For years, Nagios dashboards have been the foundation of monitoring visibility, helping teams make informed decisions at a glance. Now, that experience has evolved even further. XI 2026 introduces up-to-date, customizable control centers built for modern infrastructure demands.

A Smarter Way to Visualize Data

At the heart of Smart Dashboards lies one goal: turning complex data into clear insight.
Every dashboard can be tailored to highlight the metrics and systems that matter most, with flexible layouts and a growing library of powerful dashlets.

Whether tracking uptime across distributed systems, comparing host performance, or visualizing alert patterns, Smart Dashboards make it effortless to understand the state of your network at a glance.

Smart Dashboards help reduce the time between detection and action by making system health obvious at first glance.

Introducing the New Dashlets

Smart Dashboards launch alongside a suite of new and improved dashlets, each built to deliver faster insights, cleaner visuals, and greater interactivity.

• Graph Dashlet – Visualize performance data over time, ideal for trend analysis.
• Bar Chart Dashlet – Compare hosts or services side by side for fast context.
• Gauge Dashlet – Monitor thresholds and utilization through an easy-to-read gauge.
• Pie Chart Dashlet – Display percentages and proportional data for quick breakdowns.
• Statistic Dashlet – Highlight key figures such as counts, totals, or averages.
• Text Dashlet – Add notes, context, or documentation directly to your dashboards.
• Treemap Dashlet – Understand hierarchical relationships and health status instantly.
• URL Dashlet – Embed external reports, internal tools, or live data sources.
• Alert Heatmap Dashlet – Identify recurring alerts and visualize problem frequency patterns over time.

Each dashlet is crafted to improve clarity and engagement, giving administrators the ability to design dashboards that are as informative as they are intuitive.

Enhanced Customization and Collaboration

Beyond the visual improvements, Nagios XI 2026 introduces new features that make Smart Dashboards more versatile and collaborative than ever:

• Global Dashboard Setting – Enable team-wide dashboards for unified visibility across departments and roles.
• Dashboard Wizards – Rapidly create and configure dashboards, supporting both Smart and Legacy types for a seamless experience.
• Custom Dashboard Icons and Colors – In the Neptune Theme, users can personalize icons and adjust color palettes for consistency and readability.
• Updated Dashboard Menu – Easily navigate between Smart and Legacy Dashboards across both the Modern and Neptune themes.

These additions make Smart Dashboards a shared monitoring experience rather than a personal view, empowering teams to coordinate, communicate, and respond faster to emerging issues.

Smart Dashboards and Legacy Compatibility

While Smart Dashboards represent the future of visualization in Nagios XI, Legacy Dashboards remain fully supported. This ensures that longtime users can continue relying on their existing workflows while exploring the new Smart Dashboard framework at their own pace. Legacy Dashboards still provide the classic layout and functionality that Nagios XI veterans trust, while Smart Dashboards introduce the next generation of interactivity, customization, and performance. Together, they offer a seamless bridge between past reliability and future innovation.

Why Smart Dashboards Matter

The introduction of Smart Dashboards isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about efficiency and insight. In environments where rapid detection and resolution are critical, visual clarity can make the difference between proactive management and reactive firefighting. By combining intuitive layouts and global visibility, Smart Dashboards give teams a centralized, intelligent command center. The result is faster response times, clearer communication, and a more connected view of system health across the enterprise.

Nagios XI 2026 doesn’t just display data; it helps you understand it, prioritize it, and act on it faster.

The Future of Monitoring Visualization

From new dashlets and collaborative features to extensive customization, while still supporting legacy systems, this release sets a new standard for dashboards. Smart Dashboards bring together everything Nagios is known for: reliability, clarity, and control, all in a modern, intuitive interface.

Resources

If you are interested in using any of these great new dashboards and dashlets, below is a link to documentation to help get you started.

Understanding and Using Dashboards in Nagios XI 2026

You can also check out this video to learn more about creating and managing Smart Dashboards:

This guide will take you through key network monitoring insights and point you to the right Nagios documentation and video tutorials to help you obtain them.

Whether you’re monitoring, troubleshooting, or staying ahead of potential issues, you’ll find the tools and resources here:

The High Cost of Downtime: Why Predictive Monitoring Is Now Essential

Imagine if your IT system could warn you about issues before they turn into big problems. That’s what predictive analytics helps you do. Predictive analytics will analyze data trends to spot warning signs early, giving you a head start on fixing issues.

