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Diffstat (limited to 'collectors/charts.d.plugin/README.md')
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diff --git a/collectors/charts.d.plugin/README.md b/collectors/charts.d.plugin/README.md index 3d318f26c..6bd115f30 100644 --- a/collectors/charts.d.plugin/README.md +++ b/collectors/charts.d.plugin/README.md @@ -1,11 +1,11 @@ # charts.d.plugin -`charts.d.plugin` is a netdata external plugin. It is an **orchestrator** for data collection modules written in `BASH` v4+. +`charts.d.plugin` is a Netdata external plugin. It is an **orchestrator** for data collection modules written in `BASH` v4+. -1. It runs as an independent process `ps fax` shows it -2. It is started and stopped automatically by netdata -3. It communicates with netdata via a unidirectional pipe (sending data to the netdata daemon) -4. Supports any number of data collection **modules** +1. It runs as an independent process `ps fax` shows it +2. It is started and stopped automatically by Netdata +3. It communicates with Netdata via a unidirectional pipe (sending data to the `netdata` daemon) +4. Supports any number of data collection **modules** `charts.d.plugin` has been designed so that the actual script that will do data collection will be permanently in memory, collecting data with as little overheads as possible @@ -39,35 +39,35 @@ A `charts.d.plugin` module is a BASH script defining a few functions. For a module called `X`, the following criteria must be met: -1. The module script must be called `X.chart.sh` and placed in `/usr/libexec/netdata/charts.d`. +1. The module script must be called `X.chart.sh` and placed in `/usr/libexec/netdata/charts.d`. -2. If the module needs a configuration, it should be called `X.conf` and placed in `/etc/netdata/charts.d`. - The configuration file `X.conf` is also a BASH script itself. - To edit the default files supplied by netdata run `/etc/netdata/edit-config charts.d/X.conf`, - where `X` is the name of the module. +2. If the module needs a configuration, it should be called `X.conf` and placed in `/etc/netdata/charts.d`. + The configuration file `X.conf` is also a BASH script itself. + To edit the default files supplied by Netdata, run `/etc/netdata/edit-config charts.d/X.conf`, + where `X` is the name of the module. -3. All functions and global variables defined in the script and its configuration, must begin with `X_`. +3. All functions and global variables defined in the script and its configuration, must begin with `X_`. -4. The following functions must be defined: +4. The following functions must be defined: - - `X_check()` - returns 0 or 1 depending on whether the module is able to run or not - (following the standard Linux command line return codes: 0 = OK, the collector can operate and 1 = FAILED, - the collector cannot be used). + - `X_check()` - returns 0 or 1 depending on whether the module is able to run or not + (following the standard Linux command line return codes: 0 = OK, the collector can operate and 1 = FAILED, + the collector cannot be used). - - `X_create()` - creates the netdata charts, following the standard netdata plugin guides as described in - **[External Plugins](../plugins.d/)** (commands `CHART` and `DIMENSION`). - The return value does matter: 0 = OK, 1 = FAILED. + - `X_create()` - creates the Netdata charts, following the standard Netdata plugin guides as described in + **[External Plugins](../plugins.d/)** (commands `CHART` and `DIMENSION`). + The return value does matter: 0 = OK, 1 = FAILED. - - `X_update()` - collects the values for the defined charts, following the standard netdata plugin guides - as described in **[External Plugins](../plugins.d/)** (commands `BEGIN`, `SET`, `END`). - The return value also matters: 0 = OK, 1 = FAILED. + - `X_update()` - collects the values for the defined charts, following the standard Netdata plugin guides + as described in **[External Plugins](../plugins.d/)** (commands `BEGIN`, `SET`, `END`). + The return value also matters: 0 = OK, 1 = FAILED. -5. The following global variables are available to be set: - - `X_update_every` - is the data collection frequency for the module script, in seconds. +5. The following global variables are available to be set: + - `X_update_every` - is the data collection frequency for the module script, in seconds. The module script may use more functions or variables. But all of them must begin with `X_`. -The standard netdata plugin variables are also available (check **[External Plugins](../plugins.d/)**). +The standard Netdata plugin variables are also available (check **[External Plugins](../plugins.d/)**). ### X_check() @@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ connect to a local mysql database to find out if it can read the values it needs ### X_create() -The purpose of the BASH function `X_create()` is to create the charts and dimensions using the standard netdata +The purpose of the BASH function `X_create()` is to create the charts and dimensions using the standard Netdata plugin guides (**[External Plugins](../plugins.d/)**). `X_create()` will be called just once and only after `X_check()` was successful. @@ -90,8 +90,8 @@ A non-zero return value will disable the collector. ### X_update() -`X_update()` will be called repeatedly every `X_update_every` seconds, to collect new values and send them to netdata, -following the netdata plugin guides (**[External Plugins](../plugins.d/)**). +`X_update()` will be called repeatedly every `X_update_every` seconds, to collect new values and send them to Netdata, +following the Netdata plugin guides (**[External Plugins](../plugins.d/)**). The function will be called with one parameter: microseconds since the last time it was run. This value should be appended to the `BEGIN` statement of every chart updated by the collector script. @@ -167,8 +167,7 @@ Keep in mind that if your configs are not in `/etc/netdata`, you should do the f export NETDATA_USER_CONFIG_DIR="/path/to/etc/netdata" ``` -Also, remember that netdata runs `chart.d.plugin` as user `netdata` (or any other user netdata is configured to run as). - +Also, remember that Netdata runs `chart.d.plugin` as user `netdata` (or any other user the `netdata` process is configured to run as). ## Running multiple instances of charts.d.plugin @@ -179,17 +178,16 @@ You can have multiple `charts.d.plugin` running to overcome this problem. This is what you need to do: -1. Decide a new name for the new charts.d instance: example `charts2.d`. +1. Decide a new name for the new charts.d instance: example `charts2.d`. -2. Create/edit the files `/etc/netdata/charts.d.conf` and `/etc/netdata/charts2.d.conf` and enable / disable the - module you want each to run. Remember to set `enable_all_charts="no"` to both of them, and enable the individual - modules for each. - -3. link `/usr/libexec/netdata/plugins.d/charts.d.plugin` to `/usr/libexec/netdata/plugins.d/charts2.d.plugin`. - Netdata will spawn a new charts.d process. +2. Create/edit the files `/etc/netdata/charts.d.conf` and `/etc/netdata/charts2.d.conf` and enable / disable the + module you want each to run. Remember to set `enable_all_charts="no"` to both of them, and enable the individual + modules for each. -Execute the above in this order, since netdata will (by default) attempt to start new plugins soon after they are -created in `/usr/libexec/netdata/plugins.d/`. +3. link `/usr/libexec/netdata/plugins.d/charts.d.plugin` to `/usr/libexec/netdata/plugins.d/charts2.d.plugin`. + Netdata will spawn a new charts.d process. +Execute the above in this order, since Netdata will (by default) attempt to start new plugins soon after they are +created in `/usr/libexec/netdata/plugins.d/`. -[]() +[](<>) |