I wrote a DataSource that is exhibiting a weird problem. Most of the data points are recording zeroes, but when I click "Poll Now", I see non-zero values in the Raw Response. The DataSource uses multi-line key=value pairs.I'm not sure how to troubleshoot this. Has anyone seen this before?Here is a screenshot to illustrate my issue:

Hi Mark,You probably need to use metric type Gauge instead of Derive. Have you tried that ?Doc: https://www.logicmonitor.com/support/logicmodules/datasources/datapoints/normal-datapoints

FWIW: counter/derive datapoints will never show up right in a poll now because they don’t have the previous polls’ data and the time between it and a non-existent poll is non-existent. You might setup parallel datapoints that are counter with the same source and watch it over time to see what you get and which one makes more sense.

This is a multi-instance DS. Is it using script or batchscript mode? What does your datapoint definition look like?

Ok, cool. Script it is then. That should be fine.Regardless of whether the documentation gives a timeframe, gauge might be the right thing to do. Derive and counter both take the delta from the previous poll and divide by the expected poll rate between them. If the result of your poll is 5960 and that’s the number you’re expecting to see, then you should use gauge. Counter would take 5960 from the current poll, and 5960 from the previous poll and find the delta (0). Then it would divide that delta by the poll rate between them, which would still give you 0. tl;dr only use counter/derive if you know the metric you are reading is actually a counter (like an odometer).

Still think you should try Gauge. If the result of the raw data is what you expect to see in the poll, then you should use gauge.

Oooh. Parallel datapoints is a great idea!

DataSource recording zeroes for non-zero raw responses

18 Replies

Stuart_Weenig
Legend
11 months ago

I’m currently polling every 15 minutes. Could the issue be that I need a more frequent polling period?

No, the poll rate shouldn’t matter. Especially if the datapoint type should be a gauge. Just try it out and see if you get what you are expecting. If you do, then you know you’ve got it setup right.
Mark_Hensler
11 months ago
Gauge worked:
This still doesn’t feel right. I’m only considering adding alerts to the ike_session_state and/or tunnel_status.
However, it seems like a plausible use-case for someone to desire to place thresholds for other fields. If these fields are gauge, how would you craft a threshold for anything?
Stuart_Weenig
Legend
11 months ago
If you set them as gauge and you are getting the number you expect in the unit you expect, you’d just set a threshold for that number.
LM is only as good as the underlying data that is provided to it. I’d dig deeper into the documentation to see if the bytes are actually counters or if they’re defined as integers with a unit of time associated with it.
Are you sourcing from SNMP or an API or something else?
Stuart_Weenig
Legend
11 months ago
https://media.giphy.com/media/Ie2uEsMmLfZociAbw0/giphy.gif
Mark_Hensler
11 months ago
I’m sourcing via API
Stuart_Weenig
Legend
11 months ago

I’m sourcing via API

I’d be surprised if the API is giving you a counter. Most don’t do that. You typically only see them in SNMP mibs these days. They don’t make computer scientists like they used to.
A11ey
Community Manager
11 months ago
I just copied the image above and pasted it here, or below I used the Embed Media, I noticed that if you try to right click and copy the image address it does not seem to like that, so I had to open the image in a browser and copy the URL. I’ll ask their support community what the issue is with that!
https://giphy.com/gifs/M150USA-yes-yesssss-it-is-IG96zGc6JIoBGBpEI6
Stuart_Weenig
Legend
11 months ago
When you copied, it didn’t get the gif unless there’s something i have to do to get it to move.