How Nagios Helps:

Nagios XI uses smart alerting that prioritizes the most critical issues, looking at historical data to help predict future outages and IT problems. With the right alerts in place, your team can focus on fixing real issues instead of getting bogged down by false alarms or minor glitches. Predictive analytics can also be used for capacity planning.

➤ Resources to Implement:

Navigating Complexity: Monitoring Across Hybrid and Multi-Cloud Environments

Many companies today have a mix of cloud services and local servers. Without a single view, it’s easy to miss outages or slowdowns.

How Nagios Helps:

Nagios XI gives you one dashboard to monitor everything. Physical servers, cloud platforms, network gear, and others. With a single customizable dashboard, you get a complete picture and can catch issues before they become big problems.

➤ The Nagios Documentation to Implement:

Bridging the Gap: Why IT Teams Combine Prometheus with Nagios

Many teams use Prometheus to gather metrics, but they still rely on Nagios for alerts and infrastructure checks. Merging these capabilities helps eliminate blind spots and simplifies monitoring across your entire environment.

How Nagios Helps:

Thanks to Nagios XI’s new Prometheus Monitoring Wizard, you can easily pull metrics from Prometheus into Nagios. No complicated scripts needed. Just click, set up with the wizard, and start monitoring.

➤ The Nagios Documentation to Implement:

Observability Without the Noise: Accelerating Troubleshooting at Scale

Looking at logs or metrics alone can slow you down. When you bring logs and performance data together, troubleshooting becomes much easier.

How Nagios Helps:

Nagios Log Server works hand-in-hand with Nagios XI to bring logs and metrics into one place. Finding the root cause is quicker and easier.

➤ The Nagios Documentation to Implement:

Self-Healing Infrastructure: Meeting the Demands of Always-On IT

Manual fixes can take a lot of time. Automation allows your systems to react instantly when problems happen, reducing downtime.

How Nagios Helps:

Nagios XI’s event handlers can run scripts automatically when issues are detected, helping your environment heal itself without waiting for someone to step in.

➤ The Nagios Documentation to Implement:

Stay Ahead with Nagios

Keeping your IT environment resilient, efficient, and secure might seem difficult, but with the right tools and guidance, it can be simplified. Nagios documentation provides all the resources you need to implement smarter monitoring strategies, from predictive analytics and automation to capacity planning and alerting.

Have questions or want to see it in action? We’re here to help! Contact sales@nagios.com or book a demo.

Extra Tip: Finding the Right Nagios Documentation

We recently revamped the Nagios Documentation page to make it easier for you to find exactly what you need. First, select your solution or project, then use filters to access the most relevant guides, videos, and docs.

If you don’t find what you need there, check out Nagios Support.

Nagios Documentation & Guides

➤ We recently revamped all of our documentation, providing you with accurate, easy-to-understand instructions and helpful tips for using Nagios. These Nagios docs will guide you through the basics, help you get started, and support you in learning more about Nagios tools.

Nagios Documentation

A new comprehensive documentation site replacing the legacy Support Knowledgebase. Here, you’ll find guides for commercial solutions and open-source projects with step-by-step tutorials, technical documentation, and best practices.

Nagios Library

Library is a central place for detailed Nagios training docs, how-to guides, articles on the latest industry insights, and real-life stories about using Nagios:

Admin Guides

Looking for step-by-step instructions? These guides walk you through installation, configuration, and advanced setup:

Nagios Support Options

➤ Support options are designed to provide both quick answers and in-depth assistance. Nagios offers these resources with every license.

Nagios Customer Success Managers

If you have a Nagios license, you can contact a Nagios Customer Success Manager (CSM). CSMs can help with a wide variety of Nagios-related information. They can help answer basic questions about Nagios, get you in contact with the right support, as well as help you renew or buy a new license.

To contact a Nagios CSM, email csm@nagios.com.

Nagios Support Plans

Guaranteed one-business-day response from Nagios Technicians for support tickets (up to 10 per year), with the option to purchase additional support plans as needed:

Nagios Answer Hub

Find answers to frequently asked questions and product-specific help:

Nagios Support Website

The Nagios Support makes it easy to find what you need, with quick access to the Knowledge Base, Library, Support Forum, and product-specific resource pages:

Nagios Video Resources

➤ Prefer to learn visually? Our video resources walk through installation, setup, Nagios training, and more.

Nagios YouTube Channel

Explore our video tutorials, product demos, and best practices all in one place:

Nagios Webinars

Want deeper insights? Nagios Webinars offer regular sessions covering best practices, use cases, and expert tips:

Nagios Community Resources

➤ Access years of collective experience, along with support options and answers to common questions.

Nagios Support Forum

The Nagios Support Forum is an ideal place to get quick answers to “how-to” questions. Ask questions, find answers, and contribute to active discussions:

Nagios Exchange

Browse thousands of community-created plugins, add-ons, and integrations, or share your own projects with the Nagios Community.

Where to Go Next

➤ If you’re still looking for more resources, Nagios offers free one-on-one sessions with a Nagios Technician—plus free trials to help you get started.

Personalized Demo

See Nagios in action, explore key features, and discover how Nagios fits your infrastructure:

Download a Free Trial

Get a free, 30-day trial of any Nagios Enterprise Solution to try it out yourself:

Quickstart Session

Get your instance up and running, discuss your environment, and receive tailored configuration help:

There’s no single way to get started with Nagios. Some like to dig into the documentation, while others prefer more hands-on Nagios training, such as a product walkthrough or demo. However you like to learn, there’s a resource to match your style.

Have Questions? Reach Out to Us

Reach out anytime to sales@nagios.com if you have questions or need support. We’re here to help you get the most out of Nagios.

Helpful Extras to Check Out

Nagios’ Social Media

Get the latest updates and stay in the loop:

If you prefer watching a video on the installation process, you can find that below.

1. Download the CSP Package

Step 1.1: To find the CSP package, go to any browser and enter nagios.org.

Step 1.2: Down below, you can find a “Download” button that you can click.

2. Unzip and Extract

Step 2.1: Once downloaded, you will need to unzip and extract the folder by right-clicking the folder and extracting it into another folder.

Step 2.2: In the folder, you can find the following:

• “README”, “CHANGES”, and “SLICENSE” text files, which answer some basic questions, show changelogs, and give you the promo code for Nagios XI.
• An installation guide, the most recent CSP-XX.ova, which we will use to install XI.
• A folder labeled “PARTS”, where you can find all parts for Nagios Core and all plugins, as well as XI tar files.
• In the “EXTRAS” folder, you can find some more plugins and config files.
• Finally, the “A-Team” folder is a look at some of the fun times our company had through the years.

3. Open the OVA File and Finish Installation

There are many different ways to install XI. We will go over the easiest way: using the OVA file.

Step 3.1: Open the OVA file using VMware, ESXi, or vSphere.

Step 3.2: After opening, you can rename the virtual machine and select a storage path.

Step 3.3: After you have imported, make sure the network adapter is “Bridged” and then start the virtual machine.

Step 3.4: Once everything is set up, you will see an IP address listed under Nagios XI. You also have a username and password, which we recommend changing for the local host machine. After entering the IP address into a browser, there will be some settings that can be configured, such as language, time zone, etc.

Step 3.5: Once you have completed that information, you will have the option to enter a license. Then you will create a password for Nagios XI.

Step 3.6: When you finish, you will be able to log in with the credentials that you have made and dive into Nagios XI.

If you encounter any issues, there are plenty of video tutorials that you can view on our YouTube Channel.

Prerequisites

Ensure you have:

• A Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS system with sudo privileges
• An operational Nagios XI server
• Network connectivity between Pop!_OS and Nagios XI (Port 5693 open)
• Stable internet access for downloading required packages

Step 1: Install NCPA Using DEB Package

Since Pop!_OS is Ubuntu-based, the DEB package method is recommended:

cd /tmp
wget https://assets.nagios.com/downloads/ncpa3/ncpa-latest.amd64.deb
sudo dpkg -i ncpa-latest.amd64.deb

cd /tmp
wget https://assets.nagios.com/downloads/ncpa3/ncpa-latest.amd64.deb
sudo dpkg -i ncpa-latest.amd64.deb

Resolve dependency issues if encountered:

sudo apt-get install -f

sudo apt-get install -f

Step 2: Configure NCPA Token

NCPA requires an authentication token (community string):

sudo nano /usr/local/ncpa/etc/ncpa.cfg

sudo nano /usr/local/ncpa/etc/ncpa.cfg

Modify the line:

community_string = mytoken

community_string = mytoken

to a secure, unique token:

community_string = Str0ngT0k3n2025

community_string = Str0ngT0k3n2025

Save the file and exit (Ctrl+O, Enter, Ctrl+X).

Step 3: Restart NCPA Service

Apply the new configuration:

sudo systemctl restart ncpa
sudo systemctl status ncpa

sudo systemctl restart ncpa
sudo systemctl status ncpa

Ensure the service shows as active (running).

Step 4: Configure Firewall

Allow NCPA communication on port 5693:

sudo ufw allow 5693/tcp
sudo ufw reload

sudo ufw allow 5693/tcp
sudo ufw reload

Step 5: Test NCPA Interface

Open your browser and navigate to:

https://<PopOS-IP>:5693/

https://<PopOS-IP>:5693/

Accept SSL warnings (self-signed certificate). Login using your token (Str0ngT0k3n2025) to access the NCPA dashboard.

Step 6: Integrate Pop!_OS Host into Nagios XI

1. Log into Nagios XI.
2. Navigate to Configure > Configuration Wizards.
3. Select NCPA from the wizard list.
4. Input the following details:
   • Host IP: Your Pop!_OS machine’s IP
   • Token: Str0ngT0k3n2025
   • Port: 5693
5. Select desired metrics for monitoring (CPU, Memory, Disk, Processes).
6. Complete the wizard and apply the configuration.

Verify the host addition by navigating to Monitoring > Hosts.

Troubleshooting

• NCPA not running:

sudo systemctl restart ncpa
sudo systemctl status ncpa

sudo systemctl restart ncpa
sudo systemctl status ncpa

• Firewall Issues:

sudo ufw status | grep 5693

sudo ufw status | grep 5693

• Token mismatch:

sudo nano /usr/local/ncpa/etc/ncpa.cfg

sudo nano /usr/local/ncpa/etc/ncpa.cfg

Confirm your token matches the Nagios XI configuration.

• Checking logs:

cat /usr/local/ncpa/var/log/ncpa.log

cat /usr/local/ncpa/var/log/ncpa.log

Conclusion

You have successfully configured NCPA on Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS and integrated it with Nagios XI. This setup ensures proactive monitoring and quick troubleshooting of system performance and health issues. For more advanced capabilities, explore passive checks and custom plugins available through the Nagios Knowledgebase and the NCPA documentation.

Step 1: Add a Log Source in Nagios Log Server

1. Log in to Nagios Log Server.
2. Click + Add Log Source.
3. Select Linux as the source type.

Step 2: Run the Auto-Configuration Script on openSUSE

1. Copy the script command from the Linux Source Setup page.
2. On the openSUSE server, run:

curl -sS -O http://<NagiosLogServerIP>/nagioslogserver/scripts/setup-linux.sh sudo bash setup-linux.sh -s <NagiosLogServerIP> -p 5544

This sets up rsyslog to forward logs to the Log Server.

Step 3: Verify Logs are Received

• Return to the setup page in Nagios Log Server.
• Enter the openSUSE server’s IP in the Verify Incoming Logs section.
• Or run a host query from Dashboards > Search:

host.ip:<openSUSE-IP>

• To test manually, run:

logger "This is a test log entry"

Step 4: (Optional) Manual Configuration

1.Check the rsyslog work directory:

ls -d /var/lib/rsyslog || ls -d /var/spool/rsyslog

2.Manually create or edit the forwarding config:

sudo vi /etc/rsyslog.d/99-nagioslogserver.conf

Add the following line:

*.* @<NagiosLogServerIP>:5544;RSYSLOG_SyslogProtocol23Format

3.Restart rsyslog:

sudo systemctl restart rsyslog.service

Step 5: Link to Nagios XI

• Utilize queries and alert conditions in Nagios Log Server to trigger alerts in Nagios XI via API or event handlers.
• Integrate log monitoring with service checks for a comprehensive system overview.

Final Notes

• Logs are forwarded over port 5544; ensure openSUSE’s firewall allows outbound traffic on this port.
• The + Add Log Source feature in Nagios Log Server allows you to add additional log sources as needed.
• Regularly review logs in Nagios Log Server to detect system anomalies and security threats.

Conclusion

By following this guide, you can successfully monitor and analyze openSUSE 15 logs with Nagios Log Server 2024R2 in Nagios XI. This setup ensures proactive issue detection and enhances overall system observability. For best results, maintain regular log audits and optimize alert configurations to capture critical events.

Before starting, ensure you have:

• A macOS system running macOS 12 Monterey or later on Apple Silicon.
• Administrator privileges (sudo access).
• An active Nagios Core or Nagios XI server to receive monitoring data.
• Basic familiarity with the terminal and command-line tools.

Step 1: Verify SNMP Availability

macOS includes a built-in SNMP daemon (snmpd), but it’s not enabled by default. You don’t need to install it separately—only configure and activate it.

1.1 Check SNMP Version
Open Terminal and verify that SNMP tools are present:

snmpd --version

snmpd --version

You should see output like NET-SNMP version: 5.x.x. If not, macOS Monterey includes it natively, and we’ll proceed to configure it.

Step 2: Configure SNMP on macOS

The SNMP configuration file is located at /etc/snmp/snmpd.conf, but it may not exist yet. We’ll create and edit it.

2.1 Create or Edit the SNMP Configuration File
Run the following command to edit the configuration file:

sudo mkdir -p /etc/snmp
sudo nano /etc/snmp/snmpd.conf

sudo mkdir -p /etc/snmp
sudo nano /etc/snmp/snmpd.conf

2.2 Add Basic Configuration
Paste the following minimal configuration into /etc/snmp/snmpd.conf:

# Set a read-only community string (replace "public" with a secure value)
rocommunity Str0ngC0mmunity!

# Restrict access to your Nagios server's IP
rocommunity Str0ngC0mmunity! <Nagios_IP_address>

# Define system information
sysLocation "Your Location"
sysContact "Your Name <your.email@example.com>"
sysName "YourMacHostname"

# Set a read-only community string (replace "public" with a secure value)
rocommunity Str0ngC0mmunity!

# Restrict access to your Nagios server's IP
rocommunity Str0ngC0mmunity! <Nagios_IP_address>

# Define system information
sysLocation "Your Location"
sysContact "Your Name <your.email@example.com>"
sysName "YourMacHostname"

• Replace Str0ngC0mmunity! with a secure community string (like a password for SNMP).
• Replace <Nagios_IP_address> with the IP of your Nagios server.
• Customize sysLocation, sysContact, and sysName as needed.

Save and exit (Ctrl+X, then Y, then Enter).

2.3 Set Permissions
Ensure the file is readable by the SNMP daemon:

sudo chmod 600 /etc/snmp/snmpd.conf

sudo chmod 600 /etc/snmp/snmpd.conf

Step 3: Enable SNMP Service

macOS uses launchd to manage services, including snmpd. The SNMP daemon is pre-installed but disabled by default.

3.1 Locate the SNMP Daemon
The SNMP service is controlled by /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/org.net-snmp.snmpd.plist. You don’t need to create this file—it’s already present.

3.2 Enable the SNMP Service
Load and start the service:

sudo launchctl list | grep snmpd

sudo launchctl list | grep snmpd

You should see org.net-snmp.snmpd listed with a PID (process ID).

Step 4: Test SNMP Locally

4.1 Test SNMP Queries
Use the snmpwalk command to verify that SNMP is working locally:

snmpwalk -v2c -c Str0ngC0mmunity! localhost

snmpwalk -v2c -c Str0ngC0mmunity! localhost

• Replace Str0ngC0mmunity! with your community string.
• You should see a list of SNMP data (e.g., system info). If you get a timeout or error, check your configuration and ensure snmpd is running.

4.2 Check Listening Port
SNMP uses UDP port 161. Verify it’s listening:

sudo netstat -an | grep 161

sudo netstat -an | grep 161

You should see output like udp4 0 0 *.161 *.*.

Step 5: Allow SNMP Through Firewall (Optional)

If macOS Monterey’s firewall is enabled, you need to allow SNMP traffic.

5.1 Open Firewall Settings
Go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Firewall, unlock it, and click Firewall Options.

5.2 Add SNMP Exception
Add /usr/sbin/snmpd to the list of allowed applications, or manually allow UDP port 161 via Terminal:

sudo /usr/libexec/ApplicationFirewall/socketfilterfw --add /usr/sbin/snmpd

sudo /usr/libexec/ApplicationFirewall/socketfilterfw --add /usr/sbin/snmpd

Step 6: Test from Nagios Server

From your Nagios server, test connectivity:

snmpwalk -v2c -c Str0ngC0mmunity! <your_mac_ip>

snmpwalk -v2c -c Str0ngC0mmunity! <your_mac_ip>

Replace Str0ngC0mmunity! with your community string and <your_mac_ip> with your macOS system’s IP.

If successful, you’ll see SNMP data returned.

Step 7: Add SNMP to Nagios

On your Nagios XI web GUI:

• Navigate to Configure > Configuration Wizards.

• Select SNMP (or Network Device if no specific SNMP wizard exists).
• Enter the following:
• IP Address: Your macOS system’s IP.

• Community String: Str0ngC0mmunity! (or your custom value).
• Follow the wizard to select metrics (e.g., CPU, memory, disk usage).

• Click Finish to complete the setup.

For Nagios Core, edit your configuration files (e.g., /usr/local/nagios/etc/objects/) manually:

define host {
    use             generic-host
    host_name       macos-monterey
    alias           MacOS Monterey
    address         <your_mac_ip>
}

define service {
    use                 generic-service
    host_name           macos-monterey
    service_description CPU Usage
    check_command       check_snmp!-C Str0ngC0mmunity! -o .1.3.6.1.4.1.2021.11.10.0
}

define host {
    use             generic-host
    host_name       macos-monterey
    alias           MacOS Monterey
    address         <your_mac_ip>
}

define service {
    use                 generic-service
    host_name           macos-monterey
    service_description CPU Usage
    check_command       check_snmp!-C Str0ngC0mmunity! -o .1.3.6.1.4.1.2021.11.10.0
}

Adjust OIDs (Object Identifiers) for specific metrics as needed.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you’ve successfully enabled and configured SNMP on macOS Monterey for Apple Silicon. Your Nagios monitoring server can now collect system metrics via SNMP in real time.

For further support, refer to:

• Nagios Support Forum: https://support.nagios.com/forum/
• Nagios Knowledge Base: https://support.nagios.com/kb/
• macOS SNMP Documentation: man snmpd in Terminal

Step 1: Install SNMP on openSUSE 15

As root, run:

sudo zypper install net-snmp net-snmp-tools

sudo zypper install net-snmp net-snmp-tools

Step 2: Configure SNMP v2c Access

1. Backup the default configuration:

sudo cp /etc/snmp/snmpd.conf /etc/snmp/snmpd.bak

sudo cp /etc/snmp/snmpd.conf /etc/snmp/snmpd.bak

2. Replace the configuration with:

 echo 'rocommunity Str0ngC0mmunity <Nagios-XI-IP>' | sudo tee /etc/snmp/snmpd.conf

 echo 'rocommunity Str0ngC0mmunity <Nagios-XI-IP>' | sudo tee /etc/snmp/snmpd.conf

3. Restart SNMP:

sudo systemctl restart snmpd.service

sudo systemctl restart snmpd.service

Step 3: Open Firewall Port 161/UDP

sudo firewall-cmd --zone=public --add-port=161/udp
sudo firewall-cmd --zone=public --add-port=161/udp --permanent

sudo firewall-cmd --zone=public --add-port=161/udp
sudo firewall-cmd --zone=public --add-port=161/udp --permanent

Step 4: Enable SNMP on Boot

sudo systemctl enable snmpd.service

sudo systemctl enable snmpd.service

Step 5: Test SNMP Connectivity

From your Nagios XI server:

cd /usr/local/nagios/libexec
./check_snmp_storage.pl -H <openSUSE-IP> -C Str0ngC0mmunity -m "^/$" -w 2 -c 4

cd /usr/local/nagios/libexec
./check_snmp_storage.pl -H <openSUSE-IP> -C Str0ngC0mmunity -m "^/$" -w 2 -c 4

You should receive disk usage output. If not, review SNMP and firewall settings.

