RRDcollect FAQ (or something)
=============================

Q: What are the main features of RRDcollect?
A: RRDcollect's two main features are efficiency and speed, speed and
   efficiency, and almost fanatical devotion to statistics gathering.
   No, that's three, again.  RRDcollect's THREE main features are...
   (Actually it's feature is creeping featurism ;-), fortunately
   I don't code every feature I think about or RRDcollect would have
   the size of EMACS.)

Q: Why configuration file is not in XML?
A: As a Linux/UN*X user I grew up in times when men were real men, women
   were real women and configuration files were really configuration files.
   Easy to edit in any intuitive text editor (like vi(1)).  XML is machine
   readable, but we are human beings (at least some of us).

Q: How about a GUI configuration file editor?
A: There is an old Chinese tao saying: "Configuration file which needs
   a configurator is not a real configuration file."  Unfortunately
   I've lost the Chinese transcription somewhere...

Q: f*cking thing dont work i started it but there're no k00l grahix
   with my system load and stuff, man what do i do???????!!!!??????!?!?
A: The address you have just mailed is not available.  Please try again
   late, or, in fact don't try at all.  RRDcollect is not designed to
   be a "fire and forget" do-it-all statistics system.  It just collects
   statistical data.  It does not do graphs, it does not serve web
   pages.  If you fear text editors, you won't like it; there are plenty
   of other tools which suit your needs better.  Some of them may use
   RRDcollect at an engine, but then again, most don't.

Q: Are these really Frequently Asked Questions???
A: You ask!  Of course not!  But I did receive some positive feedback
   and bug reports, though I wouldn't call it frequent.  If you have any
   questions please mail me, qnex@knm.org.pl.  Operators are standing
   by to answer your mail.

Q: Coud you give me a command to create a database used in provided
   configuration file?
A: Here it is:
   rrdtool create /var/lib/rrdcollect/memory.rrd \
           DS:mem_used:GAUGE:60:U:U \
           DS:mem_free:GAUGE:60:U:U \
           DS:mem_shared:GAUGE:60:U:U \
           DS:mem_buffers:GAUGE:60:U:U \
           DS:mem_cached:GAUGE:60:U:U \
           DS:swap_used:GAUGE:60:U:U \
	   RRA:AVERAGE:0.5:1:1440 \
	   RRA:AVERAGE:0.01:60:744 RRA:MAX:0.01:60:744 \
	   RRA:AVERAGE:0.001:720:730 RRA:MAX:0.001:720:730
   rrdtool create /var/lib/rrdcollect/stat.rrd \
           DS:cpu_user:GAUGE:60:U:U \
           DS:cpu_nice:GAUGE:60:U:U \
           DS:cpu_system:GAUGE:60:U:U \
           DS:cpu_idle:GAUGE:60:U:U \
           DS:ctxt:GAUGE:60:U:U \
           DS:page_in:GAUGE:60:U:U \
           DS:page_out:GAUGE:60:U:U \
           DS:processes:GAUGE:60:U:U \
           DS:swap_in:GAUGE:60:U:U \
           DS:swap_out:GAUGE:60:U:U \
	   RRA:AVERAGE:0.5:1:1440 \
	   RRA:AVERAGE:0.01:60:744 RRA:MAX:0.01:60:744 \
	   RRA:AVERAGE:0.001:720:730 RRA:MAX:0.001:720:730

   Databases created with this command will store data following way:
    - one-minute average values will be stored for one day
    - one-hour average and maximum values will be stored for one month
    - twelve-hour avarage and maximum values will be stored for one year

Q: I would like to create my own database, but I don't know why. Could you help
   me?
A: Well... First, read carefully man rrdcreate. If you still do not understand
   how to count values for DS and RRA you can use a small wizard available
   at http://blabluga.hell.pl/rrd/
