Temperature Alert Through GFI Network Server Monitor

Maximize network and server uptime
GFI Network Server Monitor maximizes network availability by monitoring all aspects of your Windows and Linux servers, workstations and devices (routers, etc). When a failure is detected, GFI's network monitor can alert you by email, pager or SMS, as well as taking corrective action by, for example, rebooting the machine, restarting the service or running a script.

Network Layout

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The following shows the process of monitoring your server temperatures through AKCP and how GFI Network Server Monitor sends an alert signal according to your defined frequency.

1. Define alerts to be used.

2. Configure general parameters.

To specify the general parameters of a monitor check (e.g., Check Name and Target Computer):

a. Right click on the check to be configured and select `Properties'. By default the check properties dialog will open in the `General' tab.

b. Specify the following parameters:

Check details - The monitoring check name (e.g. `Fileserver Availability Check') and relative function description.

Target - The name or IP address of the target computer on which this check will run (e.g. AKCP device or 192.168.180.105).

Scan Frequency - The time interval between consecutive executions of this monitoring check (e.g. Specify a scan frequency of 2 minutes, if you want to run this check every 2 minutes).

Error Threshold - The number of consecutive times that this check must fail before an action is triggered (e.g. Specify an Error Threshold of 3, to allow a check to fail 3 consecutive times, before the check is classified as failed and alerts, etc. are triggered).

NOTE: Check failures occurring within the specified error threshold limit are known as errors. GFI Network Server Monitor only defines a check as failed when the number of errors exceeds the error threshold. The error threshold is necessary to avoid continuous false alarms, triggered by check timeouts, associated with slow network connections or delays in connection in extremely busy targets (e.g. File servers and Mail servers) during peak hours.

3. Choose your desired threshold to monitor (e.g. 26 degrees). The OID 1.3.6.xxxxxx is the Object ID which must be used by Network Server Monitor to query the sensorProbe for the temperature of the room. It is defined that temperature in the room should not rise beyond 26 degrees. If the temperature in the room rises above 26, Network Server Monitor will send an alert.

The SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) GET message allows the Network Monitor Engine to request information about a specific variable on a remote computer or device. Upon receiving a GET message, the agent will issue GFI Network Server Monitor Engine a GET-RESPONSE message containing either the information requested or an error indicating why the request cannot be processed.

An SNMP function requires the following parameters:

Community String - Specify the SNMP community string to be used, by default: `public'.

OID (Object ID) - Specify the Object ID. This is a unique identification tag, which could be either an alphanumeric name or the physical name (long numeric tag), used to distinguish each variable in SNMP messages.

OID Data type - Select the data type to be used from the available dropdown list. The following are valid/supported data types: Bit Stream, Counter, Integer, IP address, Object Identifier, Opaque String, String, Time Marks and Unsigned Integer.

OID Data must be - Specify an OID data value and select the operand to be used to compare the actual SNMP value against the `IOD Data Value' specified. Supported operands include Equal To, Not Equal To, Less Than, Less or Equal To, Greater Than, Greater or Equal To.

4. Access Alert Configuration under the Actions tab to set frequency of alerts (e.g. alerts triggered every 5 minutes so long as rule fails). On recovery, alerts are sent.