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diff --git a/docs/configure/nodes.md b/docs/configure/nodes.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..2e4bef640 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/configure/nodes.md @@ -0,0 +1,165 @@ +<!-- +title: "Configure the Netdata Agent" +description: "Netdata is zero-configuration for most users, but complex infrastructures may require you to tweak some of the Agent's granular settings." +custom_edit_url: https://github.com/netdata/netdata/edit/master/docs/configure/nodes.md +--> + +# Configure the Netdata Agent + +Netdata's zero-configuration collection, storage, and visualization features work for many users, infrastructures, and +use cases, but there are some situations where you might want to configure the Netdata Agent running on your node(s), +which can be a physical or virtual machine (VM), container, cloud deployment, or edge/IoT device. + +For example, you might want to increase metrics retention, configure a collector based on your infrastructure's unique +setup, or secure the local dashboard by restricting it to only connections from `localhost`. + +Whatever the reason, Netdata users should know how to configure individual nodes to act decisively if an incident, +anomaly, or change in infrastructure affects how their Agents should perform. + +## The Netdata config directory + +On most Linux systems, using our [recommended one-line installation](/docs/get/README.md#install-the-netdata-agent), the +**Netdata config directory** is `/etc/netdata/`. The config directory contains several configuration files with the +`.conf` extension, a few directories, and a shell script named `edit-config`. + +> Some operating systems will use `/opt/netdata/etc/netdata/` as the config directory. If you're not sure where yours +> is, navigate to `http://NODE:19999/netdata.conf` in your browser, replacing `NODE` with the IP address or hostname of +> your node, and find the `# config directory = ` setting. The value listed is the config directory for your system. + +All of Netdata's documentation assumes that your config directory is at `/etc/netdata`, and that you're running any +scripts from inside that directory. + +## Netdata's configuration files + +Upon installation, the Netdata config directory contains a few files and directories. It's okay if you don't see all +these files in your own Netdata config directory, as the next section describes how to edit any that might not already +exist. + +- `netdata.conf` is the main configuration file. This is where you'll find most configuration options. Read descriptions + for each in the [daemon config](/daemon/config/README.md) doc. +- `edit-config` is a shell script used for [editing configuration files](#use-edit-config-to-edit-configuration-files). +- Various configuration files ending in `.conf` for [configuring plugins or + collectors](/docs/collect/enable-configure.md#enable-a-collector-or-its-orchestrator) behave. Examples: `go.d.conf`, + `python.d.conf`, and `ebpf.conf`. +- Various directories ending in `.d`, which contain other configuration files, each ending in `.conf`, for [configuring + specific collectors](/docs/collect/enable-configure.md#configure-a-collector). +- `apps_groups.conf` is a configuration file for changing how applications/processes are grouped when viewing the + **Application** charts from [`apps.plugin`](/collectors/apps.plugin/README.md) or + [`ebpf.plugin`](/collectors/ebpf.plugin/README.md). +- `health.d/` is a directory that contains [health configuration files](/docs/monitor/configure-alarms.md). +- `health_alarm_notify.conf` enables and configures [alarm notifications](/docs/monitor/enable-notifications.md). +- `statsd.d/` is a directory for configuring Netdata's [statsd collector](/collectors/statsd.plugin/README.md). +- `stream.conf` configures [parent-child streaming](/streaming/README.md) between separate nodes running the Agent. +- `.environment` is a hidden file that describes the environment in which the Netdata Agent is installed, including the + `PATH` and any installation options. Useful for [reinstalling](/packaging/installer/REINSTALL.md) or + [uninstalling](/packaging/installer/UNINSTALL.md) the Agent. + +The Netdata config directory also contains one symlink: + +- `orig` is a symbolic link to the directory `/usr/lib/netdata/conf.d`, which contains stock configuration files. Stock + versions are copied into the config directory when opened with `edit-config`. _Do not edit the files in + `/usr/lib/netdata/conf.d`, as they are