New check type: Nagios plugin support - NRPE check

Product Updates - Server Monitoring News - Updates

Feature

19.06.2021
980 79

Monitor Nagios Check Plugins

We now support the monitoring of Nagios NRPE plugins. You can specify the host and the Nagios check to be carried out for the type of check. The parameters for the classification into Critical, Warning and OK are specified by you on the server side. The new type of check is available immediately and enables you to easily monitor a large number of new checks of your infrastructure. We will also provide detailed instructions for setting up the Nagios plugin checks shortly.

Back to news index

Knowledge Base

Here we answer questions about server monitoring from Livewatch. If you have a question that we have not yet answered here, please contact us.

What is a “Nagios NRPE Check”?

A "Nagios NRPE Check" refers to the use of the NRPE (Nagios Remote Plugin Executor) protocol in conjunction with the Nagios system to monitor and check remote resources and services on various servers. Nagios is a widely used open source system for monitoring networks, services and hosts.

NRPE allows Nagios to run plugins on remote hosts and return the results of plugin executions to the Nagios server. This enables decentralized monitoring of resources on different servers in the network.

Here are some key concepts related to the Nagios NRPE Check:

  1. NRPE Server: The NRPE server is installed on the remote hosts to be monitored. This server allows Nagios to run specified plugins on the remote host.

  2. NRPE Plugin: An NRPE plugin is an executable script or program that runs on the remote host and performs specific checks or tasks. For example, an NRPE plugin could check the status of CPU usage, memory usage, service status, or other parameters.

  3. Nagios Server: The Nagios server coordinates monitoring and calls the NRPE plugins on the remote hosts. It receives the results of the plugin executions and evaluates them.

  4. Checks and Notifications: Nagios can be configured to periodically perform checks on various remote hosts. If a check fails or exceeds a predefined threshold, Nagios can generate notifications to alert administrators of potential issues.

Using NRPE allows Nagios to collect detailed information about the health and performance of remote resources without having to perform all checks on a central Nagios server. This is particularly useful in distributed network environments where different servers and services need to be monitored.

It is important to note that NRPE should only be used safely. Communication between the Nagios server and the NRPE servers should be protected by appropriate security mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access.

Nagios

Nagios is a widely used open source monitoring system designed to monitor the availability of resources and services in an IT infrastructure. It provides a comprehensive platform for monitoring networks, servers, applications and other critical components. Here are some of the key features of Nagios:

Monitoring hosts and services: Nagios can monitor the status of hosts (servers, switches, routers, etc.) and services (e.g. web servers, databases, email services). It regularly checks whether these resources are accessible and functional.

Flexible notification systems: Nagios can send notifications through various channels such as email, SMS or other custom methods when an issue is detected. This enables a quick response to critical events.

Performance reporting and logging: Nagios offers extensive logging and performance features. Administrators can monitor trends in system behavior and report on performance data.

Expandable Architecture: Nagios is modular, meaning it can be easily expanded by integrating plugins. There are a large number of plugins that enable specific monitoring tasks for different systems.

Scheduling and Maintenance: Nagios allows administrators to schedule maintenance windows during which planned maintenance can be performed without triggering false alarms. This is particularly important to avoid unnecessary notifications during scheduled maintenance times.

Easy-to-use web interface: Nagios provides a web interface that allows administrators to visualize and configure monitoring status. This makes it easier to manage and monitor the entire infrastructure.

Distributed Monitoring: Nagios can be used in distributed environments to effectively monitor large networks and complex infrastructures.

SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) compatibility: Nagios can use SNMP to collect and monitor information from network devices.

Nagios is a popular choice for companies and organizations in need of a comprehensive monitoring solution due to its flexibility, extensibility, and active community that is constantly developing new plugins.