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<title>PHP Weathermap <title>PHP Weathermap

v0.91 v0.97a

-FAQ</title> -FAQ</title>

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<h1>PHP Weathermap <h1>PHP Weathermap

v0.91 v0.97a

</h1> </h1>

<h4>Copyright © 2005-2007 Howard Jones, <tt><a <h4>Copyright © 2005-2010 Howard Jones, <tt><a

href="mailto:howie@thingy.com">howie@thingy.com</a></tt>. (<a href="mailto:howie@thingy.com">howie@thingy.com</a></tt>. (<a

href="http://www.network-weathermap.com/">Website</a>)</h4> href="http://www.network-weathermap.com/">Website</a>)</h4>

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<h3>FAQs</h3> <h3>FAQs</h3>

Here are a few things that have come up more than once from Here are a few things that have come up more than once from

previous versions. Also, it's worth checking the <a href= previous versions. Also, it's worth checking the <a href=

"http://www.network-weathermap.com/">online "http://www.network-weathermap.com/">online

copy</a> of this document, which will be updated over time. copy</a> of this document, which will be updated over time. 

If something isn't described here, check the cacti.log for errors. Weathermap usually produces a useful error message if there is a problem. Next, try setting Cacti's Log Level to DEBUG for 10 minutes, and then have a look in cacti.log. Don't forget to turn the Log Level back down again! If something isn't described here, check the cacti.log for errors. Weathermap usually produces a useful error message if there is a problem. Next, try setting Cacti's Log Level to DEBUG for 10 minutes, and then have a look in cacti.log. Don't forget to turn the Log Level back down again! 

<dl class="faq"> <dl class="faq">

<dt><a name="module_not_found"></a>I get some error about 'module not found', or <dt><a name="module_not_found"></a>I get some error about 'module not found', or

similar...can you help?</dt> similar...can you help?</dt>

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users with an idea that they are running the right one, as users with an idea that they are running the right one, as

does 'php -m' and 'php -v' (is it the version you expect?). does 'php -m' and 'php -v' (is it the version you expect?).

Also, some packaged PHP systems (MAMP, XAMPP, WAMP etc) have Also, some packaged PHP systems (MAMP, XAMPP, WAMP etc) have

the module installed, but disabled by default. Check your the module installed, but disabled by default. Check your

php.ini to see if there is a commented-out line like php.ini to see if there is a commented-out line like

'extension=php_gd.dll'. 'extension=php_gd.dll'. 

In 0.91 and newer, you may find the check.php to be useful when figuring out which php.ini and php version you should be looking at - http://yourserver/plugins/weathermap/check.php for the webserver (editor/rebuild now) version, and <tt>php check.php</tt> from the command-line for the CLI (Cacti Poller/command-line tool) version. In 0.91 and newer, you may find the check.php to be useful when figuring out which php.ini and php version you should be looking at - http://yourserver/plugins/weathermap/check.php for the webserver (editor/rebuild now) version, and <tt>php check.php</tt> from the command-line for the CLI (Cacti Poller/command-line tool) version. 

</dd> </dd>

<dt><a name="see_nothing"></a>I don't see ANYTHING in the logs when using the Cacti <dt><a name="see_nothing"></a>I don't see ANYTHING in the logs when using the Cacti

plugin.</dt> plugin.</dt>

<dd>Check if this is still the case when Weathermap is the <dd>Check if this is still the case when Weathermap is the

only plugin. If a plugin dies completely, it takes the poller only plugin. If a plugin dies completely, it takes the poller

and any remaining plugins with it. This appears to be a and any remaining plugins with it. This appears to be a

problem with some versions of 'Reports' in particular, where problem with some older versions of 'Reports' in particular, where

anything listed after Reports in the plugins[] list will not anything listed after Reports in the plugins[] list will not

be run. be run. 

</dd> </dd>

<dt><a name="nofunction"></a>I get an error message about function_exists()</dt> <dt><a name="nofunction"></a>I get an error message about function_exists()</dt>

<dd>This is PHP telling you that a function that Weathermap requires is not available in your PHP installation. Usually, it's to do with either GD, or FreeType. It can be that you have those libraries, but not current enough versions, or versions compiled without particular options. For example, it's possible to have FreeType installed, GD installed, the php-gd module installed, but that the GD library wasn't compiled with FreeType support so they don't know how to talk to each other. This tends to be less of a problem on packaged systems than where you build your own libraries. <dd>This is PHP telling you that a function that Weathermap requires is not available in your PHP installation. Usually, it's to do with either GD, or FreeType. It can be that you have those libraries, but not current enough versions, or versions compiled without particular options. For example, it's possible to have FreeType installed, GD installed, the php-gd module installed, but that the GD library wasn't compiled with FreeType support so they don't know how to talk to each other. This tends to be less of a problem on packaged systems than where you build your own libraries. 

