Windows: Multiple processes, same process name?

[void_null]

Here's a problem I need some help with.
I need to monitor multiple processes running on a Windows server all with the same process name. When you look at the multiple processes using the Windows' Perf Monitor it will identify the processes with unique names such as 'process_name', 'process_name#1', 'process_name#2', 'process_name#3' and that works great for Perf Monitor but that 'process_name#?' stuff doesn't work for the zabbixw32_agent.
Any ideas?

[cooper]

Here's a problem I need some help with.
I need to monitor multiple processes running on a Windows server all with the same process name. When you look at the multiple processes using the Windows' Perf Monitor it will identify the processes with unique names such as 'process_name', 'process_name#1', 'process_name#2', 'process_name#3' and that works great for Perf Monitor but that 'process_name#?' stuff doesn't work for the zabbixw32_agent.
Any ideas?

You could create an alias item to the perfmon counter in agentd.conf and then call that from the zabbix server. If perfmon can seperate the processes you should be good.

alias process1:perf_counter[\Process(Process1)\% Processor Time]
alias process2:perf_counter[\Process(Process2)\% Processor Time]
alias process3:perf_counter[\Process(Process3)\% Processor Time]

then in zabbix server set up your monitored items

Process1
Process2
Process3


HTH,

cooper

[void_null]

Maybe I didn't explain my problem good enough.

On my Windows server Task manager shows multiple instances of the same named process, different PID of course.

http://www.zabbix.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=24

When I use Windows Perf Mon to monitor the same process it shows the multiple processes with unique names.

http://www.zabbix.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=25

My question is how can Zabbix monitor these individual windows processes if the Zabbix agent can only identify a process by the process_name?

I've tied to configure Zabbix to use the same name that PerfMon uses but that doesn't work.

[cooper]

Maybe I didn't explain my problem good enough.

On my Windows server Task manager shows multiple instances of the same named process, different PID of course.

I understood that.

My question is how can Zabbix monitor these individual windows processes if the Zabbix agent can only identify a process by the process_name?

I've tied to configure Zabbix to use the same name that PerfMon uses but that doesn't work.

What perfmon counters are you viewing?

I couldnt view your images, the board said they were incorrect format or something.

If perfmon can see and distinguish between the process then you can get their status.

How are you attempting to query the info/process at this time?

[void_null]

I see data coming from savfmsesp counter but not the others.

Task manager shows:
Image Name PID
SAVFMSESp.exe 1668
SAVFMSESp.exe 1660
SAVFMSESp.exe 1652
SAVFMSESp.exe 1644
SAVFMSESp.exe 1636

PerfMon shows:
Counters
\Process(SAVFMSESp)% Processor Time
\Process(SAVFMSESp#1)% Processor Time
\Process(SAVFMSESp#2)% Processor Time
\Process(SAVFMSESp#3)% Processor Time
\Process(SAVFMSESp#4)% Processor Time

My Zabbixw32.agentd.conf has:
## Symantec AntiVirus performance counters
PerfCounter= savfmsesp,"\Process(SAVFMSESp)\% Processor Time",5
PerfCounter= savfmsesp1,"\Process(SAVFMSESp#1)% Processor Time",5
PerfCounter= savfmsesp2,"\Process(SAVFMSESp#2)\% Processor Time",5
PerfCounter= savfmsesp3,"\Process(SAVFMSESp#3)\% Processor Time",5
PerfCounter= savfmsesp4,"\Process(SAVFMSESp#4)\% Processor Time",5

Running "zabbixw32 check-config" returns:
Using configuration file "C:\zabbix_agentd.conf"
Error in configuration file, line 89: invalid performance counter specification
Error in configuration file, line 90: invalid performance counter specification
Error in configuration file, line 91: invalid performance counter specification
Error in configuration file, line 92: invalid performance counter specification

These errors will go away when I remove the "#" in zabbixw32.agent.conf lines shown above

[cooper]

My Zabbixw32.agentd.conf has:
## Symantec AntiVirus performance counters
PerfCounter= savfmsesp,"\Process(SAVFMSESp)\% Processor Time",5
PerfCounter= savfmsesp1,"\Process(SAVFMSESp#1)% Processor Time",5
PerfCounter= savfmsesp2,"\Process(SAVFMSESp#2)\% Processor Time",5
PerfCounter= savfmsesp3,"\Process(SAVFMSESp#3)\% Processor Time",5
PerfCounter= savfmsesp4,"\Process(SAVFMSESp#4)\% Processor Time",5

Running "zabbixw32 check-config" returns:
Using configuration file "C:\zabbix_agentd.conf"
Error in configuration file, line 89: invalid performance counter specification
Error in configuration file, line 90: invalid performance counter specification
Error in configuration file, line 91: invalid performance counter specification
Error in configuration file, line 92: invalid performance counter specification

These errors will go away when I remove the "#" in zabbixw32.agent.conf lines shown above

Ok, I see what is going on. This is an issue with the pound sign. zabbix interpurets it as a comment character. You can try to escape it by puting a \ before it. Like this

PerfCounter= savfmsesp4,"\Process(SAVFMSESp\#4)\% Processor Time",5

But it probably wont work.
This issue has poped up before here https://www.zabbix.com/forum/node/564

Alexei might have to change the parsing of a perfcounter item in agent.conf.

HTH,

cooper