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Diffstat (limited to 'docs/tutorials/longer-metrics-storage.md')
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1 files changed, 19 insertions, 18 deletions
diff --git a/docs/tutorials/longer-metrics-storage.md b/docs/tutorials/longer-metrics-storage.md index e227f5bda..1ef3f8d8e 100644 --- a/docs/tutorials/longer-metrics-storage.md +++ b/docs/tutorials/longer-metrics-storage.md @@ -7,30 +7,27 @@ Many people think Netdata can only store about an hour's worth of real-time metr configuration today. With the right settings, Netdata is quite capable of efficiently storing hours or days worth of historical, per-second metrics without having to rely on a [backend](../../backends/). -This tutorial gives two options for configuring Netdata to store more metrics. We recommend the [**database -engine**](#using-the-database-engine), as it will soon be the default configuration. However, you can stick with the -current default **round-robin database** if you prefer. +This tutorial gives two options for configuring Netdata to store more metrics. **We recommend the default [database +engine](#using-the-database-engine)**, but you can stick with or switch to the round-robin database if you prefer. Let's get started. ## Using the database engine The database engine uses RAM to store recent metrics while also using a "spill to disk" feature that takes advantage of -available disk space for long-term metrics storage.This feature of the database engine allows you to store a much larger -dataset than your system's available RAM. +available disk space for long-term metrics storage. This feature of the database engine allows you to store a much +larger dataset than your system's available RAM. -The database engine will eventually become the default method of retaining metrics, but until then, you can switch to -the database engine by changing a single option. - -Edit your `netdata.conf` file and change the `memory mode` setting to `dbengine`: +The database engine is currently the default method of storing metrics, but if you're not sure which database you're +using, check out your `netdata.conf` file and look for the `memory mode` setting: ```conf [global] memory mode = dbengine ``` -Next, restart Netdata. On Linux systems, we recommend running `sudo service netdata restart`. You're now using the -database engine! +If `memory mode` is set to anything but `dbengine`, change it and restart Netdata using the standard command for +restarting services on your system. You're now using the database engine! > Learn more about how we implemented the database engine, and our vision for its future, on our blog: [_How and why > we're bringing long-term storage to Netdata_](https://blog.netdata.cloud/posts/db-engine/). @@ -55,10 +52,11 @@ size` and `dbengine disk space`. `dbengine disk space` sets the maximum disk space (again, in MiB) the database engine will use for storing compressed metrics. -Based on our testing, these default settings will retain about two day's worth of metrics when Netdata collects 2,000 -metrics every second. +Based on our testing, these default settings will retain about a day's worth of metrics when Netdata collects roughly +4,000 metrics every second. If you increase either `page cache size` or `dbengine disk space`, Netdata will retain even +more historical metrics. -If you'd like to change these options, read more about the [database engine's memory +But before you change these options too dramatically, read up on the [database engine's memory footprint](../../database/engine/README.md#memory-requirements). With the database engine active, you can back up your `/var/cache/netdata/dbengine/` folder to another location for @@ -69,15 +67,18 @@ aren't ready to make the move. ## Using the round-robin database -By default, Netdata uses a round-robin database to store 1 hour of per-second metrics. Here's the default setting for -`history` in the `netdata.conf` file that comes pre-installed with Netdata. +In previous versions, Netdata used a round-robin database to store 1 hour of per-second metrics. + +To see if you're still using this database, or if you would like to switch to it, open your `netdata.conf` file and see +if `memory mode` option is set to `save`. ```conf [global] - history = 3600 + memory mode = save ``` -One hour has 3,600 seconds, hence the `3600` value! +If `memory mode` is set to `save`, then you're using the round-robin database. If so, the `history` option is set to +`3600`, which is the equivalent to 3,600 seconds, or one hour. To increase your historical metrics, you can increase `history` to the number of seconds you'd like to store: |