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7,234 Views 10 Replies Last post: Jan 7, 2009 6:05 PM by chardy RSS
realmelancon Rank: White Belt
realmelancon
30 posts since
Jun 30, 2008
Currently Being Moderated

Nov 3, 2008 3:50 PM

Question about Zenoss collectors / Remote servers

Using Core version. We have finally configured our first collector by following the instructions in this document:

http://www.zenoss.com/community/docs/howtos/setting-up-multiple-zenperfsnmp-collectors-across-different-hosts

Now. The events are generated and the remote daemons are running on the collector, and sending informations to the central Zope, and Mysql DB. I think that's OK.

The only problems we have are:

- When we look at the servers defined on the Collector, we cannot see the disk space used, free, etc... in the OS tab.

- No RRD files... We just can't see the RRD graphics (it looks like they are updated in the collector, is it normal ?), if yes shouldn't the central server know where to get it ?

- Minor: The Performance monitor doesnt show any values/graphs for the collector. But we do see it for the localhost/central server.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
-Real.
chardy Rank: White Belt
chardy
22 posts since
Nov 18, 2008
Currently Being Moderated
1. Nov 18, 2008 6:58 PM in response to: realmelancon
RE: Question about Zenoss collectors / Remote servers
Alas,

I couldn't get the Wiki entry to work. It turned into a hodgepodge of the wiki instructions, and using the search tool, tcpdump, python hackery, and extensive debugging turned on to get this all to work.

Key parts I followed in the Wiki

1. Created CNAMES
2. Opened Ports
3. zenrender needs to be turned on the remote collector
http://forums.zenoss.com/viewtopic.php?t=7257&highlight=remote+collector+zenrender

and

http://forums.zenoss.com/viewtopic.php?t=2218&highlight=remote+collector+zenrender

Make sure your $ZENHOME/bin/zenoss contains the services you want to run. Since you are talking to a centralized zenhub it stays off. Right or wrong, this is what mine looks like

C="$C zeoctl"
C="$C zopectl"
#C="$C zenhub"
C="$C zenping"
#C="$C zensyslog"
#C="$C zenstatus"
C="$C zenactions"
#C="$C zentrap"
C="$C zenmodeler"
C="$C zenrender"
C="$C zenperfsnmp"
C="$C zencommand"
C="$C zenprocess"
#C="$C zenmail"

Can't find the link now, but somewhere a bug report was opened up to make almost all the packages talk to a central zenhub(maybe posted by Chet?). As you can see, zenping is running as well, and picks up the hosts assigned to it.


4) Create the performance monitor named after the remote collector. Then forget everything else and put http://centralhubhost:8090/remote.collectordomain.com substituting the correct names in.

Then forget everything else in step 4. This is based off of http://forums.zenoss.com/viewtopic.php?t=3672&highlight=8090 and
http://forums.zenoss.com/viewtopic.php?t=7257&highlight=8090

ZenOSS uses XML-RPC when you point the renderserver to 8090, and issues a call to zenrender on the remote collector. The remote collector then reads the RRD files on it's filesystem, creates the graphic, and ships it back to the Central Hub.

Ignore Step 5

6) do this when you edit all the $ZENHOME/etc/*conf files. Make sure you keep the 8100 in the line.

7) You can use this, or what I did above..

8) Didn't have to worry about

9) From what I can tell, zenhub is putting events right into the centralhub

10) Make sure you change the collectors for the devices you have in the central hub. They need to have the remote collector as their collector.

Then you should be sitting in Happy City, with all kinds of performance metrics being checked.

Caveat. Zenpacks must live in the same place, since the centralized server issues the same command globally.

As always $ZENHOME/log/*.log is your friend and learning zendmd isn't to bad of an idea eather. If you have a question, or the ZenOSS dudes think I've posted something wrong here, let me know.
jmp242 ZenossMaster
jmp242
2,602 posts since
Mar 7, 2007
Currently Being Moderated
2. Nov 19, 2008 8:11 AM in response to: chardy
Question about Zenoss collectors / Remote servers
Have you thought about updating/appending your info to the Wiki? There
are a lot of question about distributed setups, and it sounds like this
achieves that with Core?
--
James Pulver
Information Technology Area Supervisor
LEPP Computer Group
Cornell University



chardy wrote:

 

 

Alas,

I couldn't get the Wiki entry to work. It turned into a hodgepodge of the wiki instructions, and using the search tool, tcpdump, python hackery, and extensive debugging turned on to get this all to work.

