nexec Guide v1.3 series

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Contents 5

Contents

Chapter 1: nexec 1.3 7

nexec configuration ...................................................................................................................................................... 9

The nexec GUI ............................................................................................................................................................ 10

The Setup tab ...................................................................................................................................................... 11

The Configure tab ................................................................................................................................................ 12

The Start tab ........................................................................................................................................................ 15

Chapter 1: nexec 1.3 7

Chapter 1: nexec 1.3

This description applies to nexec probe version 1.3.

The nexec probe allows unprivileged users (i.e. support staff who do not have admin/root access on the servers) to run a range of admin actions from Nimsoft Infrastructure Manager. Examples of these would be running a logger command to generate a test message, cat'ing a configuration file or deleting a log file.

The probe allows the pre-defined commands to be run with optional parameters on the system, either on a schedule specified for the profile, or manually by the operator. The result is presented back to the user. This allows any user logged in to Nimsoft Infrastructure Manager (with appropriate ACL set) or a probe to run a command on a server with this probe installed on it. The probe is able to run command line programs, but not GUI programs.

This section contains the following topics:

Documentation Changes (see page 8) nexec configuration (see page 9) The nexec GUI (see page 10)

nexec configuration

8 nexec Guide

Documentation Changes

This table describes the version history for this document.

Version Date What's New?

1.3 Feb 2011 Added support for HPUX platforms; corrected the set_loglevel callback so that it is compatible with 64-bit systems.

1.2 Nov 2010 Note: Requires hub v5.10 or higher set up to allow LDAP login.

1.1 Jun 2010 Added feature to run programs in a defined user context. Added support for Solaris 10 (i386).

Related Documentation

Documentation for other versions of the nexec probe

Getting Started with Nimsoft® Probes

Nimsoft® Probes Reference

nexec configuration

Chapter 1: nexec 1.3 9

nexec configuration

The probe is configured by double-clicking the probe in the Infrastructure Manager, which brings up the GUI (configuration tool).

Configuring command profiles

To configure the probe, the user must be associated with the Basic Configuration ACL. Users that are NOT associated with this ACL will only see the Start tab of the GUI.

When setting up command profiles, the command profile is assigned an ACL requirement. The ACLs requirements define the privileges for the user. There are four different levels:

■ Available to all

All Nimsoft users can access and use this command in the nexec probe.

■ ACL execution level 1

Nimsoft users associated with ACL execution level 1 can access and use commands with ACL requirement ACL execution level 1, Available to all) in the nexec probe.

■ ACL execution level 2

Nimsoft users associated with ACL execution level 2 can access and use commands with ACL requirement ACL execution level 2, ACL execution level 1, Available to all) in the nexec probe.

■ ACL execution level 3

All Nimsoft users can access and use all command in the nexec probe.

The nexec GUI

10 nexec Guide

The nexec GUI

The GUI consists of three tabs:

■ Setup

This tab defines the general properties for the probe.

■ Configure

This tab defines the command profiles. Assigning the command profile an ACL requirement, you can make the command available to certain users. You can also configure the profile to be run on a schedule.

■ Start

The tab lists available commands to the user and lets the user run the commands.

The nexec GUI

Chapter 1: nexec 1.3 11

The Setup tab

This tab defines the general properties for the probe.

Field Description

Log settings

Log level Sets the level of details written to the probe’s log file. It is recommended to log as little as possible during normal operation, to minimize disk consumption.

Log size Sets the size of the probe’s log file to which probe-internal log messages are written. The default size is 100 KB.

When this size is reached, the contents of the file are cleared.

Audit If you select the Generate audit messages on profile run option, audit messages will be written to the audit log file specified each time a command is run.

Audit log file Specify the name of the log file to which you want to log audit messages. Default file is audit.log in the Nimsoft installation directory in the folder \probes\service\nexec.

Post output of scheduled commands

Posts the output of scheduled commands as a Nimsoft message with subject as specified

The nexec GUI

12 nexec Guide

The Configure tab

This tab lists the command profiles defined.

Right-clicking in the list, you are also allowed to create new command profiles and edit or delete existing ones.

The nexec GUI

Chapter 1: nexec 1.3 13

Defining a command profile

Right-clicking in the command list, a dialog pops up, enabling you to create a new command profile.

Field Description

Name Specify a descriptive name of the command profile.

Active Checking the Active flag, the profile will be activated and can be executed, either manually by the user or scheduled.

Description This field is optional and lets you give a brief description of the command.

Command Specify the command to be executed in this field. Note that the command can be executed either manually by the user or scheduled.

Arguments Specify the arguments (if any) for the command specified.

Exclusive If you enable this flag, it will not be possible to run more than one instance of the command simultaneously.

The nexec GUI

14 nexec Guide

Field Description

Schedule Normally command profiles are run manually by the user. However, it is also possible to define a command to be automatically executed on a specified schedule.

Selecting this option and clicking the Modify schedule button opens Schedule profile dialog enabling you set such a schedule:

Range

If you wish to start with the command execution immediately, choose the Start now option.

Alternatively, you can specify a date and time when the command first should be executed, and when the execution of the command should be terminated (after n occurrences or at a specified date and time. You may also select No end date if you want the command to be executed continuously.

Pattern

You can specify how often the command profile should be run, e.g. minutely, hourly, daily etc., every n day(s) or every weekday, or at specified time intervals (hour and minutes).

Username Enter a valid username (either a local administrator or a domain user).

Password Enter a valid password for the username

ACL required When setting up command profiles, the command profile is assigned an ACL requirement. The ACLs requirements define the privileges for the user. There are four different levels:

Available to all

All Nimsoft users can access and use this command in the nexec probe.

ACL execution level 1

Nimsoft users associated with ACL execution level 1 can access and use commands with ACL requirement ACL execution level 1, Available to all) in the nexec probe.

ACL execution level 2

Nimsoft users associated with ACL execution level 2 can access and use commands with ACL requirement ACL execution level 2, ACL execution level 1, Available to all) in the nexec probe.

ACL execution level 3

All Nimsoft users can access and use all command in the nexec probe.

Timeout This timeout defines the maximum execution time for the command. If this timeout is exceeded, the command is terminated and an error code is issued.

The default timeout is 30 seconds.

The nexec GUI

Chapter 1: nexec 1.3 15

Field Description

Parameters This field lists parameters for the command. Right-clicking in the list lets you add, edit or delete parameters.

Note that the user must be associated with ACL execution level 3 to be allowed to do this.

These parameters may be overridden by the user when running the commands manually (from the Start tab.

The Start tab

The Start tab lists the command profiles defined.

The nexec GUI

16 nexec Guide

To refresh the list, right-click in the window and select Refresh OR press the F5 key on your keyboard.

Running a command

Right-clicking a command, selecting Run, the selected profile dialog will be opened.

The dialog contains the list of parameters (if any) defined for the command profile. Right-clicking a parameter, selecting Edit (or double-clicking it) opens the properties dialog for the parameter. This lets you override the parameter value specified.

The nexec GUI

Chapter 1: nexec 1.3 17

Click the OK button to activate the modified value and exit the properties dialog for the parameter.

Now click the Run button in the profile dialog to execute the command. Return values will appear in the lower part of the dialog.