PRTG Manual: EXE/Script Sensor

Sensor Settings

Script

Select an executable file from the list. It will be executed with every scanning interval. In this list, files in the corresponding /Custom Sensors/EXE sub-directory of the probe system's PRTG program directory are shown (see Data Storage). In order for the files to appear in this list, please store them into this folder. Store files ending in BAT, CMD, DLL, EXE, PS1, and VBS. In order for the sensor to show the expected values and sensor status, your files must use the right format for the returned values (in this case, value:message to standard output). The file's exitcode will determine the sensor status. For detailed information on how to build custom sensors and for the expected return format, please see the API documentation (Application Programming Interface (API) Definition). There, find detailed information the the "Custom Sensors" tab.

Note: Please do not use the folder \Custom Sensors\Powershell Scripts to store your files. This remnant from previous software versions is not used any more and may usually be deleted.

Note: When using custom sensors on the Cluster Probe, please copy your files to every cluster node installation.

Value Type

Define what kind of values your executable or script file gives back. Choose between:

• Integer: An integer is expected as return value. If the script gives back a float, PRTG will display the value 0.

• Float: A float is expected as return value, with a dot (.) between pre-decimal position and decimal places. In this setting, the sensor will also display integer values unless they don't produce a buffer overflow.

• Counter: Your script returns an integer which increases. PRTG will  show the difference between the values of two sensor scans. Note: A counter must return an integer; float is not supported here!

Sensor Name

Enter a meaningful name to identify the sensor. The name will be shown by default in the device tree and in all alarms.

Tags

Enter one or more tags, separated by space or comma. You can use tags to group sensors and use tag-filtered views later on. Tags are not case sensitive. We recommend using the default value. You can add additional tags to it, if you like. Other tags are automatically inherited from objects further up in the device tree. Those are not visible here.

Priority

Select a priority for the sensor. This setting determines where the sensor will be placed in sensor lists. Top priority will be at the top of a list. You can choose from one star (low priority) to five stars (top priority).

EXE/Script

Shows the executable or script file that is executed with each sensor scan, as defined on sensor creation. Once a sensor is created this value cannot be changed. It is shown for reference purposes only. If you need to change this, please add the sensor anew.

Parameters

If your executable or script file catches command line parameters, you can define them here. Placeholders can be used as well. For a full list of all placeholders please see the API documentation (Application Programming Interface (API) Definition). Note: Please make sure you write the placeholders in quotes to ensure that they are working properly if their values contain blanks. Use single quotation marks ' ' with PowerShell scripts, and double quotes " " with all others. Please enter a string or leave the field empty.

Environment

Choose if PRTG's command line parameters will also be available as environment parameters.

• Default Environment: Do not provide PRTG placeholders' values in the environment. Choose this secure option if you're not sure.

• Set placeholders as environment values: From within your executable or script, the values of PRTG's command line parameters will be available via environment variables. For example, you can then read and use the current host value of the PRTG device this EXE/script sensor is created on from within your script. This option can mean a security risk, because also credentials are provided in several variables. For a full list of all available variables please see the API documentation (Application Programming Interface (API) Definition).

Security Context

Define the Windows user account that will be used to run the executable or script file. Choose between:

• Use security context of probe service: Run the selected file under the same Windows user account the probe is running on. By default, this is the Windows system user account (if not manually changed).
• Use Windows credentials of parent device: Use the Windows user account defined in the settings of the parent device this sensor is created on. Please go to sensor's parent device's settings to change these Windows credentials.

Mutex Name

Define any desired mutex name for the process. All EXE/Script sensors having the same mutex name will be executed serially (not simultaneously). This is useful if you use a lot of sensors and want to avoid high resource usage caused by processes running simultaneously. For links to more information, please see the More section below. Please enter a string or leave the field empty.

Timeout (sec.)

Enter a timeout in seconds for the request. If the reply takes longer than this value the external process is killed and an error message is triggered.

Value Type

Shows the expected value type, chosen on sensor creation. Once a sensor is created this value cannot be changed. It is shown for reference purposes only. If you need to change this, please add the sensor anew. Note: The sensor cannot handle string values.

Channel Name

Enter a name for the channel in which the returned values will be shown. This is for display purposes only. Please enter a string.

Unit String

Enter a string describing the unit of the returned values. This is for display purposes only. Please enter a string.

If Value Changes

Define what shall be done in case the value of this sensor changes. You can choose between:

• Ignore changes (default): No action will be taken on change.
• Trigger 'On Change' notification: The sensor will send an internal message indicating that its value has changed. In combination with a Change Trigger, you can use this mechanism to trigger a notification whenever the sensor value changes.

EXE Result

Define what will be done with the result the executable file gives back. Choose between:

• Discard EXE result: Do not store the requested web page.
• Write EXE result to disk (Filename: "Result of Sensor [ID].txt"): Store the last result received from the script to the "Logs (Sensors)" directory (on the Master node, if in a cluster). This is for debugging purposes. The file will be overridden with each scanning interval. For information on how to find the folder used for storage, please see Data Storage section.