In 0.91 and newer, you may find the check.php to be useful when figuring out which php.ini and php version you should be looking at, and which functions might be missing - http://yourserver/plugins/weathermap/check.php for the webserver (editor/rebuild now) version, and <tt>php check.php</tt> from the command-line for the CLI (Cacti Poller/command-line tool) version. In 0.91 and newer, you may find the check.php to be useful when figuring out which php.ini and php version you should be looking at, and which functions might be missing - http://yourserver/plugins/weathermap/check.php for the webserver (editor/rebuild now) version, and <tt>php check.php</tt> from the command-line for the CLI (Cacti Poller/command-line tool) version. 

</dd> </dd>

<dt><a name="nothumb"></a>My maps don't get created/updated (or "This map hasn't been created yet")</dt> <dt><a name="nothumb"></a>My maps don't get created/updated (or "This map hasn't been created yet")</dt>

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in the map HTML when I use the command-line tool.</dt> in the map HTML when I use the command-line tool.</dt>

<dd>For historical reasons, the default format for <a href="config-reference.html#GLOBAL_HTMLSTYLE">HTMLSTYLE</a> <dd>For historical reasons, the default format for <a href="config-reference.html#GLOBAL_HTMLSTYLE">HTMLSTYLE</a>

is 'static' which avoids javascript. To get the overlib is 'static' which avoids javascript. To get the overlib

graphs to appear you need to have <a href="config-reference.html#GLOBAL_HTMLSTYLE">'HTMLSTYLE</a> overlib' near graphs to appear you need to have <a href="config-reference.html#GLOBAL_HTMLSTYLE">'HTMLSTYLE</a> overlib' near

the top of your map configuration file.</dd> the top of your map configuration file. </dd>

<dt><a name="overliboffscreen"></a>When I use <a href="config-reference.html#LINK_OVERLIBGRAPH">OVERLIBGRAPH</a> and the pointer is near the right side of the screen, the floating graph disappears off the side of the screen...</dt>

<dd>If you set <a href="config-reference.html#LINK_OVERLIBWIDTH">OVERLIBWIDTH</a> and <a href="config-reference.html#LINK_OVERLIBHEIGHT">OVERLIBHEIGHT</a> correctly, then Weathermap can make a better guess about whether to show the map to the left or right. Be careful to set them to the correct value, or you may see strange 'flashing' graphs. The easiest way is to right-click on the graph in your browser and read the sizes from the Properties panel. 

Typically one size is right for all your graphs, so this is a good example of something you can add into <a href="config-reference.html#NODE_NODE">NODE</a> DEFAULT (or <a href="config-reference.html#LINK_LINK">LINK</a> DEFAULT). 

</dd>

<dt><a name="gauges"></a>The value from my RRD data is much too big!</dt> <dt><a name="gauges"></a>The value from my RRD data is much too big!</dt>

<dd>Is it about 8 times too big, by any chance? Historically, Weathermap was mainly used for SNMP Interface statistics, which use bytes-per-second counters ("octet counters" in SNMP-speak). Because of this, the standard RRD datasource plugin multiplies everything by 8, to get back to bits-per-second. New in 0.9, you can get the 'raw' value from an RRD file by using <a href="targets.html#rrd">'gauge:' as a prefix</a>.</dd> <dd>Is it about 8 times too big, by any chance? Historically, Weathermap was mainly used for SNMP Interface statistics, which use bytes-per-second counters ("octet counters" in SNMP-speak). Because of this, the standard RRD datasource plugin multiplies everything by 8, to get back to bits-per-second. New in 0.9, you can get the 'raw' value from an RRD file by using <a href="targets.html#rrd">'gauge:' as a prefix</a>. If the value is wrong by some other constant factor, you can use the 'scale:' prefix to multiply or divide by that factor - e.g divide by 1000 to turn a milliseconds value into a 'real' seconds value, or multiply by 1024 to get a kilobytes values from a megabytes one. </dd>

