Pack Catalog

Pack Catalog: Free VMware ESX Monitoring (via vCenter / vSphere) from Quest

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:06:13 GMT

Quest is now offiering their QMX VMware extension is now free for vCenter and vSphere. You do need to install the QMX Base Framework first. Go to the QMX for Quest page by clicking the Download links to get the QMX Base Framework and QMX VMware extension

Pack Catalog: Free Cisco Catalyst 2950 Series Switch Management Pack from JAXMP

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:20:06 GMT

Cisco Catalyst switch monitoring and management directly from System Center Operations Manager is a reality with the Cisco Catalyst 2950 Series Switch Management Pack. Monitor all critical components of any Cisco Catalyst 2950 Series switch including Interfaces, Memory, Processor, Fan and Power Supply.

Absolutely no CLI or WMI is used to retrieve performance values from the switch. The Rules and Monitors are Native SCOM implementations and use SNMP to collect all performance and switch health data. Once the device has been discovered in SCOM, the Management Pack takes over and performs the specific switch discovery. After discovery, a native SNMP module is used within SCOM to collect values directly from the switch. You will never configure a login and password to access the switch. You will never have to import MIB files into WMI. All access performance data collection is through SCOM.

Polling interval and thresholds can also be overridden in SCOM to provide a more tailored environment. Click the Download button to get it from the source!

Pack Catalog: System.Performance.ConsecutiveSamplesCondition

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 05:00:00 GMT

System Performance ConsecutiveSampleCondition Management Pack Sample

This is a simple Management Pack the displays the use of System.Performance.ConsecutiveSamplecCondition module with the use of Microsoft.Windows.TimedScript.PerformanceProvider to create a custom script based counter.

A class with the name of TestConsecutiveSamples.Class.Servers was created to contain all windows servers which is populated with a registry based discovery named TestConsecutiveSamples.Discovery.Servers that used the registry key Software\Microsoft to find all objects that have Microsoft software installed. This discovery is targeted to Microsoft.Windows.Server.Computer to discover all servers. This discovery can be changed to suit different environments.

A Datasource is then created using the module Microsoft.Windows.TimedScript.PerformanceProvider. A simple script is added to create the custom counter.

Const SCRIPT_NAME = "Treshold.vbs"
Const EVENTNO_SCRIPT_STARTED = 8801
Const EVENTNO_SCRIPT_ENDED = 8899
Const EVENTNO_THRESHOLD = 8802
Const EVENTNO_SUBMITTING_DATA = 8898
 
Const EVENT_LEVEL_ERROR = 1
Const EVENT_LEVEL_WARNING = 2
Const EVENT_LEVEL_INFO = 4
 
Dim sComputer, IThreshold, bDebug
Dim oAPI, objFSO, sMessage, FileCount
 
sComputer = WScript.Arguments(0)
iThreshold = WScript.Arguments(1)
bDebug = CBool(WScript.Arguments(2))
 
Set oAPI = CreateObject("MOM.ScriptAPI")
 
sMessage = "Script started with following parameters: " & VbCrLf & _
                                                            "Computer Name: " & sComputer & vbcrlf & _
                                                            "Threshold : " & iThreshold
Call LogDebugEvent(EVENTNO_SCRIPT_STARTED,sMessage)
 
Call LogDebugEvent(EVENTNO_THRESHOLD,SCRIPT_NAME & vbCr & "Threshold " & iThreshold)
Set oBag = oAPI.CreatePropertyBag ()
CALL oBag.AddValue("Threshold",iThreshold)
 
Call oAPI.AddItem(oBag)
CALL oAPI.Return(oBag)
 
Call LogDebugEvent(EVENTNO_SUBMITTING_DATA,"Submitting Threshold PropertyBag data.")
 
Call LogDebugEvent(EVENTNO_SCRIPT_ENDED,"Process Threshold script ended.")
 
Sub LogDebugEvent(EventNo,Message)
 
                    Message = VbCrLf & "Calling MP Element ID: $MPElement$" & vbcrlf & Message
                    If bDebug = True Then
                    Call oAPI.LogScriptEvent(SCRIPT_NAME,EventNo,EVENT_LEVEL_INFO,Message)
                    End If
                   
End Sub

This script takes 3 parameters.

1. TargetComputer. This is not used.

2. SetThreshold. This parameter is used to populate a property bag to simulate a a custom Counter.

3. Debug. This is a bool parameter that allows you to switch on debugging so that you can see what the script is doing.

SetThreshold and Debug are both overridable properties.

The properties of the module are set as following.

The first 6 properties are standard for most script based modules so I won’t go into these. The next 3 you can give names appropriate to the custom counter you are creating. The last property, Value is the important one. This is the value that is compared to in the ConsecutiveSamplesCondition module. Complete the rest of the Datasource as required.

