43.6 Using an SNMP Management Console

You can monitor the MTA from the Management and Monitoring component of Novell ZENworks for Servers or another SNMP management and monitoring program. When properly configured, the MTA sends SNMP traps to network management consoles for display along with other SNMP monitored programs.

Although the MTA is SNMP-enabled by default, the server where the MTA is installed must be properly configured to support SNMP, and the MTA object in eDirectory must be properly configured as well. To set up SNMP services for your server, complete the following tasks:

43.6.1 Setting Up SNMP Services for the MTA

Select the instructions for the platform where the MTA runs:

Linux: Setting Up SNMP Services for the MTA

The Linux MTA is compatible with NET-SNMP. An older version of SNMP called UCD-SNMP cannot be used with the Linux MTA. NET-SNMP comes standard with OES Linux, but it does not come standard with SLES 9. If you are using SLES 9, you must update to NET-SNMP in order to use SNMP to monitor the Linux MTA.

  1. Make sure you are logged in as root.

  2. If NET-SNMP is not already set up on your Linux server, use the following command to configure SNMP:

    snmpconf -g basic_setup

    The snmpconf command creates the snmpd.conf file in one of the following directories, depending on your version of Linux:

    /usr/share/snmp
/usr/local/share/snmp
~/.snmp

  3. Locate the snmpd.conf file on your Linux server.

  4. In a text editor, open the snmpd.conf file and add the following line:

    dlmod Gwsnmp /opt/novell/groupwise/agents/lib/libgwsnmp.so

  5. Save the snmpd.conf file and exit the text editor.

  6. Restart the SNMP daemon (snmpd) to put the changes into effect.

    IMPORTANT:Make sure that the SNMP daemon always starts before the MTA starts.

  7. Skip to Section 43.6.2, Copying and Compiling the MTA MIB File.

Windows: Setting Up SNMP Services for the MTA

For Windows, the SNMP Service is usually not included during the initial operating system installation. The SNMP Service can be easily added at any time. To add or configure the SNMP Service, you must be logged in as a member of the Administrator group.

To set up SNMP services for the Windows MTA, complete the following tasks:

Installing SNMP Support on Windows Server 2008

  1. On the Control Panel, click Programs and Features.

  2. Click Turn Windows features on or off to open the Server Manager.

  3. Click Features > Add Features.

  4. In the Features list, expand SNMP Services, then select SNMP Service.

  5. Click Next, then click Install.

  6. When the installation is finished, click Close, then exit the Server Manager.

  7. Skip to Installing GroupWise Agent SNMP Support.

Installing SNMP Support on Windows Server 2003

  1. Click Start > Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs.

  2. Click Add/Remove Windows Components.

  3. Select Management and Monitoring Tools.

  4. Click Details, then select Simple Network Management Protocol.

  5. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the SNMP Trap Service.

  6. Continue with Installing GroupWise Agent SNMP Support.

Installing GroupWise Agent SNMP Support

The GroupWise Agent Installation program includes an option for installing SNMP support. However, if the server where you installed the agents did not yet have SNMP set up, that installation option was not available. Now that you have set up SNMP, you can install GroupWise agent SNMP support.

At the Windows server where you want to install the GroupWise agent SNMP support:

  1. Run setup.exe at the root of the downloaded GroupWise 2012 software image.

  2. Click Install GroupWise System, click Yes to accept the License Agreement, then click Next to perform a standard installation.

  3. Select Install individual components, deselect GroupWise Administration, then click Next.

  4. On the Installation Path page, browse to and select the path where the agent software is installed, then select Install and Configure SNMP for GroupWise Agents.

  5. Continue through the rest of the installation process as prompted by the Agent Installation program.

    The Agent Installation program copies the SNMP support files to the agent installation directory, makes the appropriate Windows registry entries, and restarts the Windows SNMP service.

  6. Continue with Section 43.6.2, Copying and Compiling the MTA MIB File.

43.6.2 Copying and Compiling the MTA MIB File

An SNMP-enabled MTA returns information contained in a Management Information Base (MIB). The MIB is an ASCII data structure that defines the information gathered. It also defines the properties that can be monitored and managed on the SNMP-enabled MTA.

Before you can monitor an SNMP-enabled MTA, you must compile the gwmta.mib file using your SNMP management program. GroupWise agent MIB files are located in the /agents/snmpmibs directory of your GroupWise software distribution directory or the downloaded GroupWise 2012 software image.

The MIB file contains all the Trap, Set, and Get variables used for communication between the MTA and management console. The Trap variables provide warnings that point to current and potential problems. The Set variables allow you to configure portions of the application while it is still running. The Get variables display the current status of different processes of the application.

  1. Copy the gwmta.mib file from the \agents\snmp directory to the location required by your SNMP management program.

  2. Compile or import the gwmta.mib file as required by your SNMP management program.

  3. Continue with Configuring the MTA for SNMP Monitoring.

43.6.3 Configuring the MTA for SNMP Monitoring

In order for SNMP monitoring programs to monitor the MTA, the MTA must be configured with a network address and SNMP community string.

  1. In ConsoleOne, browse to and right-click the MTA object, then click Properties.

  2. Click GroupWise > Network Address to display the Network Address page.

  3. Click the pencil icon to provide the TCP/IP address of the server where the MTA runs, then click Apply.

  4. Click GroupWise > Agent Settings.

  5. Provide your system SNMP community GET string, then click OK.

  6. Configure the SNMP Service with the same community GET string:

    1. On the Windows desktop, click Start > Administrator Tools > Services.

    2. Right-click SNMP Service, then click Properties.

    3. Click Security, then click Add in the Accepted community names list.

    4. In the Community Name field, specify your system SNMP community GET string.

    5. In the Community Rights drop down list, select READ WRITE.

    6. Click Add to add the community string to the list, then click OK to close the SNMP Properties

  7. Restart the MTA.

    The MTA should now be visible to your SNMP monitoring program.