User guide. HP Performance Advisor

Transcription

1 User guide HP Performance Advisor

2 Welcome to HP Performance Advisor. 1 HP Performance Advisor is designed to optimize your HP Workstation experience by providing information and tools that benefit the administrator and end-user. Table of contents 3 Getting started 3 Administrator privileges 3 Internet access 3 Launching 3 Auto update 4 Navigation 4 Utility Menu items 5 White Paper Index 5 Your computer 5 Block Diagram 6 Configuration Details 7 Configuration Report 7 GPU Utilization 8 System BIOS 8 System Sensors 9 Your Software 10 Supported applications 11 Your performance 11 Memory Usage Graph 12 Workstation Monitor 13 Record Performance Data 14 Play Back Performance Data 15 Play Back Plot 17 Windows Experience Index 18 Table of figures 2

3 Getting started HP Performance Advisor 1 is supported on the HP Workstation family: Desktop workstations Z230 SFF / Z230 Tower, Z220 SFF / Z220 CMT, Z420, Z620, Z820 All-in-One workstations Z1, Z1 G2 Mobile workstations ZBook 14, ZBook 15, ZBook 17, 8470w, 8570w, 8770w The program may be run with limited functionality and support on other HP personal computers. HP Performance Advisor website: hp.com/go/hpperformanceadvisor Administrator privileges Administrator privileges are required to run HP Performance Advisor. The user must be part of the Administrators Group. See Windows Control Panel -> System and Security -> User Account Control for more information. Windows 7 and 8 User Account Control (UAC) notifies you before changes are made to your computer that requires administrator-level permission. Internet access Internet access to HP s web server is required to provide full functionality. The web server contains the latest database, white papers, and graphics drivers. Your local network may require a web proxy server to access web pages outside of your network, in which case the user may be prompted to enter the name of a web proxy server when launching HP Performance Advisor. The standard HTTP port 80 connection is used to access the HP web server. The administrator can check for web browser connectivity using this URL: HP Performance Advisor will function without internet access but will be missing information on the latest applications and workstation features. In addition, the white paper and graphics driver download feature will not be available. Launching HP Performance Advisor can be started from the Windows Start Menu > All Programs > HP. Alternatively, it can be started from an administrator command prompt by typing Advisor. See the online help for command line options. Auto update At startup, HP Performance Advisor will check the web server for the latest version of the database and application. HP Performance Advisor will automatically install the latest version of the database and application. 3

4 Navigation HP Performance Advisor 1 is organized into three main sections: Your Computer, Your Software, and Your Performance Quick access to the main functions Utility Menu and home page buttons Utility Menu items Use the right-mouse button to access features of the block diagram component Table 1 Navigation hints Utility Menu items About Help Mode Install Update Network Info White Paper index Command Line Improvement Program Displays the application version, database time stamp, and an alias (ap-assist@hp.com) to contact the HP Performance Advisor 1 development team Turns help on and off Installs the latest application and database Displays the database connection status. Allows the user to set the web-proxy URL, port, and optional authentication. Access to knowledge-based documents Command line options Optionally participate in the Improvement Program. Basic system information is sent to the HP web server each time HP Performance Advisor is started. No personal data is included. 4 Table 2 Utility Menu

5 White Paper Index The White Paper Index provides access to knowledge-based documents related to HP Workstations, ISV software applications, software, and hardware components. The White Paper Index can be accessed from the utility menu or the home page. Figure 1 White Paper Index Your Computer Three views provide insight into the workstation s hardware components, system management BIOS, and software components such as device drivers. The three views include the Block Diagram, Configuration Details, and Configuration Report. Block Diagram The Block Diagram view is available for HP Z Workstations, HP ZBook Mobile Workstations, and HP EliteBook Mobile Workstations. It provides a visual representation of the architecture of the workstation and installed components. Figure 2 An example of a Z820 block diagram. 5

