Verify MP Workflow on Agent - Part 2

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In continuation of my prior blog post a couple of weeks ago (see - https://blogs.technet.com/mgoedtel/archive/2008/03/18/verifying-mp-workflow-on-agent.aspx), I  realized this evening there is another method that is much easier and more straight forward.  While Walter Chomak recommended checking the Operations Manager Event Log on the agent managed system, by looking for Event ID 1201 specific to the Management Pack itself (See here to read Walter's Blog Post - https://wchomak.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!F56EFE25599555EC!896.entry) most customers that I engage with are looking for a more centralized approach. 

My initial thought was that the Event Collection Rule - Collect Health Service Configuration Updated Events from the System Center Core Monitoring MP would have captured this particular event, but after inspecting it I was wrong.  It only looks for Event ID 1210 from the Health Service and not any of the ones we are more interested in.  I uncovered this particular Event Collection rule by reviewing the Dashboard View  - Operations Manager\Health Service Configuration\Config Update Events and reviewing the "Received and Activated New Config." 

Since this Event Collection Rule does not look for Event ID 1201, I figured I would create a custom rule and view to be able to monitor this from the Operations Console.  So in order to do this, perform the following:

  1. Create an Event Collection Rule and call it "Collect Health Service MP Update Events" with a Rule Category of "EventCollection" and the Rule target being "Health Service."
  2. The Log name is "Operations Manager" and the Expression is Event Source "HealthService" with EventID 1201.
  3. Save this in a custom Management Pack and not the Default Management Pack.
  4. Under the Monitoring view, create a Event View and call it "Config Update Events (Agent) - Management Packs" or something logical that meets your needs.
  5. The Criteria for the view is the following:  "with a specific event number 1201" and from a specific source "HealthService."  The target should be "Agent" under the Show data related to drop down list.

Once you carry out those steps, from the console you can view when an agent receives a new Management Pack.