Multi-host Ping Management Pack 2.0 Beta now available
Version 2.0 of the Multi-Host Ping Management Pack is now available for download HERE. The completely rewritten MP includes:
- Updated monitoring logic and a fully parameterized Multi-host Ping Rule with 6 overridable parameters that allows the user to specify a number of options, including a comma-separated list of IP addresses, NetBIOS and FQDN host names to be tested for ICMP echo (Ping) connectivity.
- Six overridable parameters are now exposed individually, much like in MS and commercial MPs (see figure 2 below).
- The ability to generate custom performance data allowing ping reponse time (in ms) to be automatically displayed in the included performance view (see figure 3)
Instructions for Use
For detailed configuration instructions, please view the readme.rtf included with the MP. MP features reviewed below.
Rules
There are three (3) rules in the MP, all targeted at the Windows Operating System and all DISABLED by default. This allows the end user to apply overrides to enable the monitoring, alert and event collection rules for the desired group of watcher nodes (servers running the rule to ping remote hosts).

Overridable Parameters
Parameters are now displayed individually as standard overridable parameters as in MS and commercial MPs, as shown below.

Figure 2 - Overridable parameters for Multi-host Ping Rule
The monitoring rule has six (6) overridable parameters (also pictured in figure 2)
- Enabled – Sets the enabled / disabled status of the rule. Default value is false (disabled)
- TimeOutSeconds – Seconds the monitoring script is allowed to run. Default value is 120 seconds, but can be increased for pinging longer lists of hosts if necessary. Note the ping operation on the list is serial in nature (1 host at a time).
- DeviceList – Comma-separated list of devices you wish to ping. The default value is www.google.com. This can be a mixture of IP addresses, FQDNs and NetBIOS names.
- LogPerfData - If 1, a performance data stream is logged and presented in the Performance View. Zero (0) disables this function. Default value is 1 (enabled).
- IntervalSeconds – Indicates the frequency with which the rule will run. Default value is 900 seconds (15 minutes).
- LogSuccessEvent – if 1, a success event is logged to the Operations Manager Event Log for each host pinged successfully. Zero (0) disabled this function. Default value is 0.
Views
The Multi-host Ping Management Pack has three views:
- An Alert View
- An Event View (showing failure, and optionally, success events)
- A Performance View displaying ping response for hosts targeted by the rule.

Figure 3 - Views in Multi-host Ping MP
Feedback
Please send feedback, errata and suggestions to administrator [AT] systemcenterforum.org

September 10th, 2008 at 4:26 am
[…] Review of the MP is available HERE. […]