Linux Agent and Updates

[saber]

Hi,

For those who use the Linux Agent, how do you manage to keep it up to date?

What are the best pratices to monitor a Linux server from NagiosXI? Install NRPE and its plugins via RPM? Use the Linux Agent?

Regards,
Saber

[bwallace]

NRPE is the Linux Agent.

The install method we recommend is on page 4 of the attached doc and upgrading NRPE is addressed on page 15.

Here is quick video tutorial on getting started with monitoring Linux Servers using the "Linux Server Wizard' in XI:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjlDHvNkpes

[saber]

Yes, but if we used the Linux installation script (https://assets.nagios.com/downloads/nag ... _Agent.pdf), is the upgrade process exactly the same as a standard NRPE install (so we can follow your PDF for the upgrade)?

The version shipped in the linux agent is old (2.15).. Why such an old version? Why not ship the latest one?

Thanks!

[saber]

Also, in the PDF for Remote Host Upgrades, it says "Login as the nagios user"..

However, when you try to run ./configure , you get a GCC error..

nagios@server [~/upgradenrpe/nrpe-3.0.1]# ./configure
checking for a BSD-compatible install... /usr/bin/install -c
checking what the operating system is ... linux
checking what the distribution type is ... rh
checking what init system is being used ... upstart
checking what inetd is being used ... upstart
checking for which paths to use ... default
checking for which init file to use ... rh-upstart-init
checking for which inetd files to use ... unknown
checking for gcc... no
checking for cc... no
checking for cl.exe... no
configure: error: in `/home/nagios/upgradenrpe/nrpe-3.0.1':
configure: error: no acceptable C compiler found in $PATH
See `config.log' for more details

Maybe there is a typo? Do we run that as root or as the nagios user?

[tmcdonald]

Yes, but if we used the Linux installation script (https://assets.nagios.com/downloads/nag ... _Agent.pdf), is the upgrade process exactly the same as a standard NRPE install (so we can follow your PDF for the upgrade)?

If you initially used the installer script you should be able to independently upgrade your NRPE version according to the docs, obviously skipping the post-install configuration steps. I would make a backup of your configs just in case before performing the upgrade. All the installer does is to automate the workflow a bit and install plugins (which you can also independently upgrade).

The version shipped in the linux agent is old (2.15).. Why such an old version? Why not ship the latest one?!

We consider 2.15 to be stable, and once 3.X has been out long enough we will likely update the XI installer to use it. Just needs to be used long enough to see if there are any bugs we need to squash before including it in our commercial products.

Maybe there is a typo? Do we run that as root or as the nagios user?

I would run it as root. Can you link to the doc and page number? I can't see the typo in either of the docs in this thread, though I might be missing it.

[saber]

Thanks for the answer.

Please view bwallace's attached PDF called NRPE.pdf page 16. Section "Remote Host Upgrades", it says "Login as the nagios user.."

[lmiltchev]

It should be probably "Login as root...". You can report the issue here:
https://github.com/NagiosEnterprises/nrpe/issues

[saber]

So you confirm that it should be ran as ROOT right?

Last question, is it safe to leave NRPE not updated? Even if it's running an old version like 2.12.. ?

[lmiltchev]

So you confirm that it should be ran as ROOT right?

Correct.

Last question, is it safe to leave NRPE not updated? Even if it's running an old version like 2.12.. ?

I would recommend upgrading to NRPE 3.0 as it is a lot more secure.

https://www.nagios.org/news/2016/07/nrpe-3-release/

[saber]

Thank you,

A proper upgrade should like the following?

wget https://github.com/NagiosEnterprises/nr ... 0.1.tar.gz
tar xzf 3.0.1.tar.gz
cd nrpe-3.0.1
./configure
make all
make install-daemon

Does it matter if we use NRPE behind XINETD or as a standalone app for the upgrade process?