• Company
    • About Us
    • Case Studies
    • Press Center
    • Events
    • Careers
    • Blog
    • Contact us
  • Contact us
  • Login
 
  • English
    • Deutsch
    • Español
    • Français
    • Italiano
    • Português
Paessler
                    - The Monitoring Experts
  • Products
    • Paessler PRTG
      Paessler PRTGMonitor your whole IT infrastructure
      • PRTG Network Monitor
      • PRTG Enterprise Monitor
      • PRTG Hosted Monitor
      • PRTG extensionsExtensions for Paessler PRTGExtend your monitoring to a new level
    • Icon Features
      FeaturesExplore all monitoring features
      • Maps & dashboards
      • Alerts & notifications
      • Multiple user interfaces
      • Distributed monitoring
      • Customizable reporting
  • Solutions
    • Industries
      IndustriesMonitor various industry sectors
      • Industrial
      • Healthcare
      • Data Center
      • Education
      • Finance
      • Government
    • IT Topics
      IT TopicsMonitor all areas of IT
      • Network Monitoring
      • Bandwidth Monitoring
      • SNMP Monitor
      • Network Mapping
      • WiFi Monitoring
      • Server Monitoring
  • Pricing
  • Resources
    • Getting Started
      Getting StartedModules for self-paced learning
    • How-to Guides
      How-to GuidesGet the most out of PRTG
    • Videos & Webinars
      Videos & WebinarsLearn from Paessler experts
    • IT  Knowledge
      IT KnowledgeExpand your IT knowledge
    • PRTG Manual
      PRTG ManualFull documentation
    • Knowledge Base
      Knowledge BaseShare community knowledge
    • PRTG Sensor Hub
      PRTG Sensor HubGet sensors, scripts & templates
    • Trainings
      PRTG TrainingLearn how to work with PRTG
  • Partners
    • icon star
      New Partners and MSPBecome a new partner or MSP
    • icon partner
      Partner PortalLog in to your partner account
    • Deal Registration
      Deal RegistrationRegister your sales opportunities
    • icon search
      Find a PartnerFind partners selling Paessler products
    • icon technology
      Technology AlliancesSee Paessler technology partnerships
  • Company
    • About Us
    • Case Studies
    • Press Center
    • Events
    • Careers
    • Blog
    • Contact us
  • Contact us
  • Login
  • English
    • Deutsch
    • Español
    • Français
    • Italiano
    • Português
  • Get a quote
  • Free trial
  1. Home>
  2. Help>
  3. Nagios Errors
PRTG Logo

 

There are a lot of Nagios errors out there. Way too many, right?

You as sysadmin know that for sure – return code errors, specify direct recipients, hosts unreachable.

Here you'll find quick solutions for the most common Nagios errors:

  • Nagios error: Return code of x is out of bounds
  • Nagios error: Error in the definition of the notification command
  • Nagios error: Error in configuration file 'xxx.cfg' - Line 34 (Unknown variable)
  • Nagios error: Could not open command file for update
  • Nagios error: Hosts UNREACHABLE
  • Nagios error: IndexError: list index out of range

And you'll find the solution to get rid of ALL Nagios errors – forever: Test PRTG as your new monitoring tool and get startet in minutes!

free downLoad

Nagios error 1

"Return code of x is out of bounds"
Icon Time

Quick fix

If the output of a plugin for a host or service check returns a "(Return code of x is out of bounds)" error, this usually means two things:

  • The plugin you use to check the service or host does not return a correct return value when it terminates
  • The path to the plugin is invalid (e.g. the program or script does not exist). This is usually the case if there is an error with the return value 127. If you get this error, you need to check your command definition and make sure that the path to the plugins is correct (and that you really are installed on your system at this point).
Icon Check

Proper fix

Switch to PRTG: PRTG automatically discovers and monitors all your network devices, bandwidth and traffic. Test now for free and get rid of all your Nagios errors like this most common one – forever.

See why monitoring with PRTG is like working in paradise.

PRTG Logo

Nagios error 2

"mail: Null names are not allowed"
"You must specify direct recipients with -s, -c, or -b."
icon time

Quick fix

Error in the definition of the notification command.

