(Needs updating. No longer correct as the Cacti Plugin Architecture is now
included in latest packages with Ubuntu)

Files
-----
cacti-from-packages.ppt		Install Cacti from Debian packages
cacti-from-source.ppt		Install Cacti from source
exercises-cacti-from-source.txt Details on installing Cacti from source
				and installing the Cacti PA + Settings and
				thold plugins.
cacti-additional.doc		Use only if installed from source

Explanation
-----------

You can install Cacti from Packages rather simply, but then installing
the Cacti Plugin Architecture becomes quite difficult.

You can install Cacti from Source, which is a bit harder and requires
that you manually track the package over time, but allows for adding
on the Cacti Plugin Architecture without issues.

Depending on your workshop you may wish to do a simple Cacti install 
from packages, but then you will not (easily) be able to add the bits
and pieces that allow Cacti to send emails to your ticketing system, 
to send emails when threshholds are met, etc...

In general, if you just wish to install Cacti and monitor your network
with no extras, then you can use the cacti-from-packages.ppt 
presentation. This presentation gives step-by-step examples for adding
devices in Cacti. You can then direct your class to view your local
network diagram and to build out their Cacti as much or little as they
want based on this.

If you wish to install Cacti, monitor your local network and then 
integrate Cacti with a ticketing system, then you should present the
cacti-from-source.ppt. This presentation is very similar to cacti-from-
packages.ppt, except for the flow and install steps. In addition, if you
present this, then you can have your class follow the additional Cacti
exercises which are located in cacti-additional.doc - These exercises
explain how to install the Cacti Plugin Architecture, how to install the
Settings plugin (required for enhanced email capabilities) and the
Threshold plugin (required to measure state changes and send an email
to your ticketing system when triggers are met).

Updated 17 August 2011
Hervey Allen
