Tech Notes
These Tech Notes document techniques and tips for using InterMapper and InterMapper RemoteAccess.
Getting Started
Ten things to try with InterMapper when you're first checking it out. Learn how to create maps, make them attractive, send alerts, make strip charts, etc.
Importing with Latitude and Longitude
How to import devices and have them placed in the proper location on the map using latitude and longitude information.
Custom Probes and SNMP
It's relatively straightforward to write custom probes for your equipment that isn't handled by InterMapper's built-in probes. Read how here.
Displaying SNMP Tables on Demand
InterMapper has the ability to retrieve and display the contents of a table from a SNMP-speaking device.
Regular Expressions in Custom Probes
Regular expressions allow you to parse fields out of a text string received either by SNMP or within a TCP probe.
InterMapper has several techniques for displaying enumerations from SNMP MIBs where the designer represents text strings as numeric values. This numeric representation is more compact, and therefore efficient, but makes it hard for humans to read.
SNMP OIDs and the MIB Compiler
InterMapper can import MIBs so that custom probes and trap log entries can use symbolic names instead of the more obscure OIDs.
How InterMapper Handles SNMP Traps
InterMapper can parse the fields of SNMP Traps. A custom SNMP probe can extract that information and send alerts based on the contents of that trap.
InterMapper can send traps as a notifier/alert. The MIB describes the format of the fields of the trap notifications.
InterMapper Monitoring Traffic Load
How much traffic does InterMapper generate? Not too much. This note describes the amount of traffic generated by the various kinds of InterMapper probes.
System Specific Information
Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) Compatibility
Notes on running InterMapper on Mac OS X 10.5 - Leopard.
Not running the server at boot
How configure InterMapper not to run its server at boot time by following these instructions.
Using InterMapper with Windows XP SP2 and Vista
Notes on using InterMapper with Windows XP SP2 and Vista, which both ship with much more security turned on by default than previous Windows versions. Also tells how to configure Vista to allow ICMP traffic.
How to runInterMapper in a Linux "chroot jail" to prevent InterMapper from accessing any resources not specified by the network administrator.
Working with External Applications
Command-line Probes and Notifiers using InterMapper DataCenter
The InterMapper DataCenter has a built-in Python interpreter that is available for creating new command-line probes and command-line notifiers.
Timbuktu as a Helper Application for MacOS X
How to set up Timbuktu Pro as a Helper application in InterMapper Remote.
The operation of InterMapper's probes for the G4 and G5 Xserve from Apple.
MikroTik Winbox as a helper application
An example of using the MikroTik Winbox software as a helper application.
How to send Short Message System (SMS) Messages from InterMapper.
Sending SMS/Text Alerts To a Cell Phone
How to send Short Message System (SMS) Messages from InterMapper to a cell phone.
Assorted topics
Cisco IP Service Level Agreement (SLA) Probe
This probe indicates the Quality of Service (QoS) between separate parts of your network by measuring packet loss, latency, and jitter from streams of packets sent by various kinds of Cisco IOS-based routers and switches.
Installing the InterMapper DataCenter
The InterMapper DataCenter (IMDC) is a stand-alone collection of services used alongside InterMapper. Currently, this includes the InterMapper Authentication Server (below). Read this note to see how to install the IMDC.
Using the IM Authentication Server
The InterMapper Authentication Server ("AuthServer") allows you to authenticate against a number of directory servers, including LDAP, Active Directory, Open Directory, Radius, IAS, and DND. This tech note explains how to configure and use the AuthServer.
Cisco has created a set of industry standard Network Topology Icons for use in network diagrams. We have adapted these for use on InterMapper.
An explanation of 21 and 51 second outage reports.
Accessibility Features - Section 508
A short description of InterMapper and InterMapper RemoteAccess accessibility features in the context of the Section 508 standards.