zbntp_lm - Zabbix NTP Loadable Module

Zabbix loadable module for monitoring NTP servers by sending a simple request and analyzing its response.

Now this module is under initial development and supports next metrics:

• zbntp.online - values 0: offline, 1: online, 2: unknown (not supported yet)
• zbntp.stratum
• zbntp.diff - difference between local and server time (s)

Purpose

Why don't parse "ntpdate -q" output, for example

Because every request cause a fork(). It is just unworthy behavior.

Why don't realize chronyc or ntpq, for example

Because it is very difficulty and not universally.

Why don't use "NNTP Service" template

Because it is too poor and gives information only about answer on udp port 123. NTP-server with stratum-16 will answer too, as if it's all right.

Why there is answers cache inside

Because each answer contains information for various metrics. Zabbix, on the other hand, requests one metric on one time. Why, in this case, send a tons of same requests to NTP-server? It is better to analyze recently received answers.

Building and installation

• First of all, one must have Zabbix sources: https://github.com/zabbix/zabbix

• Go to src/modules and do

  git clone https://github.com/shorrey/zbntp_lm.git
  

• make

• copy zbntp.so to modules directory of your Zabbix server (/usr/lib/zabbix/modules in my case)

• restart zabbix-server

• import zbntp_template.xml as template