SICM How to ...

... monitor using ping

... monitor using snmp

... add a snmp template

... create an e-mail alert

... split one device across multiple menus

... monitor a frame relay device

... change the alignment of the web output

... stop the images from caching on IIS

... send multiple e-mails

... ignore invalid input values

... run multiple instances of SICM

A collection of information, tips and answers to questions to improve the operation of SICM

How to monitor using ping

1. Two methods are available for monitoring a device using ping:

   1. To use the ping functionality built into SICM, in config.xml:
      • Delete or comment out <ping_file>path\ping_file</ping_file>
      • Set <timeout>5</timeout> as appropriate
      • Set <ping_count>4</ping_count> as appropriate
   2. To use ping provided by the Operating System, in config.xml:
      • Set <ping_file>path\ping_file</ping_file> as appropriate
      • Set <timeout>5</timeout> as appropriate
      • Set <ping_count>4</ping_count> as appropriate
2. Add the devices to the target file
3. Add
      <template template_id="ping">
   </template>
   to the target file
4. Stop, then run SICM in test mode to validate
5. Start SICM
6. View the results after allowing 2 * frequency time to pass

For further information, refer to: SICM Configuration and Operation Guide

How to monitor using snmp

1. Ensure the snmp agent on the device is active. Use Getif on Win32 or net-snmp on Linux to verify this.
2. Determine what you intend to monitor. Add new templates if required.
3. Add the device to the target file
4. Stop, then run SICM in test mode to validate
5. Start SICM
6. View the results after allowing 2 * frequency time to pass

For further information, refer to: SICM Configuration and Operation Guide

How to add a snmp template

1. Determine what snmp OID you intend to monitor. Use an snmp agent on an appropriate device as well as Getif on Win32 or net-snmp on Linux to verify the OID.
2. Add new or modify a template as required. The template will include, for example:

       <metric oid="add_oid_here" data_source_type="GAUGE"
   	plot="AREA" color="00BB00">add_description_here</metric>

3. For testing, add the device to the target file
4. Stop, then run SICM in test mode to validate
5. Start SICM
6. View the results after allowing 2 * frequency time to pass

For further information, refer to: SICM Configuration and Operation Guide

How to create an e-mail alert

To send e-mail alerts when a query fails or does not meet a user defined criteria:

1. Configure <mail_server> and <mail_from> in the configuration file (config.xml)
2. Configure <interface_alert> in the target file (target.xml)
3. Optionally configure criteria in <metric_alert> in the target file (target.xml)

Note1: <interface_alert> - is triggered when the target fails to respond to a (ping, snmp or script) query. Configuration is only required for e-mail alerting.
Note2: <metric_alert>    - is triggered when a query result does not meet a criteria. Configuration is required to set the criteria.

For further information, refer to: SICM Configuration and Operation Guide

How to split one device across multiple menus

Question:

Is it possible to have the same target mentioned in different menus, using different templates and/or interfaces?
Example:

Answer:

This can be achieved by setting 3 'target_id's for the one target. The ip_address and community are the same for all 3 'target_id's:

For this, the targets file would be:

   <target target_id="Switch1r" ...>
     <target_desc>switch1 RouterConnections</target_desc>
     <menu>RouterConnections</menu>
     <template ...<interface>
     <interface_id>1</interface_id>
     ... </interface>
     </template>
   </target>
   <target target_id="Switch1f" ...>
     <target_desc>switch1 FibreConnections</target_desc>
     <menu>FiberConnections</menu>
     <template ...<interface>
     <interface_id>49</interface_id>
     ... </interface>
     <interface>
     <interface_id>50</interface_id>
     ... </interface>
     </template>
   </target>
   <target target_id="Switch1s" ...>
     <target_desc>switch1 ServerConnections</target_desc>
     <menu>ServerConnections</menu>
     <template ...<interface>
     <interface_id>10</interface_id>
     ... </interface>
     <interface>
     <interface_id>20</interface_id>
     ... </interface>
     </template>
   </target>

How to monitor a frame relay device

Question:

I need to monitor frame relay services.
Can I monitor interfaces AND subinterfaces in SICM?
Here is an example of a snmpwalk from a cisco router:

Answer:

SICM can monitor interfaces and subinterfaces.
Simply add the interface and subinterface into the <interface_id> in the targets file.
Example:

   <interface_id>4.85</interface_id>

Refer to the template "framerelay_errors" in the templates.xml file where a RFC1315 Frame Relay FECN/BECM template is configured.

How to change the alignment of the web output

Question:

Is it possible to have the website aligned in the center?

Answer:

SICM can be aligned in the browser to either left or center

How to stop the images from caching on IIS

Question:

The autorefresh doesn't seem to work correctly (I need to press F5 to get a refresh). Is there something missing in my setup?

Answer:

To stop IIS caching the rrd images (allows the images in browsers to refresh each 5 minutes)

Note: To date, this issue has only been observed in IIS

How to send multiple e-mails

To send e-mail alerts to multiple recipients, separate each e-mail address in targets.xml by a ; or , (no spaces)

   Example: <interface_alert>2:sicm@example.com;second_sicm@example.com</interface_alert>

How to ignore invalid input values

Question:

Each time a target restarts the SICM graphs show a value beyond that valid, eg: iis_web_hits returns 600+ million hits/min when IIS is restarted. Is there anyway to ignore the invalid values?

Answer:

If <input_min> and/or <input_max> are defined in the targets file, any value outside the defined range will be ignored.

For further information, refer to: SICM Configuration and Operation Guide

How to run multiple instances of SICM

Question:

Can I run multiple instances of SICM?

Answer:

Yes, multiple instances can be run. To configure this: