Streamlining Configuration

[devboy]

(Split from here)

cool,

While we're on the subject of streamlining configuration... any way do make a non-simple graph out of an item "automatically"? Better yet choose a bunch of items and tell Zabbix to create a 'vanilla' graph for each?

Thanks

well, it's not a good idea to pile many topics in a single thread... but why don't simple graphs work for you ?

When I started out with Zabbix I completely ruled out using simple graphs because they didn't do all I needed (multiple items in one graph etc). Now after I have some more experience, I can say that for some cases it would surely be OK, but still it won't solve the majority of use cases for me.

[nelsonab]

What are some of those use cases?

[devboy]

Well there are a few...
I have multiple screens with multiple graphs on each. Some are to monitor some box's behavior, others aggregate different graphs from different machines to show our various apps' health and performance.

On some of the graphs I want only one item on others multiple.
Some require "all" measurements while other only "avg" to make the graph readable.
Some of the graphs need percentile. Some need the Y axis to explicitly start at 0 while for others a dynamic calculation is better.
etc. etc. etc.

All in all I'd say I have just a handful of templates for graphs. If I could define these templates, choose a bunch of items, choose a template or configuration, and tell Zabbix please create one non-simple graph out of these items or alternatively create a separate graph per each of these items it could save literally hours of configuration work.

BTW, I have a lot of these "usability" insights. Where should I post them to get heard?

Cheers,
DB

[richlv]

All in all I'd say I have just a handful of templates for graphs. If I could define these templates, choose a bunch of items, choose a template or configuration, and tell Zabbix please create one non-simple graph out of these items or alternatively create a separate graph per each of these items it could save literally hours of configuration work.

hmm. well, some things might be easier in zabbix 2.0, but overall these features sound fairly specific. maybe some commandline tool one day might get the flexibility to create and modify graphs like that ?

BTW, I have a lot of these "usability" insights. Where should I post them to get heard?

the problem usually is that we all have tons of usability improvements, but the time is limited

regarding specific requests, you could post the on the issue tracker (zbxnext project). but if you do, it might be beneficial if you could think the proposed feature out in detail, taking into account making it flexible enough to work for most/all users, considering possible problems with the implementation etc

[devboy]

regarding specific requests, you could post the on the issue tracker (zbxnext project). but if you do, it might be beneficial if you could think the proposed feature out in detail, taking into account making it flexible enough to work for most/all users, considering possible problems with the implementation etc

My time is limited too but I will try and write specifications for major (and hopefully simple) features that I am lacking.

When is 2.0 due BTW, any ETA on that?

Also, just wanted to say in case it wasn't clear. You guys are doing an AWESOME job. The learning curve was a tad steep since I had no one to teach me, but once I got the hang of it, it's an amazing tool!

[richlv]

My time is limited too but I will try and write specifications for major (and hopefully simple) features that I am lacking.

sure - thanks for wanting to do that.

When is 2.0 due BTW, any ETA on that?

some time next year
maybe end of the first quarter...

Also, just wanted to say in case it wasn't clear. You guys are doing an AWESOME job. The learning curve was a tad steep since I had no one to teach me, but once I got the hang of it, it's an amazing tool!

if docs didn't help enough, maybe that's one area to improve in near future