Introduction

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The following sections provide an overview of VMware NSX and the VMware: NSX PowerPack:

What is VMware NSX?

NSX is VMware's software-defined network virtualization and security platform. NSX enables users to create virtual networks, including firewalls, switches, routers, ports, and other networking components, which are embedded in a hypervisor rather than a physical environment.

What Does the VMware: NSX PowerPack Monitor?

To monitor NSX virtual networks using SL1, you must install the VMware: NSX PowerPack. This PowerPack enables you to discover, model, and collect data about NSX virtual network devices.

The VMware: NSX PowerPack includes:

  • An example credential you can use as a template to create Basic/Snippet credentials to connect to the NSX devices you want to monitor

  • Dynamic Applications to discover, model, and monitor performance metrics and collect configuration data for NSX devices
  • Device Classes for each of the NSX devices SL1 monitors
  • Event Policies and corresponding alerts that are triggered when NSX devices meet certain status criteria
  • A Run Book Action that automatically classifies the Device Classes for NSX devices

Installing the VMware: NSX PowerPack

Before completing the steps in this section, you must import and install the latest version of the VMware: NSX PowerPack.

By default, installing a new version of a PowerPack overwrites all content from a previous version of that PowerPack that has already been installed on the target system. You can use the Enable Selective PowerPack Field Protection setting in the Behavior Settings page (System > Settings > Behavior) to prevent new PowerPacks from overwriting local changes for some commonly customized fields. (For more information, see the section on Global Settings.)

The minimum required MySQL version is 5.6.0.

To download and install the PowerPack:

  1. Search for and download the PowerPack from the PowerPacks page (Product Downloads > PowerPacks & SyncPacks) at the ScienceLogic Support Site.
  2. In SL1, go to the PowerPacks page (System > Manage > PowerPacks).
  3. Click the Actions button and choose Import PowerPack. The Import PowerPack dialog box appears.
  4. Click [Browse] and navigate to the PowerPack file from step 1.
  5. Select the PowerPack file and click Import. The PowerPack Installer modal displays a list of the PowerPack contents.
  6. Click Install. The PowerPack is added to the PowerPacks page.

If you exit the PowerPack Installer modal without installing the imported PowerPack, the imported PowerPack will not appear in the PowerPacks page. However, the imported PowerPack will appear in the Imported PowerPacks modal. This page appears when you click the Actions menu and select Install PowerPack.