PRTG 9 Manual: PRTG Server Administrator

In the PRTG Server Administrator program you can define different system-oriented settings that affect your PRTG installation, as well as restart services and view log information. Note: To get familiar with the different components of PRTG, we recommend reading the Architecture section.

Note: All settings made here are only valid for the local installation running on the computer you're opening the program on. In order to change settings for another installation, for example, another cluster node installation, please log in to this computer and open the program there.

From the PRTG Network Monitor group in Windows start menu, please select PRTG Server Administrator to open the application. You can choose from these options in different tabs:

 

When closing the program using the Ok button, you are asked to restart the core server Windows service in order to save the settings. Please confirm by clicking the Yes button. Otherwise the changes are ignored.

PRTG Server Administrator

PRTG Server Administrator

Web Server

Edit IPs, ports, access methods and language for the Ajax and HTML GUI web interfaces.

PRTG Server Administrator

PRTG Server Administrator

Web Server—Select TCP Port for PRTG's Web Server

PRTG is running a web server in order to provide the web and Windows interface. Please specify on which port this web server will run.

HTTPS (Port 443)

  • This is the recommended setting.
  • Use a secure HTTPS connection that is encrypted via SSL on port 443.
  • SSL-secured connections can be established on port 443 only.
  • Note: Although the connection is secure, you will see an SSL Certificate Warning in your browser when logging in to the PRTG web interface, because the default certificate is unknown to your browser. You can install another SSL certificate for PRTG later. Please see the More section below.
  • Note: If port 80 is free, PRTG will reserve it as well. When users try to connect on port 80 via HTTP, they will then be redirected to port 443 via HTTPS. You can change this behavior later. Please see the More section below.

 

HTTP (Port 80)

  • This setting is not recommended for WAN connections.
  • Use a standard web server without SSL encryption on port 80.
  • Note: If used on the internet, attackers could potentially spy on credentials you enter into PRTG. We strongly recommend using this option in a LAN only.

 

HTTP using TCP Port

  • This setting is not recommended for WAN connections.
  • Use a standard web server without SSL encryption on a custom port.
  • This option is intended for systems with an existing web server.
  • Enter the desired TCP port you want the PRTG web server to run on.
  • Note: If used on the internet, attackers could potentially spy on credentials you enter into PRTG. We strongly recommend using this option in a LAN only.

 

Web Server—Select IP Address for PRTG's Web Server

PRTG is running a web server in order to provide access via the web and Windows interface. Please specify which IP address this web server will run on. Note: Later, you can log into PRTG by simply pointing your browser to the specified IP address.

Localhost

  • Use 127.0.0.1 only.
  • PRTG's web and Windows interface will only be accessible from the computer PRTG is installed on.
  • Note: Either the selected port or at least one port in the range from 8080 to 8089 has to be available on 127.0.0.1.

 

All IPs

  • Use all IP addresses available on this computer and enable access to the web server for all of these addresses.
  • Note: The TCP port selected above must be free on every available IP address.

 

Specify IPs

  • Select specific IP addresses on which the PRTG Web server will run on.
  • A list specific to your system is shown.
  • Add a check mark in front of every IP address you want the PRTG web server to be available at.
  • Note: Either the selected port or at least one port in the range from 8080 to 8089 has to be available on the specified IP address.
     

Note: Regardless of the selected setting above, one port in the range from 8080 to 8180 has to be available on the specified IP address so PRTG can create reports. The report engine will try to connect to the core server on one of these ports.

Select System Language

  • Choose the language for this program from the drop down menu. Default is English. Depending on your installation, you may be able to choose other languages here.
  • This setting will influence the language of this program, as well as the Ajax and the HTML GUI web interfaces.
     

Core Server

Define settings for the core server.

PRTG Server Administrator

PRTG Server Administrator

Core Server—Probe Connection Management

In this section you can define how PRTG handles incoming connections from probes. Choose between several options.

Accept connections from the Local Probe only

  • This is the default setting.
  • Only local probe connections will be accepted by the PRTG core server.
  • You cannot use remote probes with this setting enabled.
     

