<%NUMBERING1%>.<%NUMBERING2%>.<%NUMBERING3%> PRTG Manual: SNMP Cisco ASA VPN Traffic Sensor
The SNMP Cisco ASA VPN Traffic sensor monitors the traffic of an Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) VPN connection on a Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance via the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).
The sensor can show the following:
- Incoming traffic
- Outgoing traffic

SNMP Cisco ASA VPN Traffic Sensor
Sensor in Other Languages
- Dutch: SNMP Cisco ASA VPN Verkeer
- French: Trafic VPN ASA Cisco SNMP
- German: SNMP Cisco ASA VPN-Datenverkehr
- Japanese: SNMP Cisco ASA VPN トラフィック
- Portuguese: Tráfego VPN SNMP Cisco ASA
- Russian: Трафик SNMP Cisco ASA VPN
- Simplified Chinese: SNMP Cisco ASA VPN 流量
- Spanish: Trafico SNMP Cisco ASA VPN
Remarks
Add Sensor
The Add Sensor dialog appears when you manually add a new sensor to a device. It only shows the setting fields that are required for creating the sensor. Therefore, you do not see all setting fields in this dialog. You can change (nearly) all settings in the sensor's Settings tab later.
Select the connections that you want to monitor. PRTG creates one sensor for each connection that you select in the Add Sensor dialog.
The settings you select are valid for all sensors that you create when you finish this dialog.
The following settings in the Add Sensor dialog differ in comparison to the sensor's Settings tab.
ASA VPN Specific
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Connections
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Select the IPsec VPN connections that you want to add a sensor for. You see a list with the names of all items that you can monitor. Add check marks in front of the respective lines to select the desired items. You can also use the check box in the table header to select all items or cancel the selection.
PRTG creates one sensor for each selection.
This sensor can only monitor VPN connections based on IPsec. This means, for example, that connections using Cisco AnyConnect do not appear in this list.
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Basic Sensor Settings
Click the Settings tab of a sensor to change its settings.
Usually, a sensor connects to the IP Address or DNS Name of the parent device on which you created the sensor. See the device settings for details. For some sensors, you can explicitly define the monitoring target in the sensor settings. See below for details on available settings.
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Sensor Name
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Enter a meaningful name to identify the sensor. By default, PRTG shows this name in the device tree, as well as in alarms, logs, notifications, reports, maps, libraries, and tickets.
If the name contains angle brackets (<>), PRTG replaces them with braces ({}) for security reasons. For more information, see the Knowledge Base: What security features does PRTG include?
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Parent Tags
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Shows tags that the sensor inherits from its parent device, parent group, and parent probe. This setting is shown for your information only and cannot be changed here.
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Tags
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Enter one or more tags. Confirm each tag with the Spacebar key, a comma, or the Enter key. You can use tags to group objects and use tag-filtered views later on. Tags are not case-sensitive. Tags are automatically inherited.
It is not possible to enter tags with a leading plus (+) or minus (-) sign, nor tags with parentheses (()) or angle brackets (<>).
The sensor has the following default tags that are automatically predefined in the sensor's settings when you add the sensor:
- snmpciscoasavpnsensor
- snmpciscoasavpntrafficsensor
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Priority
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Select a priority for the sensor. This setting determines the position of the sensor in lists. The highest priority is at the top of a list. Choose from the lowest priority ( ) to the highest priority ( ).
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ASA VPN Specific
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Remote IP
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Shows the IP address of the connection that this sensor monitors. This value is shown for reference purposes only. We strongly recommend that you only change it if the Paessler support team explicitly asks you to do so. Wrong usage can result in incorrect monitoring data.
This sensor can only monitor VPN connections based on IPsec.
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Sensor Behavior
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Define the status of the sensor if no active connection is available:
- Show down status if no connection is active (recommended): Set the sensor to the Down status if no connection is active.
- Show warning status if no connection is active: Set the sensor to the Warning status if no connection is active.
- Stay in up status if no connection is active: The sensor stays in the Up status if no connection is active.
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IKE Version Handling
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Select the engine for the Internet Key Exchange (IKE) version handling:
- IKEv1 (default): Select this option if the tunnel on your device uses IKEv1.
- IKEv1 and IKEv2: Select this option if the tunnel on your device uses IKEv1 or IKEv2.
The IKEv1 and IKEv2 option is in beta status and might not work properly.
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Sensor Display
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Primary Channel
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Select a channel from the list to define it as the primary channel. In the device tree, the last value of the primary channel is always displayed below the sensor's name. The available options depend on what channels are available for this sensor.
You can set a different primary channel later by clicking below a channel gauge on the sensor's Overview tab.
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Graph Type
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Define how different channels are shown for this sensor:
- Show channels independently (default): Show a graph for each channel.
- Stack channels on top of each other: Stack channels on top of each other to create a multi-channel graph. This generates a graph that visualizes the different components of your total traffic.
