Nagios-check_smartmon

Nagios plug-in to get status from smartmontools

check_smartmon is a Nagios plug-in written in python that uses smartmontools to check disk health status and temperature.

One of the greatest benefits of using the FreeBSD platform is the availability of numerous applications. These applications, also known as ports, allow users to customize their operating system according to their specific needs and preferences. One such port is the check_smartmon tool from the Nagios suite. This port is hosted under the net-mgmt category on the FreeBSD platform.

Check_smartmon forms an essential part of the Nagios monitoring system. Just for quick context, Nagios is an open-source tool that allows system administrators to monitor network services and host resources, therefore making it a crucial part of most IT infrastructure.

Understanding Check_smartmon

The check_smartmon port is a Nagios plugin that uses the SMART monitoring technology to keep track of your hard drives’ health. This is quite important as it’s always best to preemptively identify potential hardware issues before they cause substantial damage. SMART, an acronym for Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology, is incorporated into nearly all modern hard drives. Consequently, this makes the check_smartmon tool a universal solution for monitoring your hard drives’ health, no matter the brand or manufacturer.

Installation

Before you can use check_smartmon, you need to ensure you have installed it. The installation process is quite easy, especially if you’ve installed FreeBSD ports before. The port can be installed by running the following command in your terminal

cd /usr/ports/net-mgmt/nagios-check_smartmon/ && make install clean

This command immediately takes you to the nagios-check_smartmon directory inside the net-mgmt category. After you’re inside the directory, the command starts the installation process by compiling and installing the port.

If you haven’t installed any ports before, to get started you’ll need the Ports Collection installed on your FreeBSD machine. Follow the simple instructions available on the official [FreeBSD handbook]https//www.freebsd.org/doc/handbook/ports-using.html.

Usage

Using check_smartmon is relatively easy. You can run the check_smartmon executable followed by the device you want to monitor. For instance, the command below would monitor the ada0 drive

check_smartmon -d /dev/ada0

The output received would provide information on the health of your hard drive. Interpreting the output might seem a bit technical initially, especially if you’re not familiar with SMART. However, with time, you’ll find it’s not as complex as it initially appears.

It’s also important to note that the effectiveness of SMART monitoring largely depends on the quality of the hard drive’s firmware. Some manufacturers do not implement SMART to full capacity, hence limiting the effectiveness of check_smartmon.

Benefits of Using Check_smartmon

Check_smartmon greatly simplifies the task of monitoring hard drives. Instead of manually checking each drive, which can be quite time-consuming and obviously tedious, the process is automated, leaving you time to focus on more pressing tasks.

Keep in mind, identifying potential hardware issues beforehand can save you from serious data loss or corruption. Also, it provides ample time to order and replace potentially failing hardware.

The check_smartmon tool can also be integrated with other Nagios plugins for comprehensive monitoring. For instance, you can also use [check_udp]https//freebsdsoftware.org/net-mgmt/nagios-check_udp.html to monitor UDP based services. Or if you’re concerned with IT security, you may find the [nmap port]https//freebsdsoftware.org/security/nmap.html quite useful. Nmap helps uncover open ports and vulnerable services in your servers and networks.

Conclusively, with tools like check_smartmon readily available and straightforward to use, maintaining the health of your hardware components while using FreeBSD becomes a simpler task. Hence, providing more reason to consider FreeBSD as a reliable, scalable, and flexible platform for every IT need.