VPLEX: How to create custom monitors if needed for tracking data

The purpose of this article is to explain how to setup a custom monitor that tracks data outside the normal default system monitors. These custom monitors have the .csv extension and are saved on the management server under the  /var/log/VPlex/cli folder. 
 

!!!!! CAUTION !!!!!:

For any custom monitor(s) created, their sink files will need to be watched as they are automatically rotated when they reach the limit size of 10MBs. The file is saved with the "filename.csv.n", where 'n' is a number 1 to 10.  These files will consume space in the /var/log partition and may cause your VPLEX to start reporting the alert 0x8a4b9001 which if all the var/log partition space is used up will cause the custom monitors as well all other logs that are written to the /var/log partition space to stop being recorded causing data to be lost due to the lack of partition disk space.

To create a custom monitor access the management server then access the the VPlexcli and implement the below steps.

1. Type the below command at the VPlexcli prompt. You only run this command once in the
     beginning:

VPlexcli:/> script -i monitor

2. Type the command below at the VPlexcli prompt, This command is to create the monitor. The "name"
     is the name you give for the monitor to be created, "period" the frequency the monitor collects stats,
     "stats" the type of statistics collected by this monitor, so choose virtual-volume.* to get all statistics
     for the virtual-volumes, "targets" the virtual volume you want to monitor with this custom monitor.
     The completed command should look similar to the sample command string shown below.
 
3. Next, the below command is used to add a sink file for the monitor just created. The "-m" the name
    of the monitor to add the sink for, "-f" the full path and name for the csv (sink file) to be created
    where the data will be sent.
4. After creating all the monitors you wanted, and their associated sink files, you should now see the
    new monitors that you have just created in the /var/log/VPlex/cli folder ending with the .csv extension.
    You can also check by listing the monitors using the command shown below.

VPlexcli:/> script -u monitor
 

6. If after following these steps and having reviewed the CLI and Admin Guides on monitors you do not
    see the monitor sink files reach out to VPLEX Customer Service via Live Chat for further assistance
    and mention this article.

     How to contact Dell EMC Customer Support using Live Chat:
     To access the Dell EMC Live Chat click here, then following the steps as they are listed.