Clarification need on configuring nagios to monitor multiple hosts

[Zama Ques]

Hi All ,

I am new to nagios configuration . I  successfully installed nagios on one of my linux server  and now monitoring two hosts . 

For monitoring of remote hosts , I created a new config file by renaming localhost.cfg file under objects directory. 

I renamed the entries "hostname" and "address"  and other entries under "DEFINE HOST" directive to point to the new server which I am planning to monitor . The settings looks like this

define host{
        use                     linux-server            ; Name of host template to use
                            ; This host definition will inherit all variables that are defined
                            ; in (or inherited by) the linux-server host template definition.
        host_name               node1
        alias                         node1
        address                   192.168.122.167
        }


define host{
        use                     linux-server            ; Name of host template to use
                                   ; This host definition will inherit all variables that are defined
                                   ; in (or inherited by) the linux-server host template definition.
        host_name          node2
        alias                    node2
        address              192.168.122.218
        }


Also modified "DEFINE SERVICE"  directive to monitor few services on both the remote hosts . Few of the settings looks like this

define service{
        use                             local-service         ; Name of service template to use
        host_name                       node1
        service_description             Current Users
    check_command            check_nrpe!check_users
        }


define service{
        use                             local-service         ; Name of service template to use
        host_name                       node2
        service_description             Current Users
    check_command            check_nrpe!check_users
        }

The checks are working fine . But my confusion here is in terms of scalabilty .
What if I want to monitor 100 servers and 5 services in each of the servers. Does that mean I need to create 100 "define host"  directives for each of these servers . Also , monitoring 5 services means i have to create 5 "define service" for each host , that means 500 "define service" directives.  
If this is the case , then it will be really painful to configure and manage if there are many servers to monitor. 


Can't I use comma separated ip address and hosts like this

define host{

        use                     linux-server            ; Name of host template to use

                            ; This host definition will inherit all variables that are defined

                            ; in (or inherited by) the linux-server host template definition.

        host_name               node1,node2

        alias                         node1

        address                   192.168.122.167,192.168.122.218 

        }


define service{

        use                             local-service         ; Name of service template to use

        host_name                       node1,node2

        service_description             Current Users

    check_command            check_nrpe!check_users

        }

. Will it work . Have not tried yet. What you people suggest should be the approach  if somebody is planning to monitor more than 50 servers. 

Any help will be highly appreciated 

Thanks in Advance
Zaman

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