Use alerts to initiate external actions

Monitoring is typically viewed as informative service: when a problem arises, messages are being sent, to alert people in charge to detected problems.

However, IPHost Network Monitor allows creating composite alerts, including several so-called simple actions (such as “send mail”, “display pop-up” and so on). These simple actions can be used to proactively react to certain failure conditions – not only to inform of them, but also take measures to handle the actual issues.

We provide several sample scenarios below.

Switching to backup Internet connection

Most network devices are nowadays SNMP-enabled. The SNMP family or protocols is fully supported by IPHost and thus can be used to monitor extranet connectivity, as well.

When creating a SNMP monitor to check connectivity (exact variable to check can vary from case to case), add “SNMP set” simple action, to enable an alternate router/switch, thus resuming Internet connectivity.

In case an intermediate device (e.g. computer router/firewall) is used, an action on its side could be required (e.g., to change default routing entry). In such a case, “Script over SSH” simple action could do.

Starting a failover service

In many a case, critical services have backup (failover) counterparts on the net. However, there could be cases, when keeping failover service constantly running can’t be possible.

IPHost allows you to launch failover service in response to primary one staying Down long enough. “Script over SSH” or “Run a program” simple action can be used to start a service on local or remote systems. That could keep the intranet services set always up-to-date.

Starting a remote VM

The majority of the biggest hosting or cloud providers do provide APIs to interact with their entities.

That can be used to start a normally offline virtual machine or service. For example: a remote VM can be launched, to start backup services; to do clean restart in case something went wrong; to initiate an emergency notifications sequence – your actual use case can be different. Note that such a VM can be automatically (internally) shut down when necessary.

Similarly, an alert executed when monitor returns to normal can remote stop such services, once they are not necessary anymore.

Enabling emergency procedures

When there’s power/other types of failures, it could often be required to keep track of events within certain area.

A monitor can be created to intercept a power failure event from an UPS; in response, surveillance hardware (such as cameras, proximity and other sensors) can be started to watch the affected areas (and keep the records for later study).

Similarly, that can be used to trigger automated (pre-recorded) audio notifications (e.g. when a fire is detected).

Conclusion

Do you use your IPHost installation to provide active response to monitoring events? If affirmative, we would like to know your story – either post it in comments below, or contact us directly.