on rather soon, like 5 minutes.
On the beta program, when I had a crash I reported the crash to Apple via the beta feedback tool. Man crashes were when the system from the users perspective was idle(Systems are never idle). So when you get back to your mac, and it had rebooted due to a kernel panic, and the crash screen tells you their was a kernel panic, and ask what you were doing. Many times I would have to enter “Mac was idle”. I even had a crash as I was sending a crash report to Apple. So the problem wasn’t fixed by any means on version 10.15.2.
When 10.15.3 beta came out, the iMac finally stopped crashing. Of course I still had to use the special power settings, but was able to turn my second monitor back on which was really nice. I did also get a response form Apple on one of 10.15.2 bug reports. On Jan 6th they asked for a Core Dump from a 10.15.2 crash a couple weeks prior. I could probably do this, but would take a few hours as I would have to setup the core dump server then roll back to 10.15.2, wait for a crash, and send the dump. But since it Appears Apple had already address the issue in 10.15.3 I think it would be a moot point and more importantly waste an Apple developers time combing through a debug to realize they already address this particular issue.
How to Do a Core Dump on a Mac Note: If you have another Mac, you can try to set up the second Mac as a server. Any Mac will work as a coredump server; you just need a gigabyte or so of free space per coredump). Important: The kernel dump client can only be configured to transmit on a hard-wired Ethernet port, either built-in or over Thunderbolt. There is no support for transmitting core dumps across the AirPort interface, USB Ethernet, or across third-party Ethernet interfaces. This is an issue for early MacBook Air models which have no built-in Ethernet or Thunderbolt interfaces.
On the server (non-panicking) machine run the following commands
On the client (panicking) machine run the following commands
Locate the IP address of the core dump server.
Launch Terminal from /Applications/Utilities.
Copy and paste:
suo nvram boot-args=”debug=0xd44 _panicd_ip=10.0.40.2 kdp_match_name=en7”
Notes:
Where 10.0.40.2 is replaced by the IP address of the server and en7 is replaced by the name of the client’s Ethernet interface.
You can use this command to show all of the network interfaces on the system:
ifconfig -a
Copy and paste:
sudo reboot
Well, that’s my Catalina Story. I hope the article was able to help you. I do love many things about the macOS, but this upgrade even though had to happen, will go down as a messy one. Kinda like getting rid of the floppy disk. Right move, but painful when it happened. And of course the CD Rom, DVD, Old style USB… One thing you cannot say is Apple is afraid of change even it if is painful. I guess that is what you call Discipline. Allowing short term pain for long term gain. I just wish it wasn’t so painful.
Setting up WordPress JetPack on your personal on premises or hosted site is pretty easy and I recommend for anyone using WordPress. If you are not familiar with JetPack here is a summary of what it can do for you. From the WordPress.com site you can edit your sites actual admin settings or jump to your actual sites admin page. There is also a nice mobile app too.
See live status of visitors, views, likes, comments
See what pages people are coming from to your site
See countries of visitors (Learn about proxy chains)
What people are searching with on your site
What clicks are occurring
See list of pages, posts, scheduled and trashed items
See images, comments and templates that are on your site
There is a free account and as of this writing in 2020 3 premium options.
To get started make sure the following are setup.
You must’ve a working WordPress site using SSL and able to log in as admin
You must add the jetpack plugin to your word press site by picking a plan
Add JetPack Plugin
Your WordPress site >> Plugins >> Add new >> Search for Jetpack
Install and activate the JetPack Plugin
GoTo the jet plan plan wizard I use the free option (Scroll down) as it works for my needs
Once activated, go through he setup security wizard. Take you time and read each wizard questions
Its important that you don’t just click through the wizard. Read, think about the questions. If they are confusing to you, spend a minute or too and duckduckgo or google the info. Make sure you understand the info before answer the questions.
I constantly find myself battling between getting it done taking the time to design reusable code my big struggle is ready in 10 times as much code to get something done to make it reusable but if I just make a specific code to get the task done. it’s a game of predicted volume volume and objects being reused or something being specific. The catch is we don’t always know when something that we think a specific will end up being reused over and over again in many different locations
where is the human sign take a work order for work order has a status whenever the status is Marc done certain checks should be perform. but not in all cases cases can be defined as situations or in human trans screens. For example a certain user even Adman will use certain screens to do different tasks quality assurance take tests in the screens they use won’t be the same screen said end-user would use. for example a certain user even admin will use certain screens to do different tests quality assurance take tests in the screens they use won’t be the same screen said end user reviews One could say that hey this is robust and there an admin it doesn’t matter what screen the run will let certain privileges for requirements slide based on rolls. One could say that hey this is robust and there an admin it doesn’t matter what screen they’re on will let certain privileges or requirements slide based on roles but sometimes it is a functional thing meaning when I change status to dispatched from a work order details screen it’s important that a pop-up shows a form or we can notify the dispatcher. But if I’m in resource management if you watch is a bulk editing tool is no way we ever want to see a pop up when we change the status to dispatched unless nothing to do with the role but rather the screen or the purpose of the screen at the rack. So to make dry code in that situation instead of it being role-based it’s almost purpose-based meeting with Passant another parameter to the validator that is the screen. so to make dry code and that situation instead of it being rolled based it’s almost purpose based meeting with Passant another perimeter to the validator is the screen
