Windows Agent cannot connect to OCS Server

Question

Hi all

I'm a very new OCS Inventory user. I have been tasked with setting up an OCS Inventory Server. I have installed the product on Centos 7 according to the steps outlined in the official NG Wiki for OCS (Chapter: Setting up an OCS Inventory server).

I have also installed the windows agent on my desktop PC. The agent inventories everything fine locally, but cannot communicate with the server. This is what the Agent log says:

Starting OCS Inventory NG Agent on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 12:33:59.

AGENT => Running OCS Inventory NG Agent Version 2.6.0.0

AGENT => Using OCS Inventory NG FrameWork Version 2.6.0.0

AGENT => Loading plug-in(s)

DLL PLUGIN => Searching for Plug-in DLL(s) in folder <C:\Program Files\OCS Inventory Agent\plugins>

DLL PLUGIN => 0 DLL Plug-in(s) successfully loaded on 0 DLL(s) found

AGENT => Using network connection with Communication Server

COM PROVIDER => Loading Communication Provider <C:\Program Files\OCS Inventory Agent\ComHTTP.dll>

AGENT => Using Communication Provider <OCS Inventory NG cURL Communication Provider> Version <2.6.0.0>

AGENT => Sending getLabel request

COM SERVER => Initializing cURL library for getFile

COM SERVER => Using cURL with server authentication

COM SERVER => Disabling cURL proxy support

COM SERVER => Disabling cURL SSL server validation support

COM SERVER => Sending fileGet request to URL <http://192.168.10.99/ocsinventory/deploy/label>

WARNING *** COM SERVER => Failed to send HTTP Get request <Couldn't connect to server>

COM SERVER => Cleaning cURL library

AGENT => Failed to retrieve Label <Couldn't connect to server>

AGENT => Sending Prolog

DID_CHECK => Read DeviceID <PC6266-2020-03-13-14-38-14> and MACs <D4:3D:7E:12:EF:B00A:00:27:00:00:04> in file <ocsinventory.dat>

COM SERVER => Initializing cURL library for sendRequest

COM SERVER => Using cURL with server authentication

COM SERVER => Disabling cURL proxy support

COM SERVER => Disabling cURL SSL server validation support

COM SERVER => Sending HTTP Post request to URL <http://192.168.10.99/ocsinventory>

WARNING *** COM SERVER => Failed to send HTTP Post request <Couldn't connect to server>

COM SERVER => Cleaning cURL library

ERROR *** AGENT => Failed to send Prolog <Couldn't connect to server>

AGENT => Unloading communication provider

AGENT => Unloading plug-in(s)

AGENT => Execution duration: 00:00:42.

I am also somewhat new in linux environments, so I ask for patience hehe. The conf files in the server all have the correct DB authentication information.

Thanks in advance.
EDIT:

This is the content of today's error log from httpd (apache):

[Tue Mar 17 09:59:58.675898 2020] [mpm_prefork:notice] [pid 9109] AH00170: caught SIGWINCH, shutting down gracefully

[Tue Mar 17 10:01:32.224606 2020] [suexec:notice] [pid 1323] AH01232: suEXEC mechanism enabled (wrapper: /usr/sbin/suexec)

Scalar value @args[$i] better written as $args[$i] at /usr/local/share/perl5/Apache/Ocsinventory/Interface/AssetCategory.pm line 54.

ocsinventory-server: Can't load SOAP::Transport::HTTP* - Web service will be unavailable

AH00558: httpd: Could not reliably determine the server's fully qualified domain name, using fe80::7e53:282c:cbe3:5c8. Set the 'ServerName' directive globally to suppress this message

[Tue Mar 17 10:02:12.444529 2020] [lbmethod_heartbeat:notice] [pid 1323] AH02282: No slotmem from mod_heartmonitor

[Tue Mar 17 10:02:12.545008 2020] [mpm_prefork:notice] [pid 1323] AH00163: Apache/2.4.6 (CentOS) PHP/7.3.15 mod_perl/2.0.11 Perl/v5.16.3 configured -- resuming normal operations

[Tue Mar 17 10:02:12.545038 2020] [core:notice] [pid 1323] AH00094: Command line: '/usr/sbin/httpd -D FOREGROUND'

[Tue Mar 17 10:19:21.058862 2020] [php7:warn] [pid 2544] [client ::1:49848] PHP Warning:  Use of undefined constant key - assumed 'key' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/share/ocsinventory-reports/ocsreports/require/function_config_generale.php on line 137, referer: http://localhost/ocsreports/?function=visu_computers

[Tue Mar 17 10:19:21.058933 2020] [php7:warn] [pid 2544] [client ::1:49848] PHP Warning:  Use of undefined constant key - assumed 'key' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/share/ocsinventory-reports/ocsreports/require/function_config_generale.php on line 137, referer: http://localhost/ocsreports/?function=visu_computers

