<%NUMBERING1%>.<%NUMBERING2%>.<%NUMBERING3%> PRTG Manual: HTTP Push Data Sensor

The HTTP Push Data sensor displays numerical values from received messages that are pushed via a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request to PRTG. It provides a URL that you can use to push messages to the PRTG probe system via HTTP (insecure or TLS 1.2 encrypted).

  • The sensor shows the received value and an optional message in one channel.
HTTP Push Data Sensor

HTTP Push Data Sensor

Click here to enlarge: http://media.paessler.com/prtg-screenshots/http_push_data.png

Remarks

  • For details about the usage, please see manual section HTTP Push Data Sensor—How to Use.
  • This sensor type cannot be used in cluster mode. You can set it up on a local probe or remote probe only, not on a cluster probe.
  • icon-betaCurrently, this sensor type is in beta status. The methods of operating can change at any time, as well as the available settings. Do not expect that all functions will work properly, or that this sensor works as expected at all. Be aware that this type of sensor can be removed again from PRTG at any time.

icon-prtg-on-demandYou cannot add this sensor type to cloud probes in PRTG in the cloud. If you want to use this sensor type, please add it to a remote probe device.

How to Use

This function is known as webhook. Basically, a webhook works like a push notification. Webhooks are usually triggered by some event (for example, a new comment to a blog post) and send according information to a specified URL. The HTTP Push Data sensor then displays the data of pushed and received messages.

Use the following URL to receive the HTTP requests of the webhook:

http://<probe_ip>:<port_number>/<token>?value=<integer_or_float>&text=<text message>

Replace the parameters <probe_ip>, <port_number>, <token>, and <integer_or_float> with the corresponding values. The &text parameter is optional: You can omit it.

  • You can define port number and identification token in the sensor settings.
  • The probe IP is the IP address of the system on which your PRTG probe with this sensor is running on.
  • The value can be an integer or a float value, depending on the data of your application; you have to set the value type accordingly in the sensor settings. This parameter will be the sensor value.
    icon-i-blueIf this parameter is missing, the sensor will show a down status.
     
  • You can optionally add a custom text message by replacing the parameter <text message> with it. The text will be shown as sensor message. If there is no value but only a text, the text will be shown as error message.
    icon-i-blueThis text message has to be URL encoded (for example, the whitespaces in the sample URL below); most browsers achieve this automatically.

Example:

http://127.0.0.1:5050/XYZ123?value=0&text=this%20is%20a%20message

 
icon-i-roundYou can use several sensors with the same port and identification token. In this case, the data of push messages will be shown in each of these sensors.

Add Sensor

The Add Sensor dialog appears when you manually add a new sensor to a device. It only shows the setting fields that are required for creating the sensor. Therefore, you will not see all setting fields in this dialog. You can change (nearly) all settings in the sensor's Settings tab later.

The following settings for this sensor differ in the Add Sensor dialog in comparison to the sensor's settings page.

HTTP Push

SSL Settings

Define the security of the incoming HTTP push requests. Choose between:

  • HTTP (unsafe): Send push messages to the PRTG probe system via insecure HTTP.
  • HTTPS (TLS 1.2 only): Send push messages to the PRTG probe system via secure HTTPS. The sensor only supports TLS 1.2 connections. It will use the SSL certificate that is delivered with PRTG or your own trusted SSL certificate that you have imported for the PRTG web server.

Port

This field is only visible if you choose HTTP above. Enter the number of the port on which this sensor listens for incoming HTTP requests. Default is 5050.

SSL Port

This field is only visible if you choose HTTPS above. Enter the number of the port on which this sensor listens for incoming HTTPS requests. Default is 5051.

Sensor Settings

On the details page of a sensor, click the Settings tab to change its settings.

icon-i-roundUsually, a sensor connects to the IP Address or DNS Name of the parent device where you created this sensor. See the Device Settings for details. For some sensor types, you can define the monitoring target explicitly in the sensor settings. Please see below for details on available settings.

Basic Sensor Settings

Sensor Name

Enter a meaningful name to identify the sensor. By default, PRTG shows this name in the device tree, as well as in alarms, logs, notifications, reports, maps, libraries, and tickets.

