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

The Cloud HTTP sensor monitors the loading time of a web server via HTTP from different locations worldwide via the PRTG Cloud. The locations are distributed among five continents around the globe.

i_square_cyanFor a detailed list and descriptions of the channels that this sensor can show, see section Channel List.

Cloud HTTP Sensor

Cloud HTTP Sensor

Sensor in Other Languages

  • Dutch: Cloud HTTP
  • French: Cloud HTTP
  • German: Cloud HTTP
  • Japanese: クラウド HTTP
  • Portuguese: Cloud HTTP
  • Russian: Облако HTTP
  • Simplified Chinese: 云 HTTP
  • Spanish: HTTP de nube

Remarks

  • The probe system must have access to the internet and must be able to reach https://api.prtgcloud.com:443 to communicate with the PRTG Cloud.
  • The address you define in the settings of the parent device must be reachable over the internet. You cannot use this sensor to monitor localhost (127.0.0.1) or other target devices that are only reachable within your private network.
  • This sensor inherits proxy settings for HTTP sensors from the parent device.
  • This sensor has predefined limits for several metrics. You can individually change these limits in the channel settings. For detailed information about channel limits, see section Channel Settings.
  • This sensor supports smart URL replacement.
  • This sensor has a low performance impact.
  • This sensor uses lookups to determine the status values of one or more channels. This means that possible states are defined in a lookup file. You can change the behavior of a channel by editing the lookup file that the channel uses. For details, see section Define Lookups.
  • In rare cases, this sensor may result in false timeouts and show the error message The returned JSON does not match the expected structure (Invalid JSON.). (code: PE231). In this case, set the If a Sensor Query Fails option to up to five scanning intervals to not receive false alerts.
  • See the Knowledge Base: Are there any limits for using Cloud Ping and Cloud HTTP sensors?
  • See the Knowledge Base: What is the PRTG Cloud Bot?

Add Sensor

The Add Sensor dialog appears when you manually add a new sensor to a device. It only shows the settings that are required to create the sensor. Therefore, you do not see all settings in this dialog. You can change nearly all settings on the sensor's Settings tab after creation.

Basic Sensor Settings

Click the Settings tab of a sensor to change its settings.

Basic Sensor Settings

Basic Sensor Settings

Setting

Description

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.

i_round_blueIf the name contains angle brackets (<>), PRTG replaces them with braces ({}) for security reasons. For more information, see the Knowledge Base: What security features does PRTG include?

Parent Tags

Shows tags that the sensor inherits from its parent device, parent group, and parent probe.

i_round_blueThis setting is for your information only. You cannot change it.

Tags

Enter one or more tags. Confirm each tag with the Spacebar key, a comma, or the Enter key. You can use tags to group objects and use tag-filtered views later on. Tags are not case-sensitive. Tags are automatically inherited.

i_round_blueIt is not possible to enter tags with a leading plus (+) or minus (-) sign, nor tags with parentheses (()) or angle brackets (<>).

i_round_blueFor performance reasons, it can take some minutes until you can filter for new tags that you added.

The sensor has the following default tags that are automatically predefined in the sensor's settings when you add the sensor:

  • httpsensor

Priority

Select a priority for the sensor. This setting determines the position of the sensor in lists. The highest priority is at the top of a list. Choose from the lowest priority (i_priority_1) to the highest priority (i_priority_5).

i_round_blueUsually, a sensor connects to the IP Address or DNS Name of the parent device. See the device settings for details. For some sensors, you can explicitly define the monitoring target in the sensor settings.

HTTP Settings

HTTP Settings

HTTP Settings

Setting

Description

URL

Enter the URL that the sensor connects to. If you enter an absolute URL, the sensor uses this address independently of the IP Address/DNS Name setting of the parent device.

i_round_redThe URL must be valid and URL encoded.

i_round_blueYou can enter a URL that leads to a web page, for example, to measure the page source code's loading time, or you can enter the URL of an image or other page asset to measure this element's availability and loading time.

i_square_cyanPRTG uses a smart URL replacement with which you can use the parent device's IP address or Domain Name System (DNS) name setting as part of the URL. For more information, see section Smart URL Replacement.

