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how can I enable under Debian 6 to list the processes of a foreign user? I have the user nagios but this user can only list his own processes.


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1 Answer 1

check_procs command accepts a "-u USER" argument to list the processes for the specified user.

You have to edit you command.cfg (the place where your nagios command are defined), and add something like this:

define command{
    command_name    check_user_procs
    command_line    /usr/lib/nagios/plugins/check_procs -w '$ARG1$' -c '$ARG2$' -u '$ARG3$'

and create a service check for the user:

define service{
    use                             generic-service
    host_name                       YOUR-HOST-NAME   
    service_description             Total Processes
    check_command                   check_user_procs!250!400!USER_NAME_OR_ID

you have to replace USER_NAME_OR_ID withe the user info you are checking for.

The first two number specify the limits for warning and critical events.

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Thx for your answer. This is not working if I execute check_procs as user nagios. Because ps aux also lists only own processes. It must be a system wide setting on Debian not nagios. –  TheFox Apr 22 '12 at 11:38
This is just not true, actually... unless maybe you have selinux enabled, or something like that? You can add "-vv" to check_procs to make it show you exactly what "ps" command it's using. –  Keith Apr 24 '12 at 17:54
It works on my Debian Squeeze box, you should check for apparmor or selinux on your box as Keith suggested. –  Goran Jurić May 2 '12 at 15:19

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