[FX.php List] Monitoring WPE connection

[Jonathan Schwartz]

Bob,

I take a different approach with checking the health of my servers 
and automated processes because they often give erroneous responses 
when they are ill.  It's a two step process that works best when you 
have multiple machines to work with.

1) Perform a routine process on the target server from a second 
monitoring server using Cronjob or the like, such as performing a WPE 
query once per minute for a known value.  Write the value and 
timestamp of the successful query to the monitoring server.

2) Have the monitoring server poll itself for the last successful 
timestamp.  If the interval exceeds the interval of the test, issue 
an alert.

In this way, you are not asking the potentially sick server if it is 
well...you are asking a trusted source.

To cover all bases, I also have an additional process which tests to 
see if the monitoring server is well.  Don't laugh, it is not 
uncommon to turn off a process and forget that you have done it.

Hope that helps.

Jonathan

>I'm having trouble w/ one of my server pairs losing connection 
>between the WPE and the FM Server machine. Neither of the machines 
>crash, but it just loses connection; redeploying the WPE always 
>fixes it.
>
>I tried writing a simple query, and having it run on a robot, 
>meta-refreshing every 5 minutes. However, when the WPE failed just 
>now, my page just failed to load.
>Is there a command I can put into a page that would tell me whether 
>the WPE/FM Server connection is working? It appears that if the WPE 
>loses connection, FX won't return anything.
>
>I'm going to reinstall the database server in the morning, but would 
>like to have a monitor in place tonight if possible...
>Ideas appreciated,
>
>
>Bob Patin
>Longterm Solutions LLC
>P.O. Box 3408
>Brentwood, TN 37024
>bob at longtermsolutions.com
>615-333-6858
>http://www.longtermsolutions.com
>iChat: bobpatin
>AIM: longterm1954
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-- 
Jonathan Schwartz
Exit 445 Group
jonathan at exit445.com
http://www.exit445.com
415-370-5011