Monitoring Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS with NCPA in Nagios XI: A Comprehensive Guide

Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS, developed by System76, is a performance-oriented Linux distribution tailored for developers, creators, and professionals. Built upon Ubuntu 24.04, it ensures robust compatibility and security. Monitoring Pop!_OS effectively with Nagios XI using the Nagios Cross-Platform Agent (NCPA) allows proactive tracking of critical metrics such as CPU usage, memory consumption, disk space, and active processes. This guide provides a detailed walkthrough for installing and configuring NCPA v3 on Pop!_OS 24.04 and integrating it seamlessly with Nagios XI.

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

Resolve dependency issues if encountered:

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

Modify the line:

community_string = mytoken

to a secure, unique token:

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

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

Step 5: Test NCPA Interface

Open your browser and navigate to:

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

• Firewall Issues:

sudo ufw status | grep 5693

• Token mismatch:

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

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.