recommended way to use command line options for icinga/nagios checks?

Question

Short version: if I want to change one of the "command definitions" in the Nagios set, what is the best way to do it?

For example, I would like to add the -f (follow) flag to one of the check_http commands found in /etc/nagios-plugins/config/http.cfg. But it feels wrong to be editing those files.

Should I edit the existing commands to meet my needs? Should I add my own command to the http.cfg file to meet my needs? Is there a place where I can add my own command file?

Pointers to the docs are gladly welcomed!

Answer 1

Define your own command with a new name in etc/objects/commands.cfg, something like this:

define command{
        command_name    check_http
        command_line    $USER1$/check_http -I $HOSTADDRESS$ $ARG1$
        }

define command{
        command_name    check_http_redirect
        command_line    $USER1$/check_http -I $HOSTADDRESS$ -f $ARG1$
        }

and call it with corresponding state which you want to handle in /etc/nagios-plugins/config/http.cfg:

define service{
    use                     generic-service
    host_name               domain.com
    service_description     domain.com
    check_command           check_http_redirect!warning
    process_perf_data       0
    contact_groups          admin
    }

An example when running from the command line:

$ check_http -H domain.com -f warning
HTTP WARNING: HTTP/1.1 301 Moved Permanently - 428 bytes in 0.003 second response time |time=0.002897s;;;0.000000 size=428B;;;0