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Diffstat (limited to 'FAQ')
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1 | Frequently Asked Questions | 1 | Frequently Asked Questions |
2 | ************************** | 2 | ************************** |
3 | 3 | ||
4 | 1. Q: Where can I find documentation for <insert name> plugin? | 4 | Q: Where can I find documentation for <insert name> plugin? |
5 | 5 | ||
6 | A: All plugins that comply with minimal development guideline for | 6 | A: All plugins that comply with minimal development guideline for |
7 | this project include internal documentation. The documentation | 7 | this project include internal documentation. The documentation |
8 | can be read executing plugin with the '-h' option ('--help' if | 8 | can be read executing plugin with the -h or --help option. If |
9 | long options are enabled). If the '-h' option does not work, that | 9 | the '-h' option does not work, that is a bug. |
10 | is a bug. | ||
11 | 10 | ||
12 | 2. Q: What version of <insert name> plugin am I running? | ||
13 | 11 | ||
14 | A: All plugins that comply with minimal development guideline for | 12 | Q: What version of <insert name> plugin am I running? |
15 | this project include detailed version information. When executed | ||
16 | with the '-V' option, a version string will be printed: | ||
17 | 13 | ||
18 | check_radius (nagios-plugins 1.3.0-alpha1) 1.11 | 14 | A: All plugins that comply with minimal development guideline for |
15 | this project include detailed version information. When executed | ||
16 | with the '-V' option, a version string will be printed: | ||
19 | 17 | ||
20 | Note that this string include both the assigned package release | 18 | check_radius (nagios-plugins 1.3.0-alpha1) 1.11 |
21 | name and the CVS-generated revision for the individual plugin. | ||
22 | Authors should strictly adhere to this format. All bug reports | ||
23 | and help requests should reference this information. | ||
24 | 19 | ||
25 | 3. Q: What information do I need to include when asking for help or | 20 | Note that this string include both the assigned package release |
26 | submitting a bug report? | 21 | name and the CVS-generated revision for the individual plugin. |
22 | Authors should strictly adhere to this format. All bug reports | ||
23 | and help requests should reference this information. | ||
27 | 24 | ||
28 | A: At a minimum, the output from 'uname -a' and the version string | ||
29 | from '<plugin_name> -V' and, of course, a description of the | ||
30 | problem and any solution/patch. | ||
31 | 25 | ||
32 | 4. Q: I'm using Redhat Linux (or some other RPM-based distribution). | 26 | Q: What information do I need to include when asking for help or |
33 | Which packages should I install? | 27 | submitting a bug report? |
34 | 28 | ||
35 | A: The package nagios-plugins-<version>.<arch>.rpm contains only | 29 | A: At a minimum, the output from 'uname -a' and the version string |
36 | those plugins that should work on any POSIX compliant system. In | 30 | from '<plugin_name> -V' and, of course, a description of the |
37 | other words, you should be able to install this package on your | 31 | problem and any solution/patch. |
38 | system, no matter what else is or in not installed. | ||
39 | 32 | ||
40 | However, most of us have more complex systems than barebones | ||
41 | POSIX. We tried creating a variety of separate packages so | ||
42 | each dependency could be installed cleanly, but many people | ||
43 | found that this resulted in too many packages. So in the end, | ||
44 | all the non-POSIX plugins were folded into one RPM | ||
45 | (nagios-plugins-<version>.<arch>.rpm). Most people will need to | ||
46 | use RPM's '--nodeps' option to install this package. | ||
47 | 33 | ||
48 | 5. Q: My system uses the .deb package format. What packages should I | 34 | Q: I'm using Redhat Linux (or some other RPM-based distribution). |
49 | install? | 35 | Which packages should I install? |
50 | 36 | ||
51 | A: We strive for cooperation between all packagers and developers. | 37 | A: The package nagios-plugins-<version>.<arch>.rpm contains only |
