Nagios can be configured to support distributed monitoring of network services and resources.

When setting up a distributed monitoring environment with Nagios, there are differences in the way the CENTRAL and distributed SERVERS are configured.

The function of a distributed server is to actively perform checks all the services you define for a “cluster” of hosts. it basically just mean an arbitrary group of hosts on your network. Depending on your network layout, you may have several clusters at one physical location, or each cluster may be separated by a WAN, its own firewall, etc. There is one distributed server that runs Nagios and monitors the services on the hosts in each cluster. A distributed server is usually a bare-bones installation of Nagios. It doesn’t have to have the web interface installed, send out notifications, run event handler scripts, or do anything other than EXECUTE service checks if you don’t want it to.

The purpose of the central server is to SIMPLY listen for service check results from one or more distributed servers. Even though services are occasionally actively checked from the central server, the active checks are only PERFORMED in dire circumstances.

Nagios can be configured to support distributed monitoring of network services and resources.

When setting up a distributed monitoring environment with Nagios, there are differences in the way the central and distributed servers are configured.

The function of a distributed server is to actively perform checks all the services you define for a “cluster” of hosts. it basically just mean an arbitrary group of hosts on your network. Depending on your network layout, you may have several clusters at one physical location, or each cluster may be separated by a WAN, its own firewall, etc. There is one distributed server that runs Nagios and monitors the services on the hosts in each cluster. A distributed server is usually a bare-bones installation of Nagios. It doesn’t have to have the web interface installed, send out notifications, run event handler scripts, or do anything other than execute service checks if you don’t want it to.

The purpose of the central server is to simply listen for service check results from one or more distributed servers. Even though services are occasionally actively checked from the central server, the active checks are only performed in dire circumstances.