Monitoring remote server uptime using Zabbix

[lazloman]

I have a requirement to monitor the uptime of a server from our Zabbix servr. We can't install the agent on the target server, (please don't ask why), so the monitoring has to occur from the server. I see we can ping the server periodically, or retrieve a web page from it, (IIS). I see at least two issues with this:
Network issues might cause us to record this as downtime.
We can only ping/connect a limited number of times an hour (by statute). Thus, any downtime might be miscalculated given the downtime of the server, or missed altogether.
Has anyone ever run into a similar situation? Any ideas on how I can get an accurate measure of downtime without an agent running on the target?
Thanks

[onallion]

If you're only relying on ping, I can't see how you could measure accurate uptime. Ping is a connectivity test, nothing more.

[lazloman]

Yes indeed, which is why my question is:
Any ideas on how I can get an accurate measure of downtime without an agent running on the target?

[SBO]

Hi,

Can you run a script on the host you want to monitor ?

[Semiadmin]

May be SNMP?
Or remote WMI request from another computer in the same domain.

[lazloman]

I can't run a script on the target. I can't do anything on the target. The target server doesn't belong to my group, so I have to do this from our Zabbix server. And if I might be allowed to vent here for a moment:
<rant>
This shouldn't even be a problem. Getting the uptime of a server should be, and is indeed, trivial. But I'm in an environment where every group is a silo. Walled off from other groups and very protective of their particular environments, where the default answer to every request for info is "No" and is backed up from above. A collection of fiefdoms and its ridiculous. Its a disgrace that I even have to ask this question.
</rant>