Probes

Probes#

Probe is a scheduled task performed by a Postgres Enterprise Manager (PEM) agent to retrieve performance metrics and information about monitored database objects.

Probes are categorized into the following types:

System probes#

PEM features built-in probes at five levels.

  • Agent level _ Monitors host-specific data such as CPU usage, disk space, memory usage, and network statistics.

  • Server level _ Tracks global database information including background writer statistics, blocked sessions, session information, and WAL files.

  • Database/Schema level _ Monitors specific object data such as database size, function statistics, table statistics, and index size.

  • Tool-specific probes _ Includes probes for Barman (backup), Failover manager (HA), Patroni cluster status, and various replication methods (Streaming, Replication Server).

  • Extension level _ Monitors specific extension data such as Postgres distributed (PGD) probes .

Customizing probes#

You can create, modify, copy, export/import, and delete custom probes to tailor monitoring to your specific needs.

You can modify probe settings using Management > Probes > Manage Probes tab.

  1. **Creating custom probes**

Custom probes can be created to monitor specific metrics not covered by built-in probes using three collection methods:

- **SQL Query** _ Write custom SQL queries to fetch specific metrics from the database. - **WMI** _ Uses WMI to collect data from Windows systems. - **Batch** _ Uses command-line or shell scripts to gather data from the system. It requires `allow_batch_probes`  to be enabled in the `agent.cfg`  file.

  1. Core management tasks

    • Modify schedule _ Customize execution frequency (minutes/seconds) of probes by disabling the Default switch.

    • Enable/Disable probes _ Toggle the status to on or off as needed. Disabled probes used in charts displays an icon to re-enable them.

    • Data retention _ Specifies how long probe history is stored before automatic deletion.

    • Copying configurations _ Use the Copy probe button to duplicate probe settings from one object to another except for extension-level probes.

  2. Export/Import and deletion

    • Export/Import _ Use the Export/Import buttons to transfer probe configurations between different PEM installations. - Deletion _ Custom probes can be deleted using the Delete button. System probes cannot be deleted.

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