As you may know, SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) is a protocol for monitoring and managing network devices, such as routers, firewalls, switches, printers, … Besides, we also have Zabbix which is an open-source software for tracking and monitoring network devices’ statuses, operations. In this article, the configuration steps in Zabbix to monitor devices via SNMP will be discussed. The methodology is not very complex, with just 3 steps:
Step 1: Prepare the Zabbix Server for SNMP monitoring.
1. Edit the sources.list configuration file and uncomment the multiverse line.
sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list
2. Update the repository
sudo apt-get update
3. Install the required package
sudo apt-get install snmp snmp-mibs-downloader
4. Edit the snmp.conf file and comment the line MIBs.
sudo nano /etc/snmp/snmp.conf
5. Execute the command and perform the installation for the SNMP operation in Zabbix Server.
sudo download-mibs
6. Restart the Zabbix Server
sudo service zabbix-server restart
Step 2: Configure SNMP on Switch for monitoring (example: Cisco switch).
1. Enter in global configuration mode in switch
switch#conf t
2. configure SNMP-server
switch(config)#snmp-server community sw2960-4
switch(config)#snmp-server location Network_room
switch(config)#snmp-server contact TinoP-SysAdmin
Step 3: Configure host on Zabbix’s interface
1. Go to Zabbix Server web interface, click on Configuration tab -> Hosts and go to Create Host.
Host name - hostname
SNMP interfaces - ip_of_host
2. Go to Macros
{$SNMP_COMMUNITY} - hostname
3. Go to Templates
Select Templates SNMP Device, Hit the Add button, then Update
Then you have to wait about 1 hour until the properties of templates are fully updated. At that moment, the SNMP icon should be green like this:
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Here are some other examples of enabling SNMP on other devices (Step 2)
A. On ESXi host
1. Go to SSH on ESXi host
2. Set the SNMP community string
esxcli system snmp set --communities YOUR_STRING
3. Enable the SNMP service
esxcli system snmp set --enable true
4. Add necessary firewall rules
esxcli network firewall ruleset set --ruleset-id snmp --allowed-all true
5. Enable the added firewall rule
esxcli network firewall ruleset set --ruleset-id snmp --enabled true
6. Restart the SNMP daemon
/etc/init.d/snmpd restart
B. On Catalyst Switch 500
C. On NAS Synology device
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References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zabbix
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple_Network_Management_Protocol
https://serenity-networks.com/how-to-enable-snmp-on-esxi-5-5-5-6-for-remote-monitoring/
https://tylermade.net/2017/04/28/how-to-enable-snmp-monitoring-for-vmware-esxi-6-06-5/
http://www.oodlestechnologies.com/blogs/Configuration-of-Zabbix-Server-to-monitor-in-SNMP-device
Happy monitoring ^^
* This one is inside a series of Design, Configure and Operate the IT devices, you can find other posts here:
Part1: Network design and BoM (Bill of Material)
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