Summary #

NetworkTrakker can check the status and gather data from various types of hosts.  The most common case is a Windows host.  With some software installed on the Windows host, you can get lots of data out of the host, including CPU load, swap use, disk use, even if a service is running.

Setting Up The Windows Host #

The first step before doing anything in the NetworkTrakker interface is to configure the server to be monitored.  First, install the appropriate client (see the references below, or in the downloads section of http://kb.k12usa.com/Downloads ).  Once the client is installed, put the configuration file in place and change it as indicated in the directions (see http://kb.k12usa.com/Downloads/Monitoring-Configuration-File ).  Once the client is installed, make sure the service (NSClient ++) is started.

Next, configure SNMP on the Windows server to that NetworkTrakker can gather network utilization statistics from the server.  To do this, go to “Start” -> “Programs” -> “Administrative Tools” -> “Services”.  Scroll down the list to find “SNMP Service”.

If you do not have an entry for “SNMP Service”, that means it’s not installed.  Installing the service varies slightly between versions of Windows, but the basics are in the Windows Control Panel, open “Add/Remove Programs” and click on “Add/Remove Windows Components”.  Under the category “Management & Monitoring Tools”, check the box for “Simple Network Management Protocol” and “WMI SNMP Provider”, then click OK to have Windows install the necessary services.

Back in the “Services” applet / tool (refresh the list if you just installed SNMP), right click on “SNMP Service” and go to “Properties” and fill in the following:

• On the “Agent” tab, enter a Contact and a Location for this host
• On the “Security” tab, click on “Add” under “Accepted Community Names” and create a read-only SNMP community (if you have one already, that’s OK.  NetworkTrakker can use it).  (Note: SNMP community names are case sensitive).
• On the “Security” tab, select the bubble for “Accept SNMP packets from these hosts”.
• On the “Security” tab, click on “Add…” under “Accept SNMP packets from these hosts” and add the IP address of the appliance running NetworkTrakker.
• On the “General” tab, next to “Startup Type” select “Automatic”, then click on “Start”.  If it already is started, click on “Stop” then “Start” to restart the service with the new settings.

Adding the Windows Host in NetworkTrakker

Go to the NetworkTrakker tab in the web interface of your appliance, go to “Setup” and click on “Add a new Host”.  Complete the form, selecting “Windows” for the “Host Type”, and entering the SNMP community you just created (or plan to re-use) for the “SNMP v1 Community”.  Check the box for “Scan for Network Interface Data Recorders for this Host” and click “Add Host”.

NetworkTrakker will now scan for network interfaces on that host.  When it’s done, if it found any, it will show you a list with their link status and a description of the interface.  Check the one you want to add and click on “Continue”.  You’ll then be able to change the Description of the interfaces you selected to something more meaningful the what Windows told NetworkTrakker about.  For example, instead of “Intel(R) PRO/1000 MT Dual Port Network Connection” you can put “LAN”.  Once done, click on “Make Data Recorders”.

If you go to “NetworkTrakker” -> “Setup” -> “Hosts”, you’ll now see the host you just added.  Next you need to add “services” to monitor.  (“Services” means “things the server provides”, not necessarily “Windows Services”).  Click on “Manage Services” next to the host you just added.  This shows a list of all the services that NetworkTrakker is currently monitoring.  Click on “Add a new Service” add a service to be monitored.

First, enter a description for the service.  Next, select a “Check” to perform.  Each check has it’s own set of parameters.  Fill in the parameters presented for that type of check, then click on “Add Service”.  Once you’ve added all the services you want to monitor, you’re done!  Go to the “Commit Changes” tab and click on “Restart”.  After about 10 minutes you should have data in your graphs and status for the host and services.

References