Alerting mail link IP

[teirekos]

When an alert is arriving in our mailboxes it has the following link:
http://127.0.0.1/var/www/html/nagioslog ... UDIud0ai1Q

Can the localhost IP be changed to the "real" IP of the server so the link can actually completely serve it's purpose.

Thanx a lot.

[eloyd]

You can configure this in the administration section of NLS. Administration | Global Settings, then change the cluster hostname.

[jolson]

eloyd is correct - let us know if you have any trouble with that setting.

[teirekos]

Can I put an IP there?

[eloyd]

Yes.

[jolson]

Keep in mind that while putting an IP in that field is possible, it would be wise to use DNS if possible.

[eloyd]

As an aside, I disagree, but it depends on circumstances.

IP addresses never fail lookups. DNS addresses, by nature, require a DNS server to respond (or caches from a previous lookup). So it is possible that, while an IP address may be harder for human brains to remember or interact with, it is just as useful as a DNS name and immune from DNS injection (or cache poisining) attack, server failure, DNS name resolution issues, and so forth.

And before you say "ya, but a DNS entry is easier to change" - how often do you change the cluster name of a Nagios Log Server entity?

[jolson]

I recommend using a DNS name in this field because all setup instructions will be modified to point to the IP/DNS name in the field. This means that if setup instructions are run as-is, a single node IP will be used (creating a single point of failure). It is true that DNS lookups can fail, but I don't think that excuses the single point of failure in this case, which I see as more dangerous in the long term than a proper DNS entry. All alert emails generated will also point to a single IP.

But of course, as you noted:

it depends on circumstances.

[eloyd]

You are right about cluster names being DNS. For some reason, I was getting my topics confused and thought this was an HA discussion.

Please consider my previous disagreement retracted and yes, the cluster name should be a DNS entry, and if there are multiple servers, then it is easiest to set up as a round-robin list of servers that participate.

[jolson]

teirekos,

Let us know if you have any questions. Thanks!