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Centreon Monitoring Agent - Migrate from NSClient++

If you're already using NSClient++ or NRPE with Centreon, this guide will help you gradually switch to Centreon Monitoring Agent.

The Centreon Monitoring Agent offers a number of advantages over NSClient and NRPE:

  • Better performance in executing controls, i.e. reduced impact on the host.
  • Enhanced security, implemented by default (TLS encryption, authentication token).
  • Easy configuration with a dedicated interface, especially for connection security.
  • An "offline" mode for installing plugins on hosts without internet access.
  • Command-line installation mode for mass deployment under Windows.
  • A monitoring method based solely on passive checks.
  • Full Centreon support and dedicated roadmap.

Agent deployment and configuration​

Deploy and configure the Centreon monitoring agent using the documentation.

Monitoring configuration​

Install the dedicated Windows and/or Linux Monitoring connectors (as required)​

Here is the correspondence with NSClient++/NRPE Connectors:

NSClient++/NRPE ConnectorCentreon Monitoring Agent Connector
Windows NSClient APIWindows Centreon Monitoring Agent
Windows NSClient 0.5 NRPEWindows Centreon Monitoring Agent
Linux NRPE4Linux Centreon Monitoring Agent

Modify host templates on existing hosts​

Here is the correspondence with NSClient++/NRPE host templates:

NSClient++/NRPE Host templateCentreon Monitoring Agent Host template
OS-Windows-NSClient-05-Restapi-customWindows Centreon Monitoring Agent
OS-Windows-NSClient-05-NRPE-customWindows Centreon Monitoring Agent
OS-Linux-NRPE4-customLinux Centreon Monitoring Agent

Adapt/replace existing services​

Command typeDescription
Centreon plugin commandsThese are the same plugins as those for NSClient/NRPE; only the command changes. Macros with the same name are kept, so you can replace the existing service template with the one linked to the Centreon Monitoring Agent.

For example: OS-Linux-Memory-NRPE4 → OS-Linux-Memory-NRPE4-custom
Native check commands (NSClient++)The Centreon Monitoring Agent provides native checks that differ in structure (JSON command) from those of NSClient++ and the rest of the Centreon ecosystem.

It will be necessary to create a new service or modify the existing service template by adapting the macros.

For example: OS-Windows-NSClient05-NRPE-Cpu ou OS-Windows-NSClient05-Restapi-Cpu → OS-Windows-Centreon-Monitoring-Agent-CPU
Customizable check commandsThese scripts remain compatible with the Centreon Monitoring Agent. You will need to adapt the commands (or duplicate them to work in double run mode). A detailed guide is available.