Key parts I followed in the Wiki

1. Created CNAMES
2. Opened Ports
3. zenrender needs to be turned on the remote collector
http://forums.zenoss.com/viewtopic.php?t=7257&highlight=remote+collector+zenrender

and

http://forums.zenoss.com/viewtopic.php?t=2218&highlight=remote+collector+zenrender

Make sure your ZENHOME/bin/zenoss contains the services you want to run. Since you are talking to a centralized zenhub it stays off. Right or wrong, this is what mine looks like

C="C zeoctl"
C="C zopectl"
#C="C zenhub"
C="C zenping"
#C="C zensyslog"
#C="C zenstatus"
C="C zenactions"
#C="C zentrap"
C="C zenmodeler"
C="C zenrender"
C="C zenperfsnmp"
C="C zencommand"
C="C zenprocess"
#C="C zenmail"

Can't find the link now, but somewhere a bug report was opened up to make almost all the packages talk to a central zenhub(maybe posted by Chet?). As you can see, zenping is running as well, and picks up the hosts assigned to it.


4) Create the performance monitor named after the remote collector. Then forget everything else and put http://centralhubhost:8090/remote.collectordomain.com substituting the correct names in.

Then forget everything else in step 4. This is based off of http://forums.zenoss.com/viewtopic.php?t=3672&highlight=8090 and
http://forums.zenoss.com/viewtopic.php?t=7257&highlight=8090

ZenOSS uses XML-RPC when you point the renderserver to 8090, and issues a call to zenrender on the remote collector. The remote collector then reads the RRD files on it's filesystem, creates the graphic, and ships it back to the Central Hub.

Ignore Step 5

6) do this when you edit all the ZENHOME/etc/*conf files. Make sure you keep the 8100 in the line.

7) You can use this, or what I did above..

8) Didn't have to worry about

9) From what I can tell, zenhub is putting events right into the centralhub

10) Make sure you change the collectors for the devices you have in the central hub. They need to have the remote collector as their collector.

Then you should be sitting in Happy City, with all kinds of performance metrics being checked.

Caveat. Zenpacks must live in the same place, since the centralized server issues the same command globally.

As always ZENHOME/log/*.log is your friend and learning zendmd isn't to bad of an idea eather. If you have a question, or the ZenOSS dudes think I've posted something wrong here, let me know.







_______________________________________________
zenoss-users mailing list
zenoss-users@zenoss.org
http://lists.zenoss.org/mailman/listinfo/zenoss-users

_______________________________________________
zenoss-users mailing list
zenoss-users@zenoss.org
http://lists.zenoss.org/mailman/listinfo/zenoss-users
chardy Rank: White Belt
chardy
22 posts since
Nov 18, 2008
Currently Being Moderated
3. Nov 19, 2008 11:41 AM in response to: jmp242
RE: Question about Zenoss collectors / Remote servers
If

1) I could get someone to verify this for me, since I have it working in my environment, but would like to confirm the process works

and

2) Someone gives me a quick howto on the Wiki .
realmelancon Rank: White Belt
realmelancon
30 posts since
Jun 30, 2008
Currently Being Moderated
4. Nov 19, 2008 2:25 PM in response to: chardy
RE: Question about Zenoss collectors / Remote servers
chardy, can you provide an example of your .conf files on the collector.

I have something like:



file: $ZENHOME/etc/zenperfsnmp.conf

monitor  collector.zenoss.domain
hubhost  mainserver.zenoss.domain


Thanks in advance.
-Real.
chardy Rank: White Belt
chardy
22 posts since
Nov 18, 2008
Currently Being Moderated
5. Nov 19, 2008 5:56 PM in response to: realmelancon
RE: Question about Zenoss collectors / Remote servers
All monitors that are feeding back to the central zenhub need to have the following in ther .conf file.

cat $ZENHOME/etc/zenperfsnmp.conf

monitor collector.zenoss.domain
hubhost mainserver.zenoss.domain


Exactly like yours.

The monitor line and the host name for the collector on the mainserver have to be the exact same.

What issue are you having?
Matt Ray ZenossEmployee
Matt Ray
2,289 posts since
Apr 5, 2008
Currently Being Moderated
6. Nov 20, 2008 9:48 PM in response to: chardy
Question about Zenoss collectors / Remote servers
Login to the website (with your forum credentials) and go to:
http://www.zenoss.com/community/wiki/user-contributed/

Click "add item" near the top right. Select "page" and add whatever
content you want.

At some point we'll revisit replacing the wiki, right now there's only
so many hours in the day and I'm headed out on vacation.

Thanks,
Matt Ray
Zenoss Community Manager
community.zenoss.com
mray@zenoss.com



On Nov 19, 2008, at 10:41 AM, chardy wrote:

 

 

If

1) I could get someone to verify this for me, since I have it
working in my environment, but would like to confirm the process works

and

2) Someone gives me a quick howto on the Wiki .







