---
title: "Manage floating Netprobes"
description: ""
url: "https://docs.itrsgroup.com/docs/geneos/7.11.0/collection/netprobe/configuration/manage-floating-netprobes/index.html"
---
## Overview

Once you have installed the Netprobe, the next step is to add it to a Managed Entity as well as a Gateway.


In floating mode, a Netprobe and Managed Entity are configured on the Gateway, but without connection details.

On starting, the Netprobe informs the Gateway of its host name and listen port. In turn, the Gateway connects to the Netprobe. This allows a Netprobe to automatically follow an application that migrates between servers.

If you are looking to manually connect a Netprobe to a Gateway, see [Probes](https://docs.itrsgroup.com/docs/geneos/7.11.0/processing/configuration/gateway_probes/index.html).

To run, a floating Netprobe must have the following resources ready:

- Netprobe setup file with floating mode enabled.
- The Netprobe setup location set when the Netprobe starts.
- Floating token in Licence Daemon. For guidance, contact 
[ITRS Support](mailto:support@itrsgroup.com)
.
- Floating probe configured in the Gateways to be used.

## Set up the Netprobe

Floating Netprobes require a Netprobe setup file. You must ensure the setup file is configured correctly.

1. Create a new setup file, or copy and edit an existing one. You can use the template, `netprobe.setup.xml`, provided below as a starting point.
2. In the setup file, check that the `floatingProbe` setting is enabled. The same style of Netprobe setup file can be used for other configuration schemes as well as floating Netprobes, so it is important that you choose the correct template. The correct template will have the following elements:

```
<floatingProbe>
   <enabled>true</enabled>
</floatingProbe>
```

3. Configure the details for the Gateway you want the floating Netprobe to connect to. For example:

```
<gateways>
   <gateway>
     <hostname>gateway1</hostname>
     <port>17101</port>
     <secure>true</secure>
   </gateway>
</gateways>

```

4. Save this file to a directory where the Netprobe can access:
	- Locally — machine where the Netprobe is running.
	- From a URL — remote source which the Netprobe can pull from.

5. Start the Netprobe with the option pointing to the setup file:
	- On the Windows Netprobe installer, provide the setup file when prompted:
 ![](https://docscdn.itrsgroup.com/geneos/images/netprobe/windows-installer-gui.png)
 
 	- On Linux and other platforms, use the -setup command-line option:

 ```
 ./netprobe.linux_64 -setup <file path or url to the setup file> &
 ```


**Note**



There are a few ways that you can start the Netprobe. For more information, see the following:  

- [Start the Netprobe in Quickstart: Windows](https://docs.itrsgroup.com/docs/geneos/7.11.0/collection/netprobe/installation/quickstart-windows/index.html#start-the-netprobe)
- [Start the Netprobe in Quickstart: Linux and other platforms](https://docs.itrsgroup.com/docs/geneos/7.11.0/collection/netprobe/installation/quickstart-linux-and-other-platforms/index.html#start-the-netprobe)





**Success**

  
The Netprobe is now running in floating mode and will periodically refresh the configuration file following a setup interval. For more information on other command-line options available to the Netprobe, see [Netprobe Command-line Options](https://docs.itrsgroup.com/docs/geneos/7.11.0/collection/netprobe/configuration/netprobe-command-line-options/index.html). 



The following is an example of a Netprobe setup file for a floating Netprobe:

```
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>
<netprobe>
 <floatingProbe>
  <enabled>true</enabled>
  <retryInterval>60</retryInterval>
  <requireReverseConnection>false</requireReverseConnection>
  <probeName>myFloatingProbe</probeName>
  <gateways>
   <gateway>
    <hostname>gateway1</hostname>
    <port>17101</port>
    <secure>false</secure>
   </gateway>
  </gateways>
 </floatingProbe>
</netprobe>
```

For more information on the Netprobe setup file and its elements, see [Floating settings in Netprobe setup](https://docs.itrsgroup.com/docs/geneos/7.11.0/collection/netprobe/configuration/netprobe-setup/index.html#floating-settings).

## Set up the Gateway

A floating Netprobe only needs the Gateway connection details, since its other options are configured in the Gateway.

For guidance in setting up the Gateway for floating Netprobes, see [Floating Probes](https://docs.itrsgroup.com/docs/geneos/7.11.0/processing/configuration/gateway_probes/index.html#floating-probes).

## Connection rules

### Reasons for rejection

Gateway may refuse to accept a floating Netprobe for a few reasons. For more information, see [Rejection reasons](https://docs.itrsgroup.com/docs/geneos/7.11.0/collection/troubleshooting/rejection-reasons/index.html).

### Hot standby Gateways


Where hot standby Gateway pairs are used, both should
 be specified in the Netprobe setup file. A
 non-active Gateway will refuse to accept the Netprobe, so
 there is no risk of the Netprobe choosing a secondary
 Gateway while the primary is still up.

For more information on Gateway hot standby behaviour, see [Hot Standby](https://docs.itrsgroup.com/docs/geneos/7.11.0/processing/gateway-administration/gateway_hot_standby/index.html).