Watching Windows: an open source approach using PowerShell

Karl van der Schyff; Ralf C. Staudemeyer

Watching Windows: an open source approach using PowerShell

Karl van der Schyff, Ralf C. Staudemeyer

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

Monitoring servers running Microsoft Windows can be a costly exercise, mainly related to software recommended by vendors. Academic environments with financial constrains have thus to either cease their monitoring endeavours or look towards open source solutions. In this paper we demonstrate how to monitor aspects of a Windows server in a simple and flexible way using open source tools. To accomplish this we make use of the script language PowerShell and the Nagios Remote Plugin Executor (NRPE) to gather information on a scheduled task within Windows Server 2012 R2.
This paper addresses a knowledge gap that inhibits open source monitoring of Windows servers. Currently there is a wide range of plugins and scripts available at online repositories, but these do not always address specific aspects of Windows servers. Frequently those plugins deemed suitable are only available in
binary form or written in a scripting language not pre-installed on a Windows server. This complicates information gathering. The suggested approach mitigates this by providing an example script, which can easily be customised to monitor almost any scheduled task¹².

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Southern Africa Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference (SATNAC) 2015
Subtitle of host publication	proceedings
Editors	Fred Otten, Reevana Balmahoon
Place of Publication	South Africa
Pages	189-194
Number of pages	6
Edition	1
Publication status	Published - Aug 2015
Externally published	Yes
Event	Southern Africa Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference: Africa - The Future Communications Galaxy - Arabella Hotel & Spa, Hermanus, South Africa Duration: 6 Sept 2015 → 9 Sept 2015

Conference

Conference	Southern Africa Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference
Abbreviated title	SATNAC 2015
Country/Territory	South Africa
City	Hermanus
Period	6/09/15 → 9/09/15

Keywords

Network monitoring
Windows environment
PowerShell
NRPE
SNMP
WMI
Icinga
Nagios

Access to Document

https://www.satnac.org.za/assets/documents/proceedings/SATNAC_2015_Proceedings.pdf

Cite this

@inproceedings{506a1090e3e64e0c9b8daa51def45c27,

title = "Watching Windows: an open source approach using PowerShell",

abstract = "Monitoring servers running Microsoft Windows can be a costly exercise, mainly related to software recommended by vendors. Academic environments with financial constrains have thus to either cease their monitoring endeavours or look towards open source solutions. In this paper we demonstrate how to monitor aspects of a Windows server in a simple and flexible way using open source tools. To accomplish this we make use of the script language PowerShell and the Nagios Remote Plugin Executor (NRPE) to gather information on a scheduled task within Windows Server 2012 R2. This paper addresses a knowledge gap that inhibits open source monitoring of Windows servers. Currently there is a wide range of plugins and scripts available at online repositories, but these do not always address specific aspects of Windows servers. Frequently those plugins deemed suitable are only available in binary form or written in a scripting language not pre-installed on a Windows server. This complicates information gathering. The suggested approach mitigates this by providing an example script, which can easily be customised to monitor almost any scheduled task12.",

author = "\{van der Schyff\}, Karl and Staudemeyer, \{Ralf C.\}",

year = "2015",

month = aug,

language = "English",

isbn = "9780620671514",

pages = "189--194",

editor = "Fred Otten and Reevana Balmahoon",

booktitle = "Southern Africa Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference (SATNAC) 2015",

edition = "1",

note = "Southern Africa Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference : Africa - The Future Communications Galaxy, SATNAC 2015 ; Conference date: 06-09-2015 Through 09-09-2015",

}

van der Schyff, K & Staudemeyer, RC 2015, Watching Windows: an open source approach using PowerShell. in F Otten & R Balmahoon (eds), Southern Africa Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference (SATNAC) 2015: proceedings. 1 edn, South Africa, pp. 189-194, Southern Africa Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference, Hermanus, South Africa, 6/09/15. <https://www.satnac.org.za/assets/documents/proceedings/SATNAC_2015_Proceedings.pdf>

TY - GEN

T1 - Watching Windows

T2 - Southern Africa Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference

AU - van der Schyff, Karl

AU - Staudemeyer, Ralf C.

PY - 2015/8

Y1 - 2015/8

N2 - Monitoring servers running Microsoft Windows can be a costly exercise, mainly related to software recommended by vendors. Academic environments with financial constrains have thus to either cease their monitoring endeavours or look towards open source solutions. In this paper we demonstrate how to monitor aspects of a Windows server in a simple and flexible way using open source tools. To accomplish this we make use of the script language PowerShell and the Nagios Remote Plugin Executor (NRPE) to gather information on a scheduled task within Windows Server 2012 R2. This paper addresses a knowledge gap that inhibits open source monitoring of Windows servers. Currently there is a wide range of plugins and scripts available at online repositories, but these do not always address specific aspects of Windows servers. Frequently those plugins deemed suitable are only available in binary form or written in a scripting language not pre-installed on a Windows server. This complicates information gathering. The suggested approach mitigates this by providing an example script, which can easily be customised to monitor almost any scheduled task12.

AB - Monitoring servers running Microsoft Windows can be a costly exercise, mainly related to software recommended by vendors. Academic environments with financial constrains have thus to either cease their monitoring endeavours or look towards open source solutions. In this paper we demonstrate how to monitor aspects of a Windows server in a simple and flexible way using open source tools. To accomplish this we make use of the script language PowerShell and the Nagios Remote Plugin Executor (NRPE) to gather information on a scheduled task within Windows Server 2012 R2. This paper addresses a knowledge gap that inhibits open source monitoring of Windows servers. Currently there is a wide range of plugins and scripts available at online repositories, but these do not always address specific aspects of Windows servers. Frequently those plugins deemed suitable are only available in binary form or written in a scripting language not pre-installed on a Windows server. This complicates information gathering. The suggested approach mitigates this by providing an example script, which can easily be customised to monitor almost any scheduled task12.

M3 - Conference contribution

SN - 9780620671514

SP - 189

EP - 194

BT - Southern Africa Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference (SATNAC) 2015

A2 - Otten, Fred

A2 - Balmahoon, Reevana

CY - South Africa

Y2 - 6 September 2015 through 9 September 2015

ER -

Watching Windows: an open source approach using PowerShell

Abstract

Conference

Keywords

Access to Document

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Cite this