<%NUMBERING1%>.<%NUMBERING2%>.<%NUMBERING3%> PRTG Manual: EXE/Script Sensor

Script

Select an executable file from the list. The sensor will execute it with every scanning interval.

In this list, files in the corresponding \Custom Sensors\EXE sub-directory of the probe system's PRTG program directory are shown (see Data Storage). In order for the files to appear in this list, store them into this folder ending in BAT, CMD, DLL, EXE, PS1, or VBS. To show the expected values and sensor status, your files must use the right format for the returned values (in this case, value:message to standard output). The exit code of the file determines the sensor status.

For detailed information on how to build custom sensors and for the expected return format, please see the API documentation (Application Programming Interface (API) Definition). There, find detailed information the the "Custom Sensors" tab.

Note: Please do not use the folder \Custom Sensors\Powershell Scripts to store your files. This remnant from previous software versions is not used any more and may usually be deleted.

Note: When using custom sensors on the Cluster Probe, please copy your files to every cluster node installation.

Value Type

Define what kind of values your executable or script file gives back. Choose between:

• Integer: An integer is expected as return value. If the script gives back a float, PRTG will display the value 0.

• Float: A float is expected as return value, with a dot (.) between pre-decimal position and decimal places. In this setting, the sensor will also display integer values unless they produce a buffer overflow.

• Counter: Your script returns an integer which increases. PRTG will show the difference between the values of two sensor scans.
  Note: A counter must return an integer, float is not supported here!

Channel Name

Enter a name for the channel in which the sensor shows returned values. This is for display purposes only. Please enter a string.

Unit String

Enter a string that describes the unit of the returned values. This is for display purposes only. Please enter a string.

Sensor Name

Enter a meaningful name to identify the sensor. By default, PRTG shows this name in the device tree, as well as in alarms, logs, notifications, reports, maps, libraries, and tickets.

Parent Tags

Shows Tags that this sensor inherits from its parent device, group, and probe. This setting is shown for your information only and cannot be changed here.

Tags

Enter one or more Tags, separated by space or comma. You can use tags to group sensors and use tag–filtered views later on. Tags are not case sensitive. We recommend that you use the default value.

You can add additional tags to it, if you like. Other tags are automatically inherited from objects further up in the device tree. These are visible above as Parent Tags.

Priority

Select a priority for the sensor. This setting determines where the sensor is placed in sensor lists. Top priority is at the top of a list. Choose from one star (low priority) to five stars (top priority).

EXE/Script

Shows the executable or script file that the sensor executes with each sensor scan as defined on sensor creation. Once a sensor is created, you cannot change this value. It is shown for reference purposes only. If you need to change this, please add the sensor anew.

Parameters

If your executable or script file catches command line parameters, you can define them here. You can use placeholders as well. For a full list of all placeholders please see the API documentation (Application Programming Interface (API) Definition).

Note: Please make sure you write the placeholders in quotes to ensure that they are working properly if their values contain blanks. Use single quotation marks ' ' with PowerShell scripts, and double quotes " " with all others. Please enter a string or leave the field empty.

Environment

Choose if PRTG's command line parameters will also be available as environment parameters.

• Default Environment: Do not provide PRTG placeholders' values in the environment. Choose this secure option if you are not sure.

• Set placeholders as environment values: From within your executable or script, the values of PRTG's command line parameters will be available via environment variables. For example, you can then read and use the current host value of the PRTG device this EXE/script sensor is created on from within your script. This option can mean a security risk, because also credentials are provided in several variables. For a full list of all available variables please see the API documentation (Application Programming Interface (API) Definition).

Security Context

Define the Windows user account that the sensor uses to run the executable or script file. Choose between:

• Use security context of probe service: Run the selected file under the same Windows user account the probe runs on. By default, this is the Windows system user account (if not manually changed).
• Use Windows credentials of parent device: Use the Windows user account defined in the settings of the parent device this sensor is created on. Please go to parent device settings of this sensor to change these Windows credentials.

