Composite Metrics

A composite metric is a metric expression in Anodot which is based on raw input metrics.

By applying functions to any set of metrics you can further fine-tune your metrics for more effective monitoring, analysis and anomaly detection.

A composite metric can be used and searched like any other metric when creating metric expressions anywhere in the system. Therefore it can be used when creating Dashboard charts and metrics, creating other metric expressions in Alerts. 

In this article you will learn about:

• Creating Composite Metrics
• Saving Composite Metrics
• Composite Management 
• Composite Metric Definition
• Setting a Composite Metric Delay
• Duplicating Composite Metrics
• Deleting Composite Metrics

Creating Composite Metrics

You can create composite metrics by navigating from the main Navigation Panel to:

• Metrics [Metric Explorer > Save a Composite] 
• Alerts - Within the alert editor
• Composite Management [MANAGEMENT > Composite Management > New]

The procedure to create composite metrics is the same in all cases. Use the Metrics workspace in each of the windows to try out, explore and build combinations of functions, parameters and filters before saving the composite metric.  

Composite metrics must have:

• At least one wrapper function - a function, filter, or transformation applied to base metrics to create a composite metric.
• One or more property filters - one or more filters for refining the base metrics included in the composite.

Limitations

• Creating new composite metrics over existing composites is not supported.
• The definition of existing composite metrics cannot be changed. To make changes, duplicate it, make the changes, and save under a new name.
• Composites created within Alert definitions can be changed. 

To create Metric Expressions, see Metric Expressions.

Saving Composite Metrics

1. Create a composite metric.
2. In the lower right corner of the Metric Search page, click the arrow icon next to Create Alert, and then click Save a Composite. The Save Composite dialog box is displayed.
   
   
3. Enter a unique title in the Title field.
4. In the What are you measuring (what=) field either leave as-is [by default the name entered in the Title field] or enter a more meaningful name of what is being measured. [Displayed only if 'what' is selected in the metric's panel].
5. To include Additional Properties, click More Details. You can select from the proposed additional common properties of the functions displayed and/or type new properties. [Optional]
6. Click OK to validate the composite metric.
   Note: Each metric name is displayed on a separate line; hovering over the metrics will display the complete composite name.

Composite Management 

To view a complete list of the composite metrics, from the Navigation Panel, click MANAGEMENT > Composites.

Count is the total number of composite metrics displayed. If you filter the composites either by text or by owner, the Count shows the number displayed out of the total number of composites.

	Indicates that the composite delay has changed. Hover over the icon to display a tooltip showing the percentage by which the delay has changed.
	Indicates invalid or no data.

Composite Metric Definition

To view composite metric definitions:

1. From the main Navigation Panel, click MANAGEMENT > Composite Management. 
2. Select the composite metric for which you want to see the definition. The Management Panel is displayed, showing the owner of the composite and the total metrics count for the selected composite metric.
   
3. Click the View icon, to display the View Composite Metrics window.

Setting a Composite Metric Delay

By default, the delays in computing composite metrics are computed at the account level based on Anodot's information of the input metrics' delay. You can override the default and set delays per composite -  this avoids either very long delays which would allow all the composites to be calculated or shorter delays but with the result that the composites are not calculated accurately. See also Managing delays in Composite Metrics.

To set a delay:

1. From the main Navigation Panel, click MANAGEMENT > Composite Management. 
   Note: If the composite to which you want to add the delay already exists, skip to step 4.
2. Create a new composite metric, see Creating Composite Metrics. 
3. In the Composite Management window, choose the composite for which you want to set the delay. The Composite Management panel is displayed.
4. Click More > Composite Delay to display the Composite Delay dialog box.
   
5. The default is for Auto calculated delay enabled to be selected. Anodot will automatically calculate the percentage of data points received and the corresponding wait-delay time.
   To override the default calculated delay:
   i.   Clear the Auto calculated delay enabled checkbox.
   ii.  Select a Time unit [seconds/minutes/hours].
   iii.  Type a value in the Change Delay Time field.  
6. Click OK.

Duplicating Composite Metrics

1. From the main Navigation Panel, click MANAGEMENT > Composite Management. 
2. Select the composite metric which you want to duplicate. The Management Panel is displayed.
3. Click the Duplicate icon to display the Duplicate Composite Definition window.
4. Modify the composite metric.
5. Click Save. In the Save Composite dialog box, set the 'What' property for the generated metrics.
6. Click OK. The duplicated metric is validated and then displayed in the Composite Management window.

Deleting Composite Metrics

1. From the main Navigation Panel, click MANAGEMENT > Composite Management. 
2. Select the composite metric which you want to delete. The Management Panel is displayed.
3. Click the Delete icon.
   Note: Deleting a composite metric may affect Dashboards and Alerts.