cisco NAM 5.0 Metrics

[parulchahar]

Hi,

I want to collect Metrics from Cisco NAM 5.0. The NAM version 5.0 has NBI, where REST and NDE services are provided. Is it possible to get all Metrices exported by NAM using REST service interface?

or, NDE?

[Joe Clarke]

The REST API does not give you all of the performance stats.  You can use REST to configure NDE exporter.  This will allow you to specify the stats you want.  See

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/net_mgmt/network_analysis_module_software/5.0/developer/guide/API_Guide.html for more information.

[parulchahar]

Thanks, As you said from REST we cannot get "all of the performance stats". So, does this means than some stats are available thorugh REST only.

I have already gone thorugh this guide. At the end there is a section "NAM REST XML Schema", what is it? Is this containing just configuration data or some matrices.

Also, if I want to collect only Metrics, do I need to take it from NDE or there is any other source?

[Joe Clarke]

The XML schema is for understanding how to construct your REST input data as well as how the output data will be formatted.  Many of the options are for getting and setting the configuration for various things on the NAM.

If you want to programatically access most NAM statistics, use NDE.

[parulchahar]

NAM also has it's internal database. Can't we have access to this database. What is the schema for this database.

[parulchahar]

One more query in addition to above.

If data is to be received from NDE, then in NAM's NDE i need to configure the IP address and port number of the machine where i need to collect this NAM data.

So, at receiver side(where I want to collect NAM data), do I need to prepare some Netflow collector. My understanding is Netflow collector is some database(SQL) where Netflow data is stored.

or else, I need to write my own parse logic at receiver side, for extraction of data from Netflow packets received from NAM.

[Joe Clarke]

You'll need an NDE collector, and depending on the type, it can process the flows in a variety of ways.  Some may insert flow records into a database from which you can run reports.  There are commercial and open source Netflow processors that can show you graphs or build reports based on NDE data.  And yes, you can write your own dissectors to process the data.

[Joe Clarke]

No, the database cannot be accessed directly.

[parulchahar]

Thanks Joseph,

Now one more query,

Can i get historical data. I think if i create connection to NAM, and once NAM starts sending packets, this data will be real time data, right?

How can I get historical data.

Also, in API guide for NAM version 5.0, in section "Appendix - CSV Interface", some URL's are provided. Where can I get more info on csv files exported by NAM, their format and data exported.

[Joe Clarke]

Your NDE collector will need to provide the history.  You can also schedule reports to be exported from the NAM periodically.  That would allow you to retain some history.

[parulchahar]

Thanks again,

But if I'm storing the data from NAM in my NDE collector there will be an overhead.

One database is already present in NAM. I am creating one more databse for NDE collector.

I wanted to utilize NAM's database. Can't we mention time period for which i want data from NAM and NAM exports only that period data to my collector.

Or else, please let me know if i can get more details regarding csv file export from NAM. I have some more queries related to csv file export which is not mentioned in any of the related pdf's.

-what is the format of csv file

-can we mention time period for which i want Netflow data.

[Joe Clarke]

Most if not all NDE collectors do include their own database.  So, yes, that would be another database.  The NAM CSV export feature does allow you to specify custom date ranges and get periodic exports in either CSV or HTML format.  You can view these reports prior to sending them by first clicking the Export button, then click the Preview button.  For example, here is a preview of the Application traffic report for SNMP for a day's worth of traffic:

Application,snmp
Time From,Sat, 18 Jun 2011 15:54
Time To,Sun, 19 Jun 2011 16:09

Application Traffic

Time,Bytes/sec,Packets/sec
Sat, 18 Jun 2011 16:00,1,769,9
Sat, 18 Jun 2011 17:00,1,893,10
Sat, 18 Jun 2011 18:00,1,683,9
Sat, 18 Jun 2011 19:00,1,690,9
Sat, 18 Jun 2011 20:00,1,702,9
Sat, 18 Jun 2011 21:00,1,726,9
Sat, 18 Jun 2011 22:00,1,669,9
Sat, 18 Jun 2011 23:00,1,684,9
Sun, 19 Jun 2011 00:00,1,695,9
Sun, 19 Jun 2011 01:00,1,734,9
Sun, 19 Jun 2011 02:00,1,682,9
Sun, 19 Jun 2011 03:00,1,686,9
Sun, 19 Jun 2011 04:00,1,706,9
Sun, 19 Jun 2011 05:00,1,734,9
Sun, 19 Jun 2011 06:00,1,672,9
Sun, 19 Jun 2011 07:00,1,681,9
Sun, 19 Jun 2011 08:00,1,683,9
Sun, 19 Jun 2011 09:00,1,735,9
Sun, 19 Jun 2011 10:00,1,670,9
Sun, 19 Jun 2011 11:00,1,690,9
Sun, 19 Jun 2011 12:00,1,692,9
Sun, 19 Jun 2011 13:00,1,738,9
Sun, 19 Jun 2011 14:00,1,669,9
Sun, 19 Jun 2011 15:00,1,706,9
Sun, 19 Jun 2011 16:00,1,730,9
Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00,,


Top N Hosts - Traffic In

Host,Bytes/sec
14.32.100.30,92
172.18.123.238,163
14.32.15.2,244
14.32.12.17,285
14.32.15.1,332
,


Top N Hosts - Traffic Out

Host,Bytes/sec
14.32.15.1,163
172.18.123.238,173
14.32.15.101,198
172.18.123.174,224
14.32.12.17,310
,


Application Configuration

Protocol,Port,Bytes/sec
UDP,161,1,643

[parulchahar]

Thanks Joseph for your help actually my requirement is to collect the Historical data of a particular date time range from NAM tool. So, here are two queries from my side

1)      Is it  possible to provide date time range in NDE Descriptor to get the historical data  when configuring net flow data export  from NAM  tool  using NDE API,  so that NAM can  only send the performance stat of the provided date time range in the form of Netflow packet ?

As per above discussion you have mentioned that no historical data can be obtained by NDE. In that case date time range cannot be specified in the NDE descriptor. Correct me here.

2)       Can we get the historical data of particular date time range in the form of CSV  or HTML file through some command line configuration ?

[Joe Clarke]

No, you cannot specify time ranges in the NDE setup.  You can see all of the NDE parameters in the document I mentioned before.

No, you cannot define reports from the command line, but you can define a periodic historical export from the GUI.  After that, the report will be automatically generated based on the configured schedule to drive your reporting engine.

[parulchahar]

Thanks Joseph for the information.