This tutorial will guide you through the process of creating a custom sensor in PRTG to monitor specific metrics or applications. Custom sensors are a powerful feature that allows you to extend the functionality of PRTG to meet your unique monitoring needs.

Prerequisites

  • PRTG Network Monitor installed and running
  • Basic knowledge of programming (Python, PowerShell, etc.)
  • Access to the PRTG server

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Create a New Custom Sensor Script

    • Open the PRTG web interface and navigate to the "Sensors" section.
    • Click on "Add Sensor" and select "Custom Sensor (Script)".
    • Enter a name for your sensor and choose the appropriate type of script (e.g., Python, PowerShell).

  2. Write the Sensor Script

    • In the script editor, write the code that will retrieve the data you want to monitor.
    • For example, if you're monitoring a web server, you might use Python to make an HTTP request and check the server's status code.

  3. Test the Sensor

    • Save the script and click "Test Sensor" to verify that it works correctly.
    • If the test is successful, the sensor will start collecting data.

  4. Configure Sensor Settings

    • In the sensor settings, you can define thresholds, notifications, and other parameters.
    • You can also configure the sensor to run at specific intervals or trigger actions based on certain conditions.

  5. Monitor Your Custom Sensor

    • Once the sensor is configured, you can view its data in the PRTG web interface.
    • You can also create dashboards and reports to visualize your monitoring data.

Example: Monitoring a Web Server

Here's an example of a Python script that checks the status code of a web server:

import requests

def check_web_server(url):
    response = requests.get(url)
    if response.status_code == 200:
        return "OK"
    else:
        return "Error"

# Replace "http://example.com" with the URL of the web server you want to monitor
url = "http://example.com"
status = check_web_server(url)
print(status)

Learn More

For more information on creating custom sensors in PRTG, check out our Advanced Monitoring Techniques tutorial.

Web Server Monitoring