6 Click on a component icon to examine further details. Selectable component icons include model, CPU, chipset, graphics, BIOS, sensors, and storage devices. Figure 3 An example of component details. Details vary by component. Configuration Details The Configuration Details view is available for all HP Workstations. The first part of the Configuration Details page consists of a summary of the workstation s configuration, and it provides the most commonly required information at a glance. This view provides further details for hardware components and is organized in an expandable table format. Figure 4 An example of the Configuration Details windows. 6

7 Configuration Report The Configuration Report view is available for all HP Workstations. This view provides further details for hardware components in a contiguous document format. For example, this document carries almost everything there is to know about the workstation, and is therefore a useful tool for communicating your system s configuration to a support engineer. The configuration report can be saved to file in XAML or text format. The XAML formatted file can be ed, shared, and supported by most web browsers. Figure 5 An example of the Configuration Report window. GPU Utilization The GPU Utilization window is accessible from the graphics card component in the block diagram and also the graphics card expandable section in the configuration details view. Figure 6 An example of the GPU Utilization window. 7

8 System BIOS The System BIOS window is accessible from the BIOS icon in the block diagram or the BIOS expandable section in the configuration details view. The administrator can view and modify BIOS settings, create a custom group, and restore factory defaults. Any BIOS changes made here will take effect on rebooting the workstation. Figure 7 An example of the System BIOS window. System Sensors The System Sensors window is available for HP Z Desktop Workstations and is accessible from the system model icon in the block diagram or the system overview panel in the configuration details view. Clicking on the sensors button opens a popup window which shows the current thermal status of the workstation, including fan speeds and temperatures. The sensor window will report a varying number of sensors depending on your system configuration. Figure 8 An example of the System Sensors window. 8

9 Your Software The Your Software section is accessible from the home page. Its default view displays icons representing the vendors of the certified applications which are currently installed on the workstation. Figure 9 An example of the Your Software window. Clicking on a vendor s icon opens a window which displays a list of certified applications. An application specific window is available for each certified applications installed on your system. The application specific page may include the following features: View the graphics driver status and if needed download certified graphics drivers. This provides an easy way to ensure that the application is running in the environment it was certified for. Apply recommended system BIOS settings for certified applications to optimize performance and stability. Application-specific diagnostic and tuning tools are available for select applications. In some cases, application-related white papers are available. 9

10 Supported applications Adobe After Effects Autodesk VRED Design Adobe Photoshop Autodesk VRED Professional Adobe Premiere Pro AVEVATM Solutions Marine ANSYSTM ANSYS CFX AVEVA Solutions PDMS ANSYS ANSYS Fluent AVEVA Solutions Plant ANSYS ANSYS Mechanical AVEVA Solutions Review Autodesk 3ds Max Avid Media Composer Autodesk Alias Avid Pro Tools Autodesk Alias Automotive Bentley AECOsim Building Designer Autodesk Alias Design Bentley MicroStation Autodesk Alias Sketch Bentley Navigator Autodesk Alias Surface Bentley WaterCAD Autodesk AliasStudio Cakewalk SONAR X1 Essential Autodesk AutoCAD Cakewalk SONAR X1 Producer Autodesk AutoCAD Architecture Cakewalk SONAR X1 Studio Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D Dassault Systemes CATIA+ Autodesk AutoCAD Electrical Dassault Systemes edrawings Autodesk AutoCAD Land Desktop Dassault Systemes PhotoView 360 Autodesk AutoCAD LT Dassault Systemes SolidWorks Autodesk AutoCAD Map 3D Dassault Systemes SolidWorks Motion Autodesk AutoCAD Mechanical Dassault Systemes SolidWorks Simulation Autodesk AutoCAD MEP Dynamic Graphics CoViz 4D Autodesk AutoCAD P&ID Dynamic Graphics EarthVision Autodesk AutoCAD Plant 3D ESRI ArcGIS Autodesk AutoCAD Raster Design GoogleTM Earth Autodesk AutoCAD Structural Detailing Google SketchUp Pro Autodesk Composite Hewlett-Packard HP Remote Graphics Receiver Autodesk Design Review Hewlett-Packard HP Remote Graphics Sender Autodesk HSMWorks Intel Rapid Storage Technology Autodesk Infraworks Intergraph ERDAS Imagine Autodesk Inventor Intergraph GeoMedia Autodesk Inventor Professional Intergraph GeoMedia Viewer Autodesk Maya Paradigm Advanced Subsurface Software Autodesk Mechanical Desktop Paradigm GOCAD Autodesk MotionBuilder Paradigm SKUA Autodesk Mudbox Parallels Parallels Workstation Extreme Autodesk Navisworks Freedom PTC CoCreate Modeling Autodesk Navisworks Manage PTC Creo Direct Autodesk Navisworks Simulate PTC Creo Elements/Direct Modeling Autodesk PC Performance Rating PTC Creo Elements/Pro Autodesk Revit Architecture PTC Creo Parametric Autodesk Revit MEP PTC Creo Simulate Autodesk Revit Structure PTC Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire Autodesk Showcase Red Digital Cinema REDCINE-X Pro Autodesk Simulation CFD Schlumberger Petrel Autodesk Simulation Mechanical Siemens PLMS NXTM Autodesk SketchBook Designer Siemens PLMS NX I-deas Autodesk Softimage Siemens PLMS Solid Edge Autodesk VRED 10

