37.6 Using an SNMP Management Console

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

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

37.6.1 Setting Up SNMP Services for the POA

Select the instructions for the platform where the POA runs:

Setting Up SNMP Services for the NetWare POA

The NetWare POA supports SNMP through the SNMP services loaded on the NetWare server. SNMP services are provided through the SNMP NLM. The SNMP NLM initiates and responds to requests for monitoring information and generates trap messages.

If the SNMP NLM is not loaded before the NetWare POA, the POA still loads and functions normally, but SNMP support is disabled. The POA does not attempt to auto-load snmp.nlm.

To load the SNMP NLM manually:

  1. Go to the console of each NetWare server where you want to implement SNMP services.

    These servers should already have the GroupWise agents installed.

  2. Type the command to load the SNMP NLM:

    Syntax:
    load snmp v control=x monitor=y trap=z
    

    where v represents Verbose, meaning to display informational messages, and x, y and z are replaced with your system SNMP community strings for SNMP SETs, GETs and TRAPs).

    Example:
    load snmp v control=private monitor=public trap=all
    

    The configuration for the SNMP NLM is found in snmp.cfg and traptarg.cfg in the sys:\etc directory. View the contents of these files for more information.

    The TCP/IP NLM automatically loads snmp.nlm, using default values for the community strings. If your system uses different community string values, load snmp.nlm before tcpip.nlm.

  3. If the SNMP NLM is already loaded, you can add the control and trap parameters by typing the following at the console prompt:

    snmp control= trap=
    

    To automatically load these commands, include them in the autoexec.ncf file.

    For more information about implementing SNMP services, see your NetWare documentation.

  4. Skip to Section 37.6.2, Copying and Compiling the POA MIB File.

Setting Up SNMP Services for the Linux POA

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

  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 POA starts.

  7. Skip to Section 37.6.2, Copying and Compiling the POA MIB File.

Setting Up SNMP Services for the Windows POA

SNMP support is provided for up to eight Windows POAs on the same Windows server. Upon startup, each instance of the POA is dynamically assigned a row in its SNMP table. View the contents of the POA MIB for a description of the SNMP variables in the table. See Section 37.6.2, Copying and Compiling the POA MIB File for more information about MIB files.

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

Installing Windows SNMP Support

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

For example, to add the SNMP Trap Service to 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.

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 GroupWise 8 DVD or downloaded GroupWise 8 software image. Click Install Products > GroupWise Agents > Install GroupWise Agents.

    or

    Run install.exe from the agents subdirectory on the GroupWise 8 DVD or downloaded GroupWise 8 software image, or in your software distribution directory if you have updated it with the latest GroupWise software.

  2. In the Installation Path dialog box, browse to and select the path where the agent software is installed, then select Install and Configure SNMP for GroupWise Agents.

  3. To shorten the install time, deselect Install GroupWise Agent Software.

  4. 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.

  5. Continue with Copying and Compiling the POA MIB File.

37.6.2 Copying and Compiling the POA MIB File

An SNMP-enabled POA 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 POA.

Before you can monitor an SNMP-enabled POA, you must compile the gwpoa.mib file using your SNMP management program.

NetWare and Windows:

The GroupWise MIBs are located on the GroupWise 8 DVD or downloaded GroupWise 8 software image in the \agents\snmp directory or in the software_distribution_directory\agents\snmp directory if you have updated it with the latest GroupWise software.

Linux:

The GroupWise MIBs must be obtained from a NetWare or Windows installation.

  1. Copy the gwpoa.mib file to the location required by your SNMP management program.

    ZENworks Server Management users can access the gwpoa.mib file in the software distribution directory.

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

    For example, to compile the gwpoa.mib file for ZENworks Server Management:

    1. In ConsoleOne, right-click the Site Server object, then click Properties > MIB Pool.

    2. Click Modify Pool > Add.

    3. Browse to and select the gwpoa.mib file, then click OK.

    4. Click Compile.

    5. Make sure that the server where the POA is running is configured to send SNMP traps to the ZENworks Server Management Site Server.

      NetWare:

      Add the IP address or hostname of the ZENworks Server Management Site Server to the traptarg.cfg file in the sys:\etc directory.

      Windows:

      Add the IP address or hostname of the ZENworks Server Management Site Server to the list of trap destinations. For example, in Windows Server 2003, click Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services. Right-click SNMP Trap Service, then click Properties. On the Traps tab, add the IP address or hostname of the ZENworks Server Management Site Server.

      Refer to your SNMP management program documentation for specific instructions.

  3. Continue with Configuring the POA for SNMP Monitoring.

37.6.3 Configuring the POA for SNMP Monitoring

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

  1. Browse to and right-click the POA 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 or IPX/SPX address of the server where the POA runs, then click Apply.

  4. Click GroupWise > Agent Settings page, then scroll to the bottom of the settings list.

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

    ConsoleOne then notifies the POA to restart so the new settings can be put into effect.

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