Where does Solarwinds pick Node Caption Name from ?

Question

Hello All,

We are using powershell modules to add ec2 servers in SAM Monitoring using IP Address.

For few ec2's we are able to get the correct hostname of server but in other few cases we are getting ip-x-x-x-x format.

Initially I thought this is because of DNS entry missing for these servers but it is not the case as few of the ip-x-x-x-x servers have proper DNS entry which is shown in device summary page of solarwinds as well !! In few cases SYSname was being preferred instead of DNS but in few the opposite also happened.

Please let me know the actual method used for caption name or how can i fix my issue for ec2 servers.

Thanks

Anmol

shuth · Answer

The system will generate the default caption using the following:
1. If you are using SNMP/WMI/Agent, and SolarWinds can detect the system name (sysname), it will use that as that as the caption.
2. If no system name (or ICMP polled node), it will attempt to do a reverse DNS lookup of the IP address and whatever comes back will be the caption.
3. If no system name, and no DNS result, the caption will be the IP address.

Depending on how you're loading the devices in via PowerShell, I believe the Caption will be whatever you've defined in your script.

bobmarley · Answer

I have ran into this occasionally when DNS wasn't set up correctly. Try doing a DNS lookup on both the hostname and on the IP address and ensure they both resolve. Also try the lookup with and without the domain at the end of the name and make sure that works as well. Most if the time when I have ran into this when reverse DNS wasn't working or there were other issues goin on in in the DNS space.