<dt><a name="timezone"></a>The timestamp on my map is all wrong!</dt> <dt><a name="timezone"></a>The timestamp on my map is all wrong!</dt>

<dd>I have not seen this one myself, but a Chinese user has, and <dd>I have not seen this one myself, but a Chinese user has, and

it seems that PHP doesn't always use your system timezone correctly. The fix is to edit php.ini to change date.timezone </dd> it seems that PHP doesn't always use your system timezone correctly. The fix is to edit php.ini to change date.timezone </dd>

<dt><a name="gdbug"></a>Weathermap just dies without warning on my Debian/Ubuntu system</dt> <dt><a name="gdbug"></a>Weathermap just dies without warning on my Debian/Ubuntu system OR... I get a blank screen in the editor when I add a node OR... I get a segmentation fault when Weathermap runs</dt>

<dd> It's a GD bug. It's documented <a href="http://bugs.libgd.org/4">here</a>, and the reason it mainly affects Debian is that Debian links to the system GD (version 2.0.33) not the built-in PHP one (2.0.28ish). For whatever reason, the problems aren't present in the PHP GD library, which has a different alpha-blending implementation as far as I can see from the docs.  <dd> It's a GD bug. It's documented <a href="http://bugs.libgd.org/4">here</a>, and the reason it mainly affects Debian is that Debian links to the system GD (version 2.0.33) not the built-in PHP one (2.0.28ish). For whatever reason, the problems aren't present in the PHP GD library, which has a different alpha-blending implementation as far as I can see from the docs. 

The bugs are apparently fixed in GD 2.0.34, which has been released and is in Debian unstable. Users report that upgrading to the version of libgd2-xpm from unstable will fix this problem if you can't wait, or recompile PHP to use it's own GD library. The bugs are apparently fixed in GD 2.0.34, which has been released and is in Debian unstable. Users report that upgrading to the version of libgd2-xpm from unstable will fix this problem if you can't wait, or recompile PHP to use it's own GD library. 

Since 0.95, there is a small program supplied with Weathermap to test for this problem. Run <code>php check-gdbug.pgp</code> in the weathermap directory to see if it really is this problem that affects you. 

There is more information about fixing this issue for Debian Etch (and perhaps also Ubuntu Edgy) in <a href="http://forums.cacti.net/viewtopic.php?t=21517">this Cacti Forum thread</a>. 

</dd> </dd>

<dt><a name="icons"></a>Where can I find some icons to use with Weathermap? Why <dt><a name="icons"></a>Where can I find some icons to use with Weathermap? Why

don't you have any supplied with it?</dt> don't you have any supplied with it?</dt>

<dd> <dd>

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<li>For your own use only, you could use the ones that <li>For your own use only, you could use the ones that

come with MS Visio. Obviously these can't be come with MS Visio. Obviously these can't be

redistributed!</li> redistributed!</li>

</ul>As for the second part, I can't draw, and I don't know </ul>As for the second part, I can't draw, and I don't know

of any freely distributable icons. Feel free to draw some of any freely distributable icons. Feel free to draw some

for me, and make them open source. for me, and make them open source. 

</dd> </dd>

<dt><a name="logo"></a>How can I embed an image (like my company's logo) in my <dt><a name="logo"></a>How can I embed an image (like my company's logo) in my

maps? I don't want to have to create a special maps? I don't want to have to create a special

background...</dt> background...</dt>

<dd>You can create a <a href="config-reference.html#NODE_NODE">NODE</a> with no links and no label, but <dd>You can create a <a href="config-reference.html#NODE_NODE">NODE</a> with no links and no label, but

with an <a href="config-reference.html#NODE_ICON">ICON.</a> The <a href="config-reference.html#NODE_ICON">ICON</a> is your logo. You can also use this to with an <a href="config-reference.html#NODE_ICON">ICON.</a> The <a href="config-reference.html#NODE_ICON">ICON</a> is your logo. You can also use this to

embed images from somewhere else - even dynamically produced embed images from somewhere else - even dynamically produced

ones - how about MRTG graphs or RRD stripgraphs embedded in ones - how about MRTG graphs or RRD stripgraphs embedded in

your map?</dd> your map? </dd>

<dt><a name="curves"></a>I need to have a link that isn't just a straight <dt><a name="curves"></a>I need to have a link that isn't just a straight

line...how can I do this?</dt> line...how can I do this?</dt>

<dd> <dd>

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<a href="config-reference.html#LINK_LINK">LINK</a> bendylink <a href="config-reference.html#LINK_LINK">LINK</a> bendylink

