Dynamicly add interfaces to interface based alerts?

Hello,

We have a lot of alerts that are interface based and some of these alerts are becoming nearly impossible to manage since they are monitoring too many interfaces. For example, we have ''Interface Down'' alerts for our distribution switches that are monitoring every UP interfaces. The problem is that there is many changes, new interfaces being use, and we have to manually go to List Ressources, checks the new interfaces that are now UP, and then go to the alert to add these interfaces to the trigger condition.

Here's an exemple of what looks like one of our alerts:

I'm pretty sure we are doing it wrong and that there is a better way to do this. Is there a dynamic method to add interfaces that become UP to specific alerts?

We are using NPM 11.5.3.

Thank you,

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HerrDoktor

Hi,

A good rule of thumb is: keep your alerts as simple as possible and as "general" as possible. Alerting is really stressing the Database and the Core Server so do not overdo it.

Try to generalize your alerts to let's say "Alert me when Interface is down and Custom Property "interfaces critical" is true" -> you would need to implement this custom property.

If you are not sure, have a certified consultant guide you through this or attend the Solarwinds Webinars on Alerting and reporting -> in your Customer Portal under "Support" and "Virtual Classrooms"

Cheers,

Holger

jpr7311

Are you wanting to Alert on ALL interfaces on those Distribution switches that are up? If so, under scope and an OR block, create a condition for each Distribution switch "Node - Node Name - is equal to - <Distribution Switch Name>. Or you could even go by IP Address or NodeID(that you get at end of url of its node details page). I just tested it, and you are able to do this, albeit it being an interface alert. SolarWinds will include all interfaces(child objects) that you are monitoring on that switch.

Another option is to tag those Distribution Switches with a value from a Node Custom Property. Maybe name it "SwitchType" and tag the Distribution Switches with value of "Distribution". Then you could use that custom property and put in one condition under an AND block: "SwitchType is equal to Distribution". I hope this helps!! **NOTE: I did not test this, however, and you may not be able to use a Node Custom Property in an interface alert.

jpr7311

You can also dynamically add all Up interfaces on those switches if you are running NPM v12. Create a new scheduled discovery against a list of IP addresses of those distribution switches. At the Monitoring Settings portion of the Wizard(2nd to last screen), choose "Automatically monitor based on my defined monitoring settings". You are essentially creating a template to tell SW what interfaces to automatically import. Choose Operationally UP under status, Trunk and Access under Port Mode, and Physical under Hardware. Schedule this to run at an interval of your choice, and whenever this Discovery runs, it should import any interface on the device that is up if it isn't already being monitored. Done.

electricwizard

Thank you, this is good to know, I will try that when I'm running NPMv12. I think that method combined with simpler and more general alerts, like HerrDoktor said, should help a lot.

sja

Hi E-Wizard

Try that video...

help alot with NPM alers and reports....

Leveraging the Power of Custom Properties

Leveraging the Power of Custom Properties - YouTube