Set Up User Roles and Permissions in Nagios XI in 4 Easy Steps

Introduction

Managing user roles and permissions in Nagios XI is crucial for maintaining security, ensuring proper access control, and streamlining administrative tasks. By assigning appropriate roles, organizations can limit access to sensitive settings while providing users with the necessary permissions to monitor and manage their systems.

This guide will walk you through the process of creating and configuring user roles and permissions in Nagios XI.

Understanding User Roles in Nagios XI

Nagios XI provides Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), which allows administrators to assign specific permissions to users based on their responsibilities. There are three key user types in Nagios XI:

• Administrators – Have full control over Nagios XI, including system settings, user management, and monitoring configurations.
• Users – Can view and manage assigned hosts, services, and dashboards, depending on their permissions.
• Guests (Read-Only Users) – Can only view system status without making any changes.

Creating and Managing Users

Step 1: Access the User Management Section

1. Log in to your Nagios XI Web Interface.
2. Navigate to Admin > Manage Users.
3. Click Add New User to create a new user account.

Step 2: Enter User Details

1. Provide the username, password, and email address.
2. Select the User Type (Admin, User, or Guest).
3. Click Submit to create the user.

Configuring User Permissions

Step 3: Assigning User Roles

Once a user is created, you can assign specific roles and permissions:

1. Navigate to Admin > Manage Users.
2. Click Edit next to the desired user.
3. Under the Security Settings, assign the appropriate role:
   • Administrator: Grants full access.
   • Regular User: Limited access based on specific permissions.
   • Read-Only User: Only allows viewing of monitoring data.
4. Click Update User to save changes.

Step 4: Defining Custom Permissions

For non-admin users, you can define more granular permissions:

1. Under the user’s settings, go to the Account Information section.
2. Click Modify User Preferences.
3. Enable or disable specific access rights, such as:
   • Viewing or managing hosts and services.
   • Access to reports and dashboards.
   • Ability to acknowledge alerts and schedule downtime.
   • Permission to edit configurations.
4. Save the changes.

Assigning Users to Monitoring Objects

To limit user access to specific hosts and services:

1. Go to Configure > CCM (Core Config Manager).
2. Select Hosts or Services.
3. Edit the object and add the user to the Monitoring Contact list.
4. Click Save and Apply Configuration.

This ensures that users can only view or manage the assigned monitoring objects.

Testing User Permissions

After configuring roles and permissions:

1. Log in as the user to verify their access.
2. Check if they can view or modify only the allowed objects.
3. Adjust settings if necessary to fine-tune access control.

Best Practices for User Role Management

• Use the Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP) – Only grant necessary permissions to users.
• Regularly Review User Roles – Ensure users have appropriate access as roles change.
• Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) – Adds an extra layer of security for administrators.
• Audit User Activity – Use logs to monitor changes made by users.

Conclusion

Properly setting up user roles and permissions in Nagios XI ensures that users have access to the necessary tools while maintaining security and compliance. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can effectively manage user access and safeguard your monitoring environment.

To learn more about Nagios XI, visit our Nagios XI Resources page.

Happy monitoring!