Request Method

Select an HTTP request method to determine how the sensor requests the URL:

  • GET (default): Directly request the web page. We recommend that you use this setting for a simple check of a web page.
  • POST: Send post form data to the URL.
  • HEAD: Only request the HTTP header from the server without the actual web page.
    i_round_blueThis setting saves bandwidth because it transfers less data. However, we do not recommend this setting because the measured request time is not the request time that the users experience and you might not be notified of slow results or timeouts.

Postdata

This option is only visible if you select POST as Request Method above. Enter the data part for the POST request.

i_round_redNo Extensible Markup Language (XML) is allowed here.

i_round_blueThe only content type that sensor supports is application/x-www-form-urlencoded.

Timeout (Sec.)

Enter a timeout in seconds for the server request. If the reply takes longer than this value, PRTG cancels the request and shows an error message. The maximum timeout value is 5 seconds.

Sensor Display

Sensor Display

Sensor Display

Setting

Description

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

i_round_blueYou can set a different primary channel later by clicking b_channel_primary below a channel gauge on the sensor's Overview tab.

Graph Type

Define how different channels are shown for this sensor:

  • Show channels independently (default): Show a 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 generates a graph that visualizes the different components of your total traffic.
    i_round_redYou cannot use this option in combination with manual Vertical Axis Scaling (available in the channel settings).

Stack Unit

This setting is only visible if you enable Stack channels on top of each other as Graph Type. Select a unit from the list. All channels with this unit are 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 of the following settings are inherited from objects that are higher in the hierarchy. We recommend that you change them centrally in the root group settings if necessary. To change a setting for this object only, click b_inherited_enabled under the corresponding setting name to disable the inheritance and to display its options.

i_square_cyanFor more information, see section Inheritance of Settings.

Scanning Interval

Click b_inherited_enabled to interrupt the inheritance.

i_round_blueThis sensor has a fixed minimum scanning interval for performance reasons. You cannot run the sensor in shorter intervals than this minimum interval. Consequently, shorter scanning intervals as defined in the Monitoring settings are not available for this sensor.

Scanning Interval

Scanning Interval

Setting

Description

Scanning Interval

Select a scanning interval from the dropdown list. The scanning interval determines the amount of time that the sensor waits between two scans. Choose from:

  • 30 seconds
  • 60 seconds
  • 5 minutes
  • 10 minutes
  • 15 minutes
  • 30 minutes
  • 1 hour
  • 4 hours
  • 6 hours
  • 12 hours
  • 24 hours

i_round_blueYou can change the available intervals in the system administration on PRTG on premises installations.

i_round_blueThe minimum scanning interval of this sensor is 10 minutes.

If a Sensor Query Fails

Select the number of scanning intervals that the sensor has time to reach and to check a device again if a sensor query fails. Depending on the option that you select, the sensor can try to reach and to check a device again several times before the sensor shows the Down status. This can avoid false alarms if the monitored device only has temporary issues. For previous scanning intervals with failed requests, the sensor shows the Warning status. Choose from:

  • Set sensor to down immediately: Set the sensor to the Down status immediately after the first request fails.
  • Set sensor to warning for 1 interval, then set to down (recommended): Set the sensor to the Warning status after the first request fails. If the second request also fails, the sensor shows the Down status.
  • Set sensor to warning for 2 intervals, then set to down: Set the sensor to the Down status only after the third request fails.
  • Set sensor to warning for 3 intervals, then set to down: Set the sensor to the Down status only after the fourth request fails.
  • Set sensor to warning for 4 intervals, then set to down: Set the sensor to the Down status only after the fifth request fails.
  • Set sensor to warning for 5 intervals, then set to down: Set the sensor to the Down status only after the sixth request fails.

i_round_blueSensors that monitor via Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) always wait at least one scanning interval before they show the Down status. It is not possible to immediately set a WMI sensor to the Down status, so the first option does not apply to these sensors. All other options can apply.

i_round_blueIf you define error limits for a sensor's channels, the sensor immediately shows the Down status. None of the interval options apply.

i_round_blueIf a channel uses lookup values, the sensor immediately shows the Down status. None of the interval options apply.