Primary Channel

Select a channel from the list to define it as the primary channel. In the device tree, the last value of the primary channel will always be displayed underneath the sensor's name. The available options depend on what channels are available for this sensor.

Chart Type

Define how different channels will be shown for this sensor.

• Show channels independently (default): Show an own graph for each channel.

• Stack channels on top of each other: Stack channels on top of each other to create a multi-channel graph. This will generate an easy-to-read graph which visualizes the different components of your total traffic. Note: This option cannot be used in combination with manual Vertical Axis Scaling (available in the Sensor Channels Settings settings).

Stack Unit

This setting is only available if stacked graphs are selected above. Choose a unit from the list. All channels with this unit will be stacked on top of each other. By default, you cannot exclude single channels from stacking, if they use the selected unit. However, there is an advanced procedure to do so.

Scanning Interval

Scanning Interval

The scanning interval determines the time the sensor waits between two scans. Select a scanning interval (seconds, minutes, or hours) from the list. You can change the available intervals in the system administration.

Note: Inheritance for schedules, dependencies, and maintenance windows cannot be interrupted; the according settings from the parent objects will always be active. However, you can define additional settings here. They will be active in parallel to the parent objects' settings.

Schedule

Select a schedule from the list. Schedules can be used to pause monitoring for a certain time span (days, hours) throughout the week. You can create new schedules and edit existing ones in the account settings. Note: Schedules are generally inherited. New schedules will be added to existing ones, so all schedules are active.

Maintenance Window

Specify if you want to set-up a one-time maintenance window. During a maintenance window this object and all child objects will not be monitored. They will enter a paused state then. Choose between:

• Not set (monitor continuously): No maintenance window will be set.
• Set up a one-time maintenance window: Pause monitoring within a maintenance window.

Maintenance Begins At

This field is only visible if maintenance window is enabled above. Use the date time picker to enter the start date and time of the maintenance window.

Maintenance End At

This field is only visible if maintenance window is enabled above. Use the date time picker to enter the end date and time of the maintenance window.

Dependency Type

Define a dependency type. Dependencies can be used to pause monitoring for an object depending on the status of another. You can choose between:

• Use parent: Pause the current sensor if the device it is created on is in a Down status, or if it is paused by another dependency.
• Select object: Pause the current sensor if the device it is created on is in an Down status, or if it is paused by another dependency. Additionally, pause the current sensor if a specific other object in the device tree is in a Down status, or if it is paused by another dependency. Select below.
• Master object for parent: Make this sensor the master object for its parent device. The sensor will influence the behavior of the device it is created on: If the sensor is in a Down status, the device will be paused. For example, it is a good idea to make a Ping sensor the master object for its parent device to pause monitoring for all other sensors on the device in case the device cannot even be pinged. Additionally, the sensor will be paused if the parent group of its parent device is in a Down status, or if it is paused by another dependency.

Note: Testing your dependencies is easy! Simply choose Simulate Error Status from the context menu of an object that other objects depend on. A few seconds later all dependent objects should be paused.

Dependency

This field is only visible if the select object option is enabled above. Click on the reading-glass symbol and use the object selector to choose an object on which the current sensor will be dependent on.

Delay (Seconds)

Define a time span. After the master object for this dependency comes back to an Up status, monitoring of the depending objects will be additionally delayed by the defined time span. This can help avoid false alarms, for example, after a server restart, by giving systems more time for all services to start up. Please enter an integer value in seconds. Note: This setting is not available if you choose this sensor to be the Master object for parent. In this case, please define delays in the parent Device Settings or the superior Group Settings.

Access Rights

User Group Access

Define which user group(s) will have access to the object you're editing. A table with user groups and right is shown; it contains all user groups from your setup. For each user group you can choose from the following access rights:

• Inherited: Use the settings of the parent object.
• None: Users in this group cannot see or edit the object. The object does not show up in lists and in the device tree. Exception: If a child object is visible to the user, the object is visible in the device tree, though not accessible.
• Read: Users in this group can see the object and review its monitoring results.
• Write: Users in this group can see the object, review its monitoring results, and edit the object's settings. They cannot edit access rights settings.
• Full: Users in this group can see the object, review its monitoring results, edit the object's settings, and edit access rights settings.

You can create new user groups in the System Administration—User Groups settings. To automatically set all objects further down in the hierarchy to inherit this object's access rights, set a check mark for the Revert children's access rights to inherited option.

Channel Unit Configuration

Channel Unit Types

For each type of sensor channel, define the unit in which data is displayed. If defined on probe, group, or device level, these settings can be inherited to all sensors underneath. You can set units for the following channel types (if available):

• Bandwidth
• Memory
• Disk
• File
• Custom

Note: Custom channel types can be set on sensor level only.