Cheshire Cat Computing

Hey, Not sure if I put this in under the correct topic....

I am attempting to use the mrtg-pnsclinet.pl with the following config.

# Defaults

routers.cgi*Mode[_]: generic
PathAdd: c:\mrtg\rrdtool
LogFormat: rrdtool
workdir: c:\mrtg/wwwroot
###############################################
# Targets

# CPU
Target[CRIRAS-cpu]: 'mrtg-pnsclient.pl -H 192.168.1.1 -v CPULOAD -l 5 -l 15'
Title[CRIRAS-cpu]: RAS CPU Activity
MaxBytes[CRIRAS-cpu]: 100
PageTop[CRIRAS-cpu]: null
LegendI[CRIRAS-cpu]: 5min :
LegendO[CRIRAS-cpu]: 15min:
Options[CRIRAS-cpu]: gauge growright
Ylegend[CRIRAS-cpu]: percent
ShortLegend[CRIRAS-cpu]: %
Legend1[CRIRAS-cpu]: 5minute average
Legend2[CRIRAS-cpu]: 15minute average
Legend3[CRIRAS-cpu]: Peak 5min average
Legend4[CRIRAS-cpu]: Peak 15min average
SetEnv[CRIRAS-cpu]: MRTG_INT_DESCR="CPU"
routers.cgi*Options[CRIRAS-cpu]: fixunit nototal nopercent
routers.cgi*Icon[CRIRAS-cpu]: chip-sm.gif

And when I attempt to run the script manually I recieve the following error:
ERROR: Target[ras-cpu][_IN_] ''mrtg-pnsclient.pl -H 192.168.1.1 -
v CPULOAD -l 5 -l 15'' evaluated to 'mrtg-pnsclient.pl -H 192.168.1.1 -v CPULOAD -l 5 -l 15' instead of a number

Perhaps I have put my mrtg-pnsclient.pl in the incorrect spot?

Oh, and if I run mrtg-pnsclient.pl manuall, I do recieve a numerical value back....

Any hints would be appreciated!
-Don
mccallum@nemsys.com

You need to use BACKQUOTES (`) in the MRTG Target definition, not normal quotes (') so that MRTG knows it is an external function call. Also, you may need to put the full pathname of the mrtg-pnsclient.pl script, if it is not in the path.

_________________
Steve Shipway
UNIX Systems, ITSS, University of Auckland, NZ
Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning... -- Isaiah 5:11

Thanks for the quick reply Steve!

Here is the new test2.cfg
---------------------------------------------
Interval: 1
PathAdd: c:\mrtg\rrdtool
LogFormat: rrdtool
WithPeak[_]: ymw
workdir: c:\mrtg/wwwroot
Options[_]: bits,growright
routers.cgi*Mode[_]: generic

# Targets

# CPU
Target[Nemras-cpu]: `c:\mrtg\mrtg\bin\mrtg-pnsclient.pl -H 192.168.2.227 -v CPULOAD -l 5 -l 15`
Title[Nemras-cpu]: Nemras CPU Activity
MaxBytes[Nemras-cpu]: 100
PageTop[Nemras-cpu]: null
LegendI[Nemras-cpu]: 5min :
LegendO[Nemras-cpu]: 15min:
Options[Nemras-cpu]: gauge growright
Ylegend[Nemras-cpu]: percent
ShortLegend[Nemras-cpu]: %
Legend1[Nemras-cpu]: 5minute average
Legend2[Nemras-cpu]: 15minute average
Legend3[Nemras-cpu]: Peak 5min average
Legend4[Nemras-cpu]: Peak 15min average
SetEnv[Nemras-cpu]: MRTG_INT_DESCR="CPU"
routers.cgi*Options[Nemras-cpu]: fixunit nototal nopercent
routers.cgi*Icon[Nemras-cpu]: chip-sm.gif
-------------------------------------------------------------------
When I run from the command line I recieve
-------------------------------------------------------------------
C:\mrtg\mrtg\bin>\mrtg\perl\bin\perl.exe mrtg test2.cfg
WARNING: Problem with External get 'c:\mrtg\mrtg\bin\mrtg-pnsclient.pl -H 192.16
8.2.227 -v CPULOAD -l 5 -l 15':
Expected a Number for 'in' but got 'U'
-------------------------------------------------------------
However, perhaps this is the issue? When I execute the mrtg-pnsclient.pl directly I recieve a mixed result return, including the version number...
Also, the target machine has dual CPU's, hence the two 6%..
--------------------------------------------------------------
C:\mrtg\mrtg\bin>c:\mrtg\perl\bin\perl.exe c:\mrtg\mrtg\bin\mrtg-pnsclient.pl -H
192.168.2.227 -v CPULOAD -l 5 -l 15
6
6

Netsaint agent version 1.0.8.4
---------------------------------------------------------------

Actually, I think I just found the error. When I ran this from command line but pointed to a machine by name that did not resolve I recieve this error:
---------------------------------------------------
C:\mrtg\mrtg\bin>c:\mrtg\perl\bin\perl.exe c:\mrtg\mrtg\bin\mrtg-pnsclient.pl -H
fs1 -v CPULOAD -l 5 -l 15
U
U

Unable to resolve fs1: Unknown error
---------------------------------------------------

Those are the "U"'s mentioned in my earlier post.... it looks like the -H 192.168.2.227 is perhaps not being parsed properly?

Thanks again for the assistance!

I would normally have expected that, if it works as expected from the command line, then it will work as expected from within MRTG. I'm a bit confused as to why it wouldn't work.

Obviously we use it here extensively with no problems.

It will return U (unknown) if for any reason it is unable to connect or get a sensible reply. The reason for this will be in line 4 of the output.

Since you get the expected response when running directly from the command line, but U when run from within MRTG, maybe it is a problem with permissions, or Perl libraries? Maybe (as this is windows) you need to call it as 'perl.exe mrtg-pnsclient.pl .....' (with full path names) within MRTG?

So far, I am unable to duplicate this. Anyone else have this problem?

_________________
Steve Shipway
UNIX Systems, ITSS, University of Auckland, NZ
Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning... -- Isaiah 5:11

Great idea Steve.

Changing my:
Target[nemras]:`mrtg-pnsclient.pl -H nemras -V CPU -l 5 -l 15`
to:
Target[nemras]:`c:\mrtg\perl\bin\perl.exe c:\mrtg\mrtg\bin\mrtg-pnsclient.pl -H nemras -V CPU -l 5 -l 15`

Did the trick for CPU polling. However for some reason none of the other counters are working yet.... but I will work on those. No errors now running perl mrtg test4.cfg.

Thanks for the help Steve!

p.s. What version of the pnsclient to you recommend on Windows boxes?

Here, we use PNS v2.0.1.0, so I know this one definitely works as expected. I wouldn't use v1.x (I think its incompatible anyway). There may be a later version than 2.0.1.0 now, I haven't checked -- if it works, then probably it's a good idea to use it.

The mrtg-pnsclient.pl script doesn't support all of the new commands that the later pnsclients support. Many are inappropriate in any case (ie, ungraphable).

_________________
Steve Shipway
UNIX Systems, ITSS, University of Auckland, NZ
Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning... -- Isaiah 5:11