Managing today’s complex IT infrastructure can be overwhelming. Multiple dashboards, disconnected tools, and fragmented visibility make it difficult to keep everything running smoothly. That’s where Xormon comes in—and with the release of version 2.0, this powerful monitoring solution has become even more essential for IT administrators.
What Makes Xormon Different?
Xormon is a free, open-source (GPL) monitoring platform that unifies your entire IT infrastructure into a single dashboard. Whether you’re running VMware, Proxmox, Nutanix, Hyper-V, or IBM Power Systems, Xormon provides comprehensive visibility across servers, storage systems, and network devices from vendors like Dell EMC, Hitachi, Pure Storage, and many others.
The beauty of Xormon lies in its agentless architecture. It collects data through APIs without requiring complex installations on every system. For deeper insights on Linux systems, there’s also an optional lightweight OS Agent that provides detailed metrics without significant overhead.
What’s New in Xormon 2.0?
Enhanced Server Monitoring
Xormon 2.0 brings significant improvements to server monitoring capabilities:
VMware Integration: vCenter 9.x support includes active snapshot monitoring with detailed lists, sizes, and graphs showing VM disk usage over time. The new SAN topology feature allows you to visualize ESXi-to-switch paths, making it easier to trace data flows and identify potential bottlenecks.
Proxmox Enhancements: OS agent data now integrates directly with VMs, displaying CPU, memory, disk, and network metrics in a consolidated view. This eliminates the need to jump between different interfaces to get the complete picture.
IBM Power Systems: Support for HMC 11 includes clear LAN topology maps showing SR-IOV configurations, VLANs, and link setups. This makes it easier to understand complex network architectures at a glance.
AI-Powered Assistance
One of the standout features in version 2.0 is the integrated AI assistant. This intelligent helper can answer questions about your infrastructure, suggest optimizations, and help you interpret metrics more effectively. It’s like having an expert consultant available 24/7.
Improved User Experience
Favorites Dashboard: Quickly access your most frequently monitored systems with the new favorites feature, eliminating unnecessary navigation.
Single Sign-On (SSO): Integration with Okta and Keycloak simplifies access management and improves security for team environments.
Enhanced Graphs: Weekly and monthly views now provide sharper detail, with bidirectional zoom functionality and the ability to hide legends for cleaner presentations.
Network and Storage Monitoring
Network monitoring has been refined with several new capabilities:
- SAN/LAN metrics now display both bits/sec and bytes/sec for more precise analysis
- Switch uptime tracking and “Total Errors” graphs help identify problematic devices
- SFP Power graphs monitor transceiver health to prevent connectivity issues
- Dedicated interswitch link graphs for Brocade, Cisco, and other vendors
For storage systems, Xormon 2.0 adds support for:
- Qumulo
- Scality RING
- Hitachi HNAS
- Microsoft Storage Spaces Direct (S2D)
- IBM FlashSystem 900/840
Deeper System Insights with OS Agents
The Linux OS Agent now provides:
- Error log monitoring from dmesg
- NFS statistics via nfsiostat
- LVM topology visualization
HPE iLO monitoring now includes CPU and I/O graphs, while IBM Storage Protect (TSM) tracking adds drive usage metrics for better backup management.
Predictive Analytics
One of the most valuable features in Xormon 2.0 is predictive fill rate analysis. Instead of waiting for “disk full” alerts, you can see trends and predict when storage will reach capacity, allowing for proactive planning and resource allocation.
Expanded Technology Support
Version 2.0 adds monitoring capabilities for:
- Dell iDRAC and Lenovo XClarity service processors
- IBM TS4500/4300 and Quantum Scalar tape libraries
- IBM Z Mainframe / IBM LinuxONE in DPM mode
- Broadcom (Brocade) SAN switches via REST API
Why IT Admins Love Xormon
Unified Visibility
Instead of logging into separate consoles for VMware, storage arrays, and network switches, Xormon provides a single pane of glass. This dramatically reduces tool-switching and saves valuable time throughout the day.
Proactive Problem Detection
With integrated snapshots, backup data, and storage growth tracking, you can identify issues before they become critical. For example, spotting a VM consuming excessive disk space before it impacts production systems.
Cost-Effective Solution
As open-source software under the GPL license, Xormon is free to download and use. While commercial support and extended features are available, the core functionality provides tremendous value without licensing costs.
Scalability
Xormon handles environments of all sizes, from small labs to enterprise datacenters with hundreds of systems. The optimized REST API and improved UI ensure smooth performance even with large datasets.
Integration-Friendly
Built-in Grafana integration and a comprehensive REST API make it easy to incorporate Xormon into existing workflows and automation tools. You can build custom dashboards, trigger alerts, and integrate with your ITSM platforms.
Getting Started with Xormon 2.0
Ready to try Xormon? Here’s how to get started:
Demo Environment: Visit https://demo.xormon.com (login: xormon/xormon) to explore the interface without installing anything.
Download: Get the latest version from the official website. Xormon is available in multiple formats and can run on various operating systems, within VMs, or as containers.
Trial License: Downloads include a 2-month trial license with full features. After the trial period, it automatically switches to the free edition with some limitations.
Community Support: The active Xormon forum and subreddit provide peer support and knowledge sharing. For commercial support with guaranteed response times, options are available through XORUX and their partners.
The Bottom Line
Xormon 2.0 represents a significant evolution in infrastructure monitoring. By combining comprehensive coverage, predictive analytics, and an intuitive interface, it addresses the real challenges that IT administrators face daily. Whether you’re managing a VMware environment, dealing with hybrid infrastructure, or supporting complex storage arrays, Xormon provides the visibility and insights you need to stay ahead of problems.
The combination of being open-source, highly capable, and continuously improved makes Xormon 2.0 a compelling choice for IT teams of all sizes. With features like AI assistance, enhanced VMware integration, and predictive analytics, it’s not just about monitoring what’s happening now—it’s about understanding what will happen next.
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