I then added a monitor type called TestConsecutiveSamples.MonitorType.ConsecutiveSampleCondition and to this I added to module that I had previously created and set the properties as required. Then I added the module System.Performance.ConsecutiveSamplecCondition. The properties were set as following.

Threshold is set to the default threshold that comes from the monitor, Direction is whether the custom counter must be less or greater than the default.

2 System.ExpressionFilter’s are then added to check the number of samples and according to the number of times overthreshold is detected the state of the object will be set. The rest of the monitor type is set as required.

A monitor is then created based on the monitor type just created and targeted to the class that was created.

To test the samples you can then override the SetThreshold property to above or below the threshold property.

Pack Catalog: NetApp Management Pack for SCOM 2007 R2

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:33:02 GMT

NetApp Management pack for System Center Operations Manager 2007 R2.

The management pack contains the discovery of NetApp components as well as some availability and disk space monitoring all being done by the use of SNMP.

For detailed information on the Management Pack see the series:

SNMP Management Pack example: NetApp Management Pack for System Center Operations Manager 2007 R2 – Part 1

SNMP Management Pack Example: NetApp Management Pack for SCOM 2007 R2 part 2

SNMP Management Pack Example: NetApp Management Pack for SCOM 2007 R2 part 3

SNMP Management Pack Example: NetApp Management Pack for SCOM 2007 R2 part 4

I have tested the MP in different areas and as soon as the filers are getting bigger the more probes are being send and the heavier the workload is going to be on both sides! Although the MP is more tuned then described in this series always be careful when importing management packs in you environments especially when it is production. If available always use a test environment to be sure you understand the management pack and it’s impact! Closely monitor your environment before, during and after to be sure no problems arise.

Regards,
Oskar Landman

(the Download includes both a sealed and unsealed version)

Pack Catalog: xSNMP Management Packs – Beta Version 1.0.8 Release

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:59:57 GMT

By Kris Bash, The latest beta of the xSNMP packs are available for download. The included documentation covers recommendations for deployment and configuration as well as the details of the management packs. Additional information about performance considerations in large SNMP monitoring environments can be found in this previous post. At present, the following management packs are included in this suite, and more are currently in the works.

xSNMP Management Pack – Implements filtered discovery and monitoring of SNMP devices and interfaces that support the standard RFC1213 MIB, IF-MIB, and EtherLike-MIB. This management pack is the core of the xSNMP Suite and contains public datasources that are utilized in the other optional management packs.
xSNMP Overrides Management Pack – This unsealed management pack can be used as a container for overrides, but also provides preconfigured groups and overrides for easily controlling interface monitoring through groups of network interfaces.
xSNMP APC Managment Pack – Implements monitoring for APC Rackmount PDU, UPS, Automatic Transfer Switch, and Environmental Monitor devices.
xSNMP Brocade Management Pack – Implements chassis monitoring for Brocade Fibre-Channel switch devices (Fibre-Channel ports are monitored as network interfaces with the xSNMP MP).
xSNMP Check Point Secure Platform Management Pack – Implements module health and firewall HA failover monitoring for Check Point Secure Platform firewall devices.
xSNMP Cisco Management Pack – Implements additional monitoring for Cisco devices, primarily including chassis hardware moniotring for devices that support the EnvMon MIB, Entity-MIB, or Cisco-Stack MIB.
xSNMP Data Domain Management Pack – Implements monitoring for the performance, hardware status, and replication status of Data Domain Restorer storage appliances.
xSNMP HP ProCurve Management Pack – Implements component health monitoring for HP ProCurve switches and wireless access points.
xSNMP HP Proliant Management Pack – Implements hardware health monitoring for SNMP-enabled HP servers that support the Proliant Insight Management Agents.
xSNMP Net-SNMP Management Pack – Implements operating system monitoring for Net-SNMP agent devices, such as UNIX/Linux servers through the UCD and Host-Resources MIBs.
xSNMP Syslog Management Pack – Provides warning and critical alert generating rules that can be enabled and filtered with overrides to alert on incoming syslog messages from discovered SNMP devices.

Pack Catalog: OpsMgr Script Failure Troubleshooting MP

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 04:53:20 GMT

from Cameron Fuller, this simple MP contains views and rules to help identify and troubleshoot failing scripts in Ops Mgr 2007. Most notably, the "Script or Executable Failed to Run" errors commonly seen with discovery and monitoring scripts.

Pack Catalog: Coffee Management Pack

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:58:34 GMT

This management packs can be used to keep track of the level of coffee in left in the pot.

