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<div class="SECT1">
<h1 class="SECT1"><a name="SCRIPT_TO_GRAPH" id="SCRIPT_TO_GRAPH">Simplest Method of Going from Script to Graph (Walkthrough)</a></h1>
<div class="AUTHORBLURB">
<a name="AEN1528" id="AEN1528"></a>
<p><b class="EMPHASIS">Written by Kevin der Kinderen, <a href="http://kdeuja.com/~kevin/" target="_top">http://kdeuja.com/~kevin/</a></b></p>
</div>
<p>This HOWTO walks you through the simplest steps of graphing the output of a single value from a script. As a new user of cacti, I had a difficult time understanding how to graph anything that wasn't canned with the original load. After a lot of playing around, I came up with these procedures which can be built upon for more sophisticated collections and graphs.</p>
<p>I do not use templates in this HOWTO. Templates provide a significant advantage if you are graphing the output for multiple instances or creating graphs for multiple hosts. They help to maintain consistency and simplify setup.</p>
<p>The example here is not realistic, but can be used and expanded upon as a model for creating your own graphs.</p>
<p>I've not put a lot of explanations in the procedures. Refer to the Cacti manual for more details.</p>
<p>Have a tested script ready to go. I used the following script located in <tt class="FILENAME">/home/cactiuser/bin</tt> called <tt class="FILENAME">random2.pl</tt>:</p>
<pre class="PROGRAMLISTING">
#!/usr/bin/perl -w
print int(rand(10));
</pre>
<p>This script simply prints out a random integer between 0 and 9 every time it's called.</p>
<p><b>The minimal steps to create a graph from a script are simply:</b></p>
<ol type="1">
<li>
<p>Create a Data Input Method to tell Cacti how to call the script and what to expect from it.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Create a Data Source to tell cacti how and where the data will be stored.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Create a Graph to tell cacti how the data will be presented in graph form.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Add Graph to Graph View so you can view the graph.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>View the Graph</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p><b>The details are below:</b></p>
<ol type="1">
<li>
<p>Create Data Input Method</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Click the <span class="GUILABEL">Console</span> tab at the top</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Click <span class="GUILABEL">Data Input Methods</span> under <span class="GUILABEL">Management</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Click <span class="GUILABEL">Add</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Name: Random 2 Input</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Input Type: Script/Command</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Input String: /home/cactiuser/bin/random2.pl</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Click <span class="GUILABEL">Create</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Should see "Save Successful." at the top of the page.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Click <span class="GUILABEL">Add</span> by Output Fields (there are no input fields for this example)</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Field [Output]: random_number</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Friendly Name: Random Number</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Update RRD File: checked</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Click <span class="GUILABEL">Create</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Should see "Save Successful." and random_number listed under <span class="GUILABEL">Output Fields</span>.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Click <span class="GUILABEL">Save</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Should see "Save Successful." and Random Input listed in <span class="GUILABEL">Data Input Methods</span>.</p>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<p>Create a Data Source</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Click <span class="GUILABEL">Data Sources</span> under <span class="GUILABEL">Management</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Click <span class="GUILABEL">Add</span> in the top right</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>The <span class="GUILABEL">Data Template</span> Section should be None and None, we're not using templates for this example.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Click <span class="GUILABEL">Create</span>.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Name: random2ds</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Data Source Path: blank (Cacti will fill this in)</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Data Input Source: Random 2 Input (this is the data input method you created in step 1)</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Highlight each of the Associated RRA's using control-click</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Step: 300 (300 seconds = 5 minutes)</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Data Source Active: checked</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Describe the Data Source Item inside the RRA by...</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Internal Data Source Name: random_number</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Minimum Value: 0</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Maximum Value: 0</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Data Source Type: GAUGE</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Heartbeat: 600</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Click <span class="GUILABEL">Create</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Should see "Save Successful." at the top and the Data Source Path should now have a value (my example <path_rra>/random_number_286.rrd)</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Click Turn On Data Source Debugging Mode to see the results of this step.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Click <span class="GUILABEL">Save</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Should see "Save Successful" and your new Data Source listed.