3.5
Probes
In AutoNOC, a probe is an object that actively queries data
about the network and stores it in a database structure at a preset time interval. For
instance, there is a built-in ping probe as well as many other types of probes. Probes represent the object implementation of data acquisition and
polling within the software. The following screenshot shows the location in a device of an
example Interface Status probe.
The majority of probe functionality and settings is
implemented in probe templates. You can even author your own probes by creating a probe
template. For more information on authoring your own probes see 4.4
- Probe Template.
3.5.1 Database Storage
The Database tab of a probe provides a quick
and dirty capability to see the raw data within the probe records. An example from a
NET-SNMP Processor Utilization probe is shown below in the following screenshot.
The raw data for the database can also be
downloaded by clicking on Download Data (CSV File).
3.5.2 Probe Discovery
AutoNOC uses the probe template, device template, interface
template, and other objects to discover a device. It constructs the device by generating
objects from the user's currently defined templates. During the Discovery process AutoNOC
builds probes from the probe templates provided for the device in question.
The process works by first seeing which probe templates
are available and relevant to the current discovery. It then takes each probe template,
sets the object scope to the relevant component and then tries to solve the expression. If
the expression can be solved and it returns a valid answer, then AutoNOC will keep that
probe template, generate a probe for the device, and when discovery is complete, it will
begin polling data for the device.
For more information on probe polling, see 3.11 - Polling and for more information on discovering devices,
see 3.2 - Devices. |
