MP Update – Totally new Active Directory MP for Windows Server 2012 and 2016

 

 

This is pretty exciting.

Microsoft just shipped a totally new AD MP.  This one has no dependencies on the previous ADMP, that has been mostly based on the same core design for the past 15 years!

 

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=54525

 

The new ADMP supports monitoring Active Directory when yours DC’s are Windows Server 2012, 2012R2, or 2016.

There is a huge list of changes, but the biggest impactful ones in my opinion are:

• No more OOMADS!
  • Removed Reliance on OOMADS.dll for Domain Controller monitoring removed oomads dependency from all MPs.  This was always a pain when managing DC’s in the past, now it is no longer required for the ADMP scripts to work.
• Replication Monitoring rewrite.
  • This was previously a nightmare solution of 14 rules and monitors which all shared the same script datasource, for EACH OS version you had DC’s on.  Tuning replication monitoring in the past was very challenging for customers.  Now – it has been streamlined via scenario, as Replication Monitoring was replaced with the following monitors:
  • AD Replication Queue Monitor
    • AD Show Replication Check
    • Replication Partner Count Monitor
    • Replication Consistency Monitor
• Removed dependency on down-level DC discovery MPs.
  • You no longer have to import the old Windows 2000, 2003, and 2008 AD Discovery MP’s if you aren't using those versions, like the old MP’s required.
• A total re-write of the old “AD Client Monitoring” which is renamed to “Domain Member Monitoring”
  • The Domain Member Monitoring Management Pack deploys a set of rules and monitors to a computer that represents an Active Directory member server or client. These rules and monitors provide monitoring data, such as connectivity, latency and availability, from the perspective of the member.

 

See the MP guide for the full list of fixes and updates.

At the time of this writing – the MP version is 10.0.1.0.

 

This MP does NOT UPGRADE the previous MP’s.  This is designed as a replacement.  However, you can run both MP’s side by side if you want to cut over monitoring slowly.  You should delete all the previous older generation ADMP’s from your management group and use this MP, provided your DC’s are all WS2012 or later.

 

The MP’s import just fine:

 

 

 

The guide is pretty thorough on the monitoring scenarios – I recommend you review it before using the MP.

 

• Monitoring Scenarios
  • Multi-Forest Monitoring
  • Replication
  • Essential Services
  • SYSVOL Availability
  • Trust Monitoring
  • Directory Service Availability
  • AD Database Monitoring
  • Time Skew Monitoring
  • AD Web Service Monitoring
  • Domain Controller Performance
  • Domain Member Perspective (the old AD Client Monitoring)