</p>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<p>Create Graph</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Select <span class="GUILABEL">Graph Management</span> under <span class="GUILABEL">Management</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Click <span class="GUILABEL">Add</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Selected Graph Template: None</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Host: None</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Click <span class="GUILABEL">Create</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Title: RANDOM NUMBERS</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Image Format: PNG</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Height: 120</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Width: 500</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Auto Scale: checked</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Auto Scale Options: Use --alt-autoscale-max</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Logarithmic Auto Scaling: unchecked</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Rigid Boundaries: unchecked</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Auto Padding: checked</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Allow Graph Export: checked</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Upper Limit: 100</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Lower Limit: 0</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Base Value: 1000</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Unit Value: blank</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Unit Exponent Value: 0</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Vertical Label: Random Number</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Click <span class="GUILABEL">Create</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Should see "Save Successful."</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>If you click "Turn On Graph Debug Mode." now you will see: "Error: can't make a graph without contents." We need to add Graph Items:</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Click <span class="GUILABEL">Add</span> by <span class="GUILABEL">Graph Items</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Data Source: (from list) No Host - random2ds (random_number)</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Color: 0000FF (Blue)</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Graph Item Type: LINE2</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Consolidation Function: AVERAGE</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>CDEF Function: None</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Value: blank</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>GPRINT Type: Normal</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Text Format: blank</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Insert Hard Return: unchecked</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Click <span class="GUILABEL">Create</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Should see "Save Successful.", Item #1 listed and a graph under debug (probably with nothing in it yet)</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>To add a legend, click <span class="GUILABEL">Add</span> by <span class="GUILABEL">Graph Items</span> again</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Data Source: No Host - random2ds (random_number)</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Color: None</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Graph Item Type: GPRINT</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Consolidation Function: LAST</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>CDEF Function: None</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Value: blank</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>GPRINT Type: Normal</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Text Format: Cur:</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Insert Hard Return: unchecked</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Click <span class="GUILABEL">Create</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Should see "Save Successful." and the graph will have a legend showing the current value. Note: your integer random number has been averaged over the past 5 minutes. At the bottom of the page, click save.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>At the bottom of the page, click <span class="GUILABEL">Save</span>.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Should see "Save Successful." and your graph listed.</p>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<p>Add graph to the graph view</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Click <span class="GUILABEL">Graph Trees</span> under <span class="GUILABEL">Management</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p>We'll create a tree called "test" to place our graph</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Click <span class="GUILABEL">Add</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Name: test</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Should see "Save Successful"</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Click <span class="GUILABEL">Add</span> beside <span class="GUILABEL">Tree Items</span> (to add our graph to this tree)</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Under Tree Items [graph]...</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Graph: RANDOM NUMBERS (we named this in step 3)</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Round Robin Archive: Daily (5 Minute Average)</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Click <span class="GUILABEL">Create</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Should see "Save Successful." and RANDOM NUMBERS listed under <span class="GUILABEL">Tree Items</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Click <span class="GUILABEL">Save</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Should see "Save Successful." and test listed under <span class="GUILABEL">Graph Trees</span></p>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<p>View Graph</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Select <span class="GUILABEL">Graphs</span> tab</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Select tree view (Tree beside settings tab)</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Select test tree on left</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>You may see "Random Graph" but no graph. It takes two or three polls (10 - 15 minutes) to see a graph. I believe poll 1 to create the rrd, poll 2 to get the first data point and poll 3 to have graphable points.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>While waiting, you can click the RANDOM NUMBERS graph. You'll see place holders for 4 graphs. Select [source] under Daily (5 Minute Average). You'll see the source for the call to rrdtool graph. Give it a sanity check.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Now be patient. Hit your refresh button every few minutes. After the first poll I got a few empty graphs. A few minutes later data started showing up.</p>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>
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