[OpsMgr 2007] Best practices to use for creating and configuring overrides

Here are some best practices given by Microsoft to configure overrides in Operation Manager 2007.

Store overrides in a separate management pack

For each management pack that you use in System Center Operations Manager 2007, create an additional management pack in which to store overrides. For example, after you import the Active Directory management pack, create an Active Directory Override management pack. Then, store any overrides that you configure for the Active Directory management pack objects in the Active Directory Override management pack.

Do not use the Disable command in the Overrides menu to create an override to disable monitors, rules, or object discoveries

When you want to disable a management pack object, do not use the Disable the ObjectName command on the Overrides menu. Instead, click the Override option to override the object. Then, follow these steps:

1. In the Override Properties dialog box, click to select the Override check box that corresponds to the Enabled parameter.
2. In the Override Setting column, click False.
3. In the Select destination management pack list, click the appropriate management pack in which to store the override.

Note This method lets you specify a management pack in which to create the override. However, if you click the Disable the ObjectName command, System Center Operations Manager 2007 creates the override in the Default management pack.

Make sure that an overridden parameter is set for every rule and for every monitor that uses the parameter

When you override a parameter, make sure that the parameter is configured for each rule that uses the parameter and for each monitor that uses the parameter. There may be more than one rule or monitor that uses the particular parameter.

For example, the following rules and monitors use the Intersite Expected Max Latency parameter:

Monitors

• AD Replication Monitoring

Rules

• AD Replication Performance Collection - Metric Replication Latency
• AD Replication Performance Collection - Metric Replication Latency: Maximum
• AD Replication Performance Collection - Metric Replication Latency: Minimum
• AD Replication Performance Collection - Metric Replication Latency: Average

For more information about the rules and monitors that use the same parameters, see the "AD and Exchange Script Mappings" document. To obtain this document, download the ADExchMP_script_map.zip package on the following Web site: http://systemcenterforum.org/wp-content/uploads/

Configure overrides for groups instead of for specific instances

We recommend that you configure an override for a group instead of using an override to target a specific instance. Configuring overrides for groups allows for better manageability than what is available if you target a specific instance. To configure an override for a group, follow these steps:

1. Create a group that has the following characteristics:
   • Create the group in the appropriate overrides management pack.
   • Configure the group to contain the particular instances or formulas that target the instances that you want to override.
   For example, create a group that is named AD DC 2003 Role. Then, manually put instances of the AD Domain Controller 2003 Role objects into the AD DC 2003 Role group.
2. Click the For a group command on the submenu of the Overrides menu.
3. In the Select Object dialog box that appears, click the new group that you created.

Test overrides by using an override management pack and groups in a test environment

You can test overrides in one environment and then apply the overrides to another environment. For example, you can test an override in a test environment and then implement the override in a production environment. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Create the test groups in the appropriate override management pack.
2. Add the appropriate instances from the test environment to the test groups. You can explicitly specify the instances. Or, you can use a formula to specify the instances.
3. Perform sufficient testing to validate the override.
4. Export the particular management pack from the test environment.
5. Import the override management pack into the production environment.
6. Populate the groups that are contained in the override management pack by using the appropriate instances from the production environment.

See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943239 published on December 2007.

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties.