How to Install and Monitor SUSE 11 with Nagios Cross-Platform Agent (NCPA)

Keeping IT systems running smoothly requires constant monitoring, and that’s where Nagios Cross-Platform Agent (NCPA) comes in.

Whether you’re managing a single server or an entire network, NCPA provides real-time insights into system performance, helping you catch issues before they escalate.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to install and configure NCPA on SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) 11, ensuring seamless monitoring and optimal system health.

Active vs Passive Monitoring

NCPA supports two monitoring methods:

• Active Monitoring: Nagios actively checks system metrics on a schedule.
• Passive Monitoring: NCPA submits check results to Nagios when triggered.

Recommendation: Active monitoring is preferred for most cases, as it allows Nagios to control check scheduling.

Prerequisites

Before starting the installation, ensure the following:

A system running SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11
Root privileges
Internet access or a way to transfer the NCPA package

Verify Your SUSE Version

Run the following command to check your system version:

cat /etc/os-release

Example Output:

NAME="SUSE Linux Enterprise Server"
VERSION="11"
VERSION_ID="11"

Step 1: Download the NCPA Package

To download the latest NCPA package for SUSE 11, visit the Nagios NCPA Downloads Page or use wget:

wget https://repo.nagios.com/nagios/7/ncpa-latest.sles11.x86_64.rpm

Step 2: Install NCPA

Method 1: Standard Installation

Update the system packages

zypper refresh
zypper update

Install dependencies (if required)

zypper install python python-xml

Install the NCPA package

zypper install ./ncpa-latest.sles11.x86_64.rpm

Method 2: Silent Installation (For automated deployments)

rpm -ivh ncpa-latest.sles11.x86_64.rpm --quiet

Step 3: Configure NCPA

After installation, configure NCPA to allow Nagios to monitor the system.

Edit the NCPA configuration file

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

Set the API token for authentication (replace "your_secure_token" with a strong password)

[api]
community_string = your_secure_token

Enable passive checks if required

[passive]
sleep = 300

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

Step 4: Start and Enable NCPA Service

Run the following commands to start NCPA and enable it at boot:

service ncpa_listener start
service ncpa_passive start
chkconfig ncpa_listener on
chkconfig ncpa_passive on

Verify the services are running:

service ncpa_listener status
service ncpa_passive status

Step 5: Configure SUSE Firewall (if enabled)

If the firewall is active, allow traffic on port 5693 (default NCPA port):

iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 5693 -j ACCEPT
iptables-save > /etc/sysconfig/iptables

For firewalld (if installed):

firewall-cmd --add-port=5693/tcp --permanent
firewall-cmd --reload

Step 6: Test NCPA Installation

To verify NCPA is running, use the following command from your Nagios server:

curl -k "https://<SUSE_IP>:5693/api/system?token=your_secure_token"

If NCPA is running correctly, you will receive JSON output with system information.

Alternatively, open a web browser and navigate to:

https://<SUSE_IP>:5693/

Log in using the API token you configured earlier.

Step 7: Configure Nagios to Monitor SUSE 11

Now that you have NCPA installed and configured on your SUSE 11 system, it’s time to integrate it with Nagios for real-time monitoring. Nagios Core or Nagios XI can use NCPA to check system metrics such as CPU usage, memory utilization, disk space, and running processes.

From your Nagios GUIs home page click on Run a Wizard.

Next, pick the NCPA wizard.

Enter your SUSE machines IP address in the address bar and leave the port as 5693. The token will be whatever you changed it to in the ncpa.cfg file. For System select SLES, Hit Next

Now you can change any monitoring settings depending on your needs, or click finish with default settings.

Verifying Monitoring Setup

After completing the configuration, Nagios should display the monitored SUSE 11 host and its services:

1. Log in to the Nagios web interface.
2. Navigate to Host Status and verify that the SUSE 11 system appears.
3. Check Service Status to confirm monitoring is active.

Troubleshooting Tips

Conclusion

By following this guide, you have successfully installed and configured Nagios Cross-Platform Agent (NCPA) on SUSE 11. Your system is now actively monitored, allowing you to detect performance issues before they become critical. For additional support, refer to Nagios Support Forum: https://support.nagios.com/forum/ or the Nagios Knowledge Base: https://support.nagios.com/kb/