Accept connections from remote probes on all IPs

  • Incoming connections from remote probes will always be accepted, no matter on which IP address of the core server they come in.
     

Accept connections from remote probes on selected IPs only

  • Incoming connections from remote probes will only be accepted on the selected IP address(es) of the core server.
  • In the list, select the IP addresses by adding a check mark in front the IPs.
     

Core Server—Probe Connections Port

In this section you can define on which TCP port number PRTG listens to for incoming probe connections. Enter a port number. We recommend using the default value.

Core Server—Local Storage of Data Files and Monitoring Database

  • Define the data folder to which PRTG will store configuration and monitoring data. Define a path or click on the Revert to default folder to reset to default. Note: Before changing the path, make sure you stop both services and copy all data to the new location.
  • When enabling the Use NTFS based file compression option, you will save disk space, but you will experience a higher CPU load on the core system.
     

Cluster

In the Cluster tab you can manually change how the current core installation will behave in a cluster. Before changing settings here, please read Install a PRTG Cluster section.

PRTG Server Administrator

PRTG Server Administrator

Cluster—Cluster Settings

Depending on the current cluster settings you will see different information here.

  • In the Cluster Mode field shows which cluster mode the current installation is running. This setting is shown for your information only and cannot be changed here. Possible values are Standalone (no cluster mode), Cluster Mode: Master Node, or Cluster Mode: Failover Node.
  • The Cluster Access Key field is shown only when running in a cluster mode. This setting is shown for your information only and cannot be changed here.
  • The Own Node ID field is shown only when running in a cluster mode. This setting is shown for your information only and cannot be changed here.
     

Cluster—Cluster Mode Actions

Depending on the current cluster settings you will see different buttons active here.

Create a PRTG Cluster...

PRTG Server Administrator

PRTG Server Administrator

  • If you're currently running your PRTG installation in Standalone mode, you can start creating a cluster by using this button. The current PRTG core server will then be the Master Node of your cluster. A new window will appear.
  • Enter a Cluster Port. This is the port on which the internal communication between the different cluster nodes is sent. Make sure connections between cluster nodes are possible on the selected port.
  • Enter a Cluster Access Key. This is a unique access key. All nodes in a cluster have to be configured with the same cluster access key in order to join the cluster. Connection attempts with the wrong access key will be rejected.
  • We recommend using the default value.
  • Save the Cluster Access Key so you have it at hand when configuring your Failover Node(s).
  • After confirming your settings you will be asked to restart Windows services. Please do so in order for your changes to take effect.
     

Join a PRTG Cluster...

PRTG Server Administrator

PRTG Server Administrator

  • If you're currently running your PRTG installation in Standalone mode, you can join an existing cluster which already has a Master Node. The current PRTG core server will then be a Failover Node in the cluster. A new window will appear. Note: This button is also available if you're currently running your PRTG installation in Cluster Mode: Master Node. This option will cause your master node to be changed to a failover node!
  • Enter the cluster's Master IP address/DNS name. It must be reachable from the machine running the failover node.
  • Enter the other settings as defined in your Master Node's settings. Please make sure you use the same settings on all nodes in your cluster.
  • Enter a Cluster Port. This is the port on which the internal communication between the different cluster nodes is sent. Make sure connections between cluster nodes are possible on the selected port.
  • Enter a Cluster Access Key. This is a unique access key. All nodes in a cluster have to be configured with the same cluster access key in order to join the cluster. Connection attempts with the wrong access key will be rejected.
  • After confirming your settings you will be asked to restart Windows services. Please do so in order for your changes to take effect.
     

Change PRTG Cluster Settings...

PRTG Server Administrator

PRTG Server Administrator

  • If you're running your PRTG installation in cluster mode, you can change the settings here. A new window will appear.
  • Enter a Cluster Port. This is the port on which the internal communication between the different cluster nodes is sent. Make sure connections between cluster nodes are possible on the selected port.
  • Enter a Cluster Access Key. This is a unique access key. All nodes in a cluster have to be configured with the same cluster access key in order to join the cluster. Connection attempts with the wrong access key will be rejected.
  • Please make sure you use the same settings on all nodes in your cluster.
  • After confirming your settings you will be asked to restart Windows services. Please do so in order for your changes to take effect.
     

