The Old Joel on Software Forum: Part 4 (of 5) - Configurable system monitoring

Configurable system monitoring

I'm looking for a configurable framework to collect, collate and deliver monitoring information to desktop PCs in one single view - At the moment we have a handful of apps that poll databases, check for files etc all running on various peoples desktops which makes it a nightmare to see if there are any problems or add additional monitoring.

What I'd like to be able to do is implement my own individual monitoring processes that sanity check data, poll services to verify they are responding correctly (and not just that the process is up) etc running on various distributed servers.

The monitoring process then sends the state information with a red/green light status to a central server that updates client running on each team member's desktop so each person in the team has the same overall view of the system state. The client then pops up with alert messages as required so people don't have to eyeball it any more than necessary.

Does anything like this exist or do I have to build it myself?

mutabled
Monday, March 22, 2004

Forgot to mention, this is all on Windows so no Unix solutions please.

mutabled
Monday, March 22, 2004

mutable,

as long as you deem it necessary for the monitor software be custom written and inhouse you might consider the following options:

> check for files etc all running on various peoples desktops which makes it a nightmare to see if there are any problems or add additional monitoring.

.Net apps distributed using the web can download updates, with the proper coding new updates will update upon application invocation.

> monitoring

I have been running DTS jobs or window services. I am looking for advice here too.

Looking for secure job
Monday, March 22, 2004

http://bigsister.graeff.com/ ?

Monday, March 22, 2004

Isn't this what Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) is for?

John Topley (www.johntopley.com)
Monday, March 22, 2004

www.zabbix.com

It's pretty good, and has many of the features of 'real' monitoring systems (which will cost you10 million an install ;-) ).

fw
Monday, March 22, 2004

http://www.opalis.com

Christopher Wells
Monday, March 22, 2004

You should also probably look into SNMP-based products. SNMP has been around for quite a while, and most devices on your network probably have support for it: printers, routers, even your Windows boxes...

joev
Monday, March 22, 2004