=head1 NAME
 
B<monstart> - Starts a plug-in module to monitor the xCAT cluster.

  
 
=head1 SYNOPSIS
 
I<monstart [-h| --help]>

I<monstart  [-v| --version]>


I<monstart I<name> [-n|--nodestatmon] [-s|--settings settings]> 


=head1 DESCRIPTION

This command is used to register a monitoring plug-in module and invoke it to monitor the xCAT cluster. A monitoring plug-in module acts as a bridge that connects a 3rd party monitoring software and the xCAT cluster. The plug-in module will be registered in the xCAT I<monitoring> database table. A registered plug-in module is automatically started by the I<xcatd>.  
       

=head1 Parameters

I<name> is the name of the monitoring plug-in module. For example, if the the I<name> is called I<xxx>, then the actual file name that the xcatd looks for is I</opt/xcat/lib/perl/xCAT_monitoring/xxx.pm>. Use I<monls -a> command to list all the monitoring plug-in modules that can be used. 
 
I<settings> is the monitoring plug-in specific settings. It is used to customize the behavior of the plug-in or configure the 3rd party software. Format: I<[key-value],[key=value]...> Please note that the square brackets are needed here. Use I<monls name -d> command to look for the possbile setting keys for a plug-in module.
  
=head1 OPTIONS


B<-h | -help>          Display usage message.

B<-n | -nodestatmon>   Indicate that this monitoring plug-in will be used for feeding the node liveness status to the xCAT I<nodelist> table.

B<-s | -settings>     Specifies the plug-in specific settings. These settings will be used by the plug-in to customize certain entities for the plug-in or the third party monitoring software. e.g. [mon_interval=10],[toggle=1].

B<-v | -version >      Command Version. 

B<-V | -verbose>       Verbose output. 


=head1 RETURN VALUE

0 The command completed successfully.

1 An error has occurred.

=head1 EXAMPLES

1. To start gangliamon plug-in module (which interacts with Ganglia monitoring software) to monitor the xCAT cluster, enter:

  monstart gangliamon

2. To start rmcmon plug-in module (which interacts with IBM's RSCT monitoring software) to monitor the xCAT cluster and have it feed the node liveness status to xCAT's I<nodelist> table, enter:

  monstart rmcmon -n 

3. To start xcatmon plug-in module to feed the node liveness status to xCAT's I<nodelist> table, enter:

  monstart rmcmon -n -s [ping-interval=2]
where 2 is the number of minutes between the pings.



=head1 FILES 
 
/opt/xcat/bin/monstart


=head1 NOTES

See monstop monls

This command is part of the xCAT software product.


 
