[Nagiosplug-help] Recommendations on checking a MS SQL Server?

[Zembower, Kevin]

I'm looking for recommendations for checking a Microsoft SQL server
running on a Windows Server 2003 host. Searching NagiosExchange turned
up 'check mssql databases status by snmp' and 'check_mssql_sproc'. I'm
currently blocked by a firewall from passing SNMP messages, so the first
one's out. The second one seems to require writing a stored procedure on
the SQL Server and executing it, something I've never done and that
looks to be involved and time-consuming.

Searching Google turned up references to check_mssql.sh. When I was able
to track it down, it seems to require a program 'tsql' which I think is
a Windows program that executes a SQL script.

I'd like to ask this group's advice on how to most easily test the
operation of a SQL server remotely, if I can't use SNMP. I'm not adverse
to executing an HTML query to this database and checking the answer,
since the SQL database runs a search web page.

Thank you for your advice and suggestions.

-Kevin

Kevin Zembower
Internet Services Group manager
Center for Communication Programs
Bloomberg School of Public Health
Johns Hopkins University
111 Market Place, Suite 310
Baltimore, Maryland  21202
410-659-6139