<a href="config-reference.html#LINK_NODES">NODES</a> node1 node2 <a href="config-reference.html#LINK_NODES">NODES</a> node1 node2

<a href="config-reference.html#LINK_VIA">VIA</a> 200 300 <a href="config-reference.html#LINK_VIA">VIA</a> 200 300

<a href="config-reference.html#LINK_VIA">VIA</a> 360 240 <a href="config-reference.html#LINK_VIA">VIA</a> 360 240

</pre> </pre>

</div> </div> 

</dd> </dd>

<dt><a name="parallel"></a>I need to have more than one link from node A to node B, <dt><a name="parallel"></a>I need to have more than one link from node A to node B,

but they just overlap...how can I do this?</dt> but they just overlap...how can I do this?</dt>

<dd>See <a href="http://www.network-weathermap.com/articles/parallel">this article</a> for more about parallel links. <dd>See <a href="http://www.network-weathermap.com/articles/parallel">this article</a> for more about parallel links. 

</dd> </dd>

<dt><a name="aggregate"></a>I still have two links, but I use MLPPP, and I want to <dt><a name="aggregate"></a>I still have two links, but I use MLPPP, and I want to

see a single link on the map for both physical lines.</dt> see a single link on the map for both physical lines.</dt>

<dd> <dd>

See <a href="http://www.network-weathermap.com/articles/parallel">this article</a> for more about parallel and aggregated links. See <a href="http://www.network-weathermap.com/articles/parallel">this article</a> for more about parallel and aggregated links. 

</dd> </dd>

<dt><a name="editor_requests"></a>When will you make the editor work like <dt><a name="editor_requests"></a>When will you make the editor work like

XYZ?</dt> XYZ?</dt>

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new features. With that all said, there very likely will be a new features. With that all said, there very likely will be a

new version of the editor in 0.9, with drag & drop new version of the editor in 0.9, with drag & drop

editing, and (more) complete support for all the new features editing, and (more) complete support for all the new features

since 0.6 (which is the version that the editor really was since 0.6 (which is the version that the editor really was

written for - it was written before I added new 0.7 features. written for - it was written before I added new 0.7 features.

D'oh!).</dd> D'oh!). </dd>

<dt><a name="feature_requests"></a>Will you extend weathermap to do XYZ?</dt> <dt><a name="feature_requests"></a>Will you extend weathermap to do XYZ?</dt>

<dd>It depends. I have an internal idea of what I want <dd>It depends. I have an internal idea of what I want

weathermap to be like. I don't want it to feel (too much) weathermap to be like. I don't want it to feel (too much)

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Things that take dozens of parameters to adjust something Things that take dozens of parameters to adjust something

very subtle are less likely. Ultimately, it is a GPLed very subtle are less likely. Ultimately, it is a GPLed

program though, so you can always add your own program though, so you can always add your own

features! I try to keep a todo list on the website for features! I try to keep a todo list on the website for

current work-in-progress. Obviously, things that I current work-in-progress. Obviously, things that I

want are always sensible and useful<tt>:-)</tt> .</dd> want are always sensible and useful<tt>:-)</tt> . 

In the past, people have paid to have features added. I have a day job which pays for my food and my mortgage, so this isn't

always a possibility, but it sometimes is. If it's a good idea, then I'll probably add it anyway, but if it's something

special to you, or that you want in a particular timescale, then maybe we can talk! 

</dd>

<dt><a name="repayme"></a>How can I possibly repay you for making my life and work <dt><a name="repayme"></a>How can I possibly repay you for making my life and work

so much easier?</dt> so much easier?</dt>

<dd>Actually, this one isn't very frequent. If you do find <dd>Actually, this one isn't very frequent. If you do find

yourself asking it, feel free to <a href="http://www.network-weathermap.com/support/donate">make a donation, or send a gift,</a> yourself asking it, feel free to <a href="http://www.network-weathermap.com/support/donate">make a donation, or send a gift,</a>

though. However, I do like to <a href="http://www.network-weathermap.com/contact">hear from users</a> anyway - it's nice to though. However, I do like to <a href="http://www.network-weathermap.com/contact">hear from users</a> anyway - it's nice to

know that people do use this thing.</dd> know that people do use this thing. </dd>

</dl> </dl>

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