Host multi-template

[IlPini]

I'd like a way to apply multiple host templates to a single device.

Say...
a Dell PowerEdge 2850 with Linux
the same Dell PowerEdge 2850 with Linux *and* Squid
the same Dell PowerEdge 2850 with Windows Server 2003
the same Dell PowerEdge 2850 with Windows Server 2003 *and* net-snmp
the same Dell PowerEdge 2850 with Windows Server 2003 *and* net-snmp *and* Java
the same Dell PowerEdge 2850 with AmigaOS

Apply the basic hardware template, then apply whichever OS template you need, then apply whichever application template you need, maybe multiple times... Something like that.

That way, if you later update the PE 2850 template, you don't need to update your six other templates based on the same hardware.

If you move your entire software system to different hardware, you keep the software template and swap the hardware template.

If you install an SNMP-enabled application on an existing device, you just have to add the application's template.

[streaker69]

Why not just make your own custom Host Templates and add in the templates that you need?

You're not locked into the host templates that are provided, they're more of guidelines to get you started.

[IlPini]

Why not just make your own custom Host Templates and add in the templates that you need?

Indeed.
But I'm lazy. And sloppy. And slow. Hey, don't tell my boss, please.
Suppose you have devices built from 27 different kinds of hardware, 6 operating systems (10 if you count different versions) and 13 SNMP-enabled applications. Worst-case scenario math gets you 27 times 10, times 13, that is 3510 combinations. Of course real life is much better (not all applications work on every OS etc.), but I've already had to cope with a couple dozen combinations (and counting), so I had to put together a partial template with another partial template with yet another partial template several times... and of course different partial templates apply each time... Tiresome! And I've managed to include three or four creative mistakes of mine. I'm still learning here, so that's been difficult to debug. With hindsight, they were silly mistakes, but hindsight is an exact science. Things got worse when I finally made an upgrade to the basic hardware template: I also had to upgrade all the other templates based on that same basic hardware. And another mistake got in the next-to-last template, too! Argh!
Lazy, sloppy and slow are my guiding parameters for automation: anything that can relieve work, avoid human mistake and get the job done earlier is welcome.

Of course this is not a life-or-death priority, I can manage without it. Lazily.

[gandalf]

I do agree with this request (in fact, I suggested to create it). E.g. if you use a apache set of templates and copy it to half a dozen different host templates, you won't be happy if adding a new graph template becomes pressing or if "Suggested Names" have to be tweaked or the like.
E.g. we defined a Host Template called "Basic RHEL4 Host". It's part of "RHEL4 Apache Host", "RHEL4 DNS Host", "RHEL4 Radius Host", "RHEL4 ..."
I can tell you, it's ugly
Reinhard

[lints]

I've often thought about posting this exact feature request, but I see them more as "Graph Packs" or "Roles".

This is more or less the way I've got mine setup now.

When I add a host (say an HP DL 380, running Windows with IIS, MSSQL), I have to create the device, assign it the 'HP Server' host template and save. Then I go back into the device, change the host template to 'Windows General' and save it again, repeating this process for each "graph pack" that applies to this device (Windows on HP, IIS, MSSQL, etc...).

It would much easier if there was a multi-select combo box where were could just select the Packs/Roles that apply to a given device and it would iterate through each one and add the graphs/data queries automatically.

[TheWitness]

Me too... The work was all done in my head, just cant fine the cycles to code.