Parent Tags

Shows Tags that this sensor inherits from its parent device, group, and probe. This setting is shown for your information only and cannot be changed here.

Tags

Enter one or more Tags, separated by spaces or commas. You can use tags to group sensors and use tag–filtered views later on. Tags are not case sensitive. We recommend that you use the default value.

You can add additional tags to the sensor if you like. Other tags are automatically inherited from objects further up in the device tree. These are visible above as Parent Tags.

Priority

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

HTTP Push

SSL Settings

Shows whether the sensor accepts push messages via HTTP or HTTPS.

Once a sensor is created, you cannot change this value. It is shown for reference purposes only. If you need to change this, please add the sensor anew.

Port

This field is only visible for sensors that accept push messages via HTTP. It shows the port number on which this sensor listens for incoming HTTP requests.

Once a sensor is created, you cannot change this value. It is shown for reference purposes only. If you need to change this, please add the sensor anew.

SSL Port

This field is only visible for sensors that accept push messages via HTTPS. It shows the port number on which this sensor listens for incoming HTTPS requests.

Once a sensor is created, you cannot change this value. It is shown for reference purposes only. If you need to change this, please add the sensor anew.

Request Method

Select the request method of your webhook:

  • ANY: Do not use any filter for the request method.
  • GET: Choose this method if your webhook uses GET.
  • POST: Choose this method if your webhook sends post form data. Postdata has to be application/x-www-form-urlencoded with the same parameters as for GET requests.

Identification Token

This is the token that is used to find the matching sensor for the incoming message. While you create the sensor, this token is {__guid__}.

This token will be replaced with an automatically generated token after you have completed the sensor creation. If you want to use another identification token, you can edit it while or after sensor creation.

icon-i-roundThe token will not be replaced automatically if you change it already during sensor creation.

Incoming Request

Define what PRTG will do with the incoming messages. Choose between:

  • Discard request: Do not store the pushed messages.
  • Write request to disk (Filename: "Request for Sensor [ID].txt"): Store the last message received from the sensor to the Logs (Sensor) directory (on the Master node, if in a cluster). File name: Request for Sensor [ID].txt. This is for debugging purposes. The file will be overridden with each scanning interval.
    icon-book-arrowsFor information on how to find the folder used for storage, see section Data Storage.

HTTP Push Data

No Incoming Data

Define which status the sensor will attain if no push message has been received for at least two sensor scans. Choose between:

  • Ignore and keep last status (default): The sensor will remain in the status as defined by the last message received.
    icon-i-blueThe probe on which this sensor runs must be connected to keep the last status. If the probe is disconnected, the sensor will show the Unknown status. If the probe is connected again, the sensor does not automatically return from Unknown to the last status before the probe disconnect.
  • Switch to "Unknown" status: The sensor will show an Unknown status if it has not received any message for at least two sensor scans.
  • Switch to "Error" after x minutes: The sensor will show a Down status if it has not received any message within a defined time span. Define the time threshold below.

Time Threshold (Minutes)

This field is only visible if you select the error option above. Enter the time threshold in minutes after which the sensor status will show a Down status if it has not received a push message within this time span.

Please enter an integer value. The maximum threshold is 1440 minutes.

Value Type

Define which type the value of the received data has. If this setting does not match, the sensor will go into an Down status. Choose between:

  • Integer
  • Float (with dot . as delimiter)

Sensor Display

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 below the sensor's name. The available options depend on what channels are available for this sensor.

icon-i-roundYou can set another primary channel later by clicking the pin symbol of a channel in the sensor's Overview tab.

Graph 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 that visualizes the different components of your total traffic.
    icon-i-roundThis 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.

Inherited Settings

By default, all following settings are inherited from objects higher in the hierarchy and should be changed there, if necessary. Often, best practice is to change them centrally in the Root group's settings. To change a setting only for this object, disable inheritance by clicking the check mark in front of the corresponding setting name. You will then see the options described below.

