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Overview


Cacti is a complete network graphing solution designed to harness the power of RRDTool's data storage and graphing functionality. Cacti module for HostBill enables you to measure and bill for bandwidth usage: HostBill automatically collects data from Cacti to bill for total transfer, averages or 95th percentile.

Activating the module


  1. If the
plugin
  1. module is included in your HostBill edition you can download it from your client portal.
  2. If the
plugin
  1. module is not included in your HostBill edition you can purchase it from our marketplace and then download it from the client area.
  2. Once you download the
plugin
  1. module extract it in the main HostBill directory.
  2. Go to Settings → Modules → Hosting Modules, find and activate Cacti module.

Configuring Cacti


Make sure your Devices in Cacti are configured with "Interface - Traffic" data source. 

Create traffic graph (i.e. bits i/o) for each port you wish to monitor through HostBill.

Connecting HostBill with Cacti


  1. Make sure that hb_api.php file from includes/modules/Hosting/cacti directory  (relative to main HostBill dir, usually /home/hostbill/public_html/) is uploaded into main Cacti dir (one accessible from web/serving Cacti index.php file).
  2. Once the Cacti module is activated you will be redirected to Settings → Apps to set connection with Cacti
  3. Enter: 
      • Name - Name of this connection
      • Hostname
      • IP Address
      • Username
      • Password
      • Tick if you want to Use HTTPS
  4. Verify entered credentials by clicking Test Connection to check if HostBill can connect
  5. Save Changes

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Creating your first package with billable bandwidth overages


  1. In HostBill go to Settings → Products & Services, and Add new order page
  2. From Order Types select Colocation or Dedicated Servers
  3. After creating order page add new product in it, provide name and Save changes
  4. In billing settings choose Bandwidth billing, configure your limits and pricing.
  5. From Connect with App section select your Cacti module and app.

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For more generic product configuration details including price, automation, emails settings refer to Product Configuration article.

Configuring Client Functions   


In Products & Services → Your Order Page  Your Product → Client Functions you can control what features customer will have access to in client portal, by clicking Enable/Disable next to the given option.
Use Edit button to adjust function appearance in the client portal. 

For Cacti you

can enable following

can enable a number of standard client functions:

  1. Change
billing cycle
  1. Billing Cycle
  2. Change
label
  1. Label
  2. Change
ownership
  1. Ownership
  2. Edit
forms
  1. Forms
  2. Graphs
  3. Login
details
  1. Details
  2. Manual
service renew
  1. Service Renew
  2. New
direct link
  1. Direct Link
  2. Related
services
  1. Services
  2. Service
auto renewal
  • Bandwidth usage graphs
  • Image Removed
    1. Auto Renewal

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    Connecting port from Cacti in HostBill


    1. In HostBill adminarea go to Account with package configured with Cacti module
    2. Proceed to "Bandwidth" tab
    3. Click on "Select switch/ports to connect"
    4. Select switch and port fetched from Cacti to monitor, make sure it has graph generated in Cacti


    Configuring bandwidth billing for Cacti/Observium/Libre NMS


    Widget Connector
    urlhttps://vimeo.com/96892168

    FAQ / troubleshooting


    Problem: Hostbill shows connection success, but fails to render graphs

    Solution: Ensure that Builtin Authentication method is used in Cacti (Configuration → Authentication)  and that Guest and User templates for "Special Users" section are set at least to Guest

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