This article describes how to create a ping, TCP, or HTTP monitoring check using the New Cloud Control Panel. Each of the monitoring checks you can create with the New Cloud Control Panel are based on predefined check templates. You can view the settings for each check template in the Cloud Monitoring API Developers Guide.

For the latest information about Cloud Monitoring pricing and other general questions, see the Cloud Monitoring FAQ and the Cloud Monitoring main product page.

Create a Monitoring Check

1. Log into the New Cloud Control Panel, and click Servers.
2. Click the server you'd like to create the check for.

   The Server Details page opens.

3. Scroll to the Monitoring Checks section and click Create Check.

   

4. In the create check pop-over, select the Check Type: Ping Check (Server), HTTP Check (Website), or TCP Check (Port).

   

    

5. Enter a descriptive name for the check in the Check Name text box.

    

   For Ping Check (Server)

   1. Select Ping Check (Server).
   2. Select either IP Address or Hostname as the Target Type.
   3. Select the IP address or enter the server's hostname in the Target Hostname text box.
   4. Click Create Check.

      The check is created and appears in the Monitor Checks table with a status of "Pending First Run."

    

   For HTTP Check (Website)

   1. Select HTTP Check (Website).

   2. Enter the URL of the website you want to monitor.

   3. (Optional) Click Advanced Options and fill in the Body Match with a word or phrase that will appear on the page when it loads successfully. For example, you can do a body match on the copyright date to verify if the website is up.
   4. Click Create Check.

      The check is created and appears in the table of Monitoring Checks with a status of "Pending First Run."

    

   For TCP Check (Port)

   1. Select TCP Check (Port).
   2. Enter the port number you want to monitor.
   3. Select either IP Address or Hostname as the Target Type.
   4. Select the IP address or enter the server's hostname in the Target Hostname text box.
   5. Click Create Check.

      The check is created and appears in the table of Monitoring Checks with a status of "Pending First Run."

The Check Status

As you create new checks, they'll appear in the Monitoring Checks table. The bar to the left of the check name indicates the status of the check:

When a check is first created, its status is "Pending First Run" as shown below:

Each check is currently launched from three different monitoring zones (regions):

• DFW (Dallas-Ft. Worth)
• ORD (Chicago)
• LON (London)

Note: The terms monitoring zone and regions can be used interchangeably here, as they both represent the geographical locations where Rackspace has a data center and where the Rackspace Cloud Monitoring API is hosted.

The check status is calculated by determining if there is an agreement from a quorum of the monitoring zones (two out of three monitoring zones running the check). This helps avoid reporting false negatives. A check has to fail in two of the three monitoring zones/regions before the check state is deemed CRITICAL.

The combined results of the check from all three monitoring zones determines the check's state. The check state can be one of the following:

• Green = OK

• Yellow = WARNING

• Red = CRITICAL, the check failed in at least two of three monitoring zones. The Technical Contact (the primary contact on the Rackspace account) will receive an email describing the situation.

The following screen-shot shows a check with an OK state and one in CRITICAL state:

Managing a Check

From the New Cloud Control Panel, click the Action cog to the left of the check name to Rename, Edit, or Delete a check:

You can also use the Rackspace Cloud Monitoring API or the raxmon command line interface to perform these and other actions on a check.