March 2024 - Kevin Justin's Blog

NOT monitored servers

Ever run into NOT monitored servers?

Unsure your experience, but recently, I’ve run across multiple occurrences where servers show up as ‘not monitored. As a result, I’ve found three distinct sets of issues that might cause ‘not monitored’ status –

1) Orphaned Agent blog

https://kevinjustin.com/blog/2020/07/02/identify-orphaned-agent-properties/

This scenario usually entails deleting server from Managed Agents view in Administration tab, where alerts or other details may still exist. The procedure leverages Holman’s orphaned agent blog (tried and true) post from years back to aid cleanup.

2) Do you have packs or connectors extending classes?

https://kevinjustin.com/blog/2021/12/14/caution-using-tags-notes-extending-classes/

3) Rebuilding a server with the same name is a common server occurrence

Related to 1, Holman’s orphaned agent blog to be used to cleanup.

First, let’s test in the Lab. Second, let’s talk about the express lane ‘easy button’. Begin by deleting the Windows Computer orphaned object GUID. Process the Windows Computer object (bottom), followed by the top two (2) are HealthService, and HealthServiceWatcher object properties (see three items highlighted).

Second piece, marking the Windows Computer GUID for deletion (IsDeleted=1) cleans up nearly ALL properties. See the progress below, how this slight change makes short order of orphaned properties for ‘server’.

Windows Computer object marks all but SCVMM for deletion

Third HealthService & SCVMM objects require manual deletion per GUID.

Note first screenshot shows health service properties marked ‘IsDeleted’ = 1 after manually processing each GUID.

Fourth, screenshot shows there the HealthServiceWatcher property is marked for deletion (IsDeleted=1)

HealthServiceWatcher marked for deletion

If you have SCVMM, you will need to repeat for each of the SCVMM properties to clear out the orphans in the DB.

Why – the issue:

Typically, when servers are reimaged, i.e. NOT deleted from SCOM, there are two+ healthservice, HealthServiceWatcher, Windows Computer properties created for each image of example server. Additional properties may show duplicated for any class discoveries that are common to the old and new image.

NOTE: Deleting the current agent may clean up objects for that instance of the discovered server, but NOT the old server image.

SCOM MS TLS1.2 drivers

Courtesy of Brook Hudson, who provided clarification for encrypting SCOM data –

Question – Can we update the OLE DB Driver from 18.6.5 to 18.6.7 and the ODBC driver from 17.10.3 to 17.10.5.1 without breaking anything?

This configuration applies to SCOM2016 forward –

MS OLE DB Driver 18.6.7: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2242656

ODBC Driver 17.10.5.1: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2249004

I did NOT have success with this for SCOM2019 and SCOM2022 –

If the SQL endpoint is secured with encryption, then the following drivers can be used.

MS OLE DB Driver 19.3.2: https://aka.ms/downloadmsoledbsql

ODBC Driver 18.3.2.1: https://aka.ms/downloadmsodbcsql

If you want to use these newer drivers then SQL encryption is required, more information about enabling SQL Encryption: Configure SQL Server Database Engine for encryption – SQL Server | Microsoft Learn – https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/database-engine/configure-windows/configure-sql-server-encryption?view=sql-server-ver15

The SQL team noted that the newer versions are defaulting Encrypt to be Yes/Mandatory. That is why the new drivers were having an issue. Setting up a certificate in the SQL endpoint would have allowed the connection to work:

Enable encrypted connections – SQL Server | Microsoft Docs

Certificate Management (SQL Server Configuration Manager) – SQL Server | Microsoft Docs

OLE DB Driver 19.0 for SQL Server Released – Microsoft Tech Community

ODBC Driver 18.0 for SQL Server Released – Microsoft Tech Community

IMPORTANT:

Update: Hotfixes released for ODBC and OLE DB drivers for SQL Server – Microsoft Community Hub

ServiceNow Event integration

Time to integrate your Monitoring tools to ITSM tool. First, this blog post documents ‘ServiceNow Event integration’. Second, let’s explain the common acronym in my experience is SNOW/SNow. Third, some background – ServiceNow has been around for some time as an Information Technology Service Management (ITSM), and discovery tool. As a SaaS solution, companies can purchase a subscription and integrate tools via RESTAPI to create/update/close events or incidents.

First, let’s begin to discuss SCOM notification methods. SCOM2022 adds a new capability with Teams integration. Second, most people are familiar with notification methods leveraging Email (html or not), perhaps SMS, but not so much command channel, calling some script in shell, PowerShell, etc. Generally, the command channel is basically a post processing script capability to execute notifications. Third, example tools where command channel might be used – BMC BEM (BMC Event Manager), BMC Remedy, xMatters, DerDack; SNOW integration within SCOM, using notification channels. Lastly, SaaS solutions (vendors like xMatters, and ServiceNow) allow RESTAPI crafted requests to take actions.

