Use existing rrd's in Cacti - How to create template?

[UweK]

Hi,

I use ESX Server. It creates own statistics stored in rrds. How could I make the data on these rrds visible in cacti? I know the "internal" structures of the vmware esx rrd's. Here is a sample:

mem.rrd (memory usage on ESX Host)

vm4:/tmp # rrdpoller ls mem.rrd
memactive
memctl
memmax
memmin
memoverhead
memoverheadmax
memshared
memsize
memsizetgt
memswapin
memswapout
memswapped
vm4:/tmp #

The script generared these rrd is also awailable.


Uwe

[BSOD2600]

If you already are using a script that outputs these values, sounds like you should just make a new data input method using it. That way, you'll have to define all the output values, create a data and graph template.

Then you should be able to simply create a new data source, using the data input method you just created. Swap in the rra file you're already using and you should be set. If you do not want cacti to run the script and update the rra file, do not create a data input method.

[UweK]

I don't want cacti tu run the script, because the esx runs itselfs. So, I don't create a input method.
When I create the Data Template, e.g. "ESX Memory", I choose "NONE" for Data Input Methode. Now, I create 3 Data Source Items: memswapin, memswapout, memswapped.

The other templates (host and graph) are done. But, how 'know' cacti to look in the right rrd-file for these data to create a graph?

Uwe

[BSOD2600]

In the data source section, you specified which data template is associated with the rra file/host.

[UweK]

merci, it works!

Uwe

[helenzhan]

Hi,

I am a new bite. I am using VMware ESX 2.5 now and wanted to extract the statistics of cpu and memory from the rrd files, such as vcpu0.rrd and mem.rrd.

But these files are in a format which can not be read directly. When I tried to use command "more" or "vi" to take a look at the file content, it showed many strange characters.

How did you read the file and find out the file structure?

Thanks&Regards,

Helen

[BSOD2600]

Simply running: rrdtool will give you info on how to use the tool. I suggest rrdtool info file.rrd to learn about the info. Also the rrdtool website is useful: http://oss.oetiker.ch/rrdtool/

[gandalf]

You may try HowTo use externally updated rrd files + BONUS TRACK a try
Reinhard