Network monitoring typically consists of observing a system's data traffic to help identify bottlenecks or to troubleshoot hardware or software problems. Nagios and MRTG are powerful, no-cost monitoring tools that operate with Linux and can be helpful to understand multi-platform environments where UNIX family systems and Microsoft Windows both operate. Progent's IT support experts can show you how to use both these tools to optimize and repair your infrastructure.

Nagios Monitoring Application
Nagios screenThe Nagios network monitoring system is a host/service monitor that operates under Linux or a UNIX variant. The Nagios daemon executes periodic inspections of servers and services you request using external add-ons which return status data to Nagios. When issues are detected, the daemon can generate notifications to support personnel in a variety of ways such as email, instant messaging, or Short Message Service. Up to date status data, archival logs, and reports can be examined via a web browser.

Major features of Nagios are:

  • Monitoring of network services such as POP3, HTTP, SSH, and PING
  • Tracking of host resources: CPU load, disk and memory usage, log files, etc.
  • Capability to define host hierarchy, allowing distinction between hosts that are not running as opposed to hosts that are not accessible
  • Support personnel alerts by e-mail, pager, or other user-defined means when service or host issues are detected or get resolved
  • Option to specify scripts to be executed upon the detection of service or machine events for proactive problem remediation
  • Accommodation for deploying backup and dispersed network monitoring computers
  • External command interface that allows on-the-fly edits to be defined for the monitoring and alerting behavior through the use of event scripts, the web GUI, and independent applications
  • Retention of host and service state across program restarts
  • Planned offline periods for eliminating host and service alerts during intentional service breaks
  • Browser applet for examining current system state, alert and anomaly archive, event logs, etc.
  • Permissions protocol that enables you to limit what users can view and do from the web interface

MRTG
MRTG consulting servicesMRTG Graphical Traffic Load Monitor is a free utility to monitor the traffic load on your network. Running under Microsoft Windows or Linux and most UNIX platforms, MRTG reads the traffic counters of routers and produces web pages which offer a live visual representation of this traffic.

Multi Router Traffic Grapher allows you to track the bandwidth through any SNMP network device. This includes processors, routers, and switches. Administrators can use the resulting information to determine system bottlenecks.

Data you are able to depict using MRTG include:

  • Bandwidth in bits or bytes per second
  • Connection rate in connections per second
  • Traffic in an out of a specific VIP server or node server
  • Total number of simultaneous sessions

Contact Progent for Network Monitoring Consulting
Progent’s network monitoring consultants are experienced in operating a number of tools that can assist you to repair or optimize your network infrastructure. For network monitoring expertise, phone Progent at 800-993-9400 or go to Contact Progent.

Progent's Expertise for UNIX-based Systems
Progent's UNIX-family consulting experts offer small businesses and developers assistance with managing and servicing UNIX/Linux/Mac-based networks that may coexist with Microsoft-based technology. Progent offers your company the services of UNIX support experts, certified Microsoft consultants, Cisco-certified CCIEs, and security specialists accredited by CISM. This broad array of knowledge gives your company a convenient single resource to help you to create and support a protected and dependable cross-platform network and communications system that combines Windows with popular variants of UNIX such as: Apple macOS and OS X , Sun Solaris, IBM AIX Operating System, HP-UX (Hewlett Packard UNIX), Berkeley UNIX (BSD), SCO UNIX and Silicon Graphics IRIX (SGI/IRIX) or important Linux distributions including RedHat, SUSE, Debian GNU/Linux and CentOS, Ubuntu, Mandriva Linux, PCLOS, fedora, and Gentoo.

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