Dynamic Entities

Overview Copied

Dynamic Entities can be created automatically based on metric datapoints provided by a Collection Agent. This allows you to monitor applications with transient lifetimes.

This type of monitoring is especially useful in an orchestrated environment, such as Kubernetes, where applications and instances can be created and removed dynamically. A mapping template is provided for Kubernetes and OpenShift environments.

Differences compared to Managed Entities Copied

Gateways organise data into entities. An entity represents an object being monitored, such as an application or a Kubernetes pod. Gateways format data into the following hierarchy:

However, Collection Agent datapoints do not follow this hierarchy. A datapoint is composed of, and uniquely defined by, a set of dimensions and a metric name. Where a dimension is a key-value pair.

You can configure mappings to construct a Geneos hierarchy from datapoints. The resulting Dynamic Entities are then created in the Gateway. Geneos includes many built-in mappings but you can also create custom mappings to fit your data and workflow.

For each Dynamic Entity that is created, the set of all dimensions belonging to the Dynamic Entity and any attributes it has must be unique. This set of dimensions is referred to as the Dynamic Entity’s identifying dimensions.

For more information on the Collection Agent, see Introduction to Collection Agent.

Create Dynamic Entities Copied

To create new Dynamic Entities:

  1. Install and configure a Collection Agent in the environment you want to monitor. For more information, see Collection Agent configuration reference.
  2. Create one or more mappings and a mapping type that uses these mappings. For more information, see Dynamic Mapping configuration and Mapping type.
  3. Install and configure a Netprobe to collect data from your Collection Agent and use the mapping type you created. For more information, see Collection Agent setup.

Custom mappings Copied

Custom mappings allow you to create bespoke mappings to fit your data and workflow. The key parts to a custom mapping are Filters and Geneos items.

Mapping errors Copied

Dynamic mappings are read by the Netprobe, if a mapping is not compatible this results in an error.

Note the following:

Single row pivoting Copied

Any mapping that does not map a label to a row would normally generate a dataview with only a single row, instead this data is pivoted. As a result, when you view this dataview in Active Console there are two columns, name and value, and each named datapoint is mapped to a row. If the data is forwarded to Gateway Hub or Kafka, then it is pivoted back to the original format.

Mapping and mapping group Copied

Dynamic mapping configuration Copied

Field Description
Name

A name for the mapping type. This name must be unique to avoid ambiguity when using the name in other parts of the Gateway setup. This name is case-sensitive.

Mandatory: Yes

Options

Specify if this mapping should use a built-in mapping or a custom mapping.

Mandatory: Yes

Options > Built in

Select a built-in mapping from the drop-down list. Built-in mappings are included with Gateway and stored in the resources/mappings directory.

The following are available from a growing list of built in mappings provided for monitoring standard environments:

  • Azure Monitor V2 — provides mappings to display the Azure Monitor plugin metrics in Geneos. This is only available beginning Geneos 5.8.x.
  • Azure Monitor V3 — provides mappings to display the Azure Monitor plugin metrics Geneos configured with a Collection Agent version 3.0.x. This is only available beginning Geneos 6.0.x.
  • Collection Agent V2 — provides standard mappings for self-monitoring data supplied by the Collection Agent version 2.0.x.
  • Collection Agent V3 — provides standard mappings for self-monitoring data supplied by the Collection Agent version 3.0.x.
  • Prometheus V2 — provides mappings to display the metrics from the Prometheus server in Geneos. This is only available beginning Geneos 5.10.x.
  • Prometheus V3 — provides mappings to display the metrics from the Prometheus server in Geneos configured with a Collection Agent version 3.0.x. This is only available beginning Geneos 6.0.x.
Options > Custom Allows you to create bespoke mappings to fit your data and workflow. There are two key parts to a custom mapping:
  • Filters — you can apply a filter to determine which datapoints are processed by which mapping.
  • Geneos items — when a mapping is applied, the Geneos items fields determine how the labels of each datapoint are used to create Dynamic Entities and other items in the Geneos tree structure.

Note

Dimensions and properties of a datapoint are both referred to as labels when creating custom mappings.
Local attributes

Define zero or more attributes that are applied to every Dynamic Entity created by the mapping.

Available for both built in and custom mappings. The attribute values are strings that can include embedded variables. The variables are fetched from the environment specified in the dynamic mapping type.

Mandatory: No

Dynamic mapping group configuration Copied

Dynamic mapping groups allow a set of mappings to be grouped in a Gateway setup.

These groups can be used to provide a more structured view in the Gateway Setup Editor, but they can also be used to simplify the configuration of Dynamic Entities.

A mapping group allows you to set Filters, Geneos items and Local Attributes that are inherited by child mappings. However, children that use built-in mappings only inherit Local Attributes.