11 Your performance Memory Usage Graph The Memory Usage Graph is an interactive color enhanced view of the system memory usage. The per process memory usage is shown in a both a graph and table format. Programs that are associated with certified applications are automatically highlighted. Tool-tips report detailed process information when the pointer is located over a highlighted process. Additional functions such as capacity meters and process affinity are shown by right-clicking on a highlighted process in the table. Figure 10 An example of the Memory Usage Graph window. 11

12 Workstation Monitor The Workstation Monitor is useful for recording system and application resource usage over a period of time such as a typical work day, while running an application benchmark, or investigating system sizing criteria while running a series of applications and workflows. Overview: 1. Configure and start recording resource usage with HP Performance Advisor. 2. Run the workloads, benchmarks, and applications you are interested in measuring. 3. Analyze, and play back resource usage history with Performance Advisor. Set the duration. Optionally choose applications to watch. Start recording performance data. A Workstation Monitor icon will be located in the system task tray while recording performance data. At the end of recording period, a new log notification, summary of resource usage, high-resource usage alert button, and time-based plot will become available. Use the plot play back window to review usage over a period of time, view top resource consumers for each sample period, and view device specific details. 12

13 Record Performance Data Use the record Performance Data window to configure and start the Workstation Monitor. Figure 11 An example of the Workstation Monitor Record Performance Data window. The Workstation Monitor icon is located in the system tray while it is in record mode. Right-click the Workstation Monitor icon to access additional Workstation Monitor features. Figure 12 The Workstation Monitor icon and runtime options. Workstation Monitor menu Item Show current activity Add a note to the log file Action Open the Workstation Monitor recording window. The recording window displays a time based plot with up to 10 minutes of performance data samples. Enter a note into the performance log at specific times or events. Close log now Stop capture and exit The current performance log file is closed by the Workstation Monitor and made available to HP Performance Advisor. The Workstation Monitor continues recording in a new log file. Stops the Workstation Monitor. The current performance log is closed and made available to HP Performance Advisor. Table 3 Workstation Monitor runtime options. 13

14 Play Back Performance Data The Play Back Performance Data button will be highlighted yellow when a new performance log file becomes available to HP Performance Advisor. 1 A new log becomes available when the Workstation Monitor completes the recording period, when the Workstation Monitor is manually stopped, or the current log file is manually closed. Figure 13 An example of the new log file notification. The Play Back Performance Data window displays a list of previously recorded performance logs. Each performance log includes a button to open the play back plot window, a performance alert notification, export and delete buttons, and a textual summary. Figure 14 An example of Workstation Monitor Play Back Performance Data window. 14

