Apache and OpenTSDB Integration

Input and output integration overview

This plugin interfaces with the Apache HTTP Server’s mod_status to gather and report performance metrics from the server.

The OpenTSDB plugin facilitates the integration of Telegraf with OpenTSDB, allowing users to push time-series metrics to an OpenTSDB backend seamlessly.

Integration details

Apache

The Apache plugin collects server performance information using the mod_status module of the Apache HTTP Server. It relies on the mod_status feature, which must be explicitly enabled in the Apache configuration to access a machine-readable status page. This plugin allows users to fetch several metrics related to Apache’s operational performance, including worker status, connection statistics, and server load, thereby facilitating effective monitoring and troubleshooting of web server performance in real-time.

OpenTSDB

The OpenTSDB plugin is designed to send metrics to an OpenTSDB instance using either the telnet or HTTP mode. With the introduction of OpenTSDB 2.0, the recommended method for sending metrics is via the HTTP API, which allows for batch processing of metrics by configuring the ‘http_batch_size’. The plugin supports several configuration options including metrics prefixing, server host and port specification, URI path customization for reverse proxies, and debug options for diagnosing communication issues with OpenTSDB. This plugin is particularly useful in scenarios where time series data is generated and needs to be efficiently stored in a scalable time series database like OpenTSDB, making it suitable for a wide range of monitoring and analytics applications.

Configuration

Apache

[[inputs.apache]]
  ## An array of URLs to gather from, must be directed at the machine
  ## readable version of the mod_status page including the auto query string.
  ## Default is "http://localhost/server-status?auto".
  urls = ["http://localhost/server-status?auto"]

  ## Credentials for basic HTTP authentication.
  # username = "myuser"
  # password = "mypassword"

  ## Maximum time to receive response.
  # response_timeout = "5s"

  ## Optional TLS Config
  # tls_ca = "/etc/telegraf/ca.pem"
  # tls_cert = "/etc/telegraf/cert.pem"
  # tls_key = "/etc/telegraf/key.pem"
  ## Use TLS but skip chain & host verification
  # insecure_skip_verify = false

OpenTSDB

[[outputs.opentsdb]]
  ## prefix for metrics keys
  prefix = "my.specific.prefix."

  ## DNS name of the OpenTSDB server
  ## Using "opentsdb.example.com" or "tcp://opentsdb.example.com" will use the
  ## telnet API. "http://opentsdb.example.com" will use the Http API.
  host = "opentsdb.example.com"

  ## Port of the OpenTSDB server
  port = 4242

  ## Number of data points to send to OpenTSDB in Http requests.
  ## Not used with telnet API.
  http_batch_size = 50

  ## URI Path for Http requests to OpenTSDB.
  ## Used in cases where OpenTSDB is located behind a reverse proxy.
  http_path = "/api/put"

  ## Debug true - Prints OpenTSDB communication
  debug = false

  ## Separator separates measurement name from field
  separator = "_"

Input and output integration examples

Apache

1. Real-Time Performance Monitoring: Use the Apache input plugin to set up a real-time dashboard displaying critical performance metrics of your Apache server. By visualizing metrics such as BusyWorkers, and Load averages, you can quickly identify performance bottlenecks and server health issues, aiding in proactive management of web traffic loads.

2. Automated Alerting for Server Issues: Implement alerts based on metrics collected by this plugin to notify administrators in case of performance degradation. For instance, if the BusyWorkers metric exceeds a certain threshold, automatic alerts can be triggered, ensuring prompt incident response to maintain uptime and service reliability.

3. Historical Performance Analysis: Combine data collected by the Apache plugin with long-term storage solutions to track performance trends over time. This accumulated data helps in understanding usage patterns, forecasting resource needs, and making informed decisions regarding server scaling or optimization.

4. Cross-System Monitoring: Integrate metrics gathered from Apache alongside metrics from other components of your web stack using Telegraf’s capabilities to send data to a centralized monitoring solution. This holistic view can simplify troubleshooting and coordination between different technologies, ensuring optimal system performance across the board.

OpenTSDB

1. Real-time Infrastructure Monitoring: Utilize the OpenTSDB plugin to collect and store metrics from various infrastructure components. By configuring the plugin to push metrics to OpenTSDB, organizations can have a centralized view of their infrastructure health and performance over time.

2. Custom Application Metrics Tracking: Integrate the OpenTSDB plugin into custom applications to track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as response times, error rates, and user interactions. This setup allows developers and product teams to visualize application performance trends and make data-driven decisions.

3. Automated Anomaly Detection: Leverage the plugin in conjunction with machine learning algorithms to automatically detect anomalies in time-series data sent to OpenTSDB. By continuously monitoring the incoming metrics, the system can train models that alert users to potential issues before they affect application performance.

4. Historical Data Analysis: Use the OpenTSDB plugin to store and analyze historical performance data for capacity planning and trend analysis. This provides valuable insights into system behavior over time, helping teams to understand usage patterns and prepare for future growth.

Feedback

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