+1 Nagios - yes a bit to setup - but it just runs. +1 also for Cacti - if you want the historical graphs. Very nice.
-----Original Message----- From: Michael Leone [mailto:oozerd...@gmail.com] Sent: Friday, April 16, 2010 6:07 AM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: Server monitoring solution recommendations? I'm investigating server monitoring solutions for my enterprise. What I'm interested in is real world experiences and recommendations, not just sales pitches and product sheets that I can get from Google. The way I see it, I need 2 basic functions: I need to be able to monitor various aspects of a server (CPU usage, free disk space, is a service running, does the web service return a web page in a timely manner, is the switch at that site being overloaded, etc - the usual things you'd want to know from a server, I think) and then alert me when certain triggers or thresholds are crossed; and also to provide historical reports, showing trends over time. At a previous job, I used to ServersAlive!, which suited my needs there. But now I am at a place that has over 100 servers and switches, across multiple sites. And so I think I'd need something with more heft, perhaps. We're an HP shop, and I am looking at HP's SIM (Insight Manager) software, but that doesn't seem to monitor all the sorts of functions I want, nor does it seem to present it in a timely manner. I'm also looking at PacketTraps PT 360 tool suite (which is free), and that seems to show me some of what I need, but doesn't seem to have a lot in the way of reporting, nor have I found a way (yet) for it to alert me to configurable settings. I've also downloaded SpiceWorks, on the recommendation of a colleague, but haven't had a chance to investigate it yet. We're a gov't agency, so I don't have a whole lot of money. But I have a need, and at the moment, nothing in place to fill it. Getting an alert email that tells me that my mail server CPU has been up over 80% for more than xx seconds would be a good thing, so I don't have to get phone calls from users, asking why mail is so slow, and that's the first I've heard of it. I'm sure you get the idea. And the boss wants reports over time, for capacity planning and the like. So any recommendations would be welcome, as would anything I've forgotten. We're almost exclusively a Windows shop, but with 10 VMware ESX hosts, a number of MS SQL servers (2000, 2005), and a number of Cisco switches (and a couple Nortel ones scattered here and there). No Exchange (we're a Notes shop). TIA ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ ---- For more information about Lewis and Roca LLP, please go to www.lewisandroca.com. Phoenix (602) 262-5311 Tucson (520) 622-2090 Las Vegas (702) 949-8200 Reno (775) 823-2900 Minden (775) 586-9500 Albuquerque (505) 764-5400 Silicon Valley (650) 391-1380 This message is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by replying to the sender of this E-Mail by return E-Mail or by telephone. In accordance with Internal Revenue Service Circular 230, we advise you that if this email contains any tax advice, such tax advice was not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used, by any taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed on the taxpayer. ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~
