How Cacti stores its configuration?

[tezarin]

Hi all,

I am new to Cacti and had a questions please, hopefully this is the correct category to post it...

I would like to know how cacti stores it's config...Can someone please point me to the right direction?

Thanks,
Tez

[Linegod]

All configuration information is stored in the MySQL database.

[tezarin]

Linegod,

Thanks for your reply, I appreciate your help. Can you please let me knoa how I can access the configuration information in mysql? Thanks in advance

[Linegod]

It depends on exactly what configuration information you are looking for. I'd need more details.

[tezarin]

I just would like to learn more about the process, any references with regard to how cacti stores it's configuration will be so helpful.

[Linegod]

First, read this: http://docs.cacti.net/manual:087:2_basi ... _operation

Then, post specific questions. 'How it works' is far to broad of a topic....

[tezarin]

OK, I did read about it and learned more about it. Learned that Cacti uses RRDTool to store data and puts its configuration in MySQL database.

I logged into the MySQL database and viewed the list of the tables of the Cacti database. Can someone please let me how cacti stores and uses it's plot characteristics or point me to the right direction where I can read more about it?

Thanks in advance,
Tez


+---------------------------+
| Tables_in_cacti |
+---------------------------+
| cdef |
| cdef_items |
| colors |
| data_input |
| data_input_data |
| data_input_fields |
| data_local |
| data_template |
| data_template_data |
| data_template_data_rra |
| data_template_rrd |
| graph_local |
| graph_template_input |
| graph_template_input_defs |
| graph_templates |
| graph_templates_gprint |
| graph_templates_graph |
| graph_templates_item |
| graph_tree |
| graph_tree_items |
| host |
| host_graph |
| host_snmp_cache |
| host_snmp_query |
| host_template |
| host_template_graph |
| host_template_snmp_query |
| plugin_config |
| plugin_db_changes |
| plugin_hooks |
| plugin_realms |
| poller |
| poller_command |
| poller_item |
| poller_output |
| poller_reindex |
| poller_time |
| rra |
| rra_cf |
| settings |
| settings_graphs |
| settings_tree |
| snmp_query |
| snmp_query_graph |
| snmp_query_graph_rrd |
| snmp_query_graph_rrd_sv |
| snmp_query_graph_sv |
| user_auth |
| user_auth_perms |
| user_auth_realm |
| user_log |
| version |
| weathermap_auth |
| weathermap_data |
| weathermap_maps |
| weathermap_settings |
+---------------------------+

[Linegod]

What do you mean by 'plot characteristics'?

[Howie]

http://www.cacti.net/downloads/docs/sql/ is the E-R diagram for Cacti.

You need to either ask a much more specific question, or start reading the source code to get the answers you want.

[tezarin]

Thanks for the link. I have been digging through the mysql tables trying to learn the backebend...

To be more specific, let me add more details to my question:

See, when we log into cacti web interface, we can create a new graph manually, right? Now, I would like to be able to create an entire
node from a single script.

That's why I think if I can find where cacti puts its configuration (xml?) files or how it stores the configuration when we use the "create a graph" manually, may be I can feed a line of script to cacti and it creates a number of nodes for me. I tried to be as specific as possible, hope it make sense

[Howie]

Thanks for the link. I have been digging through the mysql tables trying to learn the backebend...

To be more specific, let me add more details to my question:

See, when we log into cacti web interface, we can create a new graph manually, right? Now, I would like to be able to create an entire
node from a single script.

That's why I think if I can find where cacti puts its configuration (xml?) files or how it stores the configuration when we use the "create a graph" manually, may be I can feed a line of script to cacti and it creates a number of nodes for me. I tried to be as specific as possible, hope it make sense

Look in the cli/ folder. There are already scripts to do this.

[Linegod]

Oh my....

I would highly suggest reading the documentation:

http://docs.cacti.net
http://docs.cacti.net/manual:087:6_refe ... cli_script

and taking a look at plugins ( http://docs.cacti.net/plugins ) before you attempt to reverse engineer Cacti...

[Deviloper]

I just implementet an automized backend. If you have any questions feel free to contact me.

the cli-tools need a little bit tuning.... at least add_graphs.php is a pain in the neck.

Also I did an article on cacti in the freeX Magazin, it will be a complete overview of the tool.With guidelines, walktru, howto, database analysis. The mag will hit the stores on 9.10.09.

[tezarin]

Howie, thanks much, I really appreciate it, found the folder and man, you're right, everything I need was there!

Linegod, I am new to cacti and I really think it's better to start working on a project than just reading the document, I can always go back to the docs and read up more. Thanks for the links, very helpful.

Deviloper, appreciate your offer, I may take you up on that

Now that I know where the scripts are, can you guys tell me how I can add a data source? You know, instead on manually feeding the parameters to the script, I would like to put all of them into a data source and feed the file to teh script, something like that, hope it make sense.

I wasn't able to find add_data_source.php in cli folder...is there anywhere I could get it from? I also looked here and it wasn't there either: http://svn.cacti.net/viewvc/cacti/branches/main/cli/

Thanks in advance, really appreciate it.

[Howie]

I really think it's better to start working on a project than just reading the document, I can always go back to the docs and read up more.

This sounds great unless you are the person spending time and energy on answering the unnecessary questions.