my Nagios show me server's Total Processes is critical

[swen.zhao]

since my server have been installed, and monitored by nagios. nagios always tell me Total Processes's status is critical. see the following
Total Processes CRITICAL 10-17-2013 11:37:43 231d 1h 36m 12s 3/3 PROCS CRITICAL: 176 processes

after I added two cpu cores to this server, Total Processes's status still is critical.

Total Processes CRITICAL 10-17-2013 11:37:43 231d 1h 40m 43s 3/3 PROCS CRITICAL: 278 processes

but processes is changed to 278.
so I am wonder how to Calculator Total Processes if my server have 6 cpu cores.

thanks!

[gshergill]

Hi swen.zhao,

If I'm not mistaken, you are using the plugin "check_procs"?

This plugin checks the number of processes running on your server, and warns you if the value is above your preset warning and critical thresholds.

Could you post the service where you define the "Total Processes" for the host in question?

Thank you.

Kind Regards,

Gary Shergill

[slansing]

As Gary mentioned, this is a check against processes, not processors. I believe you may be using the wrong check for what you are looking for.

[swen.zhao]

thanks for your all replies.
this is my config:

define service{
use generic-service
host_name 172.17.10.1
service_description Total Processes
check_command check_nrpe!check_total_procs

how to solve my problem?

[gshergill]

Hi swen.zhao,

On the server "172.17.10.1" could you post the nrpe.cfg please?

Remember to remove any sensitive information.

Thank you.

Kind Regards,

Gary Shergill

[abrist]

To add to what gshergill asked: You will most likely need to increase the thresholds for the check by altering the arguments for the check_total_procs command in the remote host's nrpe.cfg. Post the nrpe.cfg when you get a chance. . . .

[swen.zhao]

thanks, I know why nagios always display critical. client's nrpe.cfg

command[check_total_procs]=/usr/local/nagios/libexec/check_procs -w 150 -c 200

warning value is 150,
critical value is 200.

by the way, I want to know: my server has 4 cpu cores(this server is a vmware virtual server) and run php (<value name="max_children">60</value>), so how many processes is normal? how to Calculator?

a few days ago, I do a test, a clean RHEL 6.3 system.
1 cpu core , processes is 76
2 cpu core, processes is 85
3 cpu core, processes is 95.

so I think add a cpu core, system will increase 10 processes. so if server has 4 cores, it should has 116 cores. than add php proecess(60), it should be 176? but my server now has 215 processes. why?

thanks !

[abrist]

but my server now has 215 processes. why?

Because processes fork. Crons run. Sometimes a plugin runs another process. Etc. In short - very few servers should always have the same number of processes running.

[swen.zhao]

yesterday, I discussed the same question with my Colleague(a software developer), he told me that processes of server is seldom chanced. only when you stop some services or virus. process will not increase or decrease even if CPU usage is 100%(I find it's true, one of my server cpu usage is 100%,but processes is always keeping 206). so I think don't need to monitor this value. it is not important! do you think so?

[tmcdonald]

Even on a system with nothing installed, your process count will change throughout the day.

Adding more to the system (such as nagios, mail server, dns, etc) will increase not only the amount of processes, but also how much that number fluctuates. Adding more cores really should not have an effect on how many processes are running at a given time, only how quickly they can be run in parallel as well as decreasing the overall load. I would be inclined to believe that the ~10 increase in processes per core increase is a coincidence. Or possibly, the system is scheduling more tasks because it knows it can handle them, but I cannot verify this.

As for whether or not it's important, that is up to your needs as an organization. I personally think it is important to keep a tab on zombie processes, possible intrusions, or code that has run awry and started forking infinitely.