[Xymon] Host Name Links

[Ralph Mitchell]

At a previous $EMPLOYER I pointed the HOSTDOCURL to a MediaWiki.  SysAdmins
and a select few others had write access so they could add notes, docs and
links for the Ops to reference.

I never got around to setting up templates, but it shouldn't be too hard to
make up a standard template for any given type of server, with links out to
as-built docs, CMDB, start/stop procedures, common faults/fixes, trouble
ticket systems, oncall phone numbers, SysAdmin notes, and all the usual
FAQ-type things.

If you have custom ext scripts, there's no reason not to embed into the
report a link to the wiki page that has the diagnosis/fix instructions.  It
would be one click away from the detailed report page in Xymon and it would
also be handed to any alert script.

The MediaWiki page layout syntax isn't too hard to get into, but any kind
of wiki would do.  There's no real need for Xymon to reinvent that
particular wheel.


Ralph Mitchell



On Sun, Dec 14, 2014 at 5:57 PM, Vernon Everett <everett.vernon at gmail.com>
wrote:
>
> To be really effective, an as-built document should contain enough
> information to rebuild a server or host in the event of its untimely
> demise. As a freelance consultant, I also expect (actually it's more a hope
> or a wish) that as-built documents will contain enough information to allow
> me to make reasonably accurate assumptions regarding capacity, capability
> and general application installation and requirement details.
>
> But, as you said, it means different things to different people.
> Which is why I thought I would float the idea for discussion.
>
> I do like your idea of using the host name link for general instructions.
> Great idea.
> At another client, all our alerts to service desk, used SCRIPT, and sent
> custom emails, explaining the problem, who/what might be impacted, and what
> steps to follow.
> And the email would often be different based on a yellow or red alert.
> This made it really simple for newby service desk individuals, because
> they required no knowledge or understanding of how the systems were
> interrelated or who the user-base was.
>
> Regards
> Vernon
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On 15 December 2014 at 04:25, Roland Soderstrom <
> Rolands at logicaltech.com.au> wrote:
>>
>>  And what do this as-built info say?
>>
>> It sounds like a very good idea, but I think there is a lot of different
>> ideas on the content of the as-built info.
>>
>> Is this as-built, a client generated “info” test, as apposed to server
>> generated “info”? (which is VERY basic)
>>
>>
>>
>> We use the notes page to tell operators what to do on certain alarms.
>>
>> RED on disk is severity 1 call
>>
>> Yellow is just a severity 2 call.
>>
>> Something else is next business day etc etc.
>>
>>
>>
>> -      Roland
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* Xymon [mailto:xymon-bounces at xymon.com] *On Behalf Of *Vernon
>> Everett
>> *Sent:* Friday, 12 December 2014 7:07 PM
>> *To:* Xymon mailinglist
>> *Subject:* Re: [Xymon] Host Name Links
>>
>>
>>
>> Hi all
>>
>>
>>
>> Taking this idea to the next step, is it worth thinking about adding this
>> as a feature to future versions of Xymon.
>>
>> Have a host-tag in asbuilt:m:1
>>
>> Update the as-built monthly on the 1st.
>>
>> Or asbuilt:w:6 to update weekly on a Sunday.
>>
>>
>>
>> As part of the client scripts, we can have another script that generates
>> a basic as-built docco and sends it to the server to update
>> /usr/lib/xymon/server/www/notes/node1.html
>>
>> The script could be pretty simple to cobble together, and I am sure there
>> will be heaps of contributions from the community out there for almost
>> every supported version.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thoughts?
>>
>>
>>
>> On 12 December 2014 at 16:04, Vernon Everett <everett.vernon at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Martyn (and the others that replied)
>>
>>
>>
>> This is exactly what I was looking for.
>>
>> This /usr/lib/xymon/server/www/notes/node1.html trick is what I wanted.
>>
>> I have a script that runs on each Solaris node just after the monthly
>> explorer, and it creates an HTML based as-built document.
>>
>> The as-built isn't perfect, but it's good enough to satisfy management.
>>
>> And they are pretty impressed with the host-name link on Xymon taking
>> them to an auto-updated as-built.
>>
>> Changes to the system are automajically reflected in the as-built on the
>> 1st of every month.
>>
>>
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> Vernon
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 11 December 2014 at 16:01, Martin Flemming <martin.flemming at desy.de>
>> wrote:
>>
>> On Thu, 11 Dec 2014, Vernon Everett wrote:
>>
>> Hi all
>>
>> Some time back, there was a feature, hwereby the host name could become a
>> link, perhaps to an as-built, or a CMDB entry for the host. I used it once
>> before at another customer.
>> I can't recall how to do this, and I can't seem to find the notes on how.
>> Can anybody refresh my memory?
>>
>> Regards
>> Vernon
>>
>>
>>
>> Hi !
>>
>> You need only create an html-file with the node-name
>>
>> e.g.
>>
>> /usr/lib/xymon/server/www/notes/node1.html
>>
>> cheers,
>>         martin
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>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> "Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory"
>>
>> - General George Patton
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> "Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory"
>>
>> - General George Patton
>>
>
>
> --
> "Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory"
> - General George Patton
>
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