Capturing Transactions

When a transaction occurs that fits the criteria of a rule that is flagged to capture, a captured transaction is created. The captured transaction can be viewed and edited using the Work With Captured Transactions panel. Subsequent identical transactions are recorded and summarized as configured in the Summarization Strategy for Transactions panel. Captured transactions can be memorized and associated with rules specific to that transaction. (See Memorizing Transactions.)

Prerequisites to Capturing Transactions

You must do the following before you can begin capturing transactions:

  • Activate exit programs. See Activating Powertech Powertech Exit Point Manager for IBM i, earlier in this User Guide for complete information on activation.
  • The job SUMCAPTRAN, in the PTWRKMGT subsystem, must be running before you can display captured transactions. The SUMCAPTRAN job starts automatically when you start the PTWRKMGT subsystem.

Capturing transactions

NOTE: We recommend that you capture the transactions at either the Server or Function level, rather than capturing all transactions for all servers. Capturing all transactions, for all servers, could produce a very large log file in a very short period of time. In addition, you should capture transactions only for the servers, server functions, or the particular user for which you want to enable transaction security.
  1. To start capturing transactions, on the Security Configuration Menu, choose option 1 to display the Work with Security by Server panel.
  2. On the Work with Security by Server panel, select the server for which you want to capture transactions. You can select to capture either user authorities by entering 3, Edit User Authority, or 2, Edit Location Authority, for the server.
  3. When the Work with Security by User (or Location) panel displays, choose 2 for the *PUBLIC rule, set the Capture flag to Y (Yes), and press Enter. The confirmation message User Rule(s) successfully updated displays at the bottom of the panel.

When any transactions occur using the selected server/function, Powertech Exit Point Manager for IBM i will capture them.

To memorize a captured transaction, see Memorizing Transactions.

About SUMCAPTRAN

  • You can verify that the SUMCAPTRAN job is running by issuing the WRKACTJOB command. SUMCAPTRAN should appear in the Subsystem/Job column on the Work with Active Jobs panel. The SUMCAPTRAN job runs in the PTWRKMGT subsystem.
  • If necessary, you can start the captured transaction monitor job manually by entering the LSTRCAPSUM command on a command line. You may also use the PNSSTRMON command, which starts the PNSEVTMON and PTNSGMSTR monitor jobs (if they are not already active).
  • The SUMCAPTRAN summarization process runs, by default, once every 60 seconds to check if there are new transactions to process. The first time you open the Work with Captured Transactions panel, there will be a 60-second delay before brand-new transactions appear on it. You can shorten or lengthen the 60-second default by prompting LCHGCAPSUM command and entering a new delay time value.
  • To end the summarization process, use the LENDCAPSUM command. You may also use the PNSENDMON command; however, note it will also end the PNSEVTMON and PTNSGMSTR monitor jobs, if they are also active.