In the Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Information window, which Figure 7 shows, enter the Site Owner Login (the account of the individual that you want to assign the site owner role to), the Site Owner Email Address, the SharePoint Database Server Name (the fully qualified domain name of the server that hosts the databases for the SharePoint instance), and the Service Level Dashboard URL (the URL and port that you want to be associated with the initial SLD site—this can be modified later). Note that if you specify a URL other than the name of the server that's hosting the site, you have to create the appropriate records in your DNS infrastructure. When you're done with that, just click Next on the next three screens of the wizard.
Figure 3: The Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Information Window
SLD Configuration
The Service Level Tracking feature allows organizations to define Service Level Objectives that are used to monitor the availability and health of applications, services, and systems. For this example, I'll create a Service Level Objective that will monitor the availability of a server, with a target of 99.99 percent uptime.
First, log on to the server running SCOM with an account that has local administrator privileges and launch the SCOM Console. Click Authoring, then Management Pack Objects, Service Level Tracking, then Create in the right pane, as Figure 8 shows. In the left pane of the Authoring area, expand Management Pack Objects, click Service Level Tracking, then click Create in the right pane. Input a name for the new Service Level Objective (i.e. Server Availability) and a description in the Service Level Tracking window and click Next.
Figure 4: Finding Service Level Tracking
Click the Select button in the Targeted Class section of the Objects to Track window. In the Select a Target Class window, which Figure 11 shows, select the application, class, or group of objects you want to monitor. I'll select Windows Server. In the Service Level Objectives window, click Add then Monitor State SLO. In the Service Level Objective Monitor State window, enter a name for the Service Level Objective (i.e. Server Availability), enter a Service Level Objective Goal (%) of 99.99, and click OK, then next. Review your selections for accuracy In the Summary window and click Finish then Close.
Figure 5: The Select a Target Class Window
Now that your Service Level Objective has been defined, you can configure your SLD site. Log on to any domain member with the user account that was specified in the SLD Installation section (i.e. DOMAIN\Administrator). Launch Internet Explorer and navigate to the URL that was specified in the SLD Installation section (i.e. http://ServiceLevelDashboard:80). Then, from the main page, click on the Site Actions drop-down and choose Edit Page.
Now that you're in edit mode, you can see the hidden Dashboard Configuration web part. This web part lets you choose which service level objectives are displayed on your SLD site. In the web part, check Server Availability and click Apply Filter. Also on this page, note the Dashboard Refresh, Dashboard Default View, and Aggregation Type options. These control how the service level objective data is displayed and updated on the site. Click the Exit Edit Mode link to confirm that the service level objective has been added to the dashboard site.
You now have a complete dashboard site with a monitor that will tell you if you're meeting your uptime target of 99.99 percent. Using this at-a-glance view of the health of your infrastructure can let you instantly address your stakeholders' fears and worries. It'll free up your IT department's time to ensure that service levels remain high, reducing the need for firefighting. The SLD Solution Accelerator provides this information by seamlessly integrating into your existing infrastructure, taking advantage of SCOM, SharePoint, and SQL server. Deployment is easy, and it's a solid investment in your monitoring infrastructure.