With this management pack, you will never run dry of, what we all know, is the most important part of a productive environment!

This is mostly made as a proof of concept, as this technique can be transferred to other monitor types. It could be expanded with other types of sensors, like a weight to check the level of coffee instead of a camera, or a thermometer to check the temperature of the coffee.

This is the very first version. It has been tested in test environments.

By default, it will trigger a warning when under 50% is left, and a Critical Alert when under 20% is left.

Pack Catalog: Dynamic Distributed Application Model Sample MP

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:32:45 GMT

From Raphael Burri, this nicely commented sample management pack demonstrates how to construct complex formulas for dynamically populated Distributed Application Model component groups in OpsMgr 2007. In Raphael's example, the population formula for the component group in the sample DAD model checks to make sure that the objects included in the component group are also a member of a group.

This was actually based on a user question in the SCC MP Development Forum. You can follow the discussion that lead to creation of this demo MP. To read the discussion click the link below

XML Help: Dist App Model with Dynamic Group with multiple membership criteria

To download the MP, click the Download button to the right.

Pack Catalog: Powershell Task in R2 Console Sample MP

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:34:07 GMT

Says Stefan: "I am not exactly a certified-OpsMgr-under-the-hood-specialist – I had the honor to be part of a workshop where Brian Wren (http://blogs.technet.com/brianwren/) revealed some OpsMgr secrets. So this post is for one part storing my gained knowledge in the Interwebz so that Google can index it and I can find it again, another part of course is to give something back to the community. So if you have suggestions for improvements or any questions, go ahead and comment on this post."

Download is attached to the tutorial. Click Download to be redirected to Stefan's tutorial and sample download

Well done Stefan!

Pack Catalog: Covestic PowerShell Tools Management Pack

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The Covestic PowerShell Tools Management Pack is useful for Systems Administrators or Support Engineers who wish to execute PowerShell tasks from the Operations Manager console. The included discoveries detect servers with PowerShell installed and using the included configuration task, a user can set the PowerShell execution policy. At a glance, you can view the servers using PowerShell and the installed version.

For servers running PowerShell, the Covestic PowerShell Tools management pack can discover the version of Microsoft PowerShell (version 1.x and 2.x). This MP provides discovery, performance collection rules and sample tasks for you to build your own PowerShell enhancements upon.

To download, click the Download button at right and register on MP homepage.

Pack Catalog: Advanced Cisco Monitoring MP

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 02:52:36 GMT

by Kris Bash, this MP provides advanced Cisco device monitoring functionality in a free management pack for Operations Manager 2007 R2. The pack includes an extensive set of rules , monitors and views listed below.

Click the Download button at right to visit Kris homepage for the MP.

More complete documentation of the management pack can be found in the zip file, but the management pack elements are as follows:

Classes

Cisco Device
Cisco Interface
Cisco Power Supply
Cisco Fan
Cisco Temperature Sensor
Cisco Memory Pool

Groups

Cisco Devices
Cisco Ethernet Interfaces
Cisco Serial Interfaces

Monitors

Cisco Device Default GW Changed Monitor:
Monitor that detects and alerts on changes to the device’s default gateway, as defined in the IP route table.
Cisco Device CPU Utilization Monitor:
Monitor that generates an alert on high CPU utilization.
Cisco Interface Status Monitor:
Monitor that generates an alert when the OperStatus for the interface is not up. Alert is only generated when AdminStatus is up.
Cisco Serial Interface Flapping Monitor:
Monitor that generates an alert when the ifResets counter for the interface increases by more than 2 in a polling cycle.
Cisco Interface Collisions Monitor:
Monitor that generates an alert when the collisions reported on an interface increase by more than 25 in a polling cycle.
Cisco Interface Utilization Monitor:
Monitor that generates an alert when the percentage of inbound or outbound utilization is above 85.
Cisco Power Supply Status:
Monitor that generates an alert when the power supply status is not ok.
Cisco Fan Status Monitor:
Monitor that generates an alert when the fan status is not ok.
Cisco Temperature Sensor Status Monitor:
Monitor that generates an alert when the temperature sensor status is not ok.
Cisco Memory Pool Utilization Monitor:
Monitor that generates an alert when the utilization of the memory pool is greater than 90 percent.