Step 6: Use the Linux SNMP Wizard in Nagios XI

1. Go to Configure > Run a Configuration Wizard > Linux SNMP.
2. Enter the openSUSE server’s IP and SNMP community string.
3. Select the metrics you want (disk usage, processes, etc.).
4. Adjust thresholds as needed.
5. Finish the wizard to apply the configuration.

Final Notes

• openSUSE uses the same net-snmp tools as other Linux distributions.
• Port 161/UDP must be open to receive SNMP queries.
• SNMP v3 setup is also supported if stronger security is required.

Conclusion

By configuring SNMP on openSUSE 15 and integrating it with Nagios XI, you gain detailed visibility into system performance without installing additional agents. Regularly reviewing Nagios XI dashboards and refining SNMP configurations ensures optimal monitoring and proactive issue resolution.

Step 1: Install NCPA on openSUSE 15

Option 1: Using Nagios Repository (Recommended)

• Add the Nagios repository for SUSE 15+ (available from https://repo.nagios.com).
• Run:

 sudo zypper install ncpa

 sudo zypper install ncpa

Option 2: Manual RPM Installation

• Run the following:

cd /tmp wget https://assets.nagios.com/downloads/ncpa3/ncpa-<version>.rpm sudo rpm -ivh ncpa-<version>.rpm

cd /tmp wget https://assets.nagios.com/downloads/ncpa3/ncpa-<version>.rpm sudo rpm -ivh ncpa-<version>.rpm

Step 2: Configure NCPA

1. Edit the configuration file:

sudo vi /usr/local/ncpa/etc/ncpa.cfg

sudo vi /usr/local/ncpa/etc/ncpa.cfg

2. Set a secure token by modifying:

community_string = Str0ngT0k3n

community_string = Str0ngT0k3n

3. Save and exit (:wq).

Step 3: Restart the NCPA Service

sudo systemctl restart ncpa

sudo systemctl restart ncpa

Step 4: Allow NCPA Port Through the Firewall

sudo firewall-cmd --zone=public --add-port=5693/tcp
sudo firewall-cmd --zone=public --add-port=5693/tcp --permanent

sudo firewall-cmd --zone=public --add-port=5693/tcp
sudo firewall-cmd --zone=public --add-port=5693/tcp --permanent

Step 5: Verify the NCPA Web Interface

1. Open a web browser and go to:

https://<openSUSE-IP>:5693

https://<openSUSE-IP>:5693

2. Accept any SSL warnings.

3. Log in using your configured token.

Step 6: Add the Host in Nagios XI

1. Log in to Nagios XI.
2. Navigate to Configure > Monitoring Wizard > NCPA.
3. Enter your openSUSE IP and token.
4. Select services (CPU, memory, etc.) to monitor.
5. Complete the wizard to apply monitoring.

Final Tip

• NCPA listens on TCP port 5693.
• Use a strong token to prevent unauthorized access.
• The NCPA web interface includes built-in help and endpoint documentation.

Conclusion

By following this guide, you can successfully monitor openSUSE 15 with Nagios XI using NCPA. This setup allows you to track essential system metrics efficiently and receive alerts on performance issues. Regularly check Nagios XI dashboards to ensure accurate data collection and troubleshoot any connectivity issues by reviewing firewall rules and service statuses.

Before starting, ensure you have:

• A macOS system running macOS 12 Monterey or later on Apple Silicon.
• Administrator privileges (sudo access).
• An active Nagios Core or Nagios XI server to receive monitoring data.
• Basic familiarity with the Terminal and command-line tools.

Step 1: Install Development Tools and Dependencies

Since we’re building NCPA from source, you’ll need Homebrew (a package manager) and some required dependencies.

1.1 Install Homebrew (if not already installed)

Open Terminal and run:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

On Apple Silicon, Homebrew installs to /opt/homebrew/. Add it to your PATH if prompted (instructions will appear after installation).

1.2 Install Required Dependencies

Install Python 3, OpenSSL, and Git using Homebrew:

brew install python3 openssl git

This installs Python 3.x (e.g., 3.11 or later), OpenSSL for secure communication, and Git for cloning the NCPA repository.

1.3 Verify Python Installation

Check the version to ensure it’s installed:

python3 --version

Step 2: Download NCPA Source Code

Nagios doesn’t provide a direct macOS package for NCPA, so we’ll clone it from GitHub.