To create a new dynamic mapping group:

  1. Right-click on the Dynamic Entities > Mapping section in the Navigation tree and select the New Mapping group option. This creates a new mapping group section.
  2. Name the mapping group.

Note

This name must be unique to avoid ambiguity when using the name in other parts of the setup. This name is case-sensitive.
  1. Configure the Filters, Geneos items and Local Attributes of the mapping groups you have created. For detailed configuration information, see Mapping options.

New mappings can be created in the group using the New Mapping button. Existing mappings can also be added or removed from the group using drag-and-drop in the Navigation tree.

Child groups can be added by right-clicking on a mapping group in the Navigation tree and selecting the New Mapping group option.

Mapping groups can also be added and removed using drag-and drop in the Navigation tree.

Mapping options Copied

Filter Copied

This section allows you to filter which datapoints this mapping applies to based by specifying criteria their labels must meet.

You can apply one or more filters that apply simultaneously.

Field Description
Label Specify the name of a dimension or property.
Options You can apply the following criteria to the specified label to determine if the mapping should be applied:
  • Exists — tests if the datapoint has a label with the specified name.
  • Equals — tests if the value of the named label is equal to a specified value.
  • Match — tests if the value of the named label matches a specified regex pattern.

Note

If a mapping group and a mapping or a nested mapping group contain a filter for the same label, both will be applied.

Geneos items Copied

This section allows you to define how items in the Geneos tree structure are generated from the labels of a datapoint.

When mapping Geneos items, note the following:

Field Description
Label Specify the name of a dimension or property.
Options You can map datapoint labels to the following Geneos items:
  • Attribute — mapping a label to an attribute adds a Managed Entity attribute with the label name to the Dynamic Entity created from the datapoint. The value of the Managed Entity attribute will be the value of the label. Multiple labels can be mapped to attributes. Each one will create a new Managed Entity attribute.
  • Dataview — mapping a label to a dataview results in using the value of the label for the dataview name. Multiple labels can be mapped to dataviews, in this case the value of each additional label is appended to the name.
  • Entity — mapping a label to an entity results in using the value of the label for the Dynamic Entity name. Multiple labels can be mapped to an entity, in this case the value of each additional label is appended to the name. Additionally, there are two flags that can be set on each entity mapping. The Required option instructs the Netprobe to add an existance filter for the label. The Use in display name option can be disabled to hide this label in the display name used by the Active Console.
  • Ignore — mapping a label to this option will ignore the label when creating Geneos items.
  • Row — mapping a label to a row results in using the value of the label as the beginning of the row name. Multiple labels can be mapped to a row, in this case the value of each additional label is appended to the name in the order listed here. Each unmapped label is also appended to the row name in alphabetical order after any explicitly mapped labels. If no labels are mapped to the row, only a single row is generated which is pivoted when viewed in Active Console. For more information, see Single row pivoting in Dynamic Entities
  • Sampler — mapping a label to a sampler results in using the value of the label for the sampler name. Multiple labels can be mapped to a sampler, in this case the value of each additional label is appended to the name.

Note

Mapping items defined at the mapping group level will stack before items defined in nested mapping groups or in mappings and any duplicate items are not removed.

Local attributes Copied

Define zero or more attributes that are applied to every Dynamic Entity created by the mapping.

Available for both Built In and Custom mappings. The attribute values are strings that can include embedded variables. The variables are fetched from the environment specified in the dynamic mapping type.

Mandatory: No

Note

Local attributes defined in nested groups or in mappings will override local attributes defined in their parent mapping groups.

Mapping type Copied

Netprobes process Collection Agent data using a specified Mapping type and create or remove Dynamic Entities accordingly. Mapping types allow you to easily deploy the same configuration on multiple probes. This is useful when managing large estates.

A Mapping type provides an ordered list of mappings, and every datapoint received is checked against each mapping in the order. Data is then mapped according to the first match made.

Add a Mapping type to a Netprobe Copied

To add a Mapping type:

  1. Expand the Probes top-level section and select a probe.
  2. Open the Dynamic Entities tab.
  3. In the Dynamic entities section, select a Mapping type from the drop-down list.

Note

You can also apply Mapping types to probe groups. Probes will inherit the Mapping types specified in their parent group, unless one is specified explicitly on an individual probe. A Mapping type specified on a probe overrides a Mapping type specified on a probe group. For more information, see probes > probeGroup in Probes.

Mapping type configuration Copied

Field Description
Name

A name for the mapping type. This name must be unique to avoid ambiguity when using the name in other parts of the Gateway setup. This name is case-sensitive.

Mandatory: Yes

Collectors

Allows users to add collectors in the mapping type.

Mandatory: No

Mappings

Specifies the mappings used to create dynamic entities. The Gateway will attempt to find matches using each mapping sequentially in the specified order.