[Tue Mar 17 10:49:36.653540 2020] [php7:warn] [pid 2542] [client ::1:49866] PHP Warning:  Use of undefined constant key - assumed 'key' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/share/ocsinventory-reports/ocsreports/require/function_config_generale.php on line 137, referer: http://localhost/ocsreports/?function=visu_computers

[Tue Mar 17 10:49:36.653626 2020] [php7:warn] [pid 2542] [client ::1:49866] PHP Warning:  Use of undefined constant key - assumed 'key' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/share/ocsinventory-reports/ocsreports/require/function_config_generale.php on line 137, referer: http://localhost/ocsreports/?function=visu_computers

[Tue Mar 17 11:21:32.578531 2020] [php7:warn] [pid 3774] [client ::1:49876] PHP Warning:  Use of undefined constant key - assumed 'key' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/share/ocsinventory-reports/ocsreports/require/function_config_generale.php on line 137, referer: http://localhost/ocsreports/?function=admin_conf

[Tue Mar 17 11:21:32.578627 2020] [php7:warn] [pid 3774] [client ::1:49876] PHP Warning:  Use of undefined constant key - assumed 'key' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/share/ocsinventory-reports/ocsreports/require/function_config_generale.php on line 137, referer: http://localhost/ocsreports/?function=admin_conf

[Tue Mar 17 11:21:32.578790 2020] [php7:warn] [pid 3774] [client ::1:49876] PHP Warning:  Use of undefined constant key - assumed 'key' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/share/ocsinventory-reports/ocsreports/require/function_config_generale.php on line 137, referer: http://localhost/ocsreports/?function=admin_conf

[Tue Mar 17 11:24:44.724598 2020] [php7:warn] [pid 3776] [client ::1:49880] PHP Warning:  Use of undefined constant key - assumed 'key' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/share/ocsinventory-reports/ocsreports/require/function_config_generale.php on line 137, referer: http://localhost/ocsreports/?function=admin_conf

[Tue Mar 17 11:24:44.724694 2020] [php7:warn] [pid 3776] [client ::1:49880] PHP Warning:  Use of undefined constant key - assumed 'key' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/share/ocsinventory-reports/ocsreports/require/function_config_generale.php on line 137, referer: http://localhost/ocsreports/?function=admin_conf

[Tue Mar 17 12:32:27.374251 2020] [mpm_prefork:notice] [pid 1323] AH00170: caught SIGWINCH, shutting down gracefully

[Tue Mar 17 12:33:08.650055 2020] [suexec:notice] [pid 6510] AH01232: suEXEC mechanism enabled (wrapper: /usr/sbin/suexec)

Scalar value @args[$i] better written as $args[$i] at /usr/local/share/perl5/Apache/Ocsinventory/Interface/AssetCategory.pm line 54.

ocsinventory-server: Can't load SOAP::Transport::HTTP* - Web service will be unavailable

AH00558: httpd: Could not reliably determine the server's fully qualified domain name, using fe80::7e53:282c:cbe3:5c8. Set the 'ServerName' directive globally to suppress this message

[Tue Mar 17 12:33:48.859750 2020] [lbmethod_heartbeat:notice] [pid 6510] AH02282: No slotmem from mod_heartmonitor

[Tue Mar 17 12:33:48.896301 2020] [mpm_prefork:notice] [pid 6510] AH00163: Apache/2.4.6 (CentOS) PHP/7.3.15 mod_perl/2.0.11 Perl/v5.16.3 configured -- resuming normal operations

[Tue Mar 17 12:33:48.896345 2020] [core:notice] [pid 6510] AH00094: Command line: '/usr/sbin/httpd -D FOREGROUND'

[Tue Mar 17 12:36:00.085334 2020] [mpm_prefork:notice] [pid 6510] AH00170: caught SIGWINCH, shutting down gracefully

[Tue Mar 17 12:36:59.817803 2020] [suexec:notice] [pid 1310] AH01232: suEXEC mechanism enabled (wrapper: /usr/sbin/suexec)

Scalar value @args[$i] better written as $args[$i] at /usr/local/share/perl5/Apache/Ocsinventory/Interface/AssetCategory.pm line 54.

ocsinventory-server: Can't load SOAP::Transport::HTTP* - Web service will be unavailable

AH00558: httpd: Could not reliably determine the server's fully qualified domain name, using fe80::7e53:282c:cbe3:5c8. Set the 'ServerName' directive globally to suppress this message

[Tue Mar 17 12:37:40.032577 2020] [lbmethod_heartbeat:notice] [pid 1310] AH02282: No slotmem from mod_heartmonitor

[Tue Mar 17 12:37:40.139091 2020] [mpm_prefork:notice] [pid 1310] AH00163: Apache/2.4.6 (CentOS) PHP/7.3.15 mod_perl/2.0.11 Perl/v5.16.3 configured -- resuming normal operations

[Tue Mar 17 12:37:40.139117 2020] [core:notice] [pid 1310] AH00094: Command line: '/usr/sbin/httpd -D FOREGROUND'

Answer 1

Is your web server configured to listen on port 80 on either the server's IP, 192.168.10.99 or * as opposed to localhost or 127.0.0.1?

