Cacti Installer: "Error reading MySQL install location"

[royboy]

Hi Cacti Community:

I'm a new user attempting to install Cacti Installer 0.8.8c. Installation went well until the following error dialog displayed: Error reading MySQL install location. My question is simply: what do I do now, do I 1) Uninstall everything and try installer again or 2) Continue with manual installation, or 3) some third option?

Important Facts:
1. I'm using Windows 8 Professional.

2. Previous to this installation I had begun manual Cacti installation, and then undid my work in order to use the Cacti installer, which included only uninstalling MySQL and IIS.

3. In the process of executing Cacti Installer, I selected the Apache server option.

4. Apache server seems to be working; if I try to connect to local host it says, "It's working".

5. Finally, I attempted to install MySQL manually using the following instructions:

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http://docs.cacti.net/manual:088:1_installation.2_install_windows.5_install_mysql_mysql

6. However, the initial instructions for setting MySQL is to setup a nontransactional database, Online Transaction Processing (OLTP), etc., which I discovered during the installation is no longer a part of the normal MySQL install routine nor can I easily find the "MySQL Instance Configuration Wizard" to make these changes. I'm not sure how to make these changes separately.

7. While trying to load the Cacti.sql database into MySQL, I could not locate the Cacti installation within an Apache directory, or any directory for that matter. This is when my blood pressure notified me that I needed someone's assistance.

I have included the install log with this post. Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

-Mike

[BSOD2600]

Even though you might have removed MySQL, it left behind the data directory which the Cacti installer (well technically MySQL installer) picked up and why it failed:

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Config value existingpasswd was not supplied but an existing data directory was found

You can either delete the mysql data folder (C:\ProgramData\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.6\) and re-run the cacti installer or pick up where it left off and follow the rest of the Windows Installation Guide.

good point about the changed mysql installer screens. I'll see about updating the documentation.

[royboy]

***SOLVED***

Thank you very much for your timely response. After deleting the ProgramData/MySQL directory and using the Cacti install package, MySQL installed with all of the settings in place.

--NOTE: The second installation actually failed because the Apache service was stopped and I couldn't get it going again. As a hail marry, I took the larger hammer approach and uninstalled mysql (again) and apache (for the first time) then ran the Cacti installer program. Everything worked including Apache.

Thanks again - I'm looking forward to learning all about this software.

-Mike

[royboy]

Hi BSOD2600,

I have some blank graphs showing up, and a few warnings from the Cacti.log.

12/11/2014 03:35:01 PM - SYSTEM STATS: Time:0.8966 Method:cmd.php Processes:4 Threads:N/A Hosts:3 HostsPerProcess:1 DataSources:1 RRDsProcessed:1
12/11/2014 03:35:01 PM - CMDPHP: Poller[0] Host[3] DS[8] WARNING: Result from CMD not valid. Partial Result: U
12/11/2014 03:30:01 PM - SYSTEM STATS: Time:0.9143 Method:cmd.php Processes:4 Threads:N/A Hosts:3 HostsPerProcess:1 DataSources:1 RRDsProcessed:1
12/11/2014 03:30:01 PM - CMDPHP: Poller[0] Host[3] DS[8] WARNING: Result from CMD not valid. Partial Result: U
12/11/2014 03:25:01 PM - SYSTEM STATS: Time:0.8231 Method:cmd.php Processes:4 Threads:N/A Hosts:3 HostsPerProcess:1 DataSources:1 RRDsProcessed:1
12/11/2014 03:25:01 PM - CMDPHP: Poller[0] Host[3] DS[8] WARNING: Result from CMD not valid. Partial Result: U
12/11/2014 03:20:01 PM - SYSTEM STATS: Time:0.8249 Method:cmd.php Processes:4 Threads:N/A Hosts:3 HostsPerProcess:1 DataSources:1 RRDsProcessed:1
12/11/2014 03:20:01 PM - CMDPHP: Poller[0] Host[3] DS[8] WARNING: Result from CMD not valid. Partial Result: U

What's wrong here? Oh, BTW, I know snmp isn't working right - but I'm not so concerned about that right now. I just need ICMP tracking of a remote host.

(P.S. Host 3, I think, is the ID for the single graph I have setup.)

-Mike

[BSOD2600]

When viewing the cacti log from within the Cacti web interface, you can actually click on the links to Host[3] or DS[8] to find out what they are.

[royboy]

Hello BSOD2600:

Again, thank you for your response. My question: Do I need to get the windows ping script, or should I be able to ping (UDP and TCP) to remote hosts using the default templates (i.e. "Unix - Ping")?

I'm still trying to get data on the graph, and I continue to have the message:

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12/15/2014 10:25:01 AM - SYSTEM STATS: Time:0.8142 Method:cmd.php Processes:4 Threads:N/A Hosts:2 HostsPerProcess:1 DataSources:1 RRDsProcessed:1
12/15/2014 10:25:01 AM - CMDPHP: Poller[0] Host[3] DS[8] WARNING: Result from CMD not valid. Partial Result: U
12/15/2014 10:20:01 AM - SYSTEM STATS: Time:0.7260 Method:cmd.php Processes:4 Threads:N/A Hosts:2 HostsPerProcess:1 DataSources:1 RRDsProcessed:1
12/15/2014 10:20:01 AM - CMDPHP: Poller[0] Host[3] DS[8] WARNING: Result from CMD not valid. Partial Result: U

First, I'm beginning to believe this is an issue separate from the installation. If forum rules dictate I need to start a new thread, I'd be happy to do that.

Second: I'm using a Windows 8 platform to host Cacti. However, the scripts I'm using to ping and graph a remote host are the "Unix - Ping". I'm beginning to believe that I may need a comparable Windows script. I located one on the forum from 2005. Cacti indicates that pings to the remote location are successful, but I think the data is simply unreadable in Cacti because I'm running Windows. Can you confirm?

