Hello everyone, The first question is, what is the meaning of directive name in host definition? The document says there is no such thing, only host_name but if put name there nagios (both 2 and 3 does not complain) Longer explanation follows. When using nagios config version 2 in nagios3 I have some errors. Looking at the config of version 2 I see: define host{ name standard-host use generic-host ; Name of host template to use register 0 ; Template - don't register host_name not-defined alias not-defined check_command check-host-alive contact_groups pager notification_period 24x7 } define host{ name virtual-host use generic-host ; Name of host template to use register 0 ; Template - don't regis ter host_name not-defined alias not-defined check_command check-host-alive contact_groups pager notification_period workhours } It worked with nagios2 ; nagios3 Warning: Duplicate definition found for host 'not-defined' and then error Could not add object property at line point to host_name not-defined. I changed the value of host_name to be uniques such as not-defined0, not-defined1 and it stop complaining. But I do not know what nagios3 understand that in case name and host_name are both defined in host definition? Many thanks in advance -- Steve Kieu