Schedules, Dependencies, and Maintenance Windows

i_round_blueYou cannot interrupt the inheritance for schedules, dependencies, and maintenance windows. The corresponding settings from the parent objects are always active. However, you can define additional schedules, dependencies, and maintenance windows. They are active at the same time as the parent objects' settings.

Schedules, Dependencies, and Maintenance Windows

Schedules, Dependencies, and Maintenance Windows

Setting

Description

Schedule

Select a schedule from the list. You can use schedules to monitor during a certain time span (days or hours) every week. Choose from:

  • None
  • Saturdays
  • Sundays
  • Weekdays
  • Weekdays Eight-To-Eight (08:00 - 20:00)
  • Weekdays Nights (17:00 - 09:00)
  • Weekdays Nights (20:00 - 08:00)
  • Weekdays Nine-To-Five (09:00 - 17:00)
  • Weekends

i_round_blueYou can create schedules, edit schedules, or pause monitoring for a specific time span. For more information, see section Schedules.

Maintenance Window

Select if you want to set up a one-time maintenance window. During a maintenance window, monitoring stops for the selected object and all child objects. They show the Paused status instead. Choose between:

  • Do not set up a one-time maintenance window: Do not set up a one-time maintenance window. Monitoring is always active.
  • Set up a one-time maintenance window: Set up a one-time maintenance window and pause monitoring. You can define a time span for the pause below.

i_round_blueTo terminate an active maintenance window before the defined end date, change the time entry in Maintenance Ends to a date in the past.

Maintenance Begins

This setting is only visible if you enable Set up a one-time maintenance window above. Use the date time picker to enter the start date and time of the one-time maintenance window.

Maintenance Ends

This setting is only visible if you enable Set up a one-time maintenance window above. Use the date time picker to enter the end date and time of the one-time maintenance window.

Dependency Type

Select a dependency type. You can use dependencies to pause monitoring for an object depending on the status of a different object. You can choose from:

  • Use parent: Use the dependency type of the parent object.
  • Select a sensor: Use the dependency type of the parent object. Additionally, pause the current object if a specific sensor is in the Down status or in the Paused status because of another dependency.
  • Master sensor for parent: Make this sensor the master object for its parent device. The sensor influences the behavior of its parent device: If the sensor is in the Down status, the device is 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 is paused if the parent group is paused by another dependency.

i_round_blueTo test your dependencies, select Simulate Error Status from the context menu of an object that other objects depend on. A few seconds later, all dependent objects are paused. You can check all dependencies under Devices | Dependencies in the main menu bar.

Dependency

This setting is only visible if you enable Select a sensor above. Click b_search_light and use the object selector to select a sensor on which the current object will depend.

Dependency Delay (Sec.)

This setting is only visible if you enable Select a sensor above. Define a time span in seconds for the dependency delay.

After the master sensor for this dependency returns to the Up status, PRTG additionally delays the monitoring of the dependent objects by the time span you define. This can prevent false alarms, for example, after a server restart or to give systems more time for all services to start. Enter an integer value.

i_round_redThis setting is not available if you set this sensor to Use parent or to be the Master sensor for parent. In this case, define delays in the parent device settings or in its parent group settings.

Access Rights

Click b_inherited_enabled to interrupt the inheritance.

Access Rights

Access Rights

Setting

Description

User Group Access

Define the user groups that have access to the sensor. You see a table with user groups and group access rights. The table contains all user groups in your setup. For each user group, you can choose from the following group access rights:

  • Inherited: Inherit the access rights settings of the parent object.
  • No access: Users in this user group cannot see or edit the sensor. The sensor neither shows up in lists nor in the device tree.
  • Read access: Users in this group can see the sensor and view its monitoring results. They cannot edit any settings.
  • Write access: Users in this group can see the sensor, view its monitoring results, and edit its settings. They cannot edit its access rights settings.
  • Full access: Users in this group can see the sensor, view its monitoring results, edit its settings, and edit its access rights settings.

i_square_cyanFor more details on access rights, see section Access Rights Management.

