Monitoring Clear Linux with NCPA in Nagios XI: Comprehensive Setup and Configuration Guide

Clear Linux, developed by Intel, is a lightweight, high-performance Linux distribution optimized for Intel architectures. Unlike RPM- or DEB-based systems, Clear Linux uses a stateless design and the swupd package manager, making it incompatible with standard Nagios Cross-Platform Agent (NCPA) repositories. However, you can manually install NCPA to monitor system metrics like CPU, memory, disk usage, and processes, integrating seamlessly with Nagios XI for centralized oversight.

This guide details how to install NCPA on Clear Linux and configure it for monitoring within Nagios XI, adapting to Clear Linux’s unique environment.

Prerequisites

Ensure:

• A Clear Linux system (updated with sudo swupd update) with sudo access.
• A running Nagios XI instance (latest version recommended).
• Network connectivity between Clear Linux and Nagios XI (port 5693 open).
• Basic utilities installed: curl, rpm2cpio, cpio, and python3 (Clear Linux includes Python by default).

Step 1: Install Required Tools

Clear Linux doesn’t include rpm2cpio or cpio by default. Install them:

sudo swupd bundle-add dev-utils

Verify:

rpm2cpio --version
cpio --version

Step 2: Download and Extract NCPA

Since Clear Linux doesn’t support RPM packages natively, extract the NCPA RPM manually:

1. Create a Working Directory:

mkdir -p ~/ncpa && cd ~/ncpa

2. Download the Latest-1 NCPA RPM:

curl -O https://assets.nagios.com/downloads/ncpa3/latest-1/ncpa-latest.el9.x86_64.rpm

3. Extract the RPM:

rpm2cpio ncpa-latest.el9.x86_64.rpm | cpio -idmv

Step 3: Deploy NCPA Files

Move the extracted files to their appropriate system locations:

sudo cp -r ./usr/* /usr/
sudo cp -r ./etc/* /etc/
sudo cp -r ./var/* /var/

Step 4: Configure the NCPA Token

1. Edit the Config File:

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

2. Set a Secure Token:

community_string = Str0ngT0k3n2025

Step 5: Start the NCPA Listener

Option 1: Manual Start

sudo /usr/local/ncpa/ncpa_listener &

Option 2: Create a Systemd Service

1. Create a service file:

sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/ncpa.service

2. Add:

[Unit]
Description=NCPA Listener Service
After=network.target

[Service]
Type=simple
ExecStart=/usr/local/ncpa/ncpa_listener
Restart=on-failure

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

3. Enable and start:

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable ncpa
sudo systemctl start ncpa

4. Verify:

sudo systemctl status ncpa

Step 6: Configure the Firewall

1. Add Rule:

sudo iptables -I INPUT -p tcp --dport 5693 -j ACCEPT

2. Persist the Rule:

sudo mkdir -p /etc/iptables sudo iptables-save > /etc/iptables/rules.v4

3. Verify:

sudo iptables -L -n | grep 5693

Step 7: Test NCPA Locally

1. Access the NCPA Web Interface:

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

2. Accept Certificate

3. Log In:

• Use the token (e.g., Str0ngT0k3n2025) to access the dashboard.

Step 8: Integrate with Nagios XI

1. Log into Nagios XI
2. Run the NCPA Wizard
3. Configure the Host:
   • IP Address: Clear Linux IP
   • Port: 5693
   • Token: Str0ngT0k3n2025
4. Apply Configuration
5. Verify Monitoring

Troubleshooting Tips

• NCPA Not Running:

ps aux | grep ncpa_listener
sudo systemctl status ncpa
cat /usr/local/ncpa/var/log/ncpa.log

• Port Blocked:

sudo nc -zv <ClearLinux-IP> 5693

• Nagios XI Issues:
  • Verify token and IP
  • Check Nagios log: /usr/local/nagiosxi/var/ncpa.log

Conclusion

You’ve manually installed NCPA on Clear Linux and integrated it with Nagios XI. While Clear Linux lacks official NCPA support, this workaround enables robust monitoring. For stability, maintain the systemd service and firewall persistence. Explore passive checks via NRDP or custom plugins.

Resources:

• Nagios NCPA Project
• Nagios Support Forum
• Nagios Knowledgebase