Where Does Nagios Core Store Config and State?
Nagios Core reads objects from /etc/nagios with live status in /var/log/nagios/status.dat beside logs.
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Nagios Core configures from object files under /etc/nagios. Hosts, services, contacts, and commands split across cfg files included by nagios.cfg. The web interface reads live state rather than these files.
Runtime status lands in status.dat under the log directory with retention data beside it. That file rewrites constantly and restores acknowledgements across restarts. Validate every edit with nagios config check before reloading.
Where Nagios stores this, by platform
/etc/nagios/nagios.cfg
Main file including object cfg files. Live status sits in status.dat under the log dir. Validate with config check before reload.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I add a monitored host?
In an object cfg file included by nagios.cfg, then validate and reload. Templates keep host blocks short. The web UI picks it up after reload.
Why did acknowledgements vanish on restart?
Retention data failed to save or restore, often from permissions on the state files. Check ownership under the log directory. Keep retention enabled in nagios.cfg.
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