Newbie question

[khans]

Hi!
Sorry for so stupid queston, but I can not find any usefull information how to start with zabbix. Suggestion for creators of Zabbix to put in Documentation some small real examples. And put more details how Zabbix works.

how can I connect host, host groups and template?

I have few servers mail,ftp,http,dns.
I created few templates: WWW_t(items for www),SMTP_t(items for smtp),FTP_t(items for ftp),SSH_t(items for ssh)
I created few groups: WWW (consist of WWW_t,SSH_t), Mail (WWW_T,SMTP_t,SSH_T)

Now I created new host: mail_test

I connected mail_test to group Mail.
I thought that in this moment I could see all items, triggers for group Mail (with include all templates for this group). And I can see all stats for this host.

But seems that it doesn't work.

Does it mean that group host haven't any real function?

And I need Link directly my host with template. If yes how I can connect my host with multi templates. Because it seems not good if I have to create the same items and triggers for each template (I know that I can link template with one another template).

Thanks,
Hans

[just2blue4u]

the correct way to get the items into your host is to link the host to a template. Then all items from that template are taken over for the host.
You can also link templates to other templates. In your case, you could select your template WWW_t and link it with SSH_t. Then all items from SSH_t are taken into WWW_t. A host linked to WWW_t has now all items from SSH_t plus the items of WWW_t

Host groups are used, when you have >1 hosts with similar/the same function. You can add new items for the whole group, but main cause of host groups is to have a better clarity.



Perhaps you'd like to contact me via AIM/ICQ for more information?

[khans]

Thanks for really fast answer. Sorry but I don't use AIM/ICQ. I stick to MSN/SKYPE

I wanted use group feature , because I'm going to build cluster during few next months.
How I can connect 1 template -> other templates (more then one) ex. WWW_t->FTP_t,SSH_t?
Do I need create chain ex. WWW_t->FTP_t ; FTP_t->SSH_t ? I think it's not very good solution. In my case some server have 3 and more services , so I need link 3 or more templates.

I think my way of creating groups is more clear, and easier to manage hosts and items.
I will check out Nagios/Gangalia , maybe they have better way to manage groups.
It's a pity because I like general design of Zabbix ( web interface), and I heard that Nagios/Gangalia is more difficult in configuration.

Regards,
Hans

[just2blue4u]

depending on how many hosts you have, you could
- create one template with ssh, one with ssh and www, one with ssh and ftp, one with ssh, www and ftp, etc...



- or create a template with everything needed for most of your host (ssh, for example), then create host groups www, ftp, mail, etc. Now create your hosts, link them to the template and sort them into the groups (one host may be in >1 groups). When all hosts are created, create the special items (ftp, http, mail, etc) not for one single host but for the relevant group.

example:
- create Template "my_tmp"
- create items ssh, ping time, ... for template "my_tmp"
- create Host groups: webserver, mailserver, fileserver
- create hosts:
web1 (linked to "my_tmp", put into group "webserver"),
web2 (linked to "my_tmp", put into group "webserver"),
webmail1 (linked to "my_tmp", put into groups "webserver" and "mailserver"),
file1 (linked to "my_tmp", put into group "fileserver"),
file2 (linked to "my_tmp", put into group "fileserver"),
- create special items:
www-items for group "webserver"
ftp-items for group "fileserver"
mail-items for group "mailserver"

[alexwaller]

...
- create special items:
www-items for group "webserver"
ftp-items for group "fileserver"
mail-items for group "mailserver"

So far so good. But how can I create items for a hostgroup?
I use zabbix 1.1.6.
Alex.