1 Configuring a network map

Overview

Configuring a map in Zabbix requires that you first create a map by defining its general parameters and then you start filling the actual map with elements and their links.

You can populate the map with elements that are a host, a host group, a trigger, an image or another map.

Icons are used to represent map elements. You can define the information that will be displayed with the icons and set that recent problems are displayed in a special way. You can link the icons and define information to be displayed on the links.

You can add custom URLs to be accessible by clicking on the icons. Thus you may link a host icon to host properties or a map icon to another map.

Maps are managed in Monitoring → Maps, where they can be configured, managed and viewed. In the monitoring view you can click on the icons and take advantage of the links to some scripts and URLs.

Network maps are based on vector graphics (SVG) since Zabbix 3.4.

Public and private maps

All users in Zabbix (including non-admin users) can create network maps. Maps have an owner - the user who created them. Maps can be made public or private.

• Public maps are visible to all users, although to see it the user must have read access to at least one map element. Public maps can be edited in case a user/ user group has read-write permissions for this map and at least read permissions to all elements of the corresponding map including triggers in the links.

• Private maps are visible only to their owner and the users/user groups the map is shared with by the owner. Regular (non-Super admin) users can only share with the groups and users they are member of. Admin level users can see private maps regardless of being the owner or belonging to the shared user list. Private maps can be edited by the owner of the map and in case a user/ user group has read-write permissions for this map and at least read permissions to all elements of the corresponding map including triggers in the links.

Map elements that the user does not have read permission to are displayed with a greyed out icon and all textual information on the element is hidden. However, trigger label is visible even if the user has no permission to the trigger.

To add an element to the map the user must also have at least read permission to it.

Creating a map

To create a map, do the following:

• Go to Monitoring → Maps
• Go to the view with all maps
• Click on Create map

You can also use the Clone and Full clone buttons in the configuration form of an existing map to create a new map. Clicking on Clone will retain general layout attributes of the original map, but no elements. Full clone will retain both the general layout attributes and all elements of the original map.

The Map tab contains general map attributes:

All mandatory input fields are marked with a red asterisk.

General map attributes:

Sharing

The Sharing tab contains the map type as well as sharing options (user groups, users) for private maps:

When you click on Add to save this map, you have created an empty map with a name, dimensions and certain preferences. Now you need to add some elements. For that, click on Constructor in the map list to open the editable area.

Adding elements

To add an element, click on Add next to Map element. The new element will appear at the top left corner of the map. Drag and drop it wherever you like.

Note that with the Grid option "On", elements will always align to the grid (you can pick various grid sizes from the dropdown, also hide/show the grid). If you want to put elements anywhere without alignment, turn the option to "Off". (Random elements can later again be aligned to the grid with the Align map elements button.)

Now that you have some elements in place, you may want to start differentiating them by giving names etc. By clicking on the element, a form is displayed and you can set the element type, give a name, choose a different icon etc.

Map element attributes:

Selecting elements

To select elements, select one and then hold down Ctrl to select the others.

You can also select multiple elements by dragging a rectangle in the editable area and selecting all elements in it (option available since Zabbix 2.0).

Once you select more than one element, the element property form shifts to the mass-update mode so you can change attributes of selected elements in one go. To do so, mark the attribute using the checkbox and enter a new value for it. You may use macros here (such as, say, {HOST.NAME} for the element label).

Linking elements

Once you have put some elements on the map, it is time to start linking them. To link two elements you must first select them. With the elements selected, click on Add next to Link.

With a link created, the single element form now contains an additional Links section. Click on Edit to edit link attributes.

Link attributes:

Moving and copy-pasting elements

Several selected elements can be moved to another place in the map by clicking on one of the selected elements, holding down the mouse button and moving the cursor to the desired location.

One or more elements can be copied by selecting the elements, then clicking on a selected element with the right mouse button and selecting Copy from the menu.

To paste the elements, click on a map area with the right mouse button and select Paste from the menu. The Paste without external links option will paste the elements retaining only the links that are between the selected elements.

Copy-pasting works within the same browser window. Keyboard shortcuts are not supported.

Adding shapes

In addition to map elements, it is also possible to add some shapes. Shapes are not map elements; they are just a visual representation. For example, a rectangle shape can be used as a background to group some hosts. Rectangle and ellipse shapes can be added.

To add a shape, click on Add next to Shape. The new shape will appear at the top left corner of the map. Drag and drop it wherever you like.

A new shape is added with default colours. By clicking on the shape, a form is displayed and you can customize the way a shape looks, add text, etc.

To select shapes, select one and then hold down Ctrl to select the others. With several shapes selected, common properties can be mass updated, similarly as with elements.

Text can be added in the shapes. To display text only the shape can be made invisible by removing the shape border (select 'None' in the Border field). For example, take note of how the {MAP.NAME} macro, visible in the screenshot above, is actually a rectangle shape with text, which can be seen when clicking on the macro:

{MAP.NAME} resolves to the configured map name, when viewing the map.

If hyperlinks are used in the text, they become clickable when viewing the map.

Line wrapping for text is always "on" within shapes. However, within an ellipse the lines are wrapped as though the ellipse were a rectangle. Word wrapping is not implemented, so long words (words that do not fit the shape) are not wrapped, but are masked (constructor page) or clipped (other pages with maps).

Adding lines

In addition to shapes, it is also possible to add some lines. Lines can be used to link elements or shapes in a map.

To add a line, click on Add next to Shape. A new shape will appear at the top left corner of the map. Select it and click on Line in the editing form to change the shape into a line. Then adjust line properties, such as line type, width, colour, etc.

Ordering shapes and lines

To bring one shape in front of the other (or vice versa) click on the shape with the right mouse button bringing up the map shape menu.