Replace MRTG with Cacti

cutta123 · Post by **cutta123** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 4:15 pm

Please I am asking for help on how I would go about migrating or replacing MRTG with CACTI? What would be the steps I take for someone who had no knowledge of MRTG and CACTI. I am really new to this and I am the one responsible for these now. Thanks for all your help.

BSOD2600 · Post by **BSOD2600** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 4:50 pm

Read http://forums.cacti.net/viewtopic.php?t=11747

cutta123 · Post by **cutta123** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:02 pm

I haven't installed Cacti yet. I want to know the upgrade steps I should follow from MRTG to Cacti. Thanks again.

BSOD2600 · Post by **BSOD2600** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:05 pm

Unless you've told mrtg to use rrd as its storage format, there is no upgrade path. And even if you did, using the existing rrd files is possible, but not really ideal.

You must start fresh with Cacti.

cutta123 · Post by **cutta123** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:25 pm

Okay, I think I am understanding you now. Bascially I have to install Cacti first and import MRTG to Cacti.

BSOD2600 · Post by **BSOD2600** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:51 pm

Basically.

The only way you can import data from mrtg, is if its in the rrdtool format. Even then, you'll need to follow the guide (in the documentation site) on how to make cacti work with existing rrd files.

cutta123 · Post by **cutta123** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:54 pm

Sorry I am a novice... but how do I know if its in rrdtool format? Thanks.

jay · Post by **jay** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 10:42 am

Take a look at

http://oss.oetiker.ch/mrtg/index.en.html

http://oss.oetiker.ch/mrtg/doc/mrtg-rrd.en.html

You need to search of *.rrd files on the server that mrtg runs on. If those files exist then its set to use RRD if they don't then its not.

If you plan to move over to Cacti I would have a good read of the documentation beforehand. Its a fantastic tool but the installation can be painful sometimes.

This is a great place to start
http://docs.cacti.net/

Jay

cutta123 · Post by **cutta123** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 11:34 am

Jay,

Thanks for your help! I like the way you explained it because I am very new to this. I will do a search as you mention on the server that mrtg is installed on.

If I am running the windows version I am thinking these are the steps I'll have to follow to get Cacti working and then export MRTG.

1. Download and Install Cacti on the server that MRTG is installed on
2. Install PHP
3. Install MySQL
4. Install RRDTool
5. Configure PHP
6. Configure IIS
7. Do nothing to RRDTool
8. Stop MySQL service, then Start MySQL service
9. Configure Cacti
10. Apply Patches
11. Reboot Cacti server

After doing these steps, how do I import our network devices from MRTG to Cacti? Or, how do I make MRTG work with Cacti?

I know I'll have to load all our network devices and create profiles on Cacti. Also we have a second MRTG Server, we are using both, one is our backup server....MRTG and MRTG01...

Thanks for all your help and BSOD2600 help. I appreciate it so much!

jay · Post by **jay** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 12:47 pm

Hi

If you are using Windows then you can either follow the guide and install each component separately or there is a windows installer you can use. I haven't used the installer but it looks to be a great tool for those that are worried about setting up mysql etc. Setting up yourself though is a good way to learn.

Windows Installer
http://forums.cacti.net/viewtopic.php?t=14946
Windows Guide
http://forums.cacti.net/viewtopic.php?t=11747

As far as migrating your information from MRTG I have never done that before so can't really comment. There is a short guide on how to do this

http://docs.cacti.net/node/391

How many devices have you currently got with MRTG?? Is it a large installation?? It might be easier to set up Cacti on a seperate server and start from scratch. Once that is done you can switch off polling in MRTG but leave the graphs on the MRTG server for reference. Then 6 months down the line once you have collected enough stats within Cacti you can decommission the MRTG server. It depends on whether your company like to keep stats for years. If you do need to do it then it may be better to install Cacti on a new server to keep it seperate from MRTG and then follow the guide as mentioned above. Either way I would set up Cacti and get yourself used to it before trying to transfer your MRTG data across.

Jay

cutta123 · Post by **cutta123** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 10:47 am

Okay, I am following the instructions for the Windows version... I install php-5.2.5.tar.gz then it detects the mirroe close to you which mine was us3.php.net Tier Four Colocation

I am following the installation instructions but I did not get a welcome page where I can follow the exact instructions listed... It installed in the C:\PHP though what should I do next? Thanks.

jay · Post by **jay** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 11:01 am

Hi

Are you just installing Cacti at the moment?? Are you installing it on Windows?? If so why are you using what looks to be a Linux/Unix PHP version. You need to use the Windows Binaries - Installer and ZIP file as per the instructions.

Jay

cutta123 · Post by **cutta123** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 12:40 pm

Jay,

I am installing Cacti, RRDTool, PHP, MySQL on Windows Server 2003 which already have MRTG running on it.

Please any help would be thankful. Thanks.

jay · Post by **jay** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 12:47 pm

Hi

To install PHP use the WIndows binaries as I mentioned before and follow these steps to install PHP

PHP
Recommended Install Path: C:\PHP\
Note: Do not install into a path containing spaces (i.e. C:\Program Files\PHP\) unless you're prepared to deal with 8.3 filenames.

* Double-click on the php installer to start it running.
1. Click Next to the welcome page.
2. Click I Agree to accept the license agreement.
3. At the Destination Folder page, change the path to: C:\PHP\ and click Next.
4. At the Web Server page, select IIS ISAPI Module and click Next.
5. At the Choose Item page, do the following:
1. Click on the Program folder and select entire feature will be installed on local hard drive. The icon should now be white.
2. Under the Extension folder, select MySQL, SNMP, and Sockets to be installed.
6. Click Next.
7. Click Install.
8. Once done installing, click Finish.
* Create new folders under C:\PHP\ called Uploadtemp and Session.
* Extract the contents of the PHP zip file
1. Move the \extras\mibs\ folder to C:\PHP\Extras\

If you have already done this using the correct windows binaries then I need more information as to the error messages you see.

I would also follow the troubleshooting instructions posted here
http://forums.cacti.net/viewtopic.php?t=11747

I won't be able to reply until tomorrow as I'm leaving the office now.

Jay

cutta123 · Post by **cutta123** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 12:48 pm

I am using IIS V6 and OS Windows 2003, MySQL was already installed on it before maybe because MRTG is running on it.

Replace MRTG with Cacti

Replace MRTG with Cacti

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