Scanning Interval

Scanning Interval

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

If a Sensor Query Fails

Define the number of scanning intervals that a sensor has time reach and check a device again in case a sensor query fails. The sensor can try to re-reach and check a device several times, depending on the option you select here, before it will be set to a Down status. This helps you avoid false alarms if the monitored device has only temporary issues. For previous scanning intervals with failed requests, the sensor will show a Warning status. Choose between:

  • Set sensor to "down" immediately: The sensor will show an error immediately after the first failed request.
  • Set sensor to "warning" for 1 interval, then set to "down" (recommended): After the first failed request, the sensor will show a yellow warning status. If the following request also fails, the sensor will show an error.
  • Set sensor to "warning" for 2 intervals, then set to "down": Show an error status only after three continuously failed requests.
  • Set sensor to "warning" for 3 intervals, then set to "down": Show an error status only after four continuously failed requests.
  • Set sensor to "warning" for 4 intervals, then set to "down": Show an error status only after five continuously failed requests.
  • Set sensor to "warning" for 5 intervals, then set to "down": Show an error status only after six continuously failed requests.

icon-i-roundSensors that monitor via Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) always wait at least one scanning interval until they show an error. It is not possible to set a WMI sensor to "down" immediately, so the first option will not apply to these sensor types. All other options can apply.

icon-i-roundIf a sensor has defined error limits for channels, it will always show a Down status immediately, so no "wait" option will apply.
 

icon-i-roundIf a channel uses lookup values, it will always show a Down status immediately, so no "wait" options will apply.

Schedules, Dependencies, and Maintenance Window

icon-i-roundInheritance for schedules, dependencies, and maintenance windows cannot be interrupted. The corresponding settings from the parent objects will always be active. However, you can define additional settings here. They will be active at the same time as the parent objects' settings.

Schedule

Select a schedule from the list. Schedules can be used to monitor for a certain time span (days, hours) every week. With the period list option it is also possible to pause monitoring for a specific time span. You can create new schedules and edit existing ones in the account settings.

icon-i-roundSchedules are generally inherited. New schedules will be added to existing ones, so all schedules are active at the same time.

Maintenance Window

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

  • Not set (monitor continuously): No maintenance window will be set and monitoring will always be active.
  • Set up a one-time maintenance window: Pause monitoring within a maintenance window. You can define a time span for a monitoring pause below and change it even for a currently running maintenance window.

icon-i-roundTo terminate a current maintenance window before the defined end date, change the time entry in Maintenance Ends field to a date in the past.

Maintenance Begins

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

Maintenance Ends

This field is only visible if you enabled the maintenance window 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, where it is created on, is in Down status, or is paused by another dependency.
  • Select object: Pause the current sensor if the device, where it is created on, is in Down status, or is paused by another dependency. Additionally, pause the current sensor if a specific other object in the device tree is in Down status, or 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, where it is created on: If the sensor is in 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 Down status, or if it is paused by another dependency.

icon-i-roundTesting 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. You can check all dependencies in your PRTG installation by selecting Devices | Dependencies from the main menu bar.

Dependency

This field is only visible if the Select object option is enabled above. Click on the reading-glasses and use the object selector to choose an object on which the current sensor will depend.

Dependency Delay (Sec.)

Define a time span in seconds for a dependency delay. After the master object for this dependency goes back to Up status, PRTG will start monitoring the depending objects after this extra delayed. This can help to 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.

icon-i-round-redThis setting is not available if you choose this sensor to Use parent or to be the Master object for parent. In this case, please define delays in the parent Device Settings or in 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 types of access rights 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 access rights settings of the parent object.
  • None: Users in this group cannot see or edit the object. The object neither shows up in lists nor 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.

For more details on access rights, please see the section User Access Rights.

Edit Sensor Channels

To change display settings, spike filter, and limits, switch to the sensor's Overview tab and click the gear icon of a specific channel. For detailed information, please see the Sensor Channels Settings section.

Notifications

Click the Notifications tab to change notification triggers. For detailed information, please see the Sensor Notifications Settings section.

Others

For more general information about settings, please see the Object Settings section.

Sensor Settings Overview

For information about sensor settings, please see the following sections:

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