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diff --git a/docs/store/distributed-data-architecture.md b/docs/store/distributed-data-architecture.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..dbf73f35b --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/store/distributed-data-architecture.md @@ -0,0 +1,71 @@ +<!-- +title: "Distributed data architecture" +description: "Netdata's distributed data architecture stores metrics on individual nodes for high performance and scalability using all your granular metrics." +custom_edit_url: https://github.com/netdata/netdata/edit/master/docs/store/distributed-data.md +--> + +# Distributed data architecture + +Netdata uses a distributed data architecture to help you collect and store per-second metrics from any number of nodes. +Every node in your infrastructure, whether it's one or a thousand, stores the metrics it collects. + +Netdata Cloud bridges the gap between many distributed databases by _centralizing the interface_ you use to query and +visualize your nodes' metrics. When you [look at charts in Netdata +Cloud](/docs/visualize/interact-dashboards-charts.md), the metrics values are queried directly from that node's database +and securely streamed to Netdata Cloud, which proxies them to your browser. + +Netdata's distributed data architecture has a number of benefits: + +- **Performance**: Every query to a node's database takes only a few milliseconds to complete for responsiveness when + viewing dashboards or using features like [Metric + Correlations](https://learn.netdata.cloud/docs/cloud/insights/metric-correlations). +- **Scalability**: As your infrastructure scales, install the Netdata Agent on every new node to immediately add it to + your monitoring solution without adding cost or complexity. +- **1-second granularity**: Without an expensive centralized data lake, you can store all of your nodes' per-second + metrics, for any period of time, while keeping costs down. +- **No filtering or selecting of metrics**: Because Netdata's distributed data architecture allows you to store all + metrics, you don't have to configure which metrics you retain. Keep everything for full visibility during + troubleshooting and root cause analysis. +- **Easy maintenance**: There is no centralized data lake to purchase, allocate, monitor, and update, removing + complexity from your monitoring infrastructure. + +## Does Netdata Cloud store my metrics? + +Netdata Cloud does not store metric values. + +To enable certain features, such as [viewing active alarms](/docs/monitor/view-active-alarms.md) or [filtering by +hostname/service](https://learn.netdata.cloud/docs/cloud/war-rooms#node-filter), Netdata Cloud does store configured +alarms, their status, and a list of active collectors. + +Netdata does not and never will sell your personal data or data about your deployment. + +## Long-term metrics storage with Netdata + +Any node running the Netdata Agent can store long-term metrics for any retention period, given you allocate the +appropriate amount of RAM and disk space. + +Read our document on changing [how long Netdata stores metrics](/docs/store/change-metrics-storage.md) on your nodes for +details. + +## Other options for your metrics data + +While a distributed data architecture is the default when monitoring infrastructure with Netdata, you can also configure +its behavior based on your needs or the type of infrastructure you manage. + +To archive metrics to an external time-series database, such as InfluxDB, Graphite, OpenTSDB, Elasticsearch, +TimescaleDB, and many others, see details on [integrating Netdata via exporting](/docs/export/external-databases.md). + +You can also stream between nodes using [streaming](/streaming/README.md), allowing to replicate databases and create +your own centralized data lake of metrics, if you choose to do so. + +When you use the database engine to store your metrics, you can always perform a quick backup of a node's +`/var/cache/netdata/dbengine/` folder using the tool of your choice. + +## What's next? + +You can configure the Netdata Agent to store days, weeks, or months worth of distributed, per-second data by +[configuring the database engine](/docs/store/change-metrics-storage.md). Use our calculator to determine the system +resources required to retain your desired amount of metrics, and expand or contract the database by editing a single +setting. + +[](<>) |