[collectd] interval in network packets?

[Florian Forster]

Hi Thorsten,

On Fri, May 07, 2010 at 11:26:09AM -0700, Thorsten von Eicken wrote:
> Stupid question: what is the interval in network packets used for? I
> would think that the only interval that matters in the end is the one
> defined in the RRDs.

the interval is used to set the correct "step" setting when creating new
RRD files, for instance. Another use is to detect values that have timed
out: By default values that are collected every 10 seconds time out
after 20 seconds while values that are collected once a minute time out
after two minutes.

> Does collectd do any combining of values within an interval?

No.

> Does the interval in the network packets have to match the one used in
> the final RRD or else inaccuracies result?

Short answer: Yes; longer answer: If the "step" (== interval) of the RRD
files is wider / longer than the actual interval in between two updates,
you will use accuracy but everything will still work smoothly. If the
actual interval is larger than the "heartbeat" (which is 2*step by
default in RRD files created by collectd), you will end up with gaps in
your graphs or (depending on the "XFF" setting) totally empty graphs.

HTH,
—octo
-- 
Florian octo Forster
Hacker in training
GnuPG: 0x91523C3D
http://verplant.org/
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