Configuring VMware NSX-T Monitoring

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The following sections describe how to configure and discover VMware NSX-T devices for monitoring by SL1 using the VMware: NSX-T PowerPack:

Prerequisites for Monitoring VMware NSX-T

To configure the SL1 system to monitor VMware NSX-T devices using the VMware: NSX-T PowerPack, you must first have the following information about the VMware NSX-T devices that you want to monitor: 

  • User must have access to the REST API with read permissions, as the PowerPack uses the REST API to monitor VMware NSX-T.

Creating a Credential for VMware NSX-T

To use the Dynamic Applications in the VMware: NSX-TPowerPack, you must configure a Basic/Snippet credential for the VMware web service.

NOTE: If you are using an SL1 system prior to version 11.1.0, the new user interface does not include the Duplicate option for sample credential(s). ScienceLogic recommends that you use the classic user interface and the Save As button to create new credentials from sample credentials. This will prevent you from overwriting the sample credential(s).

To define a credential in the Guided Discovery:

  1. Go to the Credentials page (Manage > Credentials).
  2. Locate the "VMware: NSX-T Example" sample credential. Click its Actions icon () and select Duplicate. A copy of the credential, called VMware: NSX-T Example copy appears.
  3. Click the Actions icon () for the VMware: NSX-T Example copy credential and select Edit. The Edit Credential page appears:

  1. Supply values in the following fields:

  • Name. Name of the credential. Can be any combination of alphanumeric characters, up to 64 characters.

  • All Organizations. Toggle on (blue) to align the credential to all organizations, or toggle off (gray) and then select one or more specific organizations from the What organization manages this service? drop-down field to align the credential with those specific organizations.

  • Timeout (ms). Time, in milliseconds, after which SL1 will stop trying to communicate with the device from which you want to retrieve data.
  • Hostname/IP. In most cases, you can use the default setting.
  • Port. Use the default setting.
  • Username. Enter the username SL1 will use to connect to the VMware NSX-T service.
  • Password. Enter the password for the NSX-T account that SL1 will use to connect to the VMware NSX-T service.
  1. Click Save & Close.

NOTE: If you would like to test your credential using the Credential Tester panel, click Save & Test. For detailed instructions on using the Credential Tester, see the Testing the VMware NSX-T Credential section.

Configuring a Basic/Snippet Credential in the SL1 Classic User Interface

To modify the VMware NSX-T credential template in the SL1 classic user interface, perform the following steps in the Classic User Interface:

  1. Go to the Credential Management page (System > Manage > Credentials).

  1. Click the wrench icon () for the "VMware: NSX-T Example" credential. The Credential Editor modal page appears:

  1. Supply values in the following fields:
  • Credential Name. Enter a new name for the credential.
  • Hostname/IP. In most cases, you can use the default setting.

  • Username. Enter the username SL1 will use to connect to the VMware NSX-T service.
  • Password. Enter the password for the VMware NSX-T account that SL1 will use to connect to the VMware NSX-T service.
  1. Click the Save As button to save your changes as a new credential.

Do not click the Save button, as it will save over the example credential, which you may need for future use.

Configuring a VMware NSX-T Device Template

A device template allows you to save a device configuration and apply it to multiple devices. The VMware: NSX-T PowerPack includes the "VMware: NSX-T Template Example." If you configure and apply this device template when you discover your VMware NSX-T devices, SL1 aligns the appropriate Dynamic Applications to the discovered VMware NSX-T device.

To configure the VMware device template:

  1. Go to the Configuration Templates page (Devices > Templates or Devices > Templates, or Registry > Devices > Templates in the classic SL1 user interface in the SL1 classic user interface).
  1. Locate the "VMware: NSX-T Template Example" and click its wrench icon (). The Device Template Editor page appears.
  1. Click the Dyn Apps tab. The Editing Dynamic Application Subtemplates page appears.
  2. Complete the following fields:
  • Template Name. Type a new name for the device template.
  • Credentials. Select the Basic/Snippet credential that you created for VMware NSX-T.
  1. Click the next Dynamic Application listed in the Subtemplate Selection section on the left side of the page and then select the VMware Basic/Snippet credential in the Credentials field.
  2. Repeat step 5 until the you have selected the VMware NSX-T Basic/Snippet credential in the Credentials field for all of the Dynamic Applications listed in the Subtemplate Selection section.
  3. Click Save As.