SNOW prerequisites

1) ServiceNow User/Password (or API key)

2) SNOW RESTAPI PowerShell needs to securely access credentials

For the Incident PowerShell, we store Credentials within Windows Credential Manager

3) Network connectivity to SaaS provider (use PowerShell test-netconnection from SCOM MS to test connectivity over whatever port(s) vendor requires.

4) ServiceNow CallerID GUID

5) Production and Test URL’s (also required for network connectivity tests)

6) Access to SNOW UI to verify required fields and values for the script parameters.

Update incident script and begin testing.

Download script from GitHub repo https://github.com/theKevinJustin/New-SNowEvent/

Download script, and copy to monitoring repository

Copy to SCOM management servers (MS)

NOTE Path, to run from management server

Update script, with pre-reqs above –

Credential Manager stored ID

For more detail, look at parameter examples below to verify UI.

Update with customer/ServiceNow SNOW subscription specific values:

##CallerID##

##CUSTOMER## (customize SNOW short_description)

##TEAM## (customize SNOW short_description)$Channel = “Direct”
$ServiceNowURL=”https://##SERVICENOWURL##/api/now/table/em_event”

$CallerID = “##CallerID##”

# if proxy is used, uncomment and replace with Proxy URL

#$Proxy = “##Proxy##”

# Test New-SNOWEvent.ps1

# Depending on how you want to randomly choose an alert to create SNOW event

Lab example

$Alerts = get-scomalert -resolutionstate 0 | where { $_.Name -like “System Center*” }

Gather Critical, New alerts

$Alerts = get-scomalert -ResolutionState 0 -severity 2

Debug for warning alerts

$Alerts = get-scomalert -ResolutionState 0 -severity 1

# Debug

$Alerts[0] | fl ID,Name,Description,Severity,MonitoringObjectDisplayName

.\New-SNOWEvent.ps1 -AlertName $Alerts[0].Name -AlertID $Alerts[0].ID -Impact 4 -Urgency 4 -Priority 3 -AssignmentGroup “System Admin” -BusinessService “System Management” -Category Support -SubCategory Repair -Channel Direct

Example output

PS C:\Users\scomadmin\Desktop> .\New-SNOWIncident.ps1 -AlertName $Alert.Name -AlertID $Alert.ID -Impact 4 -Urgency 4 -Priority 3 -AssignmentGroup “System Admin” -BusinessService “System Management” -Category Support -SubCategory Repair -Channel Direct

TEST ServiceNow URL specified.

CredentialManager PoSH Module Installed, ModuleBase = C:\Program Files\WindowsPowerShell\Modules\CredentialManager\2.0

The System Center Management Health Service 5E04F804-8B71-6EB6-0101-DCBB58022498 running on host 16DB02.testlab.net and s

erving management group with id {E39F5F53-9FBB-9D7F-4BFE-5F0324630AE5} is not healthy. Some system rules failed to load.

16DB02

Warning

impact 4

urgency 4

priority 3

ServiceNow Credential NOT stored on server

ServiceNow Incident Integration

Time to integrate your Monitoring tools to ITSM tool. First, this blog post documents ‘ServiceNow Incident integration’. Second, let’s explain the common acronym in my experience is SNOW/SNow. Third, some background – ServiceNow has been around for some time as an Information Technology Service Management (ITSM), and discovery tool. As a SaaS solution, companies can purchase a subscription and integrate tools via RESTAPI to create/update/close events or incidents.

SNOW prerequisites

1) ServiceNow User/Password (or API key)

2) SNOW RESTAPI PowerShell needs to securely access credentials

For the Incident PowerShell, we store Credentials within Windows Credential Manager

3) Network connectivity to SaaS provider (use test-netconnection from SCOM MS to test connectivity over whatever port(s) vendor requires.

ServiceNow CallerID GUID

4) Production and Test URL’s (also required for network connectivity tests)

5) Access to SNOW UI to verify required fields and values for the script parameters.

Update incident script and begin testing.

Download script from GitHub repo https://github.com/theKevinJustin/SCOM-SNOWIncidents

Download script, and copy to monitoring repository

Copy to SCOM management servers (MS)

NOTE Path, to run from management server

Update script, with pre-reqs above –

Credential Manager stored ID

For more detail, look at parameter examples below to verify UI.