Mutex Name

Define any desired mutex name for the process. All EXE/Script sensors having the same mutex name will be executed serially (not simultaneously). This is useful if you use a lot of sensors and want to avoid high resource usage caused by processes running simultaneously. For links to more information, please see the More section below. Please enter a string or leave the field empty.

Timeout (Sec.)

Enter a timeout in seconds for the request. If the reply takes longer than this value defines, the sensor will cancel the request and show a corresponding error message. Please enter an integer value. The maximum value is 900 seconds (15 minutes).

Value Type

Shows the expected value type that you chose on sensor creation. Once a sensor is created, you cannot change this value. It is shown for reference purposes only. If you need to change this, please add the sensor anew.

Note: The sensor cannot handle string values.

If Value Changes

Define what this sensor will do when the sensor value changes. You can choose between:

• Ignore changes (default): The sensor takes no action on change.
• Trigger 'change' notification: The sensor sends an internal message indicating that its value has changed. In combination with a Change Trigger, you can use this mechanism to trigger a notification whenever the sensor value changes.

EXE Result

Define what this sensor will do with the result that the executable file gives back. Choose between:

• Discard EXE result: Do not store the requested web page.
• Write EXE result to disk: Store the last result received from the script with the file name "Result of Sensor [ID].txt" to the "Logs (Sensors)" directory (on the Master node, if in a cluster). This is for debugging purposes. The file will be overridden with each scanning interval. For information on how to find the folder used for storage, please see Data Storage section.
• Write EXE result to disk in case of error: Store the last result received from the script only if the sensor is in a down status. The file name is "Result of Sensor [ID].txt" in the "Logs (Sensors)" directory. Enable this option if you do not want failures to be overwritten by a following success of the script.

Primary Channel

Select a channel from the list to define it as the primary channel. In the device tree, the last value of the primary channel will always be displayed below the sensor's name. The available options depend on what channels are available for this sensor. Note: You can set another primary channel later by clicking on the pin symbol of a channel in the sensor's Overview tab.

Chart Type

Define how different channels will be shown for this sensor.

• Show channels independently (default): Show an own graph for each channel.

• Stack channels on top of each other: Stack channels on top of each other to create a multi-channel graph. This will generate an easy-to-read graph which visualizes the different components of your total traffic. Note: This option cannot be used in combination with manual Vertical Axis Scaling (available in the Sensor Channels Settings settings).

Stack Unit

This setting is only available if stacked graphs are selected above. Choose a unit from the list. All channels with this unit will be stacked on top of each other. By default, you cannot exclude single channels from stacking, if they use the selected unit. However, there is an advanced procedure to do so.

Scanning Interval

Select a scanning interval (seconds, minutes, or hours) from the list. The scanning interval determines the time the sensor waits between two scans. You can change the available intervals in the system administration.

When a Sensor Reports an Error

Define the number of scanning intervals that a sensor has time to report an error before the sensor will be set to a Down status. The sensor can try to reach a device several times, depending on the setup you can specify here, to help avoid false alarms if the monitored device has only temporary issues. For previous scanning intervals with failed requests, the sensor will show a Warning status. Choose between:

• Set sensor to "down" immediately: The sensor will show an error immediately after the first failed request.
• Set sensor to "warning" for 1 interval, then set to "down" (recommended): After the first failed request, the sensor will show a yellow warning status. If the following request also fails, the sensor will show an error.
• Set sensor to "warning" for 2 intervals, then set to "down": Show an error status only after three continuously failed requests.
• Set sensor to "warning" for 3 intervals, then set to "down": Show an error status only after four continuously failed requests.
• Set sensor to "warning" for 4 intervals, then set to "down": Show an error status only after five continuously failed requests.
• Set sensor to "warning" for 5 intervals, then set to "down": Show an error status only after six continuously failed requests.

Note: Sensors that monitor via Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) always wait at least one scanning interval until they show an error. It is not possible to set a WMI sensor "down" immediately, so the first option will not apply to these sensor types (all other options can apply).

Note: If a sensor has defined error limits for channels, this sensor will always be set to a Down status immediately, so no "wait" option will apply.

