Shinken Livestatus API

Overview

• Jump back to :ref:`Getting Started <gettingstarted/index>`
• Jump back to :ref:`Livestatus module configuration <the_broker_modules>`

What is it

Livestatus API is the modern method of interacting with Shinken and Nagios based systems alike.

Originally developed for Nagios, MK Livetstatus, was re-implemented in Python for use with Shinken by professional developers. The access methods and query languages are the same.

Why use it

It is fast.

It is network based using TCP.

It is standard for all Nagios and Shinken monitoring systems.

It uses in-memory structures for status data

It uses a back-end database for historical reporting

It uses an SQL based query language

It has a host of powerful nuts and bolts features (authentication, caching, connection persistence, multiple object methods (JSON, Python)).

What can I do with it?

All programs and scripts use (or should use) this method to :

• Obtain the current state of hosts and services
• Obtain the current configuration related to hosts and services
• Send administrative commands (downtimes, comments, forcing checks)
• Filter information to display
• Obtain basic reports and event statistics

Shinken being a modern re-implementation of Nagios has additional features that are available in addition to the standard Livestatus API.

Shinken Livestatus API unique features can :

• Obtain Business Impact information
• Obtain intelligent dependency status hosts or services (combines dependency and parent information)
• Obtain Business Process states (same syntax as standard host and service queries)

How does it work

Livestatus uses a powerful SQL-like query language. The standard methods and parameters are defined at :

MK Livestatus reference methods and query language definition

Full list of Shinken Livestatus API methods:

Shinken mapping.py methods

What software uses Livestatus to interact with Shinken

Well known Web frontends

• MK Multisite
• Thruk
• NagVis
• Splunk for Nagios

Mobile Web frontends

• get list

Scripts

• Downtime management scripts
• Debug scripts

Installing Livestatus

Have you installed the required packages to use the Livestatus module? You can look at the requirement section of the :ref:`10 minute installation guide <gettingstarted/installations/shinken-installation>` for the :ref:`requirement lists <gettingstarted/installations/shinken-installation#requirements>`.

How to enable Livestatus

Very simple, jump to the :ref:`Shinken Broker configuration <the_broker_modules>` section to enable it.