unknowns in script input methods

[zim]

I created a custom data input method that uses a perl script. In the event the host I'm polling does not respond, what should I have my script return to signal cacti/rrdtool that a value of unknown should be inserted into the rrd?

data like this may be good to toss into the documentation.

[rony]

My gut tells me that you need to return a "U", for an unknown value.

But I don't think the parser in the input checker will allow that. TheWitness (Larry) or Rax (Ian) can answer this question better than I can.

[zim]

agreed, for now i'm returning a U but i'd like confirmation that this is proper.
-thanks.

[TheWitness]

Correct. Any Non-Numeric return value will generate a "U".

TheWitness

[zim]

thank ye sir.