intermapper Linux: Complete Network Monitoring and Mapping Guide

What is InterMapper for Linux?

InterMapper is a powerful network monitoring and mapping tool that provides real-time visibility into network infrastructure. On Linux systems, InterMapper offers comprehensive network discovery, automatic topology mapping, and continuous monitoring capabilities that help network administrators maintain optimal network performance.

This enterprise-grade solution combines SNMP polling, custom probes, and intelligent alerting to deliver a complete network management platform specifically optimized for Linux environments.

Key Features of InterMapper Linux

Automatic Network Discovery

InterMapper automatically discovers network devices using multiple protocols including SNMP, ICMP, and custom probes. The discovery process creates detailed network maps showing device relationships and connection paths.

Real-time Monitoring

Continuous monitoring of network devices, interfaces, and services with customizable polling intervals. Monitor bandwidth utilization, device status, and performance metrics in real-time.

Visual Network Maps

Interactive network topology maps that update automatically as network changes occur. Visual indicators show device status, alerts, and performance data at a glance.

System Requirements for InterMapper Linux

Minimum Hardware Requirements

• CPU: 2 GHz dual-core processor
• RAM: 4 GB minimum (8 GB recommended)
• Storage: 20 GB available disk space
• Network: Ethernet connection

Supported Linux Distributions

• Ubuntu 18.04 LTS and newer
• CentOS 7 and 8
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 and 8
• SUSE Linux Enterprise Server
• Debian 9 and newer

Installing InterMapper on Linux

Download and Installation Process

First, download the InterMapper Linux package from the official website and follow these installation steps:

# Make the installer executable
chmod +x InterMapper_Linux_Installer.bin

# Run the installer
sudo ./InterMapper_Linux_Installer.bin

Post-Installation Configuration

After installation, configure the basic settings:

# Start InterMapper service
sudo systemctl start intermapper

# Enable automatic startup
sudo systemctl enable intermapper

# Check service status
sudo systemctl status intermapper

Expected Output:

● intermapper.service - InterMapper Network Monitoring
   Loaded: loaded (/etc/systemd/system/intermapper.service; enabled)
   Active: active (running) since Tue 2025-08-26 07:20:15 IST; 2min ago
 Main PID: 1234 (InterMapper)
   Status: "InterMapper is running"

Basic InterMapper Configuration

Accessing the Web Interface

InterMapper provides a web-based interface accessible through your browser:

# Default web interface URL
http://localhost:8080

# Or using server IP
http://your-server-ip:8080

Initial Setup Wizard

The setup wizard guides you through essential configurations:

1. Administrator Account: Create admin credentials
2. License Configuration: Enter license key
3. Network Settings: Configure SNMP communities
4. Discovery Settings: Set network ranges to monitor

Network Discovery and Mapping

Configuring Network Discovery

Set up network discovery to automatically find devices:

# Edit discovery configuration
sudo nano /opt/intermapper/config/discovery.conf

# Add network ranges
network.range.1=192.168.1.0/24
network.range.2=10.0.0.0/16
snmp.community=public

Manual Device Addition

Add specific devices manually using the command line interface:

# Add a router
./intermapper-cli add-device --ip 192.168.1.1 --type router --community public

# Add a switch
./intermapper-cli add-device --ip 192.168.1.10 --type switch --community public

# Add a server
./intermapper-cli add-device --ip 192.168.1.100 --type server

SNMP Configuration for Enhanced Monitoring

Configuring SNMP Communities

Set up SNMP communities for device access:

# Configure SNMP v2c
community.read=public
community.write=private

# Configure SNMP v3
snmpv3.user=admin
snmpv3.auth.protocol=SHA
snmpv3.auth.password=your-auth-password
snmpv3.priv.protocol=AES
snmpv3.priv.password=your-priv-password

Custom SNMP Probes

Create custom probes for specific monitoring requirements:

# Create custom probe file
sudo nano /opt/intermapper/probes/custom-cpu-monitor.probe

# Probe content example
probe.name=Custom CPU Monitor
probe.oid=1.3.6.1.4.1.2021.11.11.0
probe.warning.threshold=80
probe.critical.threshold=90

Alert Configuration and Management

Setting Up Email Alerts

Configure email notifications for network events:

# Configure SMTP settings
sudo nano /opt/intermapper/config/smtp.conf

smtp.server=smtp.gmail.com
smtp.port=587
[email protected]
smtp.password=your-app-password
smtp.use.tls=true

Creating Alert Rules

Define custom alert conditions:

# Create alert rule
./intermapper-cli create-alert \
  --name "High CPU Usage" \
  --condition "cpu > 85" \
  --action "email:[email protected]" \
  --severity critical

Performance Monitoring and Reporting

Monitoring Key Metrics

InterMapper tracks various performance metrics:

• Interface Utilization: Bandwidth usage on network interfaces
• Device Availability: Up/down status of network devices
• Response Time: Network latency and response times
• Error Rates: Packet loss and error statistics

Generating Reports

Create automated reports using the command line:

# Generate availability report
./intermapper-cli generate-report \
  --type availability \
  --period "last-month" \
  --output /tmp/availability-report.pdf

# Generate performance report
./intermapper-cli generate-report \
  --type performance \
  --devices "192.168.1.0/24" \
  --period "last-week" \
  --format html

Advanced Configuration Options

Database Configuration

Configure the underlying database for data storage:

# Configure PostgreSQL backend
sudo nano /opt/intermapper/config/database.conf

db.type=postgresql
db.host=localhost
db.port=5432
db.name=intermapper
db.username=intermapper_user
db.password=secure_password

Load Balancing and High Availability

Set up multiple InterMapper instances for redundancy:

# Configure primary server
primary.server=true
cluster.id=intermapper-cluster-01

# Configure secondary server
primary.server=false
cluster.master=192.168.1.50
cluster.id=intermapper-cluster-01

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Service Not Starting

If InterMapper fails to start, check these common issues:

# Check log files
sudo tail -f /opt/intermapper/logs/intermapper.log

# Verify port availability
sudo netstat -tlnp | grep :8080

# Check file permissions
sudo chown -R intermapper:intermapper /opt/intermapper/

SNMP Connection Issues

Troubleshoot SNMP connectivity problems:

# Test SNMP connectivity
snmpwalk -v2c -c public 192.168.1.1 1.3.6.1.2.1.1.1.0

# Check firewall settings
sudo iptables -L | grep 161

# Verify SNMP service on target device
sudo systemctl status snmpd

Best Practices for InterMapper Linux

Security Considerations

• Use SNMP v3: Implement encrypted SNMP communications
• Firewall Rules: Restrict access to management interfaces
• Regular Updates: Keep InterMapper software current
• Strong Passwords: Use complex passwords for all accounts

Performance Optimization

• Polling Intervals: Adjust based on network size and requirements
• Database Maintenance: Regular cleanup of historical data
• Resource Monitoring: Monitor InterMapper server resources
• Network Segmentation: Use multiple collectors for large networks

Integration with Other Tools

Syslog Integration

Configure syslog forwarding for centralized logging:

# Configure rsyslog forwarding
echo "*.* @@192.168.1.200:514" | sudo tee -a /etc/rsyslog.conf

# Restart rsyslog
sudo systemctl restart rsyslog

API Integration

Use InterMapper’s REST API for custom integrations:

# Get device status via API
curl -u admin:password \
  "http://localhost:8080/api/devices/192.168.1.1/status"

# Export network map data
curl -u admin:password \
  "http://localhost:8080/api/maps/export?format=json"

Maintenance and Updates

Regular Maintenance Tasks

Perform these maintenance tasks regularly:

# Backup configuration
sudo tar -czf intermapper-backup-$(date +%Y%m%d).tar.gz /opt/intermapper/config/

# Clean up old log files
sudo find /opt/intermapper/logs/ -name "*.log" -mtime +30 -delete

# Update device database
./intermapper-cli update-device-database

Software Updates

Keep InterMapper updated with the latest features and security patches:

# Check current version
./intermapper --version

# Download and install updates
sudo ./InterMapper_Linux_Update.bin

# Restart services after update
sudo systemctl restart intermapper

InterMapper for Linux provides comprehensive network monitoring capabilities that scale from small networks to enterprise environments. By following this guide, you can effectively deploy, configure, and maintain InterMapper to ensure optimal network performance and reliability.