Rules

Collect Cisco CPU Utilization 5min:
Rule that collects the average CPU load over the past five minutes for performance reporting
Alert on Cisco Device Rebooted:
Rule that generates an alert when the SysUptime is less than 10 minutes, indicating a reboot
Collect Interface In Utilization:
Rule that collects the percentage of inbound interface utilization for performance reporting, calculated from the change in ifInOctets in the past polling cycle and divided by the interface speed.
Collect Interface Out Utilization:
Rule that collects the percentage of outbound interface utilization for performance reporting, calculated from the change in ifOutOctets in the past polling cycle and divided by the interface speed.
Collect Cisco Interface Collisions:
Rule that collects the number of collisions recorded for the interface in the last polling cycle for performance reporting.
Collect Cisco Memory Pool Utilization:
Rule that collects the percentage of memory pool utilization determined from the free and available bytes counters, for performance reporting
Collect Cisco Temperature Sensor Data:
Rule that collects the reported temperature value of a temperature sensor for performance reporting.

Views

Cisco Device Alerts: Alerts view
Cisco Device Performance: Performance view
Cisco Devices: State view
Cisco Fans: State view
Cisco Interfaces: State view
Cisco Memory Pools: State view
Cisco Power Supplies: State view
Cisco Temperature Sensors: State view

Pack Catalog: PKI Certificate Verification MP

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Update March 5, 2010 - Version 1.0.0.270 now available for download. (more than 400 downloads of previous version).

PKI Certificates serve to protect web sites by enabling SSL, secure cross-server communication and see many other uses.

The PKI Certificate Verification MP discovers PKI Certificates and Certificate Revocation Lists inside computers' local certificate stores. It helps preventing service interruptions caused by invalid certificates by alerting when:

- a certificate’s lifetime is about to expire
- a certificate’s lifetime has ended
- a certificate has become invalid because of a different reason
- a CRL has not been updated in a timely manner

The MP conatins a full set of inventory reports to help you audit certificates. The included guide contains detailed instructions on how to configure the MP. Click the Download button at right to download the management pack.

The PKI Certificate Verification MP was a jointly developed by Raphael Burri, Pete Zerger and Jaime Correia, specifically for release on the SystemCenterCentral.com site. Look out for a multi part article series on MP authoring using the Authoring Console by the same authors. The series uses the PKI Certificate Verification MP as a sample to explain the concepts and procedures of writing a Management Pack. Part 1 is available on the site at the link below

MP Creation Zen: Part 1 - Concepts and Application Modeling

Pack Catalog: Agent Availability (Grays not in MM)

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 02:27:15 GMT

This is a simple MP with a single monitor that is targeted against the RMS and runs a query to check for Gray Agents that are not in MM.

The alert identifies the specific agents.

Readme is included with the zip download.

All comments welcome, please post below.

Pack Catalog: Updated ReSearch This MP for SCC

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:05:43 GMT

Updated version of the ReSearch This MP by Cameron Fuller to perform searches on the SystemCenteCentral website.

Pack Catalog: Script Cook Down Sample MP

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:46:33 GMT

This is the sample MP Raphael Burri and Pete Zerger created in their OpsMgr custom workflow "cook down" presentation at the July 2009 meeting of the System Center Virtual User Group. Great way to get your hands on a simple illustration of the cook down process.

The script data source collects data in a single run that is used to facilitate a 2-state monitor and performance collection. Meeting audio/video at: http://www.systemcentercentral.com/Details/tabid/147/IndexID/21509/Default.aspx

Pack Catalog: Windows Activation License Check

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Sample MP with three monitors that appear under Windows Computer / Configuration to show the status of windows from an activation perspective.

Pack Catalog: HP EVA Performance

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 01:14:12 GMT

Alain Côté (scug.be) has written his own HP EVA management pack! This Management pack will monitor the performance of an HP EVA, the official HP Storage MP only does alerting. This Management pack is based on the evaperf.exe command and has several collection rules, diagnostic task and one monitor for the latency.

The management pack assumes evaperf.exe is in C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\EVA Performance Monitor and is configured properly.

Pack Catalog: Read SQL Table Sample MP

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 06:28:04 GMT

from Mike Eisenstein, this MP illustrates how to read data from a SQL table when working with an application that logs to SQL instead of a text-based or other traditional log

Pack Catalog: Windows Media Services (Server 2003 and 2008)

Tue, 05 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Discovery: Windows Media Services Computer Roles and Publishing Points
Compatibility: Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008
Rules and Monitors: Availability and Performance related
Tasks and Recoveries
Reports

Pack Catalog: Missing Updates MP for Essentials 2007 (SCE)

Mon, 25 May 2009 15:44:56 GMT

If you have been working with System Center Essentials, you know that there is no report/view to see updates needed but not approved. The Missing Updates MP adds a report in the Reporting space of the SCE Console to provide a list of missing updates for SCE agent-managed computers.

The MP adds a top level folder called "MIssing Updates".

http://advisec.wordpress.com/2009/05/25/ever-wanted-to-have-a-report-to-get-a-list-of-updates-that-are-not-approved-missing-updates-mp-is-now-available-to-download/