Measurements

A meter plugin communicates measurements to the plugin manager using the following format:

<Metric> <Value> <Source> <Timestamp>\n

where each of the fields are described below.

Metric

Name of defined metric (see Metrics)

Value

The value of the measurement from the service, application, etc.

Source

String identifying the source of the measurement. NOTE: No spaces are allowed in sources.

Timestamp

Time of the measurement ocurrence, in either seconds from epoch or milli-seconds from epoch.

Optional Fields

All of the field are not required to be present suitable defaults being applied for missing values as follows:

• In the case where the TIMESTAMP is missing the timestamp is set to the receipt time at the plugin manager.

• In the case where the SOURCE and METRIC_TIMESTAMP are missing the source defaults to the host where the plugin is running.

• In the unique case where only a METRIC_VALUE is provided the METRIC_IDENTIFIER is assumed to be the first one in listed in the metrics field in the plugin.json (see the topic Manifest). NOTE: It is not recommended to send measurements in this format, it is only mentioned here for backward compatability.

Examples

• A measurement with a source myhost on Sat Nov 14 03:30:49 UTC 2015 with a metric of CPU a value of 80% percent (assuming the metric unit is percent, See Metrics):

CPU 0.80 myhost 1447471849

• A measurement with a source myhost with a metric of NETRB (Network Inbound) a value of 5,028 bytes with the timestamp assigned upon receipt by the plugin manager.

NETRB 5028 myhost

• A measurement with a source of the hostname where the plugin is running with a metric of DISKW (Disk Writes) a value of 8,197 bytes with a timestamp assigned upon receipt by the plugin manager.

DISKW 5028