diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'docs/guides/export/export-netdata-metrics-graphite.md')
| -rw-r--r-- | docs/guides/export/export-netdata-metrics-graphite.md | 184 |
1 files changed, 184 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/docs/guides/export/export-netdata-metrics-graphite.md b/docs/guides/export/export-netdata-metrics-graphite.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..9a4a4f5ca --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/guides/export/export-netdata-metrics-graphite.md @@ -0,0 +1,184 @@ +<!-- +title: Export and visualize Netdata metrics in Graphite +description: "Use Netdata to collect and export thousands of metrics to Graphite for long-term storage or further analysis." +image: /img/seo/guides/export/export-netdata-metrics-graphite.png +--> + +# Export and visualize Netdata metrics in Graphite + +Collecting metrics is an essential part of monitoring any application, service, or infrastructure, but it's not the +final step for any developer, sysadmin, SRE, or DevOps engineer who's keeping an eye on things. To take meaningful +action on these metrics, you may need to develop a stack of monitoring tools that work in parallel to help you diagnose +anomalies and discover root causes faster. + +We designed Netdata with interoperability in mind. The Agent collects thousands of metrics every second, and then what +you do with them is up to you. You can [store metrics in the database engine](/docs/guides/longer-metrics-storage.md), +or send them to another time series database for long-term storage or further analysis using Netdata's [exporting +engine](/docs/export/external-databases.md). + +In this guide, we'll show you how to export Netdata metrics to [Graphite](https://graphiteapp.org/) for long-term +storage and further analysis. Graphite is a free open-source software (FOSS) tool that collects graphs numeric +time-series data, such as all the metrics collected by the Netdata Agent itself. Using Netdata and Graphite together, +you get more visibility into the health and performance of your entire infrastructure. + + + +Let's get started. + +## Install the Netdata Agent + +If you don't have the Netdata Agent installed already, visit the [installation guide](/packaging/installer/README.md) +for the recommended instructions for your system. In most cases, you can use the one-line installation script: + +```bash +bash <(curl -Ss https://my-netdata.io/kickstart.sh) +``` + +Once installation finishes, open your browser and navigate to `http://NODE:19999`, replacing `NODE` with the IP address +or hostname of your system, to find the Agent dashboard. + +## Install Graphite via Docker + +For this guide, we'll install Graphite using Docker. See the [Docker documentation](https://docs.docker.com/get-docker/) +for details if you don't yet have it installed on your system. + +> If you already have Graphite installed, skip this step. If you want to install via a different method, see the +> [Graphite installation docs](https://graphite.readthedocs.io/en/latest/install.html), with the caveat that some +> configuration settings may be different. + +Start up the Graphite image with `docker run`. + +```bash +docker run -d \ + --name graphite \ + --restart=always \ + -p 80:80 \ + -p 2003-2004:2003-2004 \ + -p 2023-2024:2023-2024 \ + -p 8125:8125/udp \ + -p 8126:8126 \ + graphiteapp/graphite-statsd +``` + +Open your browser and navigate to `http://NODE`, to see the Graphite interface. Nothing yet, but we'll fix that soon +enough. + + + +## Enable the Graphite exporting connector + +You're now ready to begin exporting Netdata metrics to Graphite. + +Begin by using `edit-config` to open the `exporting.conf` file. + +```bash +cd /etc/netdata # Replace this path with your Netdata config directory +sudo ./edit-config exporting.conf +``` + +If you haven't already, enable the exporting engine by setting `enabled` to `yes` in the `[exporting:global]` section. + +```conf +[exporting:global] + enabled = yes +``` + +Next, configure the connector. Find the `[graphite:my_graphite_instance]` example section and uncomment the line. +Replace `my_graphite_instance` with a name of your choice. Let's go with `[graphite:netdata]`. Set `enabled` to `yes` +and uncomment the line. Your configuration should now look like this: + +```conf +[graphite:netdata] + enabled = yes + # destination = localhost + # data source = average + # prefix = netdata + # hostname = my_hostname + # update every = 10 + # buffer on failures = 10 + # timeout ms = 20000 + # send names instead of ids = yes + # send charts matching = * + # send hosts matching = localhost * +``` + +Set the `destination` setting to `localhost:2003`. By default, the Docker image for Graphite listens on port `2003` for +incoming metrics. If you installed Graphite a different way, or tweaked the `docker run` command, you may need to change +the port accordingly. + +```conf +[graphite:netdata] + enabled = yes + destination = localhost:2003 + ... +``` + +We'll not worry about the rest of the settings for now. Restart the Agent using `sudo service netdata restart`, or the +appropriate method for your system, to spin up the exporting engine. + +## See and organize Netdata metrics in Graphite + +Head back to the Graphite interface again, then click on the **Dashboard** link to get started with Netdata's exported +metrics. You can also navigate directly to `http://NODE/dashboard`. + +Let's switch the interface to help you understand which metrics Netdata is exporting to Graphite. Click on **Dashboard** +and **Configure UI**, then choose the **Tree** option. Refresh your browser to change the UI. + + + +You should now see a tree of available contexts, including one that matches the hostname of the Agent exporting metrics. +In this example, the Agent's hostname is `arcturus`. + +Let's add some system CPU charts so you can monitor the long-term health of your system. Click through the tree to find +**hostname → system → cpu** metrics, then click on the **user** context. A chart with metrics from that context appears +in the dashboard. Add a few other system CPU charts to flesh things out. + +Next, let's combine one or two of these charts. Click and drag one chart onto the other, and wait until the green **Drop +to merge** dialog appears. Release to merge the charts. + + + +Finally, save your dashboard. Click **Dashboard**, then **Save As**, then choose a name. Your dashboard is now saved. + +Of course, this is just the beginning of the customization you can do with Graphite. You can change the time range, +share your dashboard with others, or use the composer to customize the size and appearance of specific charts. Learn +more about adding, modifying, and combining graphs in the [Graphite +docs](https://graphite.readthedocs.io/en/latest/dashboard.html). + +## Monitor the exporting engine + +As soon as the exporting engine begins, Netdata begins reporting metrics about the system's health and performance. + + + +You can use these charts to verify that Netdata is properly exporting metrics to Graphite. You can even add these +exporting charts to your Graphite dashboard! + +### Add exporting charts to Netdata Cloud + +You can also show these exporting engine metrics on Netdata Cloud. If you don't have an account already, go [sign +in](https://app.netdata.cloud) and get started for free. If you need some help along the way, read the [get started with +Cloud guide](https://learn.netdata.cloud/docs/cloud/get-started). + +Add more metrics to a War Room's Nodes view by clicking on the **Add metric** button, then typing `exporting` into the +context field. Choose the exporting contexts you want to add, then click **Add**. You'll see these charts alongside any +others you've customized in Netdata Cloud. + + + +## What's next? + +What you do with your exported metrics is entirely up to you, but as you might have seen in the Graphite connector +configuration block, there are many other ways to tweak and customize which metrics you export to Graphite and how +often. + +For full details about each configuration option and what it does, see the [exporting reference +guide](/exporting/README.md). + +[](<>) |