Creating a graph does not create the corresponding RRD file

[DaveClose]

Using Cacti from RPM cacti-0.8.7b-1.fc7 on Fedora 7, augmented with the CLI utilities from cacti-0.8.7b.tar.gz (since those are missing in the RPM).

I have searched the mailing list archives and these forums, without finding anything that seems to describe this problem. If it is unique to my installation, I'll be glad to help debug it.

I now have a fairly large number of graphs covering a fairly large network of systems (400 hosts). When I create a new graph, there seems to be a few repeatable cases where the corresponding RRD file does not get created. Running the graph in debug mode shows that the query succeeds but RRDtool is unable to save the result anywhere.

The graphs which do not create RRD files seem to be:
1- The "ucd/net - CPU Usage" graph for the Cacti host itself.
2- The "Host MIB - Processes" graphs on some, but not all, remote hosts.
Case 2 is now happening on all new creation attempts but worked on about the first 120 graphs.

Of course, my primary interest is in a solution. A secondary interest is in how to recover: is there a way to create the necessary RRD files without recreating the graphs?

[TheWitness]

This is likely permissions. It works well for existing because they are already created. What is the poller user? I typically make both apache and the poller use the same userid... Then:

Code: Select all

chown -R <poller_user>:<poller_group> /var/www/html/cacti

TheWitness

[DaveClose]

No, it is very unlikely to be a permissions problem. New graphs have been successfully created both before and after the ones which fail. The "ucd/net - CPU Usage" graph for the Cacti host itself was deleted and the creation tried multiple times, with other graphs successfully created in the interim.

One clarification to my earlier report. Only one of the "Host MIB - Processes" graphs on a remote host actually failed to create the RRD file. So at the moment I have two graphs without RRD files.

I was under the mistaken impression that the RRD file was created at the same time as the graph definition. It appears that it is actually created later when the first data is received. Unless I still misunderstand...

[DaveClose]

Further information. I just tried to recreate the failing remote "Processes" graph. During creation, I got this response.

RDTool Command:

/usr/bin/rrdtool graph - \
--imgformat=PNG \
--start=-86400 \
--end=-300 \
--title="svdu26j - Processes" \
--base=1000 \
--height=120 \
--width=500 \
--alt-autoscale-max \
--lower-limit=0 \
--vertical-label="processes" \
--slope-mode \
--font TITLE:12: \
--font AXIS:8: \
--font LEGEND:10: \
--font UNIT:8: \
AREA:#F51D30FF:"Running Processes" \
GPRINT::LAST:"Current\:%8.0lf" \
GPRINT::AVERAGE:"Average\:%8.0lf" \
GPRINT::MAX:"Maximum\:%8.0lf"

RRDTool Says:

ERROR: parameter '#F51D30FF' does not represent a number in line AREA:#F51D30FF:Running Processes

[TheWitness]

Looks like there is something amis with your database. I see that you do not have a data source associated with the graph. Have you upgraded PHP recently. I have heard reports of MySQL 5.1.23 causing issues just today.

TheWitness

[DaveClose]

The entire installation was started five days ago. Everything, MySQL included, was installed fresh. Are you implying that running the data base fixer script might be helpful?

[TheWitness]

Possibly. However, first look into the poller cache for your entries that are mssing. If they are there, then you can run poller.php from the command line to see what is going on. Also, run cmd.php from the command line in MEDIUM to verify that you are getting the output.

If you see it in the poller cache, and you see the output when running cmd.php, that is good. It would mean that it is being polled and there must be something wrong with RRDtool.

TheWitness

[appugno]

Possibly. However, first look into the poller cache for your entries that are mssing. If they are there, then you can run poller.php from the command line to see what is going on. Also, run cmd.php from the command line in MEDIUM to verify that you are getting the output.

If you see it in the poller cache, and you see the output when running cmd.php, that is good. It would mean that it is being polled and there must be something wrong with RRDtool.

TheWitness

can you please tell me where is the fixer script?
i'm having simular and even worse problems.
spine dumps core. graph gaps. any new graphs added get gaps. i there's nothing I can do about it.

cacti - Version 0.8.7b
spine - 0.8.7b