The process of creating a new Monitor through the NetScaler GUI in release 12.0 56.20 has been modified for improved usability.
Prior to 12.0 56.20, the GUI provided two separate tabs when creating a new monitor; Standard Parameters and Special Parameters:
The Standard Parameters tab provides an extensive list of settings that are common to all monitor types, yet only some of these settings are essential for a basic monitor to function correctly. Placing so many settings in one area can lead to confusion as to which field needs to be configured and which need not. In addition, the Special Parameters tab refers to settings which are specific to the monitor type (e.g. HTTP-ECV), and failure to configure these settings will result in the monitor not working as expected. Placing these important settings on a separate tab might result in the user failing to configure them, either because they simply miss this tab, or because they might feel these are more advanced settings that are not necessary for a basic monitor setup.
In order to provide better guidance, and to ensure the most essential settings are not overlooked, the NetScaler 12.0 56.20 GUI now places all settings on one screen, with the most important settings from both the Standard and Special Parameters tabs placed under a section called Basic Parameters, and all other settings placed under Advanced Parameters:
This improved GUI usability will make the process of creating a new monitor simpler and help to reduce the risk of error through misconfiguration.
To create a new monitor, click on Traffic Management > Load Balancing > Monitors, and click Add:
Enter a name for the new monitor and click Type to select a monitor type from a list:
New to NetScaler 12.0 56.20, this list provides a description of each monitor type to help the user decide which one to select:
After selecting the monitor type, click on Select at the top of the list:
This will now present a list of configurable fields divided into two sections; Basic Parameters and Advanced Parameters. The Basic Parameters include settings that are specific to the selected monitor type, as well as any common settings that the user should adjust according to their environment, in order for the monitor to function as expected.
The Advanced Parameters section includes less common settings which might need to be configured depending on the requirements of the user environment.
After completing the necessary fields, click Create. The monitor is now ready to be bound to a Service or Service Group.