overwritten by updates to the Netdata Agent._ + +## Use `edit-config` to edit configuration files + +The **recommended way to easily and safely edit Netdata's configuration** is with the `edit-config` script. This script +opens existing Netdata configuration files using your system's `$EDITOR`. If the file doesn't yet exist in your config +directory, the script copies the stock version from `/usr/lib/netdata/conf.d` and opens it for editing. + +Run `edit-config` without any options to see details on its usage and a list of all the configuration files you can +edit. + +```bash +./edit-config +USAGE: + ./edit-config FILENAME + + Copy and edit the stock config file named: FILENAME + if FILENAME is already copied, it will be edited as-is. + + The EDITOR shell variable is used to define the editor to be used. + + Stock config files at: '/usr/lib/netdata/conf.d' + User config files at: '/etc/netdata' + + Available files in '/usr/lib/netdata/conf.d' to copy and edit: + +./apps_groups.conf ./health.d/phpfpm.conf +./aws_kinesis.conf ./health.d/pihole.conf +./charts.d/ap.conf ./health.d/portcheck.conf +./charts.d/apcupsd.conf ./health.d/postgres.conf +... +``` + +To edit `netdata.conf`, run `./edit-config netdata.conf`. You may need to elevate your privileges with `sudo` or another +method for `edit-config` to write into the config directory. Use your `$EDITOR`, make your changes, and save the file. + +> `edit-config` uses the `EDITOR` environment variable on your system to edit the file. On many systems, that is +> defaulted to `vim` or `nano`. Use `export EDITOR=` to change this temporarily, or edit your shell configuration file +> to change to permanently. + +After you make your changes, you need to [restart the Agent](/docs/configure/start-stop-restart.md) with `sudo systemctl +restart netdata` or the appropriate method for your system. + +Here's an example of editing the node's hostname, which appears in both the local dashboard and in Netdata Cloud. + + + +### Other configuration files + +You can edit any Netdata configuration file using `edit-config`. A few examples: + +```bash +./edit-config apps_groups.conf +./edit-config ebpf.conf +./edit-config health.d/load.conf +./edit-config go.d/prometheus.conf +``` + +The documentation for each of Netdata's components explains which file(s) to edit to achieve the desired behavior. + +## See an Agent's running configuration + +On start, the Netdata Agent daemon attempts to load `netdata.conf`. If that file is missing, incomplete, or contains +invalid settings, the daemon attempts to run sane defaults instead. In other words, the state of `netdata.conf` on your +filesystem may be different from the state of the Netdata Agent itself. + +To see the _running configuration_, navigate to `http://NODE:19999/netdata.conf` in your browser, replacing `NODE` with +the IP address or hostname of your node. The file displayed here is exactly the settings running live in the Netdata +Agent. + +If you're having issues with configuring the Agent, apply the running configuration to `netdata.conf` by downloading the +file to the Netdata config directory. Use `sudo` to elevate privileges. + +```bash +wget -O /etc/netdata/netdata.conf http://localhost:19999/netdata.conf +# or +curl -o /etc/netdata/netdata.conf http://NODE:19999/netdata.conf +``` + +## What's next? + +Learn more about [starting, stopping, or restarting](/docs/configure/start-stop-restart.md) the Netdata daemon to apply +configuration changes. + +Apply some [common configuration changes](/docs/configure/common-changes.md) to quickly tweak the Agent's behavior. + +[Add security to your node](/docs/configure/secure-nodes.md) with what you've learned about the Netdata config directory +and `edit-config`. We put together a few security best practices based on how you use the Netdata. + +You can also take what you've learned about node configuration to enable or enhance features: + +- [Enable new collectors](/docs/collect/enable-configure.md) or tweak their behavior. +- [Configure existing health alarms](/docs/monitor/configure-alarms.md) or create new ones. +- [Enable notifications](/docs/monitor/enable-notifications.md) to receive updates about the health of your + infrastructure. +- Change [the long-term metrics retention period](/docs/store/change-metrics-storage.md) using the database engine. + +### Related reference documentation + +- [Netdata Agent · Daemon](/health/README.md) +- [Netdata Agent · Health monitoring](/health/README.md) +- [Netdata Agent · Notifications](/health/notifications/README.md) + +[](<>) |