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Cacti 0.8 Network Monitoring
Cacti 0.8 Network Monitoring

Cacti 0.8 Network Monitoring: Monitor your network with ease!

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Cacti 0.8 Network Monitoring

Chapter 2. Prerequisites and Installing Cacti on Linux

In the first chapter, we learned some basic information about Cacti and SNMP. In this chapter, we will install Cacti on our localhost. Cacti runs best on Unix/Linux systems. In this book, all the examples are based on Debian Linux. If you are running a different distribution, you should be able to simply replace apt-get install with the appropriate command (urpmi, yum, and so on), like for centos you have to use yum install.

Cacti's prerequisites

Cacti has some prerequisites. You need to install these packages before installing Cacti:

  • RRDTool1.0.49 or higher.

  • NET-SNMP.

  • MySQL4.1.x or higher.

  • PHP 4.3.6 or higher.

  • Apache/IIS or any other web server.

We will also need to install some other packages for support. Although you can choose to use Apache, IIS, or any other web server, in this book, we will be using Apache2. If you are going to install some other web server, please follow the manual/handbook for that web server.

Installing Cacti...

Cacti's prerequisites


Cacti has some prerequisites. You need to install these packages before installing Cacti:

  • RRDTool1.0.49 or higher.

  • NET-SNMP.

  • MySQL4.1.x or higher.

  • PHP 4.3.6 or higher.

  • Apache/IIS or any other web server.

We will also need to install some other packages for support. Although you can choose to use Apache, IIS, or any other web server, in this book, we will be using Apache2. If you are going to install some other web server, please follow the manual/handbook for that web server.

Installing Cacti prerequisites

The following are methods to install the software required by Cacti to function:

Apache

Open a shell and log-in as root or change to super user (su or sudo s).

$ su

This command will ask you for a root password. Suppose our root password is debianserver, type it, and remember that the characters will not be shown on screen.

Now, we are going to install Apache. Type this command on the same terminal:

$ apt-get install apache2

This will install Apache2 with all its...

Installing Cacti


After completing all the commands, we have installed all the dependences for Cacti, and can move on to the Cacti installation.

Ensure that all the previous commands have completed and you have a functioning LAMP server with SNMP and RRDTool support prior to continuing with the Cacti installation.

Cacti can be installed using two ways:

  1. 1. Binary package/Using APT.

  2. 2. Source/Manual installation.

Benefits of installing from a binary package:

  • It's easy to install and upgrade.

  • Needs less time than the other installation method.

Problems of a binary installation:

  • You will have less control of the installation process.

  • Your Cacti maybe a little backdated.

The benefits of installing from the source are:

  • You will get the latest version packages, whereas the binary is sometimes little backdated.

  • You have total control, you can decide what you need.

  • You can do the best tuning for your system.

Problems of source installation:

  • Will take more time than the binary package installation...

Upgrading Cacti


Like any other software, we may also need to upgrade Cacti from time to time. At the time of writing this chapter, the latest version of Cacti is 0.8.7b. If you installed Cacti using APT, you have to follow the procedure below.

Using APT

If you installed Cacti through APT, you don't have to do anything special. But for safety, it's always good practice to back up the data before upgrade.

$ cp /usr/share/cacti /some/safe/place
$ mysqldump --uroot p -1 --add-drop-table cacti >cacti_mysql_backup
$ apt-get upgrade cacti

After successfully upgrading using APT, you have to visit http://localhost/cacti/install. You will get the setup start page (the page you already saw at the time of installing Cacti). Click on the Next button to go to the next page.

On the second page, select Upgrade cacti from the drop-down menu and click Next.

After completing this wizard, the database will be updated to the latest version or structure, and will be ready to use.

From source

If you installed...

Patch


Patches are the fixes for an existing installation of Cacti. You should always keep a eye on http://cacti.net/download_patches.php, so that you are not missing any patches.

First, enter into your cacti directory:

$ cd /var/www/cacti

Then, download the patch from http://cacti.net/download_patches.php.

You have to downloaded all the patches that are available for your version of Cacti.

Now, time to apply the patch:

$ patch -p1 -N < upgrade_from_086k_fix.patch

Done, your Cacti is ready!

Summary


In this chapter, we learned how to install Cacti on a Linux machine using both APT and a manual installation. We also learned how to upgrade and apply patches to an existing installation.

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Key benefits

  • Install and setup Cacti to monitor your network and assign permissions to this setup in no time at all
  • Create, edit, test, and host a graph template to customize your output graph
  • Create new data input methods, SNMP, and Script XML data query
  • Full of screenshots and step-by-step instructions to monitor your network with Cacti

Description

Cacti is a network monitoring tool that provides graphic solutions to your everyday monitoring issues. It has a wide variety of features and misusing them can mean that you are not monitoring your network as closely as you think. This book takes you through all of the key features of Cacti and shows how to use them for maximum effectiveness. This book will teach you how to use Cacti effectively to monitor your network through its web interface leaving aside all the heavy chunks of code. You will be introduced to all the features of Cacti in an easy-to-understand format. This book introduces Cacti and goes through its complete installation and setup. After a quick look, it will teach you to use Cacti's amazing graph templating and user management features. You will learn to customize graphs and make them better looking and easier to understand. It will teach you to provide the paths to any external script or command using Cacti. Then it will take you through importing and managing new templates and also customizing them. Creating users and assigning permissions to them is the next step in this book. Towards the end, you will learn to take backups and restore the system.

