Red Hat Training

A Red Hat training course is available for RHEL 8

Chapter 11. Optimizing the system performance using the web console

Learn how to set a performance profile in the RHEL web console to optimize the performance of the system for a selected task.

11.1. Performance tuning options in the web console

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 provides several performance profiles that optimize the system for the following tasks:

  • Systems using the desktop
  • Throughput performance
  • Latency performance
  • Network performance
  • Low power consumption
  • Virtual machines

The TuneD service optimizes system options to match the selected profile.

In the web console, you can set which performance profile your system uses.

Additional resources

11.2. Setting a performance profile in the web console

Depending on the task you want to perform, you can use the web console to optimize system performance by setting a suitable performance profile.

Prerequisites

Procedure

  1. Log into the 8 web console. For details, see Logging in to the web console.
  2. Click Overview.

  3. In the Configuration section, click the current performance profile.

    Image displaying the Overview pane of the cockpit interface.

  4. In the Change Performance Profile dialog box, set the required profile.

    Image displaying the Change performance profile dialog box.

  5. Click Change Profile.

Verification steps

  • The Overview tab now shows the selected performance profile in the Configuration section.

11.3. Monitoring performance on the local system using the web console

Red Hat Enterprise Linux web console uses the Utilization Saturation and Errors (USE) Method for troubleshooting. The new performance metrics page has a historical view of your data organized chronologically with the newest data at the top.

In the Metrics and history page, you can view events, errors, and graphical representation for resource utilization and saturation.

Prerequisites

  • The web console is installed and accessible. For details, see Installing the web console.

  • The cockpit-pcp package, which enables collecting the performance metrics, is installed:

    1. To install the package from the web console interface:

      1. Log in to the web console with administrative privileges. For details, see Logging in to the web console.
      2. In the Overview page, click View metrics and history.
      3. Click the Install cockpit-pcp button.
      4. In the Install software dialog window, click Install.

    2. To install the package from the command-line interface, use: 

      # yum install cockpit-pcp

  • The Performance Co-Pilot (PCP) service is enabled: 

    # systemctl enable --now pmlogger.service pmproxy.service

Procedure

  1. Log into the 8 web console. For details, see Logging in to the web console.
  2. Click Overview.

  3. In the Usage section, click View metrics and history.

    Image displaying the Overview pane of the cockpit interface.

    The Metrics and history section opens:

    • The current system configuration and usage: Image displaying the current system configuration and usage
    • The performance metrics in a graphical form over a user-specified time interval: Image displaying the performance metrics of the CPU

11.4. Monitoring performance on several systems using the web console and Grafana

Grafana enables you to collect data from several systems at once and review a graphical representation of their collected Performance Co-Pilot (PCP) metrics. You can set up performance metrics monitoring and export for several systems in the web console interface.

Prerequisites

  • The web console must be installed and accessible. For details, see link:Installing the web console.

  • Install the cockpit-pcp package.

    1. From the web console interface:

      1. Log in to the web console with administrative privileges. For details, see Logging in to the web console.
      2. In the Overview page, click View details and history.
      3. Click the Install cockpit-pcp button.
      4. In the Install software dialog window, click Install.
      5. Log out and in again to see the metrics history.

    2. To install the package from the command-line interface, use: 

      # yum install cockpit-pcp

  • Enable the PCP service: 

    # systemctl enable --now pmlogger.service pmproxy.service
  • Set up Grafana dashboard. For more information, see Setting up a grafana-server.

  • Install the redis package. 

    # yum install redis

    Alternatively, you can install the package from the web console interface later in the procedure.

Procedure

  1. In the Overview page, click View metrics and history in the Usage table.
  2. Click the Metrics settings button.

  3. Move the Export to network slider to active position.

    Metrics settings

    If you do not have the redis package installed, the web console prompts you to install it.

  4. To open the pmproxy service, select a zone from a drop-down list and click the Add pmproxy button.
  5. Click Save.

Verification

  1. Click Networking.
  2. In the Firewall table, click the Edit rules and zones button.
  3. Search for pmproxy in your selected zone.
Important

Repeat this procedure on all the systems you want to watch.

Additional resources