15 Each performance log is analyzed and assigned a performance alert notification. No alerts found in log file Performance issue found in log file. Figure 15 An example of log file button. The performance log is a plain text file located in the Windows application data folder. No personal identifiable information is included. Each performance log can be exported to a text file. Export button. The text file can then be imported into another administrator system. Import button Figure 16 Import and export performance logs Play Back Plot window The Play Back Plot window displays: A time-based plot for the selected samples. The selected samples displayed in the plot window can be either all of the samples recorded in the performance log or a user-selected subset of the total samples. A subset of samples can be selected by using the zoom function. Pointing the mouse on the plot will highlight a single sample period. A column of expanders organized by performance category and device type. The current value column displays the performance value for the highlighted sample. The average and maximum values are determined from the selected samples displayed in the plot. Zoom function: The user can zoom-in on selected samples by right-clicking and sliding the mouse over the desired samples. Shift+right-mouse will un-zoom. Plot control: Performance metrics represented by relative capacity (0-100%) can be shown or omitted on the plot by using the check box and the plot line color can be adjusted by the color palette button. Figure 17 An example of the Play Back Plot window showing system and application CPU usage. 15

16 Alert button: Located on the plot window is an alert button. The alert button will open a window to explain the potential performance limitation and possible remedies. Figure 18 An example of an alert that reports high GPU usage. Notes: During the recording period, the Workstation Monitor allows the user to enter notes into the log file. For example, the notes can designate the start or end of a specific activity. During play back the note will appear at the top of the play back plot window. Each note is designated by a yellow sticky icon and a dashed vertical line. Hovering over the note icon will show the content. Figure 19 An example of the Play Back Plot window that includes several user added notes. 16

17 Windows Experience Index HP Performance Advisor 1 provides a more detailed look at the Windows Experience Index (WEI). The WEI is useful for establishing a base rating and then running it periodically as new software, driver, OS, or hardware components are added or modified. The program exposes details of the WEI results showing specific sub-scores that have been run on each of the main components. Figure 20 An example of the details available from the WEI test. 17

18 Table of figures. Figure 1 White Paper Index...5 Figure 2 An example of a Z820 Block Diagram....5 Figure 3 An example of component details. Details vary by component...6 Figure 4 An example of the Configuration Details windows...6 Figure 5 An example of the Configuration Report window Figure 6 An example of the GPU Utiliation window....7 Figure 7 An example of the System BIOS window....8 Figure 8 An example of the System Sensors window Figure 9 An example of the Your Software window...9 Figure 10 An example of the Memory Graph window Figure 11 An example of the Workstation Monitor Record Performance Data window Figure 12 The Workstation Monitor icon and runtime options Figure 13 An example of the new log file notification Figure 14 An example of Workstation Monitor Play Back Performance Data window Figure 15 An example of log file button Figure 16 Import and export performance logs...15 Figure 17 An example of the Play Back Plot window showing system and application CPU usage Figure 18 An example of an alert that reports high GPU usage Figure 19 An example of the Play Back Plot window that includes several user added notes...16 Figure 20 An example of the details available from the WEI test Sign up for updates hp.com/go/getupdated 1. Internet access required. Copyright 2014 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein. AMD is a trademark of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Adobe and Creative Cloud are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. Autodesk, Autodesk Product Design Suite, AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, Showcase and 3ds Max are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and other countries. Avid, the Avid logo, Eleven, FluidMotion, M-Audio, Mbox, NewsCutter, Nitris, Pro Tools, Pro Tools HD, Pro Tools M-Powered and SpectraMatte are trademarks or registered trademarks of Avid Technology, inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. RED and all other trademarks, service marks, trade names logos, and product names of RED used on this site are trademarks or registered trademarks of Red.com, Inc. in the USA and other countries. ESRI and ArcGIS are trademarks, service marks, or registered trademarks or service marks of Esri in the United States, the European Community, or certain other jurisdictions. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 4AA5-1659ENW, April 2014