
* docs additions * docs from writerside, not to be published in this state, links need work and Learn map needs to include them * rename some files to reduce repetition on filenames * use new packaging documentation and replace links to old * change learn-rel-path to new category names * replace configuration file with new one, add conf directory section to it, and replace links to point to that * linkfix * run integrations pipeline to get new links * catoverpage * fix writerside style links * addition in on-prem mention * comment out mermaid problematic line * change path of alerting integrations docs for Learn * fix * fixes * fix diagrams
4.9 KiB
Deployment with Centralization Points
An observability centralization point can centralize both metrics and logs. The sending systems are called Children, while the receiving systems are called a Parents.
When metrics and logs are centralized, the Children are never queried for metrics and logs. The Netdata Parents have all the data needed to satisfy queries.
-
Metrics are centralized by Netdata, with a feature we call Streaming. The Parents listen for incoming connections and permit access only to Children that connect to it with the right API key. Children are configured to push their metrics to the Parents and they initiate the connections to do so.
-
Logs are centralized with methodologies provided by
systemd-journald
. This involves installingsystemd-journal-remote
on both the Parent and the Children, and configuring the keys required for this communication.
Feature | How it works |
---|---|
Unified infrastructure dashboards for metrics | Yes, at Netdata Cloud |
Unified infrastructure dashboards for logs | All logs are accessible via the same dashboard at Netdata Cloud, although they are unified per Netdata Parent |
Centrally configured alerts | Yes, at Netdata Parents |
Centrally dispatched alert notifications | Yes, at Netdata Cloud |
Data are exclusively on-prem | Yes, Netdata Cloud queries Netdata Agents to satisfy dashboard queries. |
A configuration with 2 observability centralization points, looks like this:
Netdata Cloud queries the Netdata Parents to provide aggregated dashboard views.
For alerts, the dispatch of notifications looks like in the following chart:
Configuration steps for deploying Netdata with Observability Centralization Points
For Metrics:
-
Install Netdata agents on all systems and the Netdata Parents.
-
Configure
stream.conf
at the Netdata Parents to enable streaming access with an API key. -
Configure
stream.conf
at the Netdata Children to enable streaming to the configured Netdata Parents.
For Logs:
-
Install
systemd-journal-remote
on all systems and the Netdata Parents. -
Configure
systemd-journal-remote
at the Netdata Parents to enable logs reception. -
Configure
systemd-journal-upload
at the Netdata Children to enable transmission of their logs to the Netdata Parents.
Optionally:
- Disable ML, health checks and dashboard access at Netdata Children to save resources and avoid duplicate notifications.
When using Netdata Cloud:
- Optionally: disable dashboard access on all Netdata agents (including Netdata Parents).
- Optionally: disable alert notifications on all Netdata agents (including Netdata Parents).