2.1 Clone the NCPA Repository

Run the following command to clone the NCPA source code:

git clone https://github.com/NagiosEnterprises/ncpa.git
cd ncpa

This downloads the latest NCPA source (e.g., version 3.1.2 or newer if updated post-March 2025).

2.2 Optional: Check for Updates

If you want a specific version, use:

git checkout v3.1.2  # replace with the desired version tag

Otherwise, the master branch (default) is fine for the latest stable version.

Step 3: Build NCPA from Source

3.1 Install Python Dependencies

Before building, install the Python dependencies listed in the requirements.txt file:

pip3 install -r requirements.txt

This installs libraries like psutil, bottle, and other required modules.

3.2 Run the Build Script

Build the NCPA binary for macOS:

python3 build.py --platform macos

The --platform macos flag ensures macOS-specific adjustments. On Apple Silicon, Python and dependencies should automatically target ARM64. If there’s an issue with architecture, you can explicitly specify:

arch -arm64 python3 build.py --platform macos

3.3 Locate the Output

After a successful build, the executable and supporting files will be in a build subdirectory (e.g., build/ncpa). The folder name may vary based on the platform (e.g., build/ncpa-macos-arm64).

Step 4: Install NCPA

Now, move the built files to a standard location and set up the agent.

4.1 Copy Files to Installation Directory

To maintain consistency, copy the NCPA files to /usr/local/ncpa:

sudo mkdir -p /usr/local/ncpa
sudo cp -r build/ncpa/* /usr/local/ncpa/

Make sure to adjust the build/ncpa path if needed, based on your output.

4.2 Set Permissions

Ensure the files are executable:

sudo chmod +x /usr/local/ncpa/ncpa

Step 5: Configure NCPA

5.1 Edit the Configuration File

The main configuration file is usually located at /usr/local/ncpa/etc/ncpa.cfg. Open it with nano:

sudo nano /usr/local/ncpa/etc/ncpa.cfg

In the configuration file, set the API token (used for secure communication):

[general]
community_string = Str0ngT0k3n!

Restrict access to your Nagios server’s IP by updating the allowed_hosts section:

[general]
allowed_hosts = <Nagios_IP_address>

Save and exit (Ctrl+X, then Y to confirm, and Enter).

5.2 Test the Configuration

You can now test the NCPA agent:

sudo /usr/local/ncpa/ncpa

If it runs without errors (e.g., binding to port 5693), press Ctrl+C to stop it.

Step 6: Set Up NCPA as a Service

To ensure NCPA starts automatically on boot, you’ll need to create a launchd service file.

6.1 Create the Service File

Create the com.nagios.ncpa.plist file:

sudo nano /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.nagios.ncpa.plist

Paste the following content into the file:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>Label</key>
    <string>com.nagios.ncpa</string>
    <key>ProgramArguments</key>
    <array>
        <string>/usr/local/ncpa/ncpa</string>
    </array>
    <key>RunAtLoad</key>
    <true/>
    <key>KeepAlive</key>
    <true/>
</dict>
</plist>

6.2 Load and Start the Service

Now, load and start the service with:

sudo launchctl load /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.nagios.ncpa.plist
sudo launchctl start com.nagios.ncpa

6.3 Verify Services

Check that NCPA is running by listing the services:

sudo launchctl list | grep ncpa

You should see the service listed along with its process IDs (PIDs).

Step 7: Verify NCPA Installation

7.1 Check the Web Interface

Open a browser and visit:

https://localhost:5693

Log in using the API token you set earlier (Str0ngT0k3n! or your custom value).

7.2 Test from Nagios Server

From your Nagios server, run:

curl -k https://<your_mac_ip>:5693/api

Step 8: Add NCPA to Nagios

On your Nagios XI web GUI:

• Navigate to Configuration Wizards.

• Select Mac OS X.

• Enter the IP address of your macOS system and the API token you created in the configuration file.
• Follow the wizard to select the system metrics you want to monitor.

• Click Finish to complete the setup.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you have successfully installed the Nagios Cross-Platform Agent (NCPA) on macOS Monterey for Apple Silicon. Your Nagios monitoring server will now be able to collect system metrics and monitor your macOS system in real time.

For further support, refer to:

• Nagios Support Forum: https://support.nagios.com/forum/
• Nagios Knowledge Base: https://support.nagios.com/kb/