Add and manage NetPath endpoints

To monitor critical network paths with SolarWinds Observability SaaS, create a NetPath endpoint to which the path leads. NetPath endpoints are assigned to one or more SolarWinds Observability Agents with the netpath-probe plugin. The Agent ensures that relevant data about the endpoint is sent to SolarWinds Observability.

Review NetPath requirements

• One probe supports a maximum of 20 endpoints. Do not use one Agent for more than 15-20 endpoints.

• Npcap driver: When deploying the netpath-probe plugin on a machine, the Npcap driver software is automatically installed as a necessary prerequisite to capture network traffic. See Npcap.com for details.

• Supported Linux distributions

  • RedHat 7.1 and later
  • CentOS 7 and later
  • Debian 9 and later
  • Fedora 32 and later
  • Ubuntu 18.04 and later
  • Kali 2021 and later
  • Oracle Linux 8 and later
  • Amazon Linux 2 and later
  • Rocky Linux 8 and later

• Linux prerequisites

  • The arping package must be installed on the Linux machine where the probe will be deployed. On Debian-based machines, the package might be missing. If not available, install the package using the following command.

    apt-get install arping

  • The arping package must be set to send network packets. You can use the following command:

    setcap CAP_NET_RAW+ep /usr/sbin/arping

Add NetPath endpoint

1. In SolarWinds Observability SaaS, click Network in the left pane.

2. In the Network area overview, click Diagnostics > NetPath tabs.

3. Click Create Endpoint.

   If there are no NetPath endpoints defined in your organization, click Add NetPath Endpoint.

4. On the Create NetPath Endpoint dialog, select an entity type and the entity you want to relate the endpoint to. Click Next to continue.

   If you do not want to relate the endpoint to an already existing entity, select Other, the default value for Associated Entity Type.

5. On Endpoint Details, specify the destination and port for the endpoint.

6. Review the Polling Interval (in minutes). The default value is 10 minutes. If you don’t receive any results, consider increasing the polling interval.

7. On Assign Probe, specify the probe on which to enable the NetPath endpoint.

   • Use existing probe

     1. If you already have deployed the probe(s) you want to assign the endpoint to, select Use existing probe.

     2. Select one or more probes for the endpoint and click Next.

   • Create new probe

     If there is no probe you want to use, select Create new probe and click Next. The wizard will include extra steps to deploy the probe (Token and Installation).

     1. On Token, specify an ingestion token for the endpoint. This step is only available if you are deploying a new probe.

        Create or select an API Ingestion token to use when sending your collected NetPath data by doing either of the following:

        • Select Generate New Token and enter an Ingestion Token Name, and then click Next.
        • Select Use Existing Token and select an ingestion token from the list, and then click Next.

     2. On Installation, deploy a new probe. This step is only available if you are deploying a new probe.

        Select the operating system you want to deploy the probe on and install the probe.

        • Windows

          When installing the probe on a Windows computer, the Npcap OEM component is installed if not already available on the system.

        1. Select Windows.
        2. Click Copy to Clipboard to copy the PowerShell script.
        3. Log in to the computer where you want to deploy the probe.
        4. On the target computer, run the PowerShell script as Administrator.
        5. When the installation status changes to Agent installed successfully, click Next.

        • Linux

          1. Select Linux.

          2. Click Copy to Clipboard to copy the Bash script.

          3. Log in to the computer where you want to deploy the probe.

          4. On the target computer, run the Bash script.

             The installation requires root privileges.

          5. When the installation status changes to Agent installed successfully, click Next.

8. On Summary, review the configuration and click Submit.

Add NetPath endpoint through the Add data wizard

1. In SolarWinds Observability SaaS, click Add Data at the top.

2. Use SnippetVariable1 to put in the name of item in the Network tab. Options: Add a network device, Discover network devices, Add NetPath Operations, UPS DeviceOn the Add Data dialog, click the Network tab, and click Add NetPath Operations.

3. On the Create NetPath Endpoint dialog, select an entity type and the entity you want to relate the endpoint to. Click Next to continue.

   If you do not want to relate the endpoint to an already existing entity, select Other, the default value for Associated Entity Type.

4. On Endpoint Details, specify the destination and port for the endpoint.

5. Review the Polling Interval (in minutes). The default value is 10 minutes. If you don’t receive any results, consider increasing the polling interval.

6. On Assign Probe, specify the probe on which to enable the NetPath endpoint.

   • Use existing probe

     1. If you already have deployed the probe(s) you want to assign the endpoint to, select Use existing probe.

     2. Select one or more probes for the endpoint and click Next.

   • Create new probe

     If there is no probe you want to use, select Create new probe and click Next. The wizard will include extra steps to deploy the probe (Token and Installation).

