Map editor in web interface, Netflow dashboard, IPFIX support, new actions, and Firebird 5 in the big update of 10-Strike Network Monitor Pro 8.0

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We planned to release another update of the network monitoring program before the New Year holidays. However, we thought about it and decided to include more new features, which we are sure you will appreciate. One of them is a map editor in the web interface application! We made the same editor as in the desktop console. Well, almost the same. Of course, in terms of capabilities, it does not yet reach the level of a full-fledged one, but we are constantly working on it. Now you can add new areas, hosts to the map and connect them with lines. And, of course, move objects, resize, and delete them.

network map editing in the web UI

 

We also worked on the Netflow engine, drawing attention to the fact that we poorly use the accumulated statistics. We corrected it: now the program draws a bunch of new graphs and diagrams on the traffic statistics.

Read further for more details…

Map Editor in Web Interface

The new function allows you to edit the network map created in the desktop application and create a new one. The following functions are currently available:

  • Adding a host
  • Adding a link to a map
  • Adding hosts from the monitoring tree to the map
  • Adding lines of all types
  • Adding areas of all types
  • Adding text
  • Adding an image
  • Adding an indicator
  • Adding an image from a surveillance camera
  • Changing the size of lines, areas, host icons
  • Deleting objects
  • Moving objects
  • Moving hosts together with lines

In future versions, we will add other editor functions.

To switch to the map editing mode, you need to log in to the web interface in the Administrator or DB Administrator mode, open the Maps tab, open the desired map, and click this Edit button on the toolbar:

A panel with the editor buttons will appear below it:

The first two buttons perform the undo/redo operations. Click the third one and select the drawing tool from the list. The last button enables the mode of connecting hosts with lines. To exit it, you need to click the same button again.

Netflow Dashboard

The built-in Netflow 5/9 collector in the program has been implemented for a long time and was used mainly for the work of only one check for the traffic speed and volume monitoring. We found a use for the accumulated statistics and made a dashboard with graphs, tables, and diagrams that clearly display it on the screen.

The dashboard presents the following Netflow reports:

  • Incoming traffic by protocol
  • Outgoing traffic by protocol
  • Number of incoming and outgoing packets per second
  • Top outgoing traffic hosts
  • Top incoming traffic hosts
  • Protocol usage
  • Top outgoing ports
  • Top incoming ports
  • Top outgoing AS
  • Top incoming AS

The dashboard allows you to switch between the Netflow data sources, change the report update interval, the depth of statistics, and the number of points in the ratings.

The collector becomes active automatically and starts receiving and recording data after creating at least one Network traffic (NetFlow v5/9) check. If such a check has not been created or all of them have been disabled, the collector stops (when the monitoring service is restarted). To enable the collector without creating a Network traffic (NetFlow v5/9) check, simply check the Collector is always active box in the program settings, in the Netflow section.

By the way, we have added support for the Netflow 10 protocol, which is better known as IPFIX.

Switched to New Firebird Version 5 DBMS

The excellent Firebird DBMS is constantly evolving. We are keeping our finger on the pulse. Now the distribution includes 2 DBMS: Firebird 3 and Firebird 5. The old version is installed when deploying the distribution on top of the previously installed monitoring systems with Firebird 3. Firebird 5 is installed by default on a “clean” machine.

Transferring old installations to Firebird 5 is only possible manually.

Reasons to switch to Firebird 5:

  • Firebird 5 implements parallel execution for common tasks: backup, restore, sweep, index creation and rebuilding.
  • Firebird 5 can store date and time with time zone.

You can read about other changes in the Firebird DBMS software in the Release Notes on the product website.

Added Bash Script Execution via SSH to React on Failures

Our program has long been able to execute scripts and commands remotely via SSH in checks. We thought, why not also make such a reaction to the check result? We thought and did it.

You can enable the execution of bash scripts and commands via SSH in the notifications section Run script:

The same reaction can be configured in the SNMP trap and Syslog monitoring.

Parameter Indicators in Check List

Added clarity and beauty to the list of checks. Now in the Monitoring parameter field for checks with the selected indicator type Arrow (Step 2 of the check parameters, Display on graphs section) the following things are displayed:

You can immediately see where the processor is working at its limit and there is no memory left.

Clear, right?

Gray Folder

We have a red folder Failed checks, and now there is a gray Disabled checks. It contains all disabled checks. It is convenient to perform actions with them without scrolling through the entire list.

Log for Each Host

The Log section now displays alarm log entries for this host. This may be more convenient than filtering the entries you need in the common log.

All Changes in the Version 8.0 in a List

  • Pro: Web: Now you can edit the network map in the web interface!
  • Pro: The program’s database engine has been changed to work with Firebird 5. In order to upgrade the existing database to the new version, you need to perform the migration process (see the Help system for details).
  • Pro: Added display of the Netflow statistics on the form with graphs and diagrams.
  • Pro: Added support for the Netflow 10 (IPFIX) protocol.
  • Added a new type of reaction to a change in the monitoring check state: “Run SSH script”.
  • Added a new type of reaction to receiving an SNMP trap and Syslog message: “Run SSH script”.
  • Monitoring parameters measured in percent are now displayed as indicators in the list of checks.
  • Pro: Added the new “Free disk space” parameter to the “Linux Metrics” check.
  • A new search filter rule “Any lines except” has been added to the “Windows Event Log” check, allowing you to filter out unnecessary log records.
  • A new state “Not changed” has been added to the “Number of files in folder” check.
  • Pro: Web: When clicking on the icon of a host that has an RTSP check, a picture from the camera is displayed in the tooltip.
  • Pro: A new section “Alarm log” has been added to the host properties, where events only for this host are displayed.
  • A new “gray” folder has been added, which, similar to the “red” folder, displays only disabled checks.
  • The “red” folder now displays the number of failed checks.
  • Pro: The “Do not receive map status” parameter has been added to links to maps, which allows you to ignore their status.
  • Pro: Added a search for “lost” hosts and checks that are not linked to folders in the host list.
  • Added the ability to select a geo map provider service for the “Geomap” widget.
  • Added a new %H key, which substitutes the host type in the notification alerts.
  • Pro: The version of the agent installed on the host has been added to the “Remote agent installation” module.
  • Pro: The status line of the main window now displays the version of the database server and client.
  • Pro: The program now reports a lack of space on the disk where the database is stored.
  • The search function has been improved for hosts in the monitoring tree and for IP addresses in logs.
  • Pro: Web: Fixed the incorrect display of the host caption if it contains a substitution key for the check parameter.
  • Pro: Web: Fixed the display of the tooltip for the host icon if it is located at the edge of the map.

Download the new version and update!