 Do not click the Save button, as it will save over the "VMware vSphere Template", which you may need for future use.

Discovering VMware NSX-T Component Devices

To create and run a discovery session that will discover a vCenter server, perform the following steps:

  1. On the Devices page () or the Discovery Sessions page (Devices > Discovery Sessions), click the Add Devices button. The Select page appears:

Image of the Add Devices wizard, page 1

  1. Click the VMware button.
  2. Select the VMWare NSX-T radio button. Additional information about the requirements for discovery appears in the General Information pane to the right.
  1. Click Select. The Credential Selection page appears:

Image of the Add Devices wizard, page 2

  1. On the Credentials page, locate and select the Basic/Snippet credential you created.
  1. Click Next. The Root Device Details page appears:

Image of the Add Devices wizard, page 2

  1. Complete the following fields:
  • Root Device Name. Type a name for the root device.

  • Which collector will monitor these devices?. Select an existing collector to monitor the discovered devices. Required.
  • Collector Group Name. Type a name for your collector group. Optional.
  • Run after save. Select this option to run this discovery session as soon as you click Save and Close.
  1. Click Next. The Final Summary page appears and the discovery session runs.

  1. When the discovery session is complete, click Close. The VMware NSX-T devices will be found on the Devices page.

Discovering VMware: NSX-T Component Devices in the SL1 Classic User Interface

To create and run a discovery session that will discover a vCenter server, perform the following steps:

  • Go to the Discovery Control Panel page (System > Manage > Classic Discovery or System > Manage > Discovery in the classic user interface).

  • Click the Create button to create a new discovery session. The Discovery Session Editor modal page appears.

  • Enter values in the following fields:
  • IP Address Discovery List. Type the IP address for the VMware NSX-T service.

  • Other Credentials. Select the Basic/Snippet credential that you created.
  • Discover Non-SNMP. Select this checkbox.
  • Model Devices. Select this checkbox.
  • Apply Device Template. Select the device template that you created for VMware NSX-T.
  • Optionally, you can enter values in the other fields on this page. For more information about the other fields on this page, see the Discovery & Credentials manual.
  • Click the Save button and then close the Discovery Session Editor modal page.
  • The discovery session you created will appear at the top of the Discovery Control Panel page. Click its lightning-bolt icon () to run the discovery session.
  • The Discovery Session window appears. When the VMware NSX-T service is discovered, click its device icon () to view the Device Properties page for the VMware NSX-T service.

Verifying Discovery and Dynamic Application Alignment

To verify that SL1 has automatically aligned the correct Dynamic Applications during discovery:

  1. After the discovery session has completed, go to the Devices page—or the Device Manager (Devices > Classic Devices, or Registry > Devices > Device Manager in the classic SL1 user interface) page in the SL1 classic user interface—and find the device(s) you discovered. When you have located the device, click on its name or click on its edit icon () if you are in the SL1 classic user interface.
  2. Click the Collections tab.
  3. All applicable Dynamic Applications for the VMware NSX-T devices are automatically aligned during discovery.

    It can take several minutes after the discovery session has completed for Dynamic Applications to appear in the Dynamic Application Collections page.

To verify alignment of the VMware NSX-T Dynamic Applications:

  1. After discovery has completed, go to the Discovery Logs page (Devices > Discovery Sessions > click the Actions button for that session > click Show Logs) and click on the IP address of the device. If you are in the SL1 classic user interface, click the device icon for the VMware NSX-T device ().
  2. From the Device Investigator page for the VMware NSX-T device, or the Device Properties page if you are in the SL1 classic user interface, click the Collections tab. The Dynamic Application Collections page appears.

    It can take several minutes after the discovery session has completed for Dynamic Applications to appear in the Dynamic Application Collections page.