On your web server run:

netstat -an | grep -i :80

...

tcp6       0      0 :::80                   :::*                    LISTEN
...

You should see a line similar to above. If you see 127.0.0.1:80 then your web server needs to be reconfigured to listen on the external IP.

More things to check;

Confirm you can even reach the server.

From your Desktop PC go to the address of your OCS Server in a web browser or test using curl if you have curl on your desktop PC., i.e.

curl http://192.168.10.99/ocsinventory

You should at least get a response even if it is an a "BAD REQUEST".

If you can't connect, are you running a firewall on your server? Turn it off for testing.

Is your Desktop PC on the same subnet/network?

Do you have the OCSReport web page working FROM your Desktop PC?

i.e. http://192.168.10.99/ocsreports

Are you seeing anything in your web server's log files showing your Desktop PC can connect?

Here is a copy of my typical windows OCS agent ini file.

I use SSL (https) on my web server so that is why SSL=1, you will want SSL=0 until you configure https on your web server.

# "c:\ProgramData\OCS Inventory NG\Agent\ocsinventory.ini"
[OCS Inventory Agent]
ComProvider=ComHTTP.dllDebug=1
Local=
NoSoftware=0
HKCU=0
NoTAG=0
IpDisc=
[HTTP]
Server=https://192.168.0.101/ocsinventory
SSL=1
CaBundle=cacert.pem
AuthRequired=0
User=
Pwd=
ProxyType=0
Proxy=
ProxyPort=0
ProxyAuthRequired=0
ProxyUser=
ProxyPwd=
[OCS Inventory Service]
TTO_WAIT=197220
INVENTORY_ON_STARTUP=1
PROLOG_FREQ=60
OLD_PROLOG_FREQ=60

===========================================

John

Answer 2

Hello John

Thanks for your answer. Netstat shows:

tcp6       0      0 :::80                   :::*                    LISTEN

I cannot connect from my desktop (on a different subnet but with no network restrictions). 

When I browse serverIP/ocsreports I get ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT

I think I could have a misconfiguration on my apache site, but again I'm very new at this. Maybe my site is not published? I can only browse it locally on the OCS Server.

Answer 3

Hi,

The server is listen on tcp6 not tcp4. Comment the line "Listen 80" in httpd.conf and set Listen <ipv4>:<port>. Save and restart apache.

Regards

Frank

Answer 4

Hi Frank, thanks for your answer.

I corrected what you pointed out:

tcp        0      0 192.168.10.99:80        0.0.0.0:*               LISTEN

But the problem persists. I think I have not configured apache properly, but I followed the official documentation guide for installation. Or maybe my z-ocsinventory-server.conf is the one wrongly configured... this is the SOAP part that maybe I should enable, not sure though... 

# ===== WEB SERVICE (SOAP) SETTINGS =====

  PerlSetEnv OCS_OPT_WEB_SERVICE_ENABLED 0

  PerlSetEnv OCS_OPT_WEB_SERVICE_RESULTS_LIMIT 100

  # PerlSetEnv OCS_OPT_WEB_SERVICE_PRIV_MODS_CONF "WEBSERV_PRIV_MOD_CONF_FILE"

# Be careful: you must restart apache to make settings taking effects

  # Configure engine to use the settings from this file

  PerlSetEnv OCS_OPT_OPTIONS_NOT_OVERLOADED 0

  # Try to use other compress algorithm than raw zlib

  # GUNZIP and clear XML are supported

  PerlSetEnv OCS_OPT_COMPRESS_TRY_OTHERS 1

Answer 5

And this is my apache errorlog:

Scalar value @args[$i] better written as $args[$i] at /usr/local/share/perl5/Apache/Ocsinventory/Interface/AssetCategory.pm line 54.

ocsinventory-server: Can't load SOAP::Transport::HTTP* - Web service will be unavailable

AH00558: httpd: Could not reliably determine the server's fully qualified domain name, using fe80::7e53:282c:cbe3:5c8. Set the 'ServerName' directive globally to suppress this message

[Wed Apr 01 10:19:41.746003 2020] [lbmethod_heartbeat:notice] [pid 1320] AH02282: No slotmem from mod_heartmonitor

[Wed Apr 01 10:19:41.875060 2020] [mpm_prefork:notice] [pid 1320] AH00163: Apache/2.4.6 (CentOS) PHP/7.3.16 mod_perl/2.0.11 Perl/v5.16.3 configured -- resuming normal operations

[Wed Apr 01 10:19:41.875092 2020] [core:notice] [pid 1320] AH00094: Command line: '/usr/sbin/httpd -D FOREGROUND'

[Wed Apr 01 11:16:01.378522 2020] [mpm_prefork:notice] [pid 1320] AH00170: caught SIGWINCH, shutting down gracefully

[Wed Apr 01 11:16:42.656963 2020] [suexec:notice] [pid 12219] AH01232: suEXEC mechanism enabled (wrapper: /usr/sbin/suexec)