How To Monitor Linux Clients Using Shinken

By
SK

In our previous tutorial, we discussed about Shinken monitoring framework installation on Ubuntu 14.04. Today, we will discuss how to monitor a Linux client with Shinken. For the purpose of this tutorial, we will monitor Ubuntu client. Although the same method will work for the other Linux distributions.

Step 1: Log in to Shinken server

First, log in to Shinken server as root user.

sudo su

And switch to the shinken user using command:

su shinken

Step 2: Search for Linux packs

Shinken uses predefined templates(packs) to monitor Linux, Windows.

We can see the list of available Linux packs using command:

shinken search linux

Sample output:

glances (david-guenault) [pack,system,linux,glances] : Standard check through checkglances.py and glances server
linux-snmp (naparuba) [pack,linux,snmp] : Linux checks based on SNMP
linux-ssh (naparuba) [pack,linux,ssh] : Linux checks based on SSH without any script on distant server
pack-glances (david-guenault) [pack,system,linux,glances] : Standard check through checkglances.py and glances server
raspberrypi (frescha) [pack,linux,raspberrypi,server,os] : Standard checks
varnish-ssh (kokosny) [pack,linux,varnish,ssh] : varnish checks based on ssh

For windows clients, run:

shinken search windows

Sample output:

windows (naparuba) [pack,microsoft,windows,server,os,wmi] : Standard windows checks, like CPU, RAM and disk space. Checks are done by WMI.

We will test ssh pack. So, install it using command:

shinken install ssh

3. Create host file configuration for Client

Create a new file:

nano /etc/shinken/hosts/client.cfg

Add the following contents.

define host{
   use             linux,ssh
   host_name       sk
   address         192.168.1.200
   _SNMPCOMMUNITY  P@ssw0rd

Save and close the file.

Here,

  • use: Client uses the Linux template(linux-snmp);
  • hostname: Client system name;
  • address: Client system’s IP address;
  • SNMPCOMMUNITY: Client system’s password.

Likewise you can edit the localhost.cfg file and add ssh tag on it.

nano /etc/shinken/hosts/localhost.cfg
define host{
        use                     generic-host,ssh
        contact_groups          admins
        host_name               localhost
        address                 localhost
        }

Save and close the file.

Now, switch to root user and restart the shinken service.

exit
service shinken restart

4. Configure Client system

Go to your client system. Here, I will be using Ubuntu 14.04 client.

Install SNMPD package.

sudo apt-get install snmpd

Edit file:

sudo nano /etc/snmp/snmpd.conf

Comment the following line:

#agentAddress  udp:127.0.0.1:161

Uncomment the following line:

agentAddress udp:161,udp6:[::1]:161

Find the following line, and set the password for the client system. You should use the same password as defined in the shinken server.

 rocommunity P@ssw0rd  default    -V systemonly

Save and close the file.

Restart snmpd service:

sudo service snmpd restart

That’s it.

5. Check Shinken web interface

Now, go to the Shinken web interface and check the status of the client.

All problems - Mozilla Firefox_006

Click on the each host to find out the services.

Host detail about sk - Mozilla Firefox_007

For detailed configuration, check the Shinken’s official documentation page.

Cheers!