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Host Name Links

10 messages in this thread

list Vernon Everett · Thu, 11 Dec 2014 15:27:06 +0800 ·
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

-- 
"Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory"
- General George Patton
list Martin Flemming · Thu, 11 Dec 2014 09:01:37 +0100 (CET) ·
quoted from Vernon Everett
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
list Tim McCloskey · Thu, 11 Dec 2014 17:36:57 +0000 ·
Some years back I used the notes directory method.  Created an 'index.php' file and symlinked $hostname.php to that file.  From there I hooked into a simple mysql database to get details for the host.
It was a cheesy hack, but serves it's purpose.  

From: Xymon [xymon-bounces at xymon.com] on behalf of Thomas Eckert [user-2a86d6cd6326@xymon.invalid]
Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2014 4:48 AM
To: Xymon MailingList
Subject: Re: [Xymon] Host Name Links

Alternatively you an use `HOSTDOCURL` or the `—docurl`-option of `xymongen` (depending on your version of xymon) to point to an external web server.

I’ve posted an article with some background here:
http://www.it-eckert.com/blog/2014/how-to-integrate-xymon-with-a-documentation-system/

Regards
Thomas
quoted from Martin Flemming

On 11 Dec 2014, at 09:01, Martin Flemming <user-f286aaa49a76@xymon.invalid<mailto:user-f286aaa49a76@xymon.invalid>> 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
list Roland Soderstrom · Thu, 11 Dec 2014 21:53:49 +0000 ·
Is it the noteseditor you are referring to?
https://wiki.xymonton.org/doku.php/addons:hobbitnotes

A bit tricky to install all the perl dependencies on Solaris, but I have my notes if you need them.


-      Roland
quoted from Vernon Everett


From: Xymon [mailto:xymon-bounces at xymon.com] On Behalf Of Vernon Everett
Sent: Thursday, 11 December 2014 6:27 PM
To: Xymon mailinglist
Subject: [Xymon] Host Name Links

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

--
"Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory"
- General George Patton
list Vernon Everett · Fri, 12 Dec 2014 16:04:21 +0800 ·
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 <user-f286aaa49a76@xymon.invalid>
quoted from Roland Soderstrom
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

-- 
"Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory"
- General George Patton
list Vernon Everett · Fri, 12 Dec 2014 16:06:34 +0800 ·
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 <user-b3f8dacb72c8@xymon.invalid>
quoted from Vernon Everett
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 <user-f286aaa49a76@xymon.invalid>
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

--
"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
list Roland Soderstrom · Sun, 14 Dec 2014 20:25:04 +0000 ·
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.
quoted from Vernon Everett


-      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 <user-b3f8dacb72c8@xymon.invalid<mailto:user-b3f8dacb72c8@xymon.invalid>> 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 <user-f286aaa49a76@xymon.invalid<mailto:user-f286aaa49a76@xymon.invalid>> 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


--
"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
list Vernon Everett · Mon, 15 Dec 2014 06:57:31 +0800 ·
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 <user-0cec9512a49f@xymon.invalid>
quoted from Roland Soderstrom
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 <user-b3f8dacb72c8@xymon.invalid>
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 <user-f286aaa49a76@xymon.invalid>
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


--

"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
list Ralph Mitchell · Mon, 15 Dec 2014 00:17:39 -0500 ·
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 <user-b3f8dacb72c8@xymon.invalid>
quoted from Vernon Everett
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 <
user-0cec9512a49f@xymon.invalid> 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 <user-b3f8dacb72c8@xymon.invalid>
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 <user-f286aaa49a76@xymon.invalid>
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


--

"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

list John Thurston · Mon, 15 Dec 2014 08:15:05 -0900 ·
quoted from Ralph Mitchell
On 12/14/2014 8:17 PM, Ralph Mitchell wrote:
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.
We source our "notes" in our organization's wiki, but I have a scheduled job which extracts the content to static HTML pages on the Xymon server. This gives me the, authentication, content-creation, versioning, and auditing tools of the wiki, without imposing a full-time external dependency on my monitoring application.

I use an HREF tag in the DESCR field to link to the "notes". I can use common "notes" pages for all the systems in a display-group by embedding the link in a .default. line of the hosts.cfg.
DESCR:"Production Servers for IRIS:<a href=/xymon/notes/IRIS-Prod target=Notes >Recovery Notes</a>"

-- 
    Do things because you should, not just because you can.

John Thurston    XXX-XXX-XXXX
user-ce4d79d99bab@xymon.invalid
Enterprise Technology Services
Department of Administration
State of Alaska