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diff --git a/docs/collect/how-collectors-work.md b/docs/collect/how-collectors-work.md deleted file mode 100644 index 382d4ccc..00000000 --- a/docs/collect/how-collectors-work.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,82 +0,0 @@ -<!-- -title: "How Netdata's metrics collectors work" -description: "When Netdata starts, and with zero configuration, it auto-detects thousands of data sources and immediately collects per-second metrics." -custom_edit_url: "https://github.com/netdata/netdata/edit/master/docs/collect/how-collectors-work.md" -sidebar_label: "How Netdata's metrics collectors work" -learn_status: "Published" -learn_topic_type: "Concepts" -learn_rel_path: "Concepts" ---> - -# How Netdata's metrics collectors work - -When Netdata starts, and with zero configuration, it auto-detects thousands of data sources and immediately collects -per-second metrics. - -Netdata can immediately collect metrics from these endpoints thanks to 300+ **collectors**, which all come pre-installed -when you [install Netdata](https://github.com/netdata/netdata/blob/master/docs/get-started.mdx). - -Every collector has two primary jobs: - -- Look for exposed metrics at a pre- or user-defined endpoint. -- Gather exposed metrics and use additional logic to build meaningful, interactive visualizations. - -If the collector finds compatible metrics exposed on the configured endpoint, it begins a per-second collection job. The -Netdata Agent gathers these metrics, sends them to the [database engine for -storage](https://github.com/netdata/netdata/blob/master/docs/store/change-metrics-storage.md), and immediately [visualizes them -meaningfully](https://github.com/netdata/netdata/blob/master/docs/visualize/interact-dashboards-charts.md) on dashboards. - -Each collector comes with a pre-defined configuration that matches the default setup for that application. This endpoint -can be a URL and port, a socket, a file, a web page, and more. - -For example, the [Nginx collector](https://github.com/netdata/go.d.plugin/blob/master/modules/nginx/README.md) searches -at `http://127.0.0.1/stub_status`, which is the default endpoint for exposing Nginx metrics. The [web log collector for -Nginx or Apache](https://github.com/netdata/go.d.plugin/blob/master/README.mdmodules/weblog) searches at -`/var/log/nginx/access.log` and `/var/log/apache2/access.log`, respectively, both of which are standard locations for -access log files on Linux systems. - -The endpoint is user-configurable, as are many other specifics of what a given collector does. - -## What can Netdata collect? - -To quickly find your answer, see our [list of supported collectors](https://github.com/netdata/netdata/blob/master/collectors/COLLECTORS.md). - -Generally, Netdata's collectors can be grouped into three types: - -- [Systems](https://github.com/netdata/netdata/blob/master/docs/collect/system-metrics.md): Monitor CPU, memory, disk, networking, systemd, eBPF, and much more. - Every metric exposed by `/proc`, `/sys`, and other Linux kernel sources. -- [Containers](https://github.com/netdata/netdata/blob/master/docs/collect/container-metrics.md): Gather metrics from container agents, like `dockerd` or `kubectl`, - along with the resource usage of containers and the applications they run. -- [Applications](https://github.com/netdata/netdata/blob/master/docs/collect/application-metrics.md): Collect per-second metrics from web servers, databases, logs, - message brokers, APM tools, email servers, and much more. - -## Collector architecture and terminology - -**Collector** is a catch-all term for any Netdata process that gathers metrics from an endpoint. - -While we use _collector_ most often in documentation, release notes, and educational content, you may encounter other -terms related to collecting metrics. - -- **Modules** are a type of collector. -- **Orchestrators** are external plugins that run and manage one or more modules. They run as independent processes. - The Go orchestrator is in active development. - - [go.d.plugin](https://github.com/netdata/go.d.plugin/blob/master/README.md): An orchestrator for data - collection modules written in `go`. - - [python.d.plugin](https://github.com/netdata/netdata/blob/master/collectors/python.d.plugin/README.md): An orchestrator for data collection modules written in - `python` v2/v3. - - [charts.d.plugin](https://github.com/netdata/netdata/blob/master/collectors/charts.d.plugin/README.md): An orchestrator for data collection modules written in - `bash` v4+. -- **External plugins** gather metrics from external processes, such as a webserver or database, and run as independent - processes that communicate with the Netdata daemon via pipes. -- **Internal plugins** gather metrics from `/proc`, `/sys`, and other Linux kernel sources. They are written in `C`, - and run as threads within the Netdata daemon. - -## What's next? - -[Enable or configure a collector](https://github.com/netdata/netdata/blob/master/docs/collect/enable-configure.md) if the default settings are not compatible with -your infrastructure. - -See our [collectors reference](https://github.com/netdata/netdata/blob/master/collectors/REFERENCE.md) for detailed information on Netdata's collector architecture, -troubleshooting a collector, developing a custom collector, and more. - - |