Note: If a channel uses lookup values, the sensor will always be set to a Down status immediately, so no "wait" options will apply.

Note: Inheritance for schedules, dependencies, and maintenance windows cannot be interrupted. The corresponding settings from the parent objects will always be active. However, you can define additional settings here. They will be active at the same time as the parent objects' settings.

Schedule

Select a schedule from the list. Schedules can be used to monitor for a certain time span (days, hours) throughout the week. With the period list option it is also possible to pause monitoring for a specific time span. You can create new schedules and edit existing ones in the account settings.

Note: Schedules are generally inherited. New schedules will be added to existing ones, so all schedules are active at the same time.

Maintenance Window

Specify if you want to set-up a one-time maintenance window. During a "maintenance window" period, this object and all child objects will not be monitored. They will be in a paused state instead. Choose between:

• Not set (monitor continuously): No maintenance window will be set and monitoring will always be active.
• Set up a one-time maintenance window: Pause monitoring within a maintenance window. You can define a time span for a monitoring pause below and change it even for a currently running maintenance window.

Note: To terminate a current maintenance window before the defined end date, you can change the time in Maintenance End At field to a date in the past.

Maintenance Begins At

This field is only visible if you enabled the maintenance window above. Use the date time picker to enter the start date and time of the maintenance window.

Maintenance End At

This field is only visible if you enabled the maintenance window above. Use the date time picker to enter the end date and time of the maintenance window.

Dependency Type

Define a dependency type. Dependencies can be used to pause monitoring for an object depending on the status of another. You can choose between:

• Use parent: Pause the current sensor if the device, where it is created on, is in a Down status, or if the sensor is paused by another dependency.
• Select object: Pause the current sensor if the device, where it is created on, is in an Down status, or if the sensor is paused by another dependency. Additionally, pause the current sensor if a specific other object in the device tree is in a Down status, or if it is paused by another dependency. Select below.
• Master object for parent: Make this sensor the master object for its parent device. The sensor will influence the behavior of the device, where it is created on: If the sensor is in a Down status, the device will be paused. For example, it is a good idea to make a Ping sensor the master object for its parent device to pause monitoring for all other sensors on the device in case the device cannot even be pinged. Additionally, the sensor will be paused if the parent group of its parent device is in a Down status, or if it is paused by another dependency.

Note: Testing your dependencies is easy! Simply choose Simulate Error Status from the context menu of an object that other objects depend on. A few seconds later all dependent objects should be paused. You can check all dependencies in your PRTG installation by selecting Devices | Dependencies from the main menu bar.

Dependency

This field is only visible if the Select object option is enabled above. Click on the reading-glasses and use the object selector to choose an object on which the current sensor will depend.

Delay (Seconds)

Define a time span. After the master object for this dependency comes back to an Up status, the beginning of the monitoring of the depending objects will be additionally delayed by the time span you define here. This can help to avoid false alarms, for example, after a server restart, by giving systems more time for all services to start up. Please enter an integer value in seconds. Note: This setting is not available if you choose this sensor to be the Master object for parent. In this case, please define delays in the parent Device Settings or in the superior Group Settings.

User Group Access

Define which user group(s) will have access to the object you're editing. A table with user groups and types of access rights is shown: It contains all user groups from your setup. For each user group you can choose from the following access rights:

• Inherited: Use the access rights settings of the parent object.
• None: Users in this group cannot see or edit the object. The object neither shows up in lists nor in the device tree. Exception: If a child object is visible to the user, the object is visible in the device tree, though not accessible.
• Read: Users in this group can see the object and review its monitoring results.
• Write: Users in this group can see the object, review its monitoring results, and edit the object's settings. They cannot edit access rights settings.
• Full: Users in this group can see the object, review its monitoring results, edit the object's settings, and edit access rights settings.

You can create new user groups in the System Administration—User Groups settings. To automatically set all objects further down in the hierarchy to inherit this object's access rights, set a check mark for the Revert children's access rights to inherited option.

For more details on access rights, please see the section User Access Rights.