Installation

NSClient++ comes simple command line option for registering (and deregistering) the service but it does not have a GUI installer.

Thus to install the Client you only need to copy the files to a directory of your choice and then run “NSClient++ /install”.

Before you start NSClient++ you need to configure it by editing the configuration file (NSC.ini). The configuration file is a simple text file and is explained in detail under Configuration. The files needed by NSClient++ varies but mainly the exe and DLL's in the NSClient++ root are required as well as all the modules you plan to use from the modules subdirectory (/modules/*).

The configuration file (NSC.ini) NEEDS to be configured as for security reasons all plug-ins are disabled by default. The reason for this is so no one will accidentally install this and get potential security issues, I believe that things should be "off" by default. Also notice that by default allowed_hosts are 127.0.0.1 so you need to modify this as well.

If you plan to use the SystemTray module (that shows a system tray icon on the desktop you need to install the SystemTray module as well as NSClient++. To install NSClient++ execute the following command:

 NSClient++ /install
 NSClient++ SysTray install

To uninstall NSClient++ execute the following command:

 NSClient++ SysTray uninstall
 NSClient++ /uninstall

To start NSClient++ execute the following command:

 NSClient++ /start

To stop NSClient++ execute the following command:

 NSClient++ /stop

If you only wish to test it or debug the client you can use the following without installing it first.

 NSClient++ /test

Firewall

Firewall configuration should be pretty straight forward:

If you use NRPEListener (check_nrpe) you need the NRPE port open (usually 5666) from the nagios server towards the client.

nagios:* -> client:5666

If you use the NSClientListener (check_nt) you need the (modified) NSClient port open (usually 12489) from the nagios server towards the client.

nagios:* -> client:12489

If you use the NSCA Module (passive checks) you need the NSCA port open from the client towards the nagios server.

client:* -> nagios:5667

If you use the NRPEClient module to check any remote systems (use NSClient++ as a proxy) you need to have NRPE port (usually 5666) open from NSClient++ (the proxy) to the remote-client in addition to the method you use to submit the results to the server.

nsclient-proxy:* -> remote-client:5666

All these ports can be changed so check your nsc.ini.

NT4

NT4 does not come with the PDH library and you need to install that before using NSClient++. PDH can be downloaded from Microsoft: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q284996 and the simplest way to install it is to uncompress it directly into the NSClient++ directory.

NT4 also (sometimes) lack the PSAPI helper which is available in the "Platform SDK Redistributable: PSAPI for Windows NT" from Microsoft. http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=3d1fbaed-d122-45cf-9d46-1cae384097ac as with the PDH either install in system32 or local NSClient++ directory.