Free monitoring system - which is better ?

[alexd]

Hi:

Free scripts for monitoring services... which is better and WHY ?

Big Brother - http://bb4.org (free version)
Big Sister - http://bigsister.ch/
NetSaint (Nagios) - http://nagios.org
Cacti - http://cacti.net
any ?

I have tested all of them... I think the best is BB, because it's very modulable, it has a lot of plugins/contributions, and it has uptime stats of every service you install...

But i would like to hear more opiniones here...

ty

 

[bamasbest]

IMO, local monitoring systems are not truly the reliable way to go.

For instance, you install a system that provides you with a nifty webpage/url to view your server status AND that system emails you when a resource is down/critical.

What happens if http and exim both fail at (or about the same time)?

You will not be able to view the status via the web and will not be able to receive email/wap messages.

I equate this to installing a burglar/fire alarm system in your home, yet not utilizing a monitoring service.

 

[alexd]

Do you know the software I have told ?
bb and bs are port monitoring systems and even more

it would stupid to have a web page inside the host telling you other services, because, as you tell, if web fails, everything fails...

I repeat the question then :P

BB, BS... ? which is better?