Make sure that the syntax you use to call /bin/mail (or where/how your mail program should be) is correct in the definition of the notification command for your system.

Icon Check

Proper fix

Switch to PRTG: PRTG automatically discovers and monitors all your network devices, bandwidth and traffic. Test now for free and get rid of all your Nagios errors like this most common one – forever.

See why monitoring with PRTG is like working in paradise.

PRTG Logo

Nagios error 3

"Error in configuration file 'xxx.cfg' - Line 34 (Unknown variable)"
Icon Time

Quick fix

Make sure that you pass the path to your main configuration file on the command line.

The correct syntax should look like the following command (possibly changed something for your system, of course):

/usr/local/nagios/bin/nagios -v /usr/local/nagios/etc/nagios.cfg
Icon Check

Proper fix

Switch to PRTG: PRTG automatically discovers and monitors all your network devices, bandwidth and traffic. Test now for free and get rid of all your Nagios errors like this most common one – forever.

See why monitoring with PRTG is like working in paradise.

PRTG Logo

Nagios error 4

"Could not open command file for update"
Icon Time

Quick fix

Usually a problem with directory and/or file permissions.

  • Make sure that you have created a directory for the command file.
  • Make sure that you have restarted your web server so that it recognizes the new group permissions you have assigned.
Icon Check

Proper fix

Switch to PRTG: PRTG automatically discovers and monitors all your network devices, bandwidth and traffic. Test now for free and get rid of all your Nagios errors like this most common one – forever.

See why monitoring with PRTG is like working in paradise.

PRTG Logo

Nagios error 5

"Hosts UNREACHABLE"
Icon Time

Quick fix

You have activated the notify_unreachable option in the host definition(s).

If you do not want to be notified when a host is unreachable, you only need to deactivate this option in the host definition.

Icon Check

Proper fix

Switch to PRTG: PRTG automatically discovers and monitors all your network devices, bandwidth and traffic. Test now for free and get rid of all your Nagios errors like this most common one – forever.

See why monitoring with PRTG is like working in paradise.

PRTG Logo

Nagios error 6

"IndexError: list index out of range"
Icon Time

Quick fix

Perform a file check one at a time.

Details can be found in your log file - "Check log for details"

Icon Check

Proper fix

Switch to PRTG: PRTG automatically discovers and monitors all your network devices, bandwidth and traffic. Test now for free and get rid of all your Nagios errors like this most common one – forever.

See why monitoring with PRTG is like working in paradise.

PRTG Logo
PRTG Logo

With PRTG you'll never have to deal with
Nagios errors again. Ever.

Icon Check

Monitor all the systems, devices, traffic, and applications in your IT infrastructure.

Icon Check

Everything is included with PRTG; there is no need for additional plugins or downloads.

Icon Check

PRTG is a powerful and easy-to-use solution, which is suitable for businesses of all sizes.

free downLoad
PRODUCT OVERVIEW

Our users give top ratings for monitoring with Paessler PRTG

Gartner peer insights
spiceworks
G2
Capterra

Products

  • Paessler PRTG
    Paessler PRTGMonitor your whole IT infrastructure
    • PRTG Network Monitor
    • PRTG Enterprise Monitor
    • PRTG Hosted Monitor
    • PRTG extensions
      Extensions for Paessler PRTGExtend your monitoring to a new level
  • Icon Features
    FeaturesExplore all monitoring features

Monitoring with PRTG

  • Network monitoring
  • Bandwidth monitoring
  • SNMP monitoring
  • Network mapping
  • Wi-Fi monitoring
  • Server monitoring
  • Network traffic analyzer
  • NetFlow monitoring
  • Syslog server

Useful Links

  • PRTG Manual
  • Knowledge Base
  • Customer Success Stories
  • About Paessler
  • Subscribe to newsletter
  • PRTG Support
  • PRTG Consulting
  • PRTG Feedback & Roadmap

Contact

Paessler GmbH
Thurn-und-Taxis-Str. 14, 
90411 Nuremberg 
Germany

info@paessler.com

+49 911 93775-0

  • Contact us
©2025 Paessler GmbHTerms & ConditionsPrivacy PolicyImprintReport VulnerabilityDownload & InstallSitemap
Home Home Home