I use this and can report it works VERY well.  The one caveat – I don’t believe it supports ver 7.x code.  I’ve written the list a few times but never heard back. 

To implement is quite easy.  Modify your /usr/OV/conf/netmon.seed file (assumes some flavor of Unix/Linux)

Add entries similar to this then bounce netmon

 

# Start PIX Failover firewall section(  > )

# Remark with pix name here

>ip_addr of primary pix

>ip_addr of failover pix

 

That’s it.  When a failover occurs, the device will go yellow and when you drill down you’ll see purple (meaning the secondary is running as the primary)  You can also do a demand poll and see which is active.

 

Actually. netmon will monitor that failover for you and generate a special event when it occurs. See the Fixpack 4 release notes:

PIX Firewall Failover support

IBM Tivoli NetView provides support for monitoring the Cisco PIX Firewall Failover conditions. NetView can monitor the failover state of the PIX devices during normal status polling. When a failover occurs, a new event is generated announcing whether the active addresses are on the primary or secondary device. In addition, the operator can see on the map when the active addresses are on the secondary device, which indicates that a failover has occurred and action should be taken to prevent a further failure that disables the firewalls. The management interface shows USER2 status, which is usually purple (by default). This propagates to change the PIX device symbol to marginal. When the active addresses are returned to the primary device, an event announces this fact and the status on the map returns to Normal.

Use the netmon.seed file to configure both the PIX Firewall Failover machines and to set and lock the SNMP address.

For more information on the PIX Firewall Failover support see the /usr/OV/doc/PixFailoverReadme.pdf file.

Cordially,

Leslie A. Clark
IT Services Specialist, Network Mgmt
Information Technology Services Americas
IBM Global Services
(248) 552-4968 Voicemail, Fax, Pager

"Catalina Martinez" <Catalina.Martinez AT tlc.state.tx DOT us> Sent by: nv-l-bounces AT lists.ca.ibm DOT com 12/08/2006 10:23 AM Please respond to Tivoli NetView Discussions <nv-l AT lists.ca.ibm DOT com>

To "Tivoli NetView Discussions" <nv-l AT lists.ca.ibm DOT com> cc nv-l AT lists.us.ibm DOT com Subject [NV-L] cisco pix firewall

Hello,

Running Netview 7.1.4 FP 4, AIX 5.2.. Cisco PIX 535 version 6.3

I've been tasked with creating an alert when the PIX fails over (from primary to secondary / and vice versa). I currently have a separate window when certain devices go down, and I also have pop-up windows when a link down trap is received from a critical devices..

If I remember right,  there is a trap that is sent when a PIX fails over?  If I can determine the right trap then I can use that to generate a popup or email message. Is there any special configuration to netmon.seed?

Has anyone successfully monitored a failover?

Thanks

Catalina

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