Nagios XI: Master Host and Service Groups

Nagios XI offers versatile tools for monitoring servers, computers, Linux machines, and more. Its intuitive Configuration Wizards simplify adding devices and setting up Hosts and Host Groups. As your monitored hosts grow, organizing them into Host Groups becomes essential for efficient management and prioritization.

Host Groups enable quick identification of critical servers, ensuring you stay alert to key infrastructure components. Leveraging Host Groups improves oversight and operational efficiency.

Creating a Host/Service group in Nagios XI

Creating a Host group is easy.

By going to the Core Configuration Manager (CCM) under the “Monitoring” tab, you can find Host and Service groups. Clicking one of them reveals a list of created groups. To add a new group, click “+ Add New.” In here, you must create a Host group Name and Alias. Notice that under the “+ Add New” button, you have the option to put in any notes or URLs. Under Assign Memberships, you can select “Manage Hosts” and select Hosts that you want in the group.

If you want to select multiple Hosts at a time, hold down the “Control (CTRL)” button on your keyboard and select your Hosts. Once done, click “Add Selected,” and you will see them show up on the right side under “Assigned.” 

To remove a Host from the assigned category, click the “X” button to remove it. If you wish to exclude a Host, you can do that by selecting the box to the left of the “X” button. This Exclude Feature helps when you have a common Service assigned to multiple Hosts. One of these Hosts may not require that common Service, so you have the option to exclude it. Towards the top, you have a “Remove All’ button which removes all the assigned Hosts that you have previously added. Once finished, click close.

Organizing Your Hosts and Host Groups 

You also have the option to add one Host group to another Host group. This could be helpful if you have a Networking Host group, and within that group, you also have a group labeled routers or switches. This is a great way to customize and organize all the most important devices in a specific group. After you have added Hosts and Host groups, you have the option to keep this new group active or keep it offline. We recommend leaving it active. When finished, click save. If you wanted to add a Service group, it would be the same process of going to CCM > Monitoring > Service Groups. 

Now once you go back to the home page, go to Details > Hostgroup, you should have a “Summary” tab. In Summary, you can see the Host group as well as the Hosts, status, and Services. This is useful if you are looking for any critical machines that need to stay online. By clicking individual Hosts, you can investigate Host Status Details and find Services, Performance Graphs, Capacity Planning, and more. You also have the option to view different Host and Service groups’ configurations, for instance, you can select Hostgroup Summary, Hostgroup Overview, or Hostgroup Grid on the home page Details. 

Faster Response, Less Downtime

We all know machines, switches, and routers can sometimes go offline, causing you downtime. Creating Host and Service groups can help organize those Hosts into groups, making it easier to see when Hosts or Services go down. With the help of alerts, you can quickly find devices that might have gone offline. This can help with is extremely helpful for troubleshooting because you can easily find the device you are looking for at a quick glance.

Get Started with Host and Services Today

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