Smart URL Replacement

Instead of entering a complete address in the URL field of an HTTP sensor, you can only enter the protocol followed by a colon and three forward slashes (this means that you can enter either http:/// or https:///, or even a simple forward slash / as the equivalent for http:///). PRTG automatically fills in the parent device's IP address or DNS name in front of the third forward slash.

Whether this results in a valid URL or not depends on the IP address or Domain Name System (DNS) name of the parent device. In combination with cloning devices, you can use smart URL replacement to create many similar devices.

For example, if you create a device with the DNS name www.mycompany.com and you add an HTTP sensor to it, you can provide values in the following ways:

  • If you enter https:/// in the URL field, PRTG automatically creates the URL https://www.mycompany.com/
  • If you enter /help in the URL field, PRTG automatically creates and monitor the URL http://www.mycompany.com/help
  • It is also possible to provide a port number in the URL field. It is taken over by the device's DNS name and is internally added, for example, http://:8080/

i_round_redSmart URL replacement does not work for sensors that run on the probe device.

Channel List

i_round_blueWhich channels the sensor actually shows might depend on the monitored device, the available components, and the sensor setup.

Channel

Description

Asia Pacific (Singapore) - Response Code

The response code of the target server at the location

  • Up status: Information, Success
  • Warning status: Redirection
  • Down status: Client Error, Server Error

Asia Pacific (Singapore) - Response Time

The response time of the target server at the location in milliseconds (msec)

Asia Pacific (Sydney) - Response Code

The response code of the target server at the location

  • Up status: Information, Success
  • Warning status: Redirection
  • Down status: Client Error, Server Error

Asia Pacific (Sydney) - Response Time

The response time of the target server at the location in msec

Asia Pacific (Tokyo) - Response Code

The response code of the target server at the location

  • Up status: Information, Success
  • Warning status: Redirection
  • Down status: Client Error, Server Error

Asia Pacific (Tokyo) - Response Time

The response time of the target server at the location in msec

Downtime

In the channel table on the Overview tab, this channel never shows any values. PRTG uses this channel in graphs and reports to show the amount of time in which the sensor was in the Down status in percent.

EU Central (Frankfurt) - Response Code

The response code of the target server at the location

  • Up status: Information, Success
  • Warning status: Redirection
  • Down status: Client Error, Server Error

EU Central (Frankfurt) - Response Time

The response time of the target server at the location in msec

EU West (Ireland) - Response Code

The response code of the target server at the location

  • Up status: Information, Success
  • Warning status: Redirection
  • Down status: Client Error, Server Error

EU West (Ireland) - Response Time

The response time of the target server at the location in msec

Global Average - Response Time

The global average response time in msec

i_round_blueThis channel is the primary channel by default.

South America (São Paulo) - Response Code

The response code of the target server at the location

  • Up status: Information, Success
  • Warning status: Redirection
  • Down status: Client Error, Server Error

South America (São Paulo) - Response Time

The response time of the target server at the location in msec

US East (Northern Virginia) - Response Code

The response code of the target server at the location

  • Up status: Information, Success
  • Warning status: Redirection
  • Down status: Client Error, Server Error

US East (Northern Virginia) - Response Time

The response time of the target server at the location in msec

US West (Northern California) - Response Code

The response code of the target server at the location

  • Up status: Information, Success
  • Warning status: Redirection
  • Down status: Client Error, Server Error

US West (Northern California) - Response Time

The response time of the target server at the location in msec

US West (Oregon) - Response Code

The response code of the target server at the location

  • Up status: Information, Success
  • Warning status: Redirection
  • Down status: Client Error, Server Error

US West (Oregon) - Response Time

The response time of the target server at the location in msec

More

i_square_blueKNOWLEDGE BASE

Are there any limits for using Cloud Ping and Cloud HTTP sensors?

What is the PRTG Cloud Bot?

What security features does PRTG include?

Sensor Settings Overview

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