Grafana - Update the AMS monitored parameters

Grafana is a powerful tool which is used to monitor all the parameters available in the ACS as time series. The typical Grafana installation available on your AMS computer contain several Dashboards clustered in the Home folder. Details about Grafana default installation are found in the AMS-system user manual, section 4.4.

However, if by any means the actual values are not being updated due to various reasons, or other parameters need to be introduced in the monitored list, please follow the steps described below:

• if the parameter already exists in Grafana:

  • 1. locate within the predefined Grafana dashboards the desired parameter;

  • 2. open the ACS section Parameter, the last item from the left column, Fig. 1. It is recommended to open the ACS via a local instance of the web browser and not a remote connection; through a remote connection the function of copy/paste to/from clipboard might not work;

  • 3. look for the parameter using the search function;

  • 4. typically for a particular parameter you’ll be able to find two identifier paths, one is the parameter under “devices” and the second is the parameter under “alias”. If available, the “alias” path should be chosen, as this path will not change with the future upgrades of ACS.

  • 5. copy to clipboard the parameter “alias” path found by hovering the cursor at the end of the parameter row, Fig. 1.

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  Fig. 1, Accessing ACS parameters and their InFlux DB paths

   

  • Edit the dashboard in Grafana and paste the path to the first row which starts with “FROM”, Fig. 2;

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    Fig. 2a, Paste the path of the parameter in the first row
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    Fig. 2b Re-select “value” in the second row even though it’s already selected

     

  • 6. Click in the row “SELECT” into the argument of “field( )” and select “value”. Perform this step
    even if “value” is already selected (otherwise the data will probably not be displayed), Fig. 2b;

  • 7. The data series of the parameter should now be plotted in the panel. If not, check again
    the path and/or enlarge the displayed period (if the parameter has not changed within
    the period, no data points are stored and shown);

  • 8. Apply and save the dashboard.

• if the parameter doesn’t exist in Grafana:

  • 1. open ACS and follow the steps 2. to 5. from the previous paragraph;

  • 2. identify in Grafana the proper dashboard to include the new parameter;

  • 3. edit the dashboard and create/duplicate one of the existing panels/plots, Fig. 3a, b;

  • 4. paste the path from the clipboard into the first row, named “FROM”;

  • 5. in the row “SELECT” into the argument of “field” select “value”. Perform this step
    even if “value” is already selected (otherwise the data will probably not be displayed);

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    Fig. 3a Create or duplicate an existing panel

     

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    Fig. 3b. Create or duplicate an existing plot within a panel. Define further the monitored parameter: display, units, axes, etc.

     

  • 6. Adjust in the right side panels the values for Display, Axes, Legend, etc, Fig. 3

  • 7. Apply and save the dashboard.