     1. On Token, specify an ingestion token for the endpoint. This step is only available if you are deploying a new probe.

        Create or select an API Ingestion token to use when sending your collected NetPath data by doing either of the following:

        • Select Generate New Token and enter an Ingestion Token Name, and then click Next.
        • Select Use Existing Token and select an ingestion token from the list, and then click Next.

     2. On Installation, deploy a new probe. This step is only available if you are deploying a new probe.

        Select the operating system you want to deploy the probe on and install the probe.

        • Windows

          When installing the probe on a Windows computer, the Npcap OEM component is installed if not already available on the system.

        1. Select Windows.
        2. Click Copy to Clipboard to copy the PowerShell script.
        3. Log in to the computer where you want to deploy the probe.
        4. On the target computer, run the PowerShell script as Administrator.
        5. When the installation status changes to Agent installed successfully, click Next.

        • Linux

          1. Select Linux.

          2. Click Copy to Clipboard to copy the Bash script.

          3. Log in to the computer where you want to deploy the probe.

          4. On the target computer, run the Bash script.

             The installation requires root privileges.

          5. When the installation status changes to Agent installed successfully, click Next.

7. On Summary, review the configuration and click Submit.

Remove a NetPath endpoint

1. In SolarWinds Observability SaaS, click Network in the left pane, and then click Diagnostics > NetPath tabs.

2. Find the endpoint to be removed.

3. Click the vertical ellipsis at the end of the endpoint row and select Remove.

4. Click Remove on the pop-up. The endpoint will be removed from SolarWinds Observability SaaS.

Edit a NetPath configuration

You can change the destination, port, name, or polling interval.

1. In SolarWinds Observability SaaS, click Network in the left pane, and click Diagnostics > NetPath tabs.

2. Find the endpoint to be edited.

3. Click the vertical ellipsis at the end of the endpoint row and select Edit.

4. Edit the endpoint destination, port, name, or polling interval and click Save. Your changes will be applied.

Assign probes to an endpoint

When you have created an endpoint, you can assign more probes to it.

Assign probes from the NetPath endpoints list

1. In SolarWinds Observability SaaS, click Network in the left pane, and click Diagnostics > NetPath tabs.

2. Find the endpoint to be edited.

3. Click the vertical ellipsis at the end of the endpoint row and select Assign Probes.

4. The Assign Probes wizard opens. You can use an existing probe or deploy a new probe.

   • Use existing probe.

   • Create new probe.

5. On Summary, review the configuration and click Submit.

Assign probes from the endpoint details view

1. In SolarWinds Observability SaaS, click Network in the left pane, and click Diagnostics > NetPath tabs.

2. Click the endpoint name in the list. This opens the endpoint details view.

3. In Probes Details, click Add Probes.

4. The Assign Probes wizard opens. You can use an existing probe or deploy a new probe.

   • Use existing probe.

   • Create new probe.

5. On Summary, review the configuration and click Submit.

Unassign probes

Each endpoint must have at least one probe assigned. If there is only one incorrect probe assigned to an endpoint, assign a correct probe first. See Assign probes to an endpoint.

If you assigned an incorrect probe to the endpoint, unassign the probe.

1. In SolarWinds Observability SaaS, click Network in the left pane, and click Diagnostics > NetPath tabs.

2. Click the endpoint name in the list. This opens the endpoint details view.

3. In Probes Details, click the vertical ellipsis next to the probe you want to unassign and select Unassign.

4. Click Unassign on the pop-up. The probe will be unassigned from the endpoint.

Edit NetPath thresholds for probes

By default, nodes in NetPath graphs change their color when they reach the following thresholds.

Metric	Warning threshold (probe turns yellow)	Critical threshold (probe turns red)
Latency	25 ms	100 ms
Packet loss	5%	10%

You can edit the default latency and packet loss thresholds for each probe associated with an endpoint.

1. In SolarWinds Observability SaaS, click Network in the left pane, and click Diagnostics > NetPath tabs.

2. Click the endpoint name in the list. This opens the endpoint details view.

3. In Probes Details, click the vertical ellipsis next to the probe and select Edit Thresholds.

   You can also access the Edit Thresholds dialog from the NetPath Overview page, from the vertical ellipsis of an endpoint. You will be asked to select a probe to change the thresholds for.

4. Make sure you have the correct probe selected in Select Probe.

5. Change the threshold values and click Save.

   The thresholds for the selected probe will be changed. Nodes polled using the probe will change color in NetPath according to the new settings in future polls. Historical data will not be affected, node colors will still reflect original thresholds.