... You can then execute the _Build Externals_ command, which will call a user written program in MonarchExternals.pm. The user program can process the externals data associated with the host and service definitions in monarch. For example, the externals data can be used to generate a configuration update for another monitoring tool based on monarch changes. This is an advanced feature that requires some knowledge of Perl to modify MonarchExternals.pm.
h4. Enabling Externals
# To enable externals within _GroundWork Monitor_, select *Configuration* > *Control* and check the *Enable Externals* box.
# Select *Save*. You are then able to define, add, and execute externals using the _Services_, _Profiles_, and _Hosts_ configuration tabs.
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Figure: Enable Externals
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h4. Searching, Creating and Adding Externals
h5. Searching Externals
Additionally, you have the ability to search for service and host externals. When externals are enabled the _Search Service Externals_ and the _Search Host Externals_ options will be available under _Services_ and _Hosts_.
# Select *Configuration* > *Services*, and *Search service externals*.
# Enter any part of an external name to search.
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Figure: Search Externals
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h5. Creating Externals
# To create a host or service external, select Configuration > *Hosts* or *Services*.
# Select *Host* *Externals* (or _Service Externals_) and select *New*.
# Enter a *Name*, and *Detail* for the external and *Add* and *Continue*, you will then see the new external listed under *Modify*.
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Figure: Creating Externals
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h5. Adding Externals
You can then add host externals in the host detail, service externals in service detail, and externals within the host profile page.
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Figure: Adding Externals
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h4. Building External Files
When externals files are built, they have to be placed somewhere in the filesystem. That location is specified in a top-level Monarch Group used for that purpose. Each of the hosts which you wish to create externals for must be belong to such a Monarch Group. The _Build folder_ for the Monarch Group specifies where the created externals files are to be placed. The _Nagios etc folder_ field for the Monarch Group must be left blank.
Another function of the Monarch Group in this regard is that it manages the definitions of macro substitutions that may be made into externals definitions when the externals files are built. Complex setups can be defined by further refinement using Monarch Group sub-groups; when a host belongs to both a group and one of its sub-groups, the macro definitions in sub-groups take precedence over similar definitions in their parent groups.
In the current standard version of the {{MonarchExternals.pm}} scripting, externals will not be generated for a given host if the host has only host-service externals attached, and no host externals. This may change in a future release.
# To build the full set of externals files associated with hosts in configuration groups, first select *Control* from the _Configuration_ menu options.
# Then select *Build Externals*, which will execute the code in {{MonarchExternals.pm}}. The standard version of this module will analyze the hosts in each group and subgroup, analyze the group/subgroup hierarchies, collect together the host and service externals for each host, and perform macro substitution on those externals. For each such host, if the result is different from the prior content of the externals file (if any), a new copy of the externals file will be written out. Finally, old externals files which were previously in the filesystem but are no longer specified by the current configuration will be removed. Statistics on the analysis and actions will be printed on-screen so you have some idea of what transpired.
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Figure: Build Externals
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