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The SolarWinds CPU Gauge will monitor the CPU Load on Windows 2000 machines as well as Routers and Switches.  The CPU Gauge utilizes SNMP to communicate with the remote device and display the results.

This utility has three user areas: Setup, Load a Saved Profile and Change Tool Skin.  This application ships with several unique "skins" that can be changed to accommodate the user's preference.

           

Getting Started

The image above is the "Default" skin for the CPU Gauge.  To select a remote device to monitor simply click on the round button located at the top right corner of this tool.  From here you will be able to setup a new gauge or load a saved gauge.

On the left of the CPU Gauge you will find some statistics.  This is a display of the Maximum and Minimum Load on the CPU that has occurred since you began monitoring the device.  The Max is in Red and the Min is in Green.  The current CPU Load is also displayed in the center of the gauge as shown above.

Please note each "Skin" has its own unique location for the SETUP DEVICE, LOAD CONFIG and CHANGE SKIN options.  You may have to search for them as the developers had a very creative approach to hiding their location on some of the Skins.

The CPU Gauge has a "Tool Tips" window.  This text window displays helpful hints about the SolarWinds tools. 

CPU Gauge Setup

 

Select "Setup Gauge..." (as displayed below) from the menu display.

       

The following dialog box will be displayed.

        

IP Address or Hostname

This is the IP Address or the Hostname of the remote device whose CPU you wish to monitor. 

SNMP Community String

Since the CPU Gauge uses SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) to collect the CPU utilization statistics you will need to determine and enter the Read or Read/Write Community String for this device. 

OK

Once these parameters are entered you can start the monitoring by clicking on the "OK" button.

CPU Gauge Skins

 

To change the "Skin" of this utility simply select the new SKIN Button on the CPU Gauge.  The following menu window will be displayed.  From here you can select the new skin from the list displayed. 

           

Here are some examples of the Skins that ship with the CPU Gauge:

Graphing of Results

You can use SolarWinds SNMP Graph application to view CPU performance graphically.

Viewing Multiple Processors

It is recommended you use the Advanced CPU Gauge from SolarWinds.

Q    How do I create a Community Sting?

A      For Cisco routers there is a brief overview on the Cisco web site at: Setting the Community String. If you have a different router, please refer to that manufactures home page for specific instructions on how to configure and change Community Strings. 

Q    I can't access the remote device... What am I doing wrong?

A     There are a number of things that could go wrong. Here are a few things to check....

Are you using the read-write community string? 
You can select "Verify Community String" from the Router or Remote Device's menu to make sure you have the read-write community string. 

Is there an ACCESS LIST on the remote router or in the path you are using that blocks SNMP queries?