You cannot use this option in combination with manual Vertical Axis Scaling (available in the channel settings).
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Stack Unit
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This setting is only visible if you enable Stack channels on top of each other as Graph Type. Select a unit from the list. All channels with this unit are stacked on top of each other. By default, you cannot exclude single channels from stacking if they use the selected unit. However, there is an advanced procedure to do so.
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Inherited Settings
By default, all of the following settings are inherited from objects that are higher in the hierarchy. You should change them centrally in the root group settings if necessary. To change a setting for this object only, click
under the corresponding setting name to disable the inheritance. You then see the options described below.
For more information, see section Inheritance of Settings.
Credentials for SNMP Devices
Click
to interrupt the inheritance.
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SNMP Version
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Select the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) version for the device connection:
- v1: Use SNMP v1 for the connection. SNMP v1 only offers clear-text data transmission.
SNMP v1 does not support 64-bit counters. This might result in invalid data when you monitor traffic via SNMP.
- v2c (recommended): Use SNMP v2c for the connection. SNMP v2c also only offers clear-text data transmission but it supports 64-bit counters.
- v3: Use SNMP v3 for the connection. SNMP v3 provides secure authentication and data encryption.
If you select v3, you can only monitor a limited number of sensors per second because of internal limitations. The limit is somewhere between 1 and 50 sensors per second (depending on the SNMP latency of your network). This means that a scanning interval of 60 seconds limits you to between 60 and 3000 SNMP v3 sensors per probe. If you see an increase in Interval Delay or Open Requests with the Probe Health sensor, distribute the load over multiple probes. v1 and v2 do not have this limitation.
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Community String
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This setting is only visible if you select v1 or v2c above. Enter the community string of your devices. This is like a clear-text password for simple authentication. We recommend that you use the default value.
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Authentication Type
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This setting is only visible if you select v3 above. Select the authentication type:
- MD5: Use message-digest algorithm 5 (MD5) for authentication.
- SHA: Use Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA) for authentication.
If you do not want to use authentication but you need SNMP v3, for example, because your device requires context, you can leave Password empty. In this case, PRTG uses SNMP_SEC_LEVEL_NOAUTH and it entirely deactivates authentication.
The authentication type you select must match the authentication type of your device.
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User
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This setting is only visible if you select v3 above. Enter a username for secure authentication.
The username that you enter must match the username of your device.
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Password
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This setting is only visible if you select v3 above. Enter a password for secure authentication.
The password that you enter must match the password of your device.
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Encryption Type
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This setting is only visible if you select v3 above. Select an encryption type:
- DES: Use Data Encryption Standard (DES) as the encryption algorithm.
- AES: Use Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) as the encryption algorithm.
Net-SNMP does not support AES-192 and AES-256. They do not have RFC specifications.
The encryption type that you select must match the encryption type of your device.
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Data Encryption Key
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This setting is only visible if you select v3 above. Enter an encryption key. If you provide a key, PRTG encrypts SNMP data packets with the encryption algorithm that you selected above, which provides increased security. Enter a string or leave the field empty.
The encryption key that you enter must match the encryption key of your device. If the encryption keys do not match, you do not get an error message.
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Context Name
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This setting is only visible if you select v3 above. Enter a context name only if the configuration of the device requires it. Context is a collection of management information that is accessible by an SNMP device. Enter a string.
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SNMP Port
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Enter the port for the SNMP communication. The default is 161. We recommend that you use the default value.
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Timeout (Sec.)
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Enter a timeout in seconds for the request. Enter an integer value. If the reply takes longer than this value, the sensor cancels the request and triggers an error message. The maximum timeout value is 300 seconds (5 minutes).
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Scanning Interval
Click
to interrupt the inheritance.
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Scanning Interval
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Select a scanning interval from the dropdown list. The scanning interval determines the amount of time that the sensor waits between two scans. Choose from:
- 30 seconds
- 60 seconds
- 5 minutes
- 10 minutes
- 15 minutes
- 30 minutes
- 1 hour
- 4 hours
- 6 hours
- 12 hours
- 1 day
You can change the available intervals in the system administration on PRTG on premises installations.
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If a Sensor Query Fails
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Select the number of scanning intervals that the sensor has time to reach and to check a device again if a sensor query fails. Depending on the option that you select, the sensor can try to reach and to check a device again several times before the sensor shows the Down status. This can avoid false alarms if the monitored device only has temporary issues. For previous scanning intervals with failed requests, the sensor shows the Warning status. Choose from:
- Set sensor to down immediately: Set the sensor to the Down status immediately after the first request fails.
- Set sensor to warning for 1 interval, then set to down (recommended): Set the sensor to the Warning status after the first request fails. If the second request also fails, the sensor shows the Down status.
- Set sensor to warning for 2 intervals, then set to down: Set the sensor to the Down status only after the third request fails.
