This article applies as of PRTG 21.4.73

Running the NATS server and the Multi-Platform Probe in a Docker container

Follow the instructions below to run the NATS server and the Multi-Platform Probe in one or more Docker containers.

Content

1. Disclaimer

2. NATS server setup

3. Multi-Platform Probe setup

4. Run NATS server and Multi-Platform Probe setup on the same system

1. Disclaimer

Important: The Multi-Platform Probe is currently in the alpha phase. Unexpected issues can occur. We do not recommend that you use the feature on your production system.

2. NATS server setup

Configuration hints and information:

• We recommend that you use Linux containers. To run a Linux container on Windows, follow the instructions here.

• If you want to run a Multi-Platform Probe on the same Docker, follow the instructions under 4. NATS server and Multi-Platform Probe setup on the same system below.

• If the Multi-Platform Probe runs on another system, you must open the corresponding port on the system that runs the NATS server.

• We recommend that you use port 23561 as NATS client interface port and PRTG as user name and password. If you change them, you must also change them in the probe adapter and in the Multi-Platform Probe.

• If you do not want to use credentials in the docker run-command, you can create a configuration file according to the NATS documentation or create it with the installation script. For more information, see 2.2. Advanced command below.

2.1. Basic command

Execute the following command to start the NATS server container:

docker run -d --name prtg-nats -p 23561:23561 nats:2.4 --user PRTG --pass PRTG –p 23561

2.2. Advanced command

You can also start the NATS server with a configuration file and logs:

docker run -d --name prtg-nats -p 23561:<port_used_in_nats_config> \ --mount type=bind,src=<docker_dir_path>,dst=/etc/nats/ \ nats:2.4 \ --config /etc/nats/prtg-nats.config \ --log /etc/nats/prtg-nats.log

You can find more information in the official NATS documentation here or on docker hub here.

3. Multi-Platform Probe setup

Configuration hints and information:

• The PRTG Multi-Platform Probe container image is only available for Linux. To run a Linux container on windows, follow the instructions here.

• Download the docker container image .tar-file here.

3.1. Setup

1. Execute the following command to load the container image in Docker:

• Bash:

docker load < prtgmpprobe_debian.tar

• PowerShell:

docker load --input prtgmpprobe_debian.tar

2. Execute the following command to copy the container image ID of the newly added image:

docker images

3. Execute the following command to start the Multi-Platform Probe container:

docker run -d --name prtg-multiplatform-probe <your_prtgmpprobe_image_id> --nats-ip <ip-of-nats-server>

Note: You can either provide the arguments as follows --nats-ip like in the example above or as described here.

• Execute the following command to see all Multi-Platform Probe CLI arguments and the corresponding environment variables:

docker run -t <your_prtgmpprobe_image_id> --help

4. Run NATS server and Multi-Platform Probe setup on the same system

You can run the NATS server and the Multi-Platform Probe on the same system. However, this can cause performance issues and is therefore only recommended for test environments.

Follow the steps below:

1. Execute the following command to create a new Docker container for PRTG only:

docker network create --subnet 172.200.0.0/16 prtg

Note: This is necessary because Docker containers can only communicate with each other if they are in the same network.

2. Execute the following command to run the container with a fixed IP address in the network that you have created:

docker run -d --name prtg-nats --net prtg --ip 172.200.0.200 -p 23561:23561 nats:2.4 --user PRTG --pass PRTG -p 23561

3. Execute the following command to start the Multi-Platform Probe

docker run --net prtg -d <container_image_id> --nats-ip 172.200.0.200

4. Execute the following command to verify that all components are running:

docker ps