_______________________________________________
zenoss-users mailing list
zenoss-users@zenoss.org
http://lists.zenoss.org/mailman/listinfo/zenoss-users


_______________________________________________
zenoss-users mailing list
zenoss-users@zenoss.org
http://lists.zenoss.org/mailman/listinfo/zenoss-users
jmp242 ZenossMaster
jmp242
2,602 posts since
Mar 7, 2007
Currently Being Moderated
7. Nov 21, 2008 8:44 AM in response to: jmp242
Question about Zenoss collectors / Remote servers
Have a good vacation Matt Ray. You deserve it!
--
James Pulver
Information Technology Area Supervisor
LEPP Computer Group
Cornell University



Matt Ray wrote:

 

 

Login to the website (with your forum credentials) and go to:
http://www.zenoss.com/community/wiki/user-contributed/

Click "add item" near the top right. Select "page" and add whatever
content you want.

At some point we'll revisit replacing the wiki, right now there's only
so many hours in the day and I'm headed out on vacation.

Thanks,
Matt Ray
Zenoss Community Manager
community.zenoss.com
mray@zenoss.com



On Nov 19, 2008, at 10:41 AM, chardy wrote:

 

 

If

1) I could get someone to verify this for me, since I have it
working in my environment, but would like to confirm the process works

and

2) Someone gives me a quick howto on the Wiki .







_______________________________________________
zenoss-users mailing list
zenoss-users@zenoss.org
http://lists.zenoss.org/mailman/listinfo/zenoss-users


_______________________________________________
zenoss-users mailing list
zenoss-users@zenoss.org
http://lists.zenoss.org/mailman/listinfo/zenoss-users


_______________________________________________
zenoss-users mailing list
zenoss-users@zenoss.org
http://lists.zenoss.org/mailman/listinfo/zenoss-users
jmp242 ZenossMaster
jmp242
2,602 posts since
Mar 7, 2007
Currently Being Moderated
8. Nov 21, 2008 8:44 AM in response to: Matt Ray
Question about Zenoss collectors / Remote servers
Have a good vacation Matt Ray. You deserve it!
--
James Pulver
Information Technology Area Supervisor
LEPP Computer Group
Cornell University



Matt Ray wrote:

 

 

Login to the website (with your forum credentials) and go to:
http://www.zenoss.com/community/wiki/user-contributed/

Click "add item" near the top right. Select "page" and add whatever
content you want.

At some point we'll revisit replacing the wiki, right now there's only
so many hours in the day and I'm headed out on vacation.

Thanks,
Matt Ray
Zenoss Community Manager
community.zenoss.com
mray@zenoss.com



On Nov 19, 2008, at 10:41 AM, chardy wrote:

 

 

If

1) I could get someone to verify this for me, since I have it
working in my environment, but would like to confirm the process works

and

2) Someone gives me a quick howto on the Wiki .







_______________________________________________
zenoss-users mailing list
zenoss-users@zenoss.org
http://lists.zenoss.org/mailman/listinfo/zenoss-users


_______________________________________________
zenoss-users mailing list
zenoss-users@zenoss.org
http://lists.zenoss.org/mailman/listinfo/zenoss-users


_______________________________________________
zenoss-users mailing list
zenoss-users@zenoss.org
http://lists.zenoss.org/mailman/listinfo/zenoss-users
fdeckert Rank: Green Belt
fdeckert
103 posts since
Jul 2, 2008
Currently Being Moderated
9. Jan 7, 2009 5:12 AM in response to: jmp242
RE: Question about Zenoss collectors / Remote servers
Hi guys

This thread what extremely useful for me to install a couple of collectors, so I tried to create a first page describing the whole process.

As i'm not wiki fluent, the page I tried to create on http://www.zenoss.com/community/wiki/tips-and-tricks/ diseapeared.

so I created a first draft on my home page http://www.zenoss.com/Members/fdeckert/how-to-install-distributed-collectors/

I'll try to improve the document later on :-)
--

Florian Deckert
SopraGroup - France
chardy Rank: White Belt
chardy
22 posts since
Nov 18, 2008
Currently Being Moderated
10. Jan 7, 2009 6:05 PM in response to: fdeckert
RE: Question about Zenoss collectors / Remote servers
Of note, the zenrender process will sometimes just die. It is cron'd to restart every hour now.

Zendisc, if run via cron, will discover new devices if you have the subnet that the remote collector lives in, in the subnet area of the remote collector properties.

And for some reason, zenping/zenperfsnmp seem to be broken as far as sometimes they are trying to ping subnets that don't belong to them.


I've also been toying around with using something like syslog-ng 2.x to grab the zen logs and help us when things do go off into the grass.

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