- Set sensor to warning for 3 intervals, then set to down: Set the sensor to the Down status only after the fourth request fails.
- Set sensor to warning for 4 intervals, then set to down: Set the sensor to the Down status only after the fifth request fails.
- Set sensor to warning for 5 intervals, then set to down: Set the sensor to the Down status only after the sixth request fails.
Sensors that monitor via Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) always wait at least one scanning interval before they show the Down status. It is not possible to immediately set a WMI sensor to the Down status, so the first option does not apply to these sensors. All other options can apply.
If you define error limits for a sensor's channels, the sensor immediately shows the Down status. None of the interval options apply.
If a channel uses lookup values, the sensor immediately shows the Down status. None of the interval options apply.
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Schedules, Dependencies, and Maintenance Window
You cannot interrupt the inheritance for schedules, dependencies, and maintenance windows. The corresponding settings from the parent objects are always active. However, you can define additional schedules, dependencies, and maintenance windows. They are active at the same time as the parent objects' settings.
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Schedule
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Select a schedule from the list. You can use schedules to monitor during a certain time span (days or hours) every week. Choose from:
- None
- Saturdays
- Sundays
- Weekdays
- Weekdays Eight-To-Eight (08:00 - 20:00)
- Weekdays Nights (17:00 - 09:00)
- Weekdays Nights (20:00 - 08:00)
- Weekdays Nine-To-Five (09:00 - 17:00)
- Weekends
You can create schedules, edit schedules, or pause monitoring for a specific time span. For more information, see section Schedules.
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Maintenance Window
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Select if you want to set up a one-time maintenance window. During a maintenance window, monitoring stops for the selected object and all child objects. They show the Paused status instead. Choose between:
- Not set (monitor continuously): Do not set up a one-time maintenance window. Monitoring is always active.
- Set up a one-time maintenance window: Set up a one-time maintenance window and pause monitoring. You can define a time span for a the pause below.
To terminate an active maintenance window before the defined end date, change the time entry in Maintenance Ends to a date in the past.
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Maintenance Begins
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This setting is only visible if you enable Set up a one-time maintenance window above. Use the date time picker to enter the start date and time of the one-time maintenance window.
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Maintenance Ends
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This setting is only visible if you enable Set up a one-time maintenance window above. Use the date time picker to enter the end date and time of the one-time maintenance window.
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Dependency Type
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Select a dependency type. You can use dependencies to pause monitoring for an object depending on the status of a different object. You can choose from:
- Use parent: Use the dependency type of the parent object.
- Select a sensor: Use the dependency type of the parent object. Additionally, pause the current object if a specific sensor is in the Down status or in the Paused status because of another dependency.
- Master sensor for parent: Make this sensor the master object for its parent device. The sensor influences the behavior of its parent device: If the sensor is in the Down status, the device is paused. For example, it is a good idea to make a Ping sensor the master object for its parent device to pause monitoring for all other sensors on the device in case the device cannot even be pinged. Additionally, the sensor is paused if the parent group is paused by another dependency.
To test your dependencies, select Simulate Error Status from the context menu of an object that other objects depend on. A few seconds later, all dependent objects are paused. You can check all dependencies under Devices | Dependencies in the main menu bar.
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Dependency
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This setting is only visible if you enable Select a sensor above. Click and use the object selector to select a sensor on which the current object will depend.
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Dependency Delay (Sec.)
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This setting is only visible if you enable Select a sensor above. Define a time span in seconds for the dependency delay.
After the master sensor for this dependency returns to the Up status, PRTG additionally delays the monitoring of the dependent objects by the time span you define. This can prevent false alarms, for example, after a server restart or to give systems more time for all services to start. Enter an integer value.
This setting is not available if you set this sensor to Use parent or to be the Master sensor for parent. In this case, define delays in the parent device settings or in its parent group settings.
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Access Rights
Click
to interrupt the inheritance.
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User Group Access
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Define the user groups that have access to the sensor. You see a table with user groups and group access rights. The table contains all user groups in your setup. For each user group, you can choose from the following group access rights:
- Inherited: Inherit the access rights settings of the parent object.
- No access: Users in this user group cannot see or edit the sensor. The sensor neither shows up in lists nor in the device tree.
- Read access: Users in this group can see the sensor and view its monitoring results. They cannot edit any settings.
- Write access: Users in this group can see the sensor, view its monitoring results, and edit its settings. They cannot edit its access rights settings.
- Full access: Users in this group can see the sensor, view its monitoring results, edit its settings, and edit its access rights settings.
For more details on access rights, see section Access Rights Management.
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More
KNOWLEDGE BASE
What SNMP sensors does PRTG offer?
My SNMP sensors don't work. What can I do?
I get the error PE123 when using the SNMP Cisco ASA VPN Traffic sensor. What can I do?
Sensor Settings Overview
For more information about sensor settings, see the following sections: