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diff --git a/docs/guides/step-by-step/step-06.md b/docs/guides/step-by-step/step-06.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..bb1f2349 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/guides/step-by-step/step-06.md @@ -0,0 +1,122 @@ +<!-- +title: "Step 6. Collect metrics from more services and apps" +custom_edit_url: https://github.com/netdata/netdata/edit/master/guides/docs/step-by-step/step-06.md +--> + +# Step 6. Collect metrics from more services and apps + +When Netdata _starts_, it auto-detects dozens of **data sources**, such as database servers, web servers, and more. + +To auto-detect and collect metrics from a source you just installed, you need to [restart +Netdata](/docs/getting-started.md#start-stop-and-restart-netdata). + +However, auto-detection only works if you installed the source using its standard installation +procedure. If Netdata isn't collecting metrics after a restart, your source probably isn't configured +correctly. + +Check out the [collectors that come pre-installed with Netdata](/collectors/COLLECTORS.md) to find the module for the +source you want to monitor. + +## What you'll learn in this step + +We'll begin with an overview on Netdata's collector architecture, and then dive into the following: + +- [Netdata's collector architecture](#netdatas-collector-architecture) +- [Enable and disable plugins](#enable-and-disable-plugins) +- [Enable the Nginx collector as an example](#example-enable-the-nginx-collector) + +## Netdata's collector architecture + +Many Netdata users never have to configure collector or worry about which plugin orchestrator they want to use. + +But, if you want to configure collector or write a collector for your custom source, it's important to understand the +underlying architecture. + +By default, Netdata collects a lot of metrics every second using any number of discrete collector. Collectors, in turn, +are organized and manged by plugins. **Internal** plugins collect system metrics, **external** plugins collect +non-system metrics, and **orchestrator** plugins group individual collectors together based on the programming language +they were built in. + +These modules are primarily written in [Go](https://learn.netdata.cloud/docs/agent/collectors/go.d.plugin/) (`go.d`) and +[Python](/collectors/python.d.plugin/README.md), although some use [Bash](/collectors/charts.d.plugin/README.md) +(`charts.d`) or [Node.js](/collectors/node.d.plugin/README.md) (`node.d`). + +## Enable and disable plugins + +You don't need to explicitly enable plugins to auto-detect properly configured sources, but it's useful to know how to +enable or disable them. + +One reason you might want to _disable_ plugins is to improve Netdata's performance on low-resource systems, like +ephemeral nodes or edge devices. Disabling orchestrator plugins like `python.d` can save significant resources if you're +not using any of its data collector modules. + +You can enable or disable plugins in the `[plugin]` section of `netdata.conf`. This section features a list of all the +plugins with a boolean setting (`yes` or `no`) to enable or disable them. Be sure to uncomment the line by removing the +hash (`#`)! + +Enabled: + +```conf +[plugins] + # node.d = yes +``` + +Disabled: + +```conf +[plugins] + node.d = no +``` + +When you explicitly disable a plugin this way, it won't auto-collect metrics using its collectors. + +## Example: Enable the Nginx collector + +To help explain how the auto-detection process works, let's use an Nginx web server as an example. + +Even if you don't have Nginx installed on your system, we recommend you read through the following section so you can +apply the process to other data sources, such as Apache, Redis, Memcached, and more. + +The Nginx collector, which helps Netdata collect metrics from a running Nginx web server, is part of the +`python.d.plugin` external plugin _orchestrator_. + +In order for Netdata to auto-detect an Nginx web server, you need to enable `ngx_http_stub_status_module` and pass the +`stub_status` directive in the `location` block of your Nginx configuration file. + +You can confirm if the `stub_status` Nginx module is already enabled or not by using following command: + +```sh +nginx -V 2>&1 | grep -o with-http_stub_status_module +``` + +If this command returns nothing, you'll need to [enable this module](https://www.nginx.com/blog/monitoring-nginx/). + +Next, edit your `/etc/nginx/sites-enabled/default` file to include a `location` block with the following: + +```conf + location /stub_status { + stub_status; + } +``` + +Restart Netdata using `service netdata restart` or the [correct +alternative](/docs/getting-started.md#start-stop-and-restart-netdata) for your system, and Netdata will auto-detect +metrics from your Nginx web server! + +While not necessary for most auto-detection and collection purposes, you can also configure the Nginx collector itself +by editing its configuration file: + +```sh +./edit-config python.d/nginx.conf +``` + +After configuring any source, or changing the configuration files for their respective modules, always restart Netdata. + +## What's next? + +Now that you've learned the fundamentals behind configuring data sources for auto-detection, it's time to move back to +the dashboard to learn more about some of its more advanced features. + +[Next: Netdata's dashboard in depth →](step-07.md) + +[](<>) |