book

Learning Nagios - Third Edition

by Wojciech Kocjan, Piotr Beltowski

August 2016

Intermediate to advanced

414 pages

9h 5m

English

Packt Publishing

Read now

Unlock full access

eBooks, discount offers, and moreWhy subscribe?
What this book covers

Downloading the example codeDownloading the color images of this bookErrataPiracyQuestions
Understanding the basics of NagiosIntroducing pluginsBenefits of monitoringMain featuresSoft and hard states
Installing NagiosUpgrading from previous versionsPerforming installation with automated scriptInstalling Nagios using package managersInstallation with apt-get/dpkgInstallation with yum/rpm
Installing prerequisitesSetting up users, groups, and directoriesObtaining Nagios and Nagios pluginsCompiling and installing NagiosCompiling and installing Nagios pluginsSetting up a web serverTroubleshooting the web server
Running Nagios inside containersInstalling Nagios inside virtual machines
Configuring NagiosUnderstanding macro definitionsConfiguring hostsConfiguring host groupsConfiguring servicesConfiguring service groupsConfiguring commandsConfiguring time periodsConfiguring contactsConfiguring contact groupsVerifying the configurationUnderstanding notifications
The Nagios web interfaceAccessing the web interface
Checking the tactical overviewViewing the status map
Checking statusViewing host information
Checking statusViewing service information
Checking downtimes statusesScheduling downtimes
Viewing process informationChecking performance information
Introducing third-party web interfacesUsing Nagios dashboardsInstalling alternative Nagios web interfacesViewing performance data with nagiosgraph
Using nagios_commanderInteracting with nagios-cli
Checking the status on iOS with easyNagWorking with Nagios on Android using aNagChecking the status on Windows Phone with NagChecker
Understanding checks in Nagios
Testing the connection to a remote hostTesting connectivity using TCP and UDP
Checking POP3 and IMAP serversTesting SMTP protocol
Checking FTP serverVerifying DHCP protocolMonitoring Nagios processesTesting websites
Checking MySQLChecking PostgreSQLChecking OracleChecking other databases
Checking swap spaceMonitoring disk status SMARTChecking disk spaceTesting free space for remote shares
Checking system loadChecking processesMonitoring logged-in users
Checking for updates with APTMonitoring UPS statusGathering information from LM sensorsUsing the dummy check pluginManipulating other plugins' output
Monitoring network softwareUsing third-party plugins
Creating maintainable configurations
Creating host dependenciesCreating service dependencies
Creating templatesInheriting from multiple templates
Creating effective notificationsUsing multiple notificationsSending instant messages via JabberNotifying users with text messagesIntegrating with HipChatSlack integration
Setting up escalationsUnderstanding how escalations work
Adding comments to hosts and servicesScheduling host and service checksModifying custom variables
Restarting services automaticallyModifying notifications
Understanding passive checksIntroducing active and passive checksConfiguring passive checksSending passive check results for hostsSending passive check results for servicesTroubleshooting errors
Installing the NRDP serverUsing the NRDP clientSecuring the NRDP communication
Monitoring over SSHConfiguring the SSH connectionUsing the check_by_ssh pluginPerforming multiple checksTroubleshooting the SSH-based checks
Obtaining NRPECompiling NRPEConfiguring the NRPE serverRegistering NRPE check commandsConfiguring Nagios for NRPEUsing command arguments with NRPETroubleshooting NRPE
Introducing SNMPUnderstanding data objects
Using graphical tools
Receiving trapsUsing additional plugins
Monitoring Windows machinesInstalling NSClient++Configuring NSClient++Monitoring Windows using check_ntPerforming checks using NRPE protocolQuerying WMI data from NagiosImplementing external scripts
Introducing obsessive notificationsConfiguring Nagios instancesPerforming freshness checking
Creating the host and service objectsCustomizing checks with custom variables
Introducing Nagios customizations
Testing MySQL database correctnessMonitoring local time against a time serverWriting plugins the right way
Communicating with the query handlerUsing the query handler programmaticallyUsing the core serviceIntroducing the Nagios event radio dispatcher

Overview

"Learning Nagios" is the definitive guide to mastering Nagios, a powerful infrastructure monitoring tool. This book provides step-by-step instructions, from installation to advanced configuration, ensuring you can monitor and secure your organization's IT infrastructure effectively. Laden with practical examples, it equips you to tackle real-world challenges with Nagios.

What this Book will help me do

Understand the core concepts of Nagios, including installation and initial configurations.
Master using the Nagios web interface and additional third-party tools for enhanced monitoring.
Learn to utilize both standard and custom plugins for comprehensive monitoring of devices and services.
Enhance your event handling capabilities by understanding notifications, events, and passive checks.
Gain insights into SNMP monitoring and extending Nagios's functionality for organizational needs.

Author(s)

None Kocjan and None Beltowski are seasoned IT professionals with extensive experience in system administration and network monitoring. They bring their expertise with Nagios and infrastructure management tools, making complex topics accessible to learners. Their teaching approach combines technical accuracy with relatable examples to ensure practical understanding.

Who is it for?

This book is ideal for System Administrators seeking to implement or enhance their monitoring capabilities using Nagios. Whether you're new to Nagios or looking to master its advanced features, this guide provides value. Perfect for beginners and experienced administrators aiming to monitor small to large-scale infrastructures.