Revert to Standalone...

  • If you're currently running your PRTG installation in cluster mode, you can change it to Standalone mode. If you do so, this node will no longer be part of a cluster.
  • After confirming your settings you will be asked to restart Windows services. Please do so in order for your changes to take effect.
     

Master Heartbeat

This section is only visible if you're running your PRTG installation in cluster mode. The current master can execute an external executable file on a regular basis. We call this a "heartbeat".

This can be used, for example, to report the IP address of the current master node to a dynamic DNS provider, so a DNS name is always redirected to the current PRTG master node in case the original master node fails and a failover node (running at a different IP address) takes over the master role.

Choose between:

  • No heartbeat: Do not execute a file on a regular basis.
  • Run the following external executable file every 5 minutes: Click on the ... button to choose a file you want to execute. This can be, for example, a command line tool, or a batch file. It will be executed on the current master node only, with a fixed interval of five minutes. The interval cannot be changed.

Note: Please make sure the selected file is available under the same (local) path on all failover nodes. In case one of your failover nodes becomes current master, the heartbeat can only be executed reliably if the respective executable file exists on all of your failover nodes.

Memory Usage

PRTG shows several graphs in the objects' detail pages in the web interface. These are kept in RAM memory for fast display without causing extra CPU load or disk usage. The longer the time frames and the shorter the intervals are, the more memory will be used for this. You can adapt the details for all four graphs. This setting will also change the caption of the objects' tabs in the web interface and Enterprise Console.

PRTG Server Administrator

PRTG Server Administrator

Live

The live graph is available for sensors only. For the live graph, no fixed time span is given, but you can define how many values will be displayed. The actual time span covered by the live graph depends on the scanning interval set for the sensor you're viewing and is calculated automatically. By default, 120 Values is set, which results in a graph covering a time span of two hours, if a scanning interval of 60 seconds is set for the sensor. Other scanning intervals will result in graphs covering different time spans. Choose between:

  • 60 Values: This corresponds to a live graph covering a time span of one hour if a 1 minute scanning interval is set. Uses least RAM memory.
  • 120 Values: This corresponds to a live graph covering a time span of two hours if a 1 minute scanning interval is set.
  • 240 Values: This corresponds to a live graph covering a time span of four hours if a 1 minute scanning interval is set.
  • 480 Values: This corresponds to a live graph covering a time span of eight hours if a 1 minute scanning interval is set.
  • 960 Values: This corresponds to a live graph covering a time span of 16 hours if a 1 minute scanning interval is set. Uses most RAM memory.
     

Graph 1

By default, this is the 2 days graph in the web interface. You can change it to more or less detail by choosing a time span and a monitoring interval average associated with it. Monitoring results will be averaged regardless of the actual scanning interval set for the sensors. Choose between:

  • 1 day with 1 minute averages: Results in 1440 values.
  • 1 day with 5 minutes averages: Results in 288 values.
  • 1 day with 15 minutes averages: Results in 96 values. Uses least RAM memory.
  • 2 days with 1 minute averages: Results in 2880 values. Uses most RAM memory.
  • 2 days with 5 minutes averages: Results in 576 values.
  • 2 days with 15 minutes averages: Results in 192 values.
  • 4 days with 1 hour averages: Results in 96 values. Uses least RAM memory.
     

Graph 2

By default, this is the 30 days graph in the web interface. You can change it to more or less detail by choosing a time span covered and a monitoring interval average associated with it. Choose between:

  • 10 days with 1 hour averages: Results in 240 values.
  • 20 days with 1 hour averages: Results in 480 values.
  • 30 days with 1 hour averages: Results in 720 values.
  • 30 days with 6 hour averages: Results in 120 values. Uses least RAM memory.
  • 40 days with 1 hour averages: Results in 960 values.
  • 40 days with 6 hour averages: Results in 160 values.
  • 60 days with 1 hour averages: Results in 1440 values. Uses most RAM memory.
  • 60 days with 6 hour averages: Results in 240 values.
     