Update with customer/ServiceNow SNOW subscription specific values:

##Company## (customize SNOW short_description)

##Team## (customize SNOW short_description)$Channel = “Direct”
$ServiceNowURL=”https://##ServiceNowURL##/api/now/table/incident”
#$Proxy = “##CustomerProxyURL##”
$CallerID = “##GUID##”

# Test New-SNOWIncident.ps1

# Depending on how you want to randomly choose an incident

Lab example

$Alerts = get-scomalert -resolutionstate 0 | where { $_.Name -like “System Center*” }

Gather Critical, New alerts

$Alerts = get-scomalert -ResolutionState 0 -severity 2

Debug for warning alerts

$Alerts = get-scomalert -ResolutionState 0 -severity 1

# Debug

$Alerts[0] | fl ID,Name,Description,Severity,MonitoringObjectDisplayName

.\New-SNOWIncident.ps1 -AlertName $Alerts[0].Name -AlertID $Alerts[0].ID -Impact 4 -Urgency 4 -Priority 3 -AssignmentGroup “System Admin” -BusinessService “System Management” -Category Support -SubCategory Repair -Channel Direct

Example output

TEST ServiceNow URL specified.

CredentialManager PoSH Module Installed, ModuleBase = C:\Program Files\WindowsPowerShell\Modules\CredentialManager\2.0

The System Center Management Health Service 5E04F804-8B71-6EB6-0101-DCBB58022498 running on host 16DB02.testlab.net and s

erving management group with id {E39F5F53-9FBB-9D7F-4BFE-5F0324630AE5} is not healthy. Some system rules failed to load.

16DB02

Warning

impact 4

urgency 4

priority 3

ServiceNow Credential NOT stored on server

SCOM maintenance schedules

Do your SCOM users need to know if a server is in scheduled maintenance? This came about as Aris asked questions.

First, let’s discuss specific maintenance mode and maintenance schedule scenarios users might ask. Second, determining IF scheduled maintenance enabled, running, about to run. Third, how does another user know when scheduled maintenance ends, allowing action and decision point to add/extend server maintenance. Fourth, whenever scheduled maintenance entered by one user, is NOT automatically seen by other roles. While product guidance states ‘maintenance schedules be added by someone in SCOM admin group’, self-service users still need visibility. Lastly, can we figure out a way to answer these questions. Given these points, users to be able to see server maintenance details. Also, can solution adhere to best practice ‘no alerts during planned maintenance’.

From PowerShell on SCOM MS

Get-SCOMMaintenanceScheduleList

$ScheduleList = Get-SCOMMaintenanceScheduleList

$ScheduleList.ID

$ScheduleList.ScheduleID.Guid

foreach ( $ID in $ScheduleList.ScheduleID)

{

$Schedule = get-SCOMMaintenanceSchedule -ID $ID

# $Schedule.MonitoringObjects ;

(get-scomclassInstance -id $Schedule.MonitoringObjects.Guid).DisplayName

# Debug endtime

$Schedule | ft User,ActiveStartTime,ActiveEndDate,ScheduledEndTime

}

Example Output

Workflows:

Scheduled Maintenance report task

Maintenance mode report – what’s about to end maintenance mode.

Obviously, expect both workflows into the ‘Proactive NOSC DailyTasks’ pack. GitHub repo https://github.com/theKevinJustin/ProactiveNOSCDailyTasks

Documentation:

Learn says maintenance schedules be added by someone in SCOM admin group – https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/system-center/scom/manage-maintenance-mode-overview?view=sc-om-2019

SCOM 2022 Get-SCOMMaintenanceSchedule List syntax https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/operationsmanager/get-scommaintenanceschedulelist?view=systemcenter-ps-2022 2019 here

OMI vulnerabilities for SCOM/LogAnalytics

Thank you Aris for reaching out with questions on these new vulnerabilities!

New OMI vulnerabilities for SCOM/Log Analytics Agents posted. The vulnerabilities apply to OMI component on non-windows servers with SCOM2019, SCOM2022, or Log Analytics agents. The vulnerabilities apply to non-windows server operating systems. See hotfix details below to resolve.

OMI vulnerabilities for SCOM/LogAnalytics CVE details

CVE-2024-21134 https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/en-US/advisory/CVE-2024-21334

The vulnerability exists due to a use-after-free error in the Open Management Infrastructure (OMI). A remote attacker can execute arbitrary code on the target system.

CVE-2024-21330 https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/en-US/vulnerability/CVE-2024-21330

The vulnerability exists due to application does not properly impose security restrictions in the Open Management Infrastructure (OMI), which leads to security restrictions bypass and privilege escalation.

SCOM Download links

2019 https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=58208

2022 https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/download/details.aspx?id=104213

Update OMI on for SCOM/Log Analytics agents

Leverage Holman’s Monitoring UNIX quick start guide(s) if you need a ‘how to’ or refresher to update your SCOM management groups with the latest packs, and how to update the agent on non-windows/UNIX servers.

SCOM2022 https://kevinholman.com/2022/12/12/monitoring-unix-linux-with-scom-2022/

SCOM2016,2019 https://kevinholman.com/2016/11/11/monitoring-unix-linux-with-opsmgr-2016/