Cacti 0.8.6i review
DownloadCacti is a complete network graphing solution designed to harness the power of RRDTool's data storage and graphing functionality
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Cacti is a complete network graphing solution designed to harness the power of RRDTool's data storage and graphing functionality. Cacti project provides a fast poller, advanced graph templating, multiple data acquisition methods, and user management features out of the box.
All of this is wrapped in an intuitive, easy to use interface that makes sense for LAN-sized installations up to complex networks with hundreds of devices.
Here are some key features of "Cacti":
Graphs
Unlimited number of graph items can be defined for each graph optionally utilizing CDEFs or data sources from within cacti.
Automatic grouping of GPRINT graph items to AREA, STACK, and LINE[1-3] to allow for quick re-sequencing of graph items.
Auto-Padding support to make sure graph legend text lines up.
Graph data can be manipulated using the CDEF math functions built into RRDTool. These CDEF functions can be defined in cacti and can be used globally on each graph.
Support for all of RRDTool's graph item types including AREA, STACK, LINE[1-3], GPRINT, COMMENT, VRULE, and HRULE.
Data Sources
Data sources can be created that utilize RRDTool's "create" and "update" functions. Each data source can be used to gather local or remote data and placed on a graph.
Supports RRD files with more than one data source and can use an RRD file stored anywhere on the local file system.
Round robin archive (RRA) settings can be customized giving the user the ability to gather data on non-standard timespans while store varying amounts of data.
Data Gathering
Contains a "data input" mechanism which allows users to define custom scripts that can be used to gather data. Each script can contain arguments that must be entered for each data source created using the script (such as an IP address).
Built in SNMP support that can use php-snmp, ucd-snmp, or net-snmp.
Ability to retrieve data using SNMP or a script with an index. An example of this would be populating a list with IP interfaces or mounted partitions on a server. Integration with graph templates can be defined to enable one click graph creation for hosts.
A PHP-based poller is provided to execute scripts, retrieve SNMP data, and update your RRD files.
Data Gathering
Contains a "data input" mechanism which allows users to define custom scripts that can be used to gather data. Each script can contain arguments that must be entered for each data source created using the script (such as an IP address).
Built in SNMP support that can use php-snmp, ucd-snmp, or net-snmp.
Ability to retrieve data using SNMP or a script with an index. An example of this would be populating a list with IP interfaces or mounted partitions on a server. Integration with graph templates can be defined to enable one click graph creation for hosts.
A PHP-based poller is provided to execute scripts, retrieve SNMP data, and update your RRD files.
Templates
Graph templates enable common graphs to be grouped together by templating. Every field for a normal graph can be templated or specified on a per-graph basis.
Data source templates enable common data source types to be grouped together by templating. Every field for a normal data source can be templated or specified on a per-data source basis.
Host templates are a group of graph and data source templates that allow you to define common host types. Upon the creation of a host, it will automatically take on the properties of its template.
Graph Display
The tree view allows users to create "graph hierarchies" and place graphs on the tree. This is an easy way to manage/organize a large number of graphs.
The list view lists the title of each graph in one large list which links the user to the actual graph.
The preview view displays all of the graphs in one large list format. This is similar to the default view for the 14all cgi script for RRDTool/MRTG.
User Management
User based management allows administrators to create users and assign different levels of permissions to the cacti interface.
Permissions can be specified per-graph for each user, making cacti suitable for co location situations.
Each user can keep their own graph settings for varying viewing preferences.
What's New in This Release:
This maintenance release introduces numerous bugfixes that have been reported over the past couple of months.
In addition to this, new viewers have been added for the system log, user log, poller cache, and SNMP cache.
There have also been significant improvements to the graph export feature and the UI in general.
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