Using IPPA in IBM Cognos Analytics 11.2
Using IPPA in IBM Cognos Analytics 11.2
Using IPPA in IBM Cognos Analytics 11.2
How To
Summary
IPPA (In Product Performance Assistant) is an internal IBM Cognos Analytics tool that assists Report and
Dashboard Authors requiring detailed performance analysis.
IPPA is largely based on IPA (Interactive Performance Assistant) from previous versions.
Notes: To get the optimal experience, use Google Chrome or Edge Chromium. Features specific to Cognos
Analytics 11.2.1, and higher are noted at the end of the document.
Steps
IPPA_Deployment_and_Gantt_Chart_1.zip
(https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/system/files/inline-files/IPPA_Deployment_and_Gantt_Chart_1.zip)
1a.) Start by downloading the attached .zip file and extracting it. Copy the downloaded IPPA_PACKAGE_11_2_1.zip file
to the <Cognos Install>\deployment folder of the Content Manager installation and the customvis.catalog.gantt.zip to
your local computer.
1b.) Enable IPPA in the Advanced Settings in IBM Cognos Administration -> System –> Set Properties.
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1d.) Add in a Parameter called [DISP.zipi.IPAEnabled] and set it to [true]. Click OK twice to save the parameter.
Note: The data for IPPA is written to a relational database of your choosing. Tables with the 'IPA' prefix will get created in
the location determined by the options listed here. Verify that these tables exist after completing the steps related to
your chosen option.
1. An explicit location for the IPPA database can be specified by creating a data source called ZIPI.
2. If there is no ZIPI data source, the Notification database defined in IBM Cognos Configuration is used.
3. If there is no ZIPI data source or Notification database defined, the Content Store database is used.
1. Unset the advanced parameter by setting it to [false] and confirming the change. (Select OK twice)
2a.) Create a data source that points to your Content Store named IPADATA. The IPADATA data source is used for the
reports supplied in the IPPA_PACKAGE_11_2_1 deployment.
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2b.) Import the IPPA_PACKAGE_11_2_1 deployment to generate a folder called ZIPI under Team Content. It contains a
package and reports that display IPPA data.
2c.) To import the Gantt chart, go to IBM Cognos Administration -> Library -> Import Visualizations
2d.) Click Browse… select the customvis.catalog.gantt.zip file and click Import.
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3a.) To gather the performance data for reports. Go to Authoring by editing a report. Select the chevron next to the run
button and select ‘Show run options’.
3b.) Enable the ‘Include performance details’ option and click OK.
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3d.) If you want to run a specific page of the report and go to Report > Pages, select the page and then Run HTML.
3e.) Running the report with IPPA enabled generates and populate the following tables. (One time only.)
IPA_USERS
3e.) The report renders with an execution time for individual items and a total at the bottom of the page. These links drill
through using the ZIPIID to different detailed reports.
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3f.) After drilling to the ProcessTime report, you can drill down further on more processes.
(Drilling down on the Crosstab Execution Time displays a Gantt chart, which shows the Start and End times of the
processes.)
Blue: Java Process – Content Manager, present the output in the viewer.
Green: BIBusTKServerMain Process – Output (HTML) generation. (Also query planning and execution for CQM.)
Yellow: Dataset Service – Plans, executes the query and generates a result set. (Not applicable to CQM.)
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3g.) Drilling on the Total Execution Time allows drilling down further on individual processes or the ZIPIID to show a
Gantt chart (similar to 3f) of the execution or a list of individual service timings.
3h.) A report running with a CQM (Compatible Query Mode) does not display the dataset-service as this processing is
performed in the BIBusTKServerMain process.
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3i.) To see Report Server Time Detail report, select the ReportServerTimeDetail link.
4a.) To show performance information for a Dashboard, select a widget and press [Ctrl] + [.] to launch the Serviceability
flyout.
Enable the ‘Show duration for all visualizations’ to return performance information.
To get refreshed data, toggle the ‘Rerun all widgets to include performance details’. You are required to wait for the data
to refresh to see new performance numbers. The numbers are updated in the flyout.
After refreshing, drill-through to more information is available. Clicking the query time drills to the
ProcessTimeDashboard.
Total (ms): The total time, in milliseconds, to run queries and render the visualization.
Server query 1 (ms) & Server query 2 (ms) represent the queries for the line and bar components of the chart.
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To determine which query relates to the columns (Quantity) and which relates to the line (Unit Price), look at the ‘View
Specification’. Download and search the specification. The first reference is the first query and so on.
4b.) Clicking the Performance detail - Gantt chart displays the Gantt chart.
4c.) The Gantt chart displays a representation of when actions occurred and how long they took.
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===============================================================================
Users are able to return performance information in any report format running in the background.
5b.) Select the Run in background option and Include performance detail. You can select any format.
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5c.) After the report executes, select the ellipses again and then View versions.
5d.) Select the chevron of the report to view the report details.
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Additional Notes:
Records are only captured during the specific report execution and not system wide. The IPPA records stored in the
database are truncated 10 hours after their creation.
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The IPPA database can be used with SSL secured connections. To learn how to enable secured connections in IBM
Cognos Configuration, follow this link.
https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/cognos-analytics/11.2.0?topic=options-using-ssl-protocol-database-communications
Document Information
More support for:
IBM Cognos Analytics (https://www.ibm.com/mysupport/s/topic/0TO500000002PVJGA2)
Component:
Administration
Software version:
11.2.1, 11.2.2, 11.2.3
Document number:
6457641
Modified date:
28 October 2022
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