Cheshire Cat Computing

I installed the check_rbl plugin with the following setup:

in commands.cfg
define command{
command_name check_rbl
command_line $USER1$/check_rbl -H $HOSTADDRESS$
# command_line $USER1$/check_rbl 216.228.11.34
}

in hosts.cfg
define service{
use generic-service ; Name of service template to use
host_name cd-mry-beacon
service_description SVR-BL
servicegroups BL
is_volatile 0
check_period 24x7
max_check_attempts 3
normal_check_interval 5
retry_check_interval 1
contact_groups nt-admins,cd-admins
notification_interval 0 ; originally 120
notification_period cdmonitoring
notification_options c,r
check_command check_rbl
}

If you use the hard coded command definition, it works. If you use the -H $HOSTADDRESS$ command line, you get the result of:

Usage: check_rbl ipaddress

Since this is the same configuration as the check_smtp, etc commands where the $HOSTADDRESS$ is used I'm not clear what the problem is.

Any suggestions?

You do not need the -H.

Just have the command:

check_rbl $HOSTADDRESS$

and it will work as expected. I know, check_rbl is not compliant with the check plugins standard options...

_________________
Steve Shipway
UNIX Systems, ITSS, University of Auckland, NZ
Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning... -- Isaiah 5:11

Steve,

Thanks but I did try the command without the -H. It still returns a usage: check_rbl ipaddress failure.

It does work if you change to

check_rbl $ARG1$

and use

check_rbl!216.228.11.34 in the calling argument.

Which version of Nagios do you use?

It sounds as if your version of Nagios does not support the use of HOSTADDRESS macro in the command definitions, or else does not support it correctly. This may be a Nagios bug, if you have a recent version.

_________________
Steve Shipway
UNIX Systems, ITSS, University of Auckland, NZ
Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning... -- Isaiah 5:11

Steve,

I'm using Nagios 2.9. I was able to figure out from various combinations the problem is some DNS resolution issue.

$USER1$/check_rbl 216.228.11.34 -> works
$USER1$/check_rbl smtp.compudentsystems.com -> fails
check_command check_rbl!216.228.11.34 -> works with $ARG1$ in the command
check_command check_rbl!smtp.compudentsystems.com -> fails

So I'm pretty sure it is either NAGIOS not changing the tag to an address or check_rbl not attempting to resolve to an IP.

The other -H $HOSTADDRESS$ commands are all working OK so I'm not clear what the difference is.

If you can shoot me a URL of something describing the issue and fix I would appreciate it.

Thanks.

You have hostaddress set to a hostNAME? This will be the reason, then.

The script expects an IP address. Probably the next version should resolve hostnames if given a name, though.

I've always had hostaddress set to the IP address (which is what I thought it was supposed to be) so that's why $HOSTADDRESS$ works for me.

I'll add some code in the next version to spot a passed hostname and resolve it. In the meantime, pass the IP via a parameter.

_________________
Steve Shipway
UNIX Systems, ITSS, University of Auckland, NZ
Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning... -- Isaiah 5:11

Steve,

Thanks for the help.

I find it easier to use smtp.domain.com than 216.228.11.34 in Nagios. If the DNS/MX records get changed, then Nagios just keeps chugging along when it gets the update.

Glad my workaround makes sense. It's not a problem now that I know what's what.

Thanks again.

[url]http://www.nagiosexchange.org/Misc.54.0.html?&tx_netnagext_pi1[p_view]=748[/url]

Updated version 1.1 which supports hostnames as well as IP addresses. It also allows you to use -H if you want to.

_________________
Steve Shipway
UNIX Systems, ITSS, University of Auckland, NZ
Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning... -- Isaiah 5:11