Thanks,

Mike

[BSOD2600]

My question: Do I need to get the windows ping script, or should I be able to ping (UDP and TCP) to remote hosts using the default templates (i.e. "Unix - Ping")?

Do you want to graph ping response (if so, I'd recommend either the stock one or http://forums.cacti.net/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=10049) or just check if the device responds to ping?. The 'Unix - Ping' wont work with Windows since it calls linux commands. The poller downtime detection uses PHP or spine implementation of ping.

I'm still trying to get data on the graph, and I continue to have the message:

What is DS[8] (aka data source #8)? if you manually run that script, does it work?

[royboy]

BSOD2600,

I'm definitely trying to grade ping response. Frankly, I want to know the latency variance of our company's existing internet connection to determine if it is suitable for VOIP.

I have only one chart and one data source, and I've included screenshots of both in this post. Included is the data source debug:

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Data Source Debug
C:/rrdtool/rrdtool.exe create \
C:/Apache24/htdocs/cacti/rra/3/8.rrd \
--step 300  \
DS:ping:GAUGE:600:0:5000 \
RRA:AVERAGE:0.5:1:600 \
RRA:AVERAGE:0.5:6:700 \
RRA:AVERAGE:0.5:24:775 \
RRA:AVERAGE:0.5:288:797 \
RRA:MIN:0.5:1:600 \
RRA:MIN:0.5:6:700 \
RRA:MIN:0.5:24:775 \
RRA:MIN:0.5:288:797 \
RRA:MAX:0.5:1:600 \
RRA:MAX:0.5:6:700 \
RRA:MAX:0.5:24:775 \
RRA:MAX:0.5:288:797 \
RRA:LAST:0.5:1:600 \
RRA:LAST:0.5:6:700 \
RRA:LAST:0.5:24:775 \
RRA:LAST:0.5:288:797 \

To me, it looks like the data source is working correctly. It's Cacti's interpretation and graphing of the data that may be misconfigured/maladapted. I do not know how to call the Data Source manually; are we talking about a CL input into RRDTool? I feel certain that my problem is a novice mistake - so please don't count out the ID_10T Error.

Thank you for your assistance,

-Mike

[BSOD2600]

I'm definitely trying to grade ping response.

First thing then is you need to stop using the 'Unix - Ping' script and find one that works on Windows...

the data source debug really is only useful if youve changed the default RRA settings. more helpful is the info in the cacti.log and graph debug logs for tracking down errors.

[royboy]

BSOD2600:

Thanks again for your input. I took your advice and began using Windows Ping (cir. 2005) and then ran into a problem. I then downloaded Advanced Ping for Cacti 0.8.7 (which I love) but I'm running into the same problem.

The Problem:
After more than two separate hosts are pushing data out to separate graphs, a third (or more) host pushing data to another graph produces NOTHING but NaN's. In fact, Cacti will show a device as down, even when it's up (I know because I ping it through Windows CLI).

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12/18/2014 07:55:26 AM - SYSTEM STATS: Time:25.6552 Method:cmd.php Processes:4 Threads:N/A Hosts:4 HostsPerProcess:1 DataSources:3 RRDsProcessed:3
12/18/2014 07:50:26 AM - SYSTEM STATS: Time:25.6796 Method:cmd.php Processes:4 Threads:N/A Hosts:4 HostsPerProcess:1 DataSources:3 RRDsProcessed:3

I reviewed an older how-to-fix NaN's guide, but it clearly wasn't designed for the novice or for the Window's user.

Where do I begin to fix this problem? I turned on Cacti Log (Developer Debug) for one poller revolution and I've included the text with the helpful color context. If I can get advanced ping to work consistently for a minimum of 8 hosts, with minimal NaN's - I'm in the money. I think Cacti is tripping over itself - and even though I like efficiency, I would really like accuracy and consistency at this point. I'm willing to dedicate whatever computer resources are necessary to get the job done - it doesn't even have to be fast.

Thank you very much for your time,

-Mike

Note:
When outputting good graphing info to CSV, I notice that even on successful polls that return legitimate pings for a host there are still a number of NaN's per poll. Is this normal? I'm talking about anywhere from 8 - 12 NaN's amongst est. 16 (+/- 4) successful pings (I'm using 20 ping default per poll). I'm using Advanced Ping, but I think this happened on the other ping template also.

[BSOD2600]

When custom scripts don't work within cacti, the first thing to do is test if they work when they're manually run.

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C:\>cd inetpub\wwwroot\cacti
C:\inetpub\wwwroot\cacti>php script_server.php
PHP Script Server has Started - Parent is cmd
C:\inetpub\wwwroot\cacti\scripts\ss_fping.php ss_fping www.google.com
min:8.0000 avg:8.1667 max:9.0000 dev:0.3727 loss:0.0000

Are you certain 72.164.128.89 reponds to TCP:80 ?

[royboy]

BSOD2600,

My friend, the port was blocked! Cacti runs flawlessly, thank you for all of your assistance. I look forward to learning more about cacti and being a future contributor.

-Mike

p.s., I modified the Windows command line input to test the script. I placed here, as the six fingered man would say, "for posterity's sake".

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c:\Apache24\htdocs\cacti>cd c:\php

c:\php>php.exe -f "C:\Apache24\htdocs\cacti\script_server.php"
PHP Script Server has Started - Parent is cmd

C:\Apache24\htdocs\cacti\scripts\ss_fping.php ss_fping www.google.com
min:13.0000 avg:19.5000 max:32.0000 dev:5.9090 loss:0.0000