Who is this book for?

This book is for anyone who wants to manage a network using Cacti. You don't have to be a Linux Guru to use this book.

What you will learn

  • Implement SNMP with Cacti using the Net-SNMP application suite
  • Retrieve raw data from the system using Net-SNMP
  • Create graphs using the RRDtool for easy understanding
  • Add devices to Cacti and use graph templates to monitor your network
  • Use built-in data queries to check the status of your network
  • Import and export your templates and exchange them with the community
  • Create users and assign permissions to them to view or edit graphs
  • Understand how Net-SNMP application suite implements SNMP with Cacti and use Net-SNMP to retrieve raw data from the system, then use the RRDtool to create graphs
  • Understand Cacti s folder structure along with methods of backing up and restoring
  • Use advanced command-line scripts for easy access and managing network
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Publication date, Length, Edition, Language, ISBN-13
Publication date : Jul 31, 2009
Length: 132 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781847195968
Vendor :
The Cacti Group
Concepts :
Tools :

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Publication date : Jul 31, 2009
Length: 132 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781847195968
Vendor :
The Cacti Group
Concepts :
Tools :

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Table of Contents

8 Chapters
Cacti Overview Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Prerequisites and Installing Cacti on Linux Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Using Graphs to Manage Networks and Devices Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Creating and Using Templates Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
User Management Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
NET-SNMP Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Data Management Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Cacti Management Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customer reviews

Rating distribution
Full star icon Full star icon Half star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon 2.2
(5 Ratings)
5 star 0%
4 star 0%
3 star 60%
2 star 0%
1 star 40%
Jeeves_Moss Mar 24, 2018
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon 3
Nothing really special. Google it. it's cheaper
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Wojciech Kocjan Oct 25, 2009
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon 3
According to publisher's page this book is targetted for people not very experienced with Linux and/or Cacti. And I confirm this. This book walks through setup and provides very detailed information about everything that needs to be done. Authors also introduce SNMP and how data is organized in an easy to understand way without introducing irrelevant details that non-advanced users will not need to know.This book starts with taking the reader through every step that is needed to set up Cacti. While there are Linux distributions that provide Cacti, the book also shows how to set it up manually, which is a good solution for users that want to have more control over Cacti. Every step is shown in an easy to follow way which makes setting it up trivial. The only downside is that the book focuses on Debian/Ubuntu and APT packaging system - it would be of great benefit to also show similar path for RPM packages.The book then goes on to configuring Cacti along with explaining underlying technologies like RRD, which is the Round Robin Database that is used for data and graphs. It also explains the concept of templates, reusability and why it is important to use them. The book also introduces SNMP, which is used for retrieving information from network aware devices and XML used by Cacti.While the book introduces every concept related to Cacti the thing I found missing is extending some of them, such as more details on RRDTool - better understanding of RRDTool would allow making graphs better. SNMP chapter was also introducing the basics, but a continuation for readers interested in more details would also be beneficial. The book is only 116 pages and additional 2-3 chapters would be enough to introduce features for more advanced users.I would recommend this book for new users of Cacti users. It should help them set up graphs much faster. This book will not provide much value for experienced Cacti users as it focuses only on the basics.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Matlock Dec 20, 2022
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon 3
Except for template creation. This book is primarily for new systems admins. If you're an experienced systems admin the Internet can get you through an install and setup. But thanks to the Seller/Writer as I did jot see many books on Cacti monitoring station when I was exploring.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Lee Hanxue Oct 20, 2010
Full star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon 1
I read this book with the expectation that it will provide me with in-depth overview of how to unleash the full capabilities for Cacti for network monitoring, as well as effective network management practices using Cacti.The first few chapters merely provide a brief overview of what Cacti is, and poorly written installation guide. The middle part of the book brings you through step-by-step on how to set up graphs, templates and so on. Nothing insightful, and no value over trying Cacti out by yourself. Finally the last few chapters only give a very brief overview of SNMP and network management concepts - again nothing insightful and very relevant to Cacti.Stay away from this book - you can get more useful guides by searching online. You may also want to consider other alternatives to Cacti such as Nagios, ZenOSS or OpenNMS.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
ER Sep 10, 2009
Full star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon 1
My initial inclination is to say that this book is worthless. Given that I spent $35 on it, it's worse that worthless. At around 100 pages in length, the first 40 are dedicated toward understanding what a network is, a general overview of RRD and Cacti and a very poorly written install guide. With only about 60 pages remaining, a full 10 are wasted explaining what SNMP is and giving a very weak overview of how it works. Fifty pages to go. Don't expect much. Having used Cacti for 3 days when this book arrived, I found that ingesting it cover to cover yielded nothing new. Nothing. Zero. Honestly, the readme files are better. The online user manual is a thousand times better than this book. I cannot warn you enough to avoid this piece of trash.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
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