«... A template is a set of objects that may be applied to several nodes of the network.
These objects may be:
- data elements;
- triggers;
- graphs;
- groups of data elements;
- complex screens (starting from Zabbix 2.0);
- low-level detection rules (starting from Zabbix 2.0);
- web scenarios (starting from Zabbix 2.2)
As soon as many nodes are identical in a real life or more or less similar, the sets of objects (data elements, triggers, graphs,…), created by you for a network node, may be useful for many nodes. Certainly, you may copy them to each new network node, but it would require many manual work. Instead, you may copy these objects to one template by using templates and then apply this template to any number of required network nodes.
When a template is connected to the network node, all objects (data elements, triggers, graphs,…) from a template are added to this network node. Templates are connected directly to each node (not to a group of network nodes).
Templates are usually used to group objects of certain services or applications (such as Apache, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Postfix…) and then are applied to the network nodes, where these services are launched.
One more advantage of using templates is when there is a need to change something in all network nodes, changing something on a level of a template is spread to all network nodes that are connected to all network nodes connected to this template.
Therefore, using templates is a great way to decrease the personal load and rationalize Zabbix configuration (section «6 Templates» of the official documentation Zabbix 2.2) …»
This article describes the way to configure monitoring of NetPing devices in the system Zabbix 2.2 using ready (predesigned) templates.
Requirements
To implement this solution, there is a need to have:
- any NetPing server room environmental monitoring units and power distribution units (UniPing server solution v4/SMS, UniPing server solution v3, UniPing v3, NetPing SMS, NetPing IO v2, NetPing 8/PWR-220 v4/SMS, NetPing 4/PWR-220 v4/SMS, NetPing 2/PWR-220 v4/SMS, NetPing 2/PWR-220 v3/ETH);
- Zabbix monitoring system (official documentation);
- ready templates for NetPing server room environmental monitoring units and power distribution units
Configuring Zabbix Templates
A detailed process of creating templates in the monitoring system Zabbix 2.2 is described in the official documentation:
- Section «6.1 Configuring a Template»;
- Section «6.2 Linking/Unlinking»;
- Section «6.3 Nesting»
Ready Zabbix Templates for NetPing Server Room Environmental Monitoring Units and Power Distribution Units
| Monitoring unit or PDU | Description | Use | Download Template |
|---|---|---|---|
Automatic detection of necessary parameters:
Automatic creation of graphs:
Automatic creation of triggers for changing statuses:
| Zabbix template | ||
| UniPing server solution v3 | Automatic detection of necessary parameters:
Automatic creation of graphs:
Automatic creation of triggers for changing statuses:
| Zabbix template | |
| UniPing v3 | Automatic detection of necessary parameters:
Automatic creation of graphs:
Automatic creation of triggers for changing statuses:
| Zabbix template | |
| NetPing SMS | Automatic detection of necessary parameters:
Automatic creation of triggers for changing statuses:
| Zabbix template | |
| NetPing IO v2 | Automatic detection of necessary parameters:
Automatic creation of graphs:
| Zabbix template | |
Automatic detection of necessary parameters:
Automatic creation of graphs:
Automatic creation of triggers for changing statuses:
| Zabbix template | ||
Automatic detection of necessary parameters:
Automatic creation of graphs:
Automatic creation of triggers for changing statuses:
| Zabbix template | ||
Automatic detection of necesary parameters:
Automatic creation of graphs:
Automatic creation of triggers for changing statuses:
| Zabbix template | ||
| NetPing 2/PWR-220 v3/ETH | Automatic detection of all necessary parameters:
Automatic creation of graphs:
Automatic creation of triggers for changing statuses:
| Zabbix template |
Importing and Linking a Ready NetPing Template to Zabbix
Before importing templates!
To display statuses from sensors, relays, a GSM modem, and other objects of NetPing devices in Zabbix, in the understandable for a human text format, there is a need to configure converting numeric values. To do this, there is a need to go to the window for configuring the conversion of numeric values using the path «Administration» → «General» → «Value mapping» → «Create value map».
And configure conversion of numeric values according to the picture represented below:
Otherwise, it is possible to download a ready file Zabbix_3.0_Value_mapping_NetPing_devices.xml (for Zabbix 3.x) and import it using a corresponding parameters in a Zabbix web interface.
If necessary, there is a need to indicate each created conversion of numeric values in the settings of a corresponding data element in a template configuration.
After downloading ready templates, there is a need to import them to the Zabbix monitoring system. To do this, there is a need to go to the menu «Configuration» → «Templates» and click the button «Import».
In a window of importing, there is a need to click a button «Choose File» and choose a template in the format .XML from PC for uploading. Afterwards, there is a need to check checkboxes of the template elements that are necessary when importing to Zabbix (see a screenshot below) and click the button «Import».
In this way, it is possible to import all ready NetPing templates. Imported templates, the same as other Zabbix templates can be browsed in a window of templates «Configuration» → «Templates».
Now, there is a need to link a necessary template to a required NetPing device. To do this, there is a need to create a network node in a configuration window «Configuration» → «Hosts» → «Create host».
In window of a node configuration, there is a need to specify a desired name of a device, and IP address with a port in the settings of SNMP interface on the tab «Host».
In a window of a node configuration there is a need to link a necesary template from the list «Select» → «Add»on the tab «Templates»:
In a window of a configuration node, there is a need to add a macros {$SNMP_COMMUNIY_UNIPING} = %COMMUNITY% или {$SNMP_COMMUNIY_NETPING} = %COMMUNITY% on the tab «Macros»:
A name of a macros depends on settings of a ready NetPing template. In templates for devices with a name «UniPing» a macros name «{$SNMP_COMMUNIY_UNIPING}» is used. In templates for deices with a name «NetPing», a macros name «{$SNMP_COMMUNIY_NETPING}» is used.
where:
%COMMUNITY% – is a password specified on the page «SETTINGS» of a web interface of a web interface of a NetPing device.
After the implementation of the settings decribed above, there is a need to save a configuration of a network node by clicking a button «Save».
Result
As a result of configurations described above, it is possible to add any NetPing server room environmental monitoring unit and power distribution unit to a Zabbix monitoring system on the basis of templates that automatically create data elements, triggers, graphs, and have detection rules for all sensors, IO lines and relays.
Operating of triggers from NetPing server room environmental monitoring units and power distribution units
Graphs from NetPing server room environmental monitoring units and power distribution units