You should see the following Dynamic Application aligned to the root device:

  1. VMware: NSX-T Appliance Cluster Discovery
  2. VMware: NSX-T Cluster Resource Utilization Configuration
  3. VMware: NSX-T Edges Folder Discovery
  4. VMware: NSX-T Logical Switches Folder Discovery
  5. VMware: NSX-T Transport Nodes Folder Discovery
  6. VMware: NSX-T IC Interface Inventory
  7. VMware: NSX-T IC Interface Performance

The appropriate Dynamic Applications will align to the child devices based on their device class:

Device Class Dynamic Applications
Appliance Cluster

VMware: NSX-T Appliance Cluster Configuration

VMware: NSX-T Appliance Discovery
Appliance 

VMware: NSX-T Appliance Interface Performance

VMware: NSX-T Appliance Configuration

VMware: NSX-T Appliance Interface Configuration
Edges Folder

VMware: NSX-T Edge Cluster Discovery

VMware: NSX-T Edge Node (Non-Clustered) Discovery
Edges Cluster

VMware: NSX-T Edge Cluster Configuration

VMware: NSX-T Edge Node (Clustered) Discovery

VMware: NSX-T Tier 0 Gateway Discovery

Edge

VMware: NSX-T Transport Node File System Performance

VMware: NSX-T Edge Node (Clustered) Configuration

VMware: NSX-T Transport Node Interface Performance

VMware: NSX-T Transport Node Performance

VMware: NSX-T Transport Node BFD Tunnel Config

VMware: NSX-T Transport Node Configuration

VMware: NSX-T Transport Node Interface Configuration
Logical Switches Folder

VMware: NSX-T Logical Switch Discovery

VMware: NSX-T Logical Switches Configuration
Logical Switch

VMware: NSX-T Logical Switch Performance

Transport Nodes Folder

VMware: NSX-T Load Balancer Discovery

VMware: NSX-T Transport Node Discovery
Load Balancer

VMware: NSX-T Load Balancer Performance

VMware: NSX-T Load Balancer Configuration
Tier 0

VMware: NSX-T BGP Neighbors Performance

VMware: NSX-T Tier 0 Gateway Interface Performance

VMware: NSX-T BGP Neighbors Configuration

VMware: NSX-T Balancer Discovery

VMware: NSX-T Tier 0 Gateway Configuration

VMware: NSX-T Tier 0 Gateway Interface Configuration

VMware: NSX-T Tier 1 Gateway Discovery
Tier 1 Gateway

VMware: NSX-T Load Balancer Discovery

VMware: NSX-T Tier 1 Gateway Configuration
Transport Node

VMware: NSX-T Transport Node File System Performance

VMware: NSX-T Transport Node Interface Performance

VMware: NSX-T Transport Node Performance

VMware: NSX-T Transport Node BFD Tunnel Config

VMware: NSX-T Transport Node Configuration

VMware: NSX-T Transport Node Interface Configuration

Viewing VMware NSX-T Component Devices

In addition to the Devices page, you can view your VMware NSX-T devices in the following places in the user interface:

  • The Device Investigator Map page (click Map in the Device Investigator page) displays a map of a particular device and all of the devices with which it has parent-child relationships. Double-clicking any of the listed devices reloads the page to make the selected device the primary device.

  • The Device Components page (Devices > Device Components) displays a list of all root devices and component devices discovered by SL1. The Device Components page displays all root devices and component devices in an indented view, so you can easily view the hierarchy and relationships between child devices, parent devices, and root devices. To view the component devices associated with a VMware NSX-T device, find the device and click its plus icon (+).

  • The Component Map page (Classic Maps > Device Maps > Components) allows you to view devices by root node and view the relationships between root nodes, parent components, and child components in a map. This makes it easy to visualize and manage root nodes and their components. SL1 automatically updates the Component Map as new component devices are discovered. The platform also updates each map with the latest status and event information. To view the map for a VMware NSX-T device, go to the Component Map page and select the map from the list in the left NavBar. To learn more about the Component Map page, see the section on Maps.