Mandatory: No

Note

You can also specify mappings in Collectors. If mappings are defined in both the mapping type and the collector, the Netprobe will apply the mappings defined in the mapping type first, then the mappings defined in the collectors.
Samplers Specifies if any samplers should be created for Dynamic Entities that are created by this Mapping type. A sampler is only created when log data that the sampler is configured to monitor is being received.

Caution

You can use only the FKM and State Tracker plugins with Dynamic Entities. Attempting to specify a sampler using a different plugin will result in an error.
Mandatory: No
Environment

Specifies the environment used by created by using this type.

For more information, see User Variables and Environments.

Mandatory: No

Collection Agent parameters Copied

Beginning Geneos 6.0.0, the Collection Agent parameters are now configured under the Dynamic Entities section in the GSE. You may now also configure the parameters from the Collection Agent configuration file in the Gateway Setup Editor if you will use a managed YAML for your Collection Agent.

Collection Agent parameters configuration Copied

Field Description
Name

Name of the Collection Agent parameter.

Mandatory: No

Collection Agent Defines how the Collection Agent will run. The possible values are the following:
  • Unmanaged — Collection Agent will run as a stand-alone process. You should choose this if you wish to run your Collection Agent and Netprobe on different hosts.
  • Managed — the Netprobe will run an instance of the Collection Agent as a Java process.
Reporter port

Specifies the port the Netprobe should listen on to communicate with the Collection Agent using the TcpReporter.

Default: 9137

Mandatory: No

Entity timeout

Specifies the duration for which no metric or log data that contributes to a given Dynamic Entity must be seen before that entity is considered stale and no longer monitored.

If an entity is not monitored, it does not appear in the Active Console and does not affect rules.

If this option is set too low and no data is arriving that contributes to a Dynamic Entity, then FKM information may disappear before any issues are resolved.

Default: 3600

Unit: seconds

Mandatory: No

Stale data timeout

Specifies the duration for which no data must be seen before a dataview is marked as stale.

This setting applies only to dynamic dataviews that are created by dynamic Managed Entities and populated with data from a Collection Agent. Dataviews populated by other mechanisms, for example, the FKM plugin, are unaffected.

Note

When a metric becomes stale, its value will be blank instead of displaying the last received value.

When all metrics for a given entity become stale, the entire row for that entity is removed based on the configured entity timeout.

Default: 300

Unit: seconds

Mandatory: No

Managed Collection Agent Copied

Field Description
YAML Specifies the YAML file defining the Collection Agent configuration. The possible values are the following:
  • Bundled YAML - the Collection Agent will use the collection-agent.yml in the collection_agent folder of your Netprobe directory.
  • Custom YAML - the Collection Agent will use the specified YAML file that can have any name. The file can be in any folder but if you are using a relative path, then it should be relative to the working directory.
  • Managed YAML - a collection-agent.yml file will be created in your working directory. Selecting this option allows you to define the workflow settings in the Workflow text box. Additionally, it allows you to enable Collection Agent self-monitoring Metrics by ticking the Self monitoring checkbox. These additional configurations and the collectors defined on the mapping type associated to the managing Netprobe will be included in the created collection-agent.yml file.

Note

If Self monitoring is enabled, the Collection Agent V3 built-in mappings are automatically added to the mappings used by the Netprobe. You may also reference variables in the Workflow field by using the $(variable_name) or by choosing a variable from the var drop-down list.
Health port

Specifies the Collection Agent port that the Netprobe communicates with for health checks.

For more information, see Health checks in setup.

Default: 9136

Mandatory: No

Jvm args Specifies additional JVM options for when the starts. By default, the Collection Agent runs with the following JVM options:
  • Xms512M - allocates the initial heap size.
  • Xmx512M - allocates the maximum heap size.
You can also add additional jars that the plugin needs to the classpath by specifying -cp <pathToJarFile1>:<pathToJarFile2> in Jvm args.

If a path contains a space, enclose the whole list with quotes. For example, "<path To Jar File 1>:<path To Jar File 2>".

For Windows, the separator used is a semicolon, ;. For example, "<path To Jar File 1>;<path To Jar File 2>".

Mandatory: No

Log directory

Specifies the path where the Collection Agent logs are stored.

Default: Working directory

Mandatory: No

Collectors Copied

Beginning Geneos 6.0.0, you may add or edit a collector for your managed Collection Agent without the need to manually stop and restart your Collection Agent instance.

Note

Collectors can only be added if the Collection Agent is managed and the YAML setting is managedYAML.

When adding or editing a collector, the Netprobe will automatically restart the Collection Agent instance.

Basic configuration Copied

Field Description
Name

Name of the Collector.

Mandatory: Yes

Plugin Specifies the plugin and the collector. The following lists all the possible collectors that can be defined for each plugin:
  • AWS — ApiDestinationCollector, AwsBillingCollector, AwsCollector, AwsCustomNamespaceCollector, and AwsSdkUsageMetricsCollector.
  • Azure — AzureEventHubCollector and AzureMonitorCollector.