Graph 3

By default, this is the 365 days graph in the web interface. You can change it to more or less detail by choosing a time span covered and a monitoring interval average associated with it. Choose between:

  • 100 days with 1 day averages: Results in 100 values. Uses least RAM memory.
  • 200 days with 1 day averages: Results in 200 values.
  • 365 days with 1 day averages: Results in 365 values.
  • 400 days with 1 day averages: Results in 400 values.
  • 750 days with 1 day averages: Results in 750 values. Uses most RAM memory.
     

Administrator

PRTG Server Administrator

PRTG Server Administrator

Enter the administrator's contact email address and define login credentials for PRTG.

Email Address

  • Enter a valid administrator's email address.
  • By default, PRTG will send notifications and important messages to this address.

 

Login Name

  • Enter a name for the PRTG System Administrator login; this is your default login.
  • It is used when logging in to the PRTG Web- or Windows interface.
  • The default login name is prtgadmin

 

Password

  • Enter a password for the PRTG System Administrator login; this is your default login.
  • It is used when logging in to the PRTG Web- or Windows interface.
  • The default password is prtgadmin

 

Confirm Password

  • Re-enter the password for the PRTG System Administrator login.
  • The default password is prtgadmin

License

To use a PRTG license with this installation of PRTG, please enter the license information you have received from Paessler via email. To avoid typing errors, please copy and paste both the License Name and the License Key from the email. Both must be transferred exactly as shown in the email.

PRTG Server Administrator License Tab

PRTG Server Administrator License Tab

To make sure your key has been entered correctly please click on the Check Key button. A popup box will either show success or denial of your license information. License information is also checked if you change tabs.

In the Licensed Edition field you will see an accepted licence key.

Note: You have to use the right edition for your license key. For example, the installer for trial and Freeware edition does not accept any commercial keys. For more information, please see Enter a License Key section.

Start/Stop

PRTG Server Administrator

PRTG Server Administrator

You can stop and start the core server Windows service manually. Click the Stop Core Server button to stop the service, and Start Core Server to start it again. Both actions usually take from a few seconds up to several minutes to complete.

Note: If you want to schedule an automatic restart of Windows services for both core server and probe service, please do so using the PRTG Probe Administrator. For more details see PRTG Probe Administrator (Start/Stop) section.

Logs

PRTG Server Administrator

PRTG Server Administrator

You can view several logs of your PRTG installation. The following buttons are available:

  • View Today's Webserver Log
    Directly view the content of the web server log for the current date.
  • View Core Server System Log
    Directly view the content of the core server system log. Depending on the number of entries, it may take a few seconds until the logs are shown.
  • Open Log Folder...
    Open the log file directory on your hard disk drive to access older web log files, etc.
  • Send Logs to Paessler...
    Open an assistant to send log files to the Paessler support team. Please see below.

Logs—Send Logs to Paessler

Send Logs to Paessler

Send Logs to Paessler

When opening a support ticket, Paessler support may ask you to send log files for further analysis. Using the Send Logs to Paessler... button, PRTG will automatically collect, compress and send your log files.

Name

  • Please enter your name.

Email

  • Please enter your valid email address.

Ticket No.

  • This field is optional.
  • If you have already opened a ticket at Paessler support, please provide the ticket number you received. Your files will then be associated with your ticket automatically.
  • Please enter the ticket number starting with PAE followed by four or more digits.
  • If you do not have a ticket number, please leave the field empty. Note: You should usually contact the support team before sending any files.

Configuration

  • Define if your configuration file will be included in the data. Passwords are usually encrypted, but there may be some passwords stored as plain text.

 

Click on the Send button to start data upload. Please make sure FTP and HTTP connections are allowed on this machine.

About

PRTG Server Administrator

PRTG Server Administrator

Displays version information for installed PRTG programs. Click on the Open Support Ticket button to ask the Paessler support team for help. This will open a new web browser window.

 

System Administration Programs—Topics

Related Topics

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Keywords: Configure,Configure PRTG Server,Server Administrator

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