Using Remote Probes

For a general introduction to remote probes, please see manual section Multiple Probes and Remote Probes.

Deploy and Auto-Configure Remote Probes Using Kaspersky

There is a small C++ command line program that can be used to auto-configure remote probes using Kaspersky Admin Kit deployment. The program uses minimal DLLs (only Kernel32.dll and advAPI32.dll) to avoid installation of MSVC++ 2008 Runtime. This article describes how you can set up and configure PRTG's remote probes remotely.

Note: PRTGRemoteProbeCfg is a freeware add-on from PRTG's user community. It comes with no warranty and we cannot officially support it.

A big "Thank You!" to Vincent from Nolmë Informatique for sharing this tool!

Steps to take

1. In the PRTG web interface, choose Setup | Downloads from the main menu and download the Remote Probe Installer (PRTG_Remote_Probe_Installer.exe).
2. Deploy the remote probes using Kaspersky Network Agent: PRTG_Remote_Probe_Installer.exe /SILENT For help with this, see Kaspersky Technical Support.
3. Download http://code.google.com/p/prtg7addons/downloads/detail?name=PRTGRemoteProbeCfg1.0.0.500.exe from Google Code
   
   [UPDATE] New version available here: http://code.google.com/p/prtg-addons/downloads/detail?name=PRTGRemoteProbeCfgV9.exe
4. Set parameters for a remote computer using Kaspersky Network Agent and PRTGRemoteProbeCfg.exe (renamed). Example: PRTGRemoteProbeCfg.exe /SERVERADDRESS <MyServerPublicIPAddress> /SERVERPORT 23560 /KEY <MyHashKey> /TAG NOLME_
5. Machine does not need to be rebooted to take changes. If you want to check the connection between Remote Probe and Server, please see PRTG 7 manual section Multiple Probes and Remote Probes for more information.

Notes

• You can run PRTGRemoteProbeCfg.exe without any parameter to display help.
• The program produces a debug log file in %TEMP%/NolmeDebug.log
• If no name is specified, the program gets the machine's name (which should be unique for all good network admin ;p). Tag is inserted before for "classification".
• Although these instructions are optimized for Kaspersky, remote deploy should work similar with other tools like OCS Inventory, Kaseya, ManageEngine Desktop Central, etc.

Help

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paessler PRTG Remote Probe Configuration Help - (c) 2010 Nolmë Informatique     
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Version  : 1.0
Encoding : UNICODE
 
DESCRIPTION
~~~~~~~~~~~
Set remote probe configuration for Paessler PRTG Monitor
 
SYNTAX
~~~~~~
PRTGREMOTEPROBECFG [/SERVERADDRESS[:]address] [/SERVERPORT[:]port] [/KEY[:]access key] [/LANGUAGE[:]language] [/RECONNECTTIME[:]time]
                   [/TAG[:]tag name] [/WORKGROUPPREFIX] [/NAME[:]probe name]
                   [/NORESTARTSERVICE]
 
  /?     Display help. Must be UNIQUE parameter
  
  /SERVERADDRESS    Define remote server address
          Address can be an IP or FQDN
          Default : 127.0.0.1
  
  /SERVERPORT       Define remote server port
          Port can be in [1..65536]
          Default : 23560
  
  /KEY              Access key hash code
          See in registry of server to get hash code (DECIMAL)
          Default : 0
  
  /LANGUAGE         Set default language
          English : english.lng
          French  : french.lng (Default)
          German  : german.lng
          Japanese: japanese.lng
          Spanish : spanish.lng
  
  /RECONNECTTIME    Time sync (in seconds) with server
          Default : 300
  
  /TAG              Define local probe tag name
          Add this tag before probe name
          Default : PROBE_
  
  /WORKGROUPPREFIX  Add computer workgroup name in probe name
          Default : <none>
  
  /NAME             Define local probe name
          If not specified, machine name will be used. /TAG can be combined
          Default : MyProbe
  
  /NORESTARTSERVICE Don't restart PRTG service after installation (Default: false)
  
Arguments are not case sensitive. You can use both slash '/' or '-' for specifying options.

Version History

Build : 1.0.0.500 : Help displayed from command line display good default value

Build : 1.0.0.400 : No need to restart computer to apply changes Add workgroup/domain name in probe name generation (see parameter: WORKGROUPPREFIX) Add parameter to avoid service restart (see parameter NORESTARTSERVICE)