Note

If the Azure collector is configured, the built-in mappings for Azure Monitor V3 are automatically added to the mappings used by the Netprobe.
  • Custom
  • Fluendtd Forward — FluentdForwardCollector
  • Kubernetes — KubernetesLogCollector and KubernetesMetricsCollector
  • OpenTelemetry — OpenTelemetryCollector
  • Prometheus — AlertManagerWebhookCollector, PrometheusRemoteWriteCollector, and PrometheusTargetScrapeCollector

Note

If the Prometheus plugin is configured, the built-in mappings for Prometheus V3 are automatically added to the mappings used by the Netprobe.
  • StatsD — StatsdServer
Mandatory: Yes
Plugin > Yaml

Allows you to set up your chosen collector in the GSE. This field contains all the mandatory and optional YAML fields that you can configure for a collector.

You may also reference variables by using $(variable_name) or by choosing a variable in the var dropdown list.

Note

The values of password variables with stdAESPassword or externalPassword types will be passed by the Netprobe as environment variables to the Collection Agent. In effect, the format of the variable is $(env:GENEOS_variable_name) in the collection-agent.yml.

Non-password variables will be replaced with their values in the collection-agent.yml.

Mandatory: Yes

Advanced configuration Copied

Field Description
Mappings Allows you to define which mappings will the collectors use. You can also specify mappings in Collectors.

Note

If mappings are defined in both the mapping type and the collector, then the Netprobe will apply the changes in the following order:

  • Mappings defined in the mapping type
  • Mappings specified by the user in the collectors
  • Any built-in mappings added automatically
Mandatory: No

Dynamic Entities commands Copied

Show Dynamic Mappings Copied

You can run this command in the Active Console to display the Dynamic Mapping that produced a target cell.

The value of a Dynamic Entity dataview cell is determined by the value of a datapoint. The command shows each datapoint label and the mapping used to generate the target cell.

The possible targets of this command are:

Datapoint information Copied

Column Description
Label Name of the datapoint label.
Value

Value of the datapoint label.

This column will also show a Clash warning if a dimension or attribute clash occurs.

Expected

Expected value of the datapoint label, based on the existing dimensions or attributes of an entity or the existing dimensions of a dataview row.

This column is only shown when a Row Dimension clash, Entity Dimension clash, or Attribute Clash has occurred.

Type Type of the label. The options are:
  • Dimension
  • Dimension (Built)
  • Property
  • Property (Built)
Labels created using the label builder are indicated with a (Built) tag.

The mapping matched to the datapoint and applied is indicated.

Column Description
Mapping Name Name of the Dynamic Mapping.
Match Result Match status. A matched mapping is applied to the incoming datapoint.
Geneos Structure Copied
Column Description
Geneos structure Object in the Geneos hierarchy.
Value Shows the full string of the object name and the mapping that produced each element of the name.

Forget Dynamic Entity Copied

You can run this command to remove a Dynamic Entity from Geneos and all associated dataviews from the Active Console.

Dynamic Entities are automatically removed after a timeout period if no new data has been received. This timeout period is determined by the earliest of the Entity timeout and the stale-metrics-threshold in the Collection Agent StatsD plugin configuration file.

This command allows you to remove an entity you have stopped monitoring but still appears in the Active Console since the timeout has not expired. This is common during testing or when reconfiguring production environments.

The possible targets of this command are:

Note

If you run this command on an entity that is still being monitored, Geneos will recreate the dynamic entity when the next datapoint is received. As a result the command may appear to have no effect.

View Log Copied

The View Log command is also available when you right-click the following in the State Tree:

This command shows the logs of the corresponding Collection Agent of the selected cell. When you right-click on any cell except for the probeName, and select theCollection Agent > View Log… option, a dialog box will open to specify options on how you want to view the logs. The following parameters can be set:

Sample Output (Snapshot delivery type) Copied

View Configuration Copied

The View Configuration command is also available when you right-click the following in the State Tree:

When you right-click on any cell except for the probeName, and select theCollection Agent > View Configuration option, a new window displaying the configuration of the corresponding Collection Agent will open.

Sample Output Copied

View Error Copied

When you right-click on a cell in the status column and select the Collection Agent > View Error option, a new window displays more information.

Sample Output Copied

Appendix: Using regex Copied

Mapping filters can be created using regular expression (regex) patterns. The following are common patterns that may be useful when creating mappings:

Pattern Description
^$ No matches.
.+ Matches any value. Requires that a value is present.
^A1$ Matches only A1 exactly.
A1 Matches any value that contains A1.
["Geneos"] ["Geneos > Gateway"] ["User Guide"]

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