52 | The answers for .deb are the same as for RPM, after changing the | 38 | those plugins that should work on any POSIX compliant system. In |
53 | package name suffixes accordingly. | 39 | other words, you should be able to install this package on your |
40 | system, no matter what else is or in not installed. | ||
54 | 41 | ||
55 | 6. Q: I prefer to build my own RPMs. Do I need to install all of the | 42 | However, most of us have more complex systems than barebones |
56 | various dependencies? | 43 | POSIX. We tried creating a variety of separate packages so |
44 | each dependency could be installed cleanly, but many people | ||
45 | found that this resulted in too many packages. So in the end, | ||
46 | all the non-POSIX plugins were folded into one RPM | ||
47 | (nagios-plugins-<version>.<arch>.rpm). Most people will need to | ||
48 | use RPM's '--nodeps' option to install this package. | ||
57 | 49 | ||
58 | A: Beginning with the 1.2.9-1 release, you may run | ||
59 | 50 | ||
60 | rpm --define 'custom 1' -ta nagios-plugins-<release>.tar.gz | 51 | Q: My system uses the .deb package format. What packages should I |
52 | install? | ||
61 | 53 | ||
62 | In prior releases, you must unpack the tarball and build the | 54 | A: We strive for cooperation between all packagers and developers. |
63 | RPM using nagios-custom.spec with 'rpm -ba'. | 55 | The answers for .deb are the same as for RPM, after changing the |
56 | package name suffixes accordingly. | ||
64 | 57 | ||
65 | 7. Q: I get an error like | ||
66 | 58 | ||
67 | Warning: Return code of 127 for check of service 'PING' on host 'anyhost' was out of bounds. | 59 | Q: I prefer to build my own RPMs. Do I need to install all of the |
60 | various dependencies? | ||
68 | 61 | ||
69 | when I run Nagios. (Often check_ping runs just fine on the | 62 | A: Beginning with the 1.2.9-1 release, you may run |
70 | command line). | ||
71 | 63 | ||
72 | A: Commonly, system administrators will make security as tight as | 64 | rpm --define 'custom 1' -ta nagios-plugins-<release>.tar.gz |
73 | possible on the monitoring system. Sometimes this includes OS | ||
74 | options or hardening scripts that prevent unprivileged users from | ||
75 | running the ping command. Nagios runs with no more privileges | ||
76 | than 'nobody' -- check to be sure that the nagios user can | ||
77 | actually run check ping. (This can also happen with other binaries | ||
78 | executed by nagios, but ping seems to be far and away the biggest | ||
79 | offender.) | ||
80 | 65 | ||
81 | 8. Q: I have a plugin to offer. What do I do to get it accepted? | 66 | In prior releases, you must unpack the tarball and build the |
67 | RPM using nagios-custom.spec with 'rpm -ba'. | ||
82 | 68 | ||
83 | A: Send it to nagiosplug-devel@lists.sourceforge.net. Usually, we | ||
84 | just drop it into contrib until we have a chance to check if the | ||
85 | standard options are used, etc. | ||
86 | 69 | ||
87 | You can also get feedback on improving the plugin via the mailing list. | 70 | Q: I get an error like |
71 | |||
72 | Warning: Return code of 127 for check of service 'PING' on host 'anyhost' was out of bounds. | ||
73 | |||
74 | when I run Nagios. (Often check_ping runs just fine on the | ||
75 | command line). | ||
76 | |||
77 | A: Commonly, system administrators will make security as tight as | ||
78 | possible on the monitoring system. Sometimes this includes OS | ||
79 | options or hardening scripts that prevent unprivileged users from | ||
80 | running the ping command. Nagios runs with no more privileges | ||
81 | than 'nobody' -- check to be sure that the nagios user can | ||
82 | actually run check ping. (This can also happen with other binaries | ||
83 | executed by nagios, but ping seems to be far and away the biggest | ||
84 | offender.) | ||
85 | |||
86 | |||
87 | Q: I have a plugin to offer. What can I do? | ||
88 | |||
89 | A: You can make it available on NagiosExchange (http://nagiosexchange.org) | ||
90 | where other people can find it for use. | ||
91 | |||
92 | You can also get feedback on improving the plugin via the | ||
93 | nagiosplug-devel@lists.sourceforge.net mailing list. | ||