Add Custom Metrics to Enhance Monitoring

Use Advanced Collection to view, configure or add almost any custom metric you are interested to monitor in Aternity dashboards. This requires creating XML files and PowerShell scripts.

In addition to out-of-the-box data, you can create and add to Aternity any custom metric to troubleshoot issues with one device or view common symptoms across multiple devices in your organization.

Procedure

  1. Step 1 Open a browser and sign in to Aternity.
  2. Step 2 View the list of custom data already monitored by Aternity by selecting the Gear Icon > Advanced Collection.
    You can add new custom monitors if they do not already appear here.
    List of custom predefined monitors
    The table displays the full list of monitors added to Aternity.
    Field Description

    Monitor Name

    Displays the name of a custom data monitor as entered in the Add Monitor window and as it appears in the dashboards. It displays a lock for predefined monitors, as you cannot remove or edit them.

    Description

    Displays a short description of a new monitoring instance you want to add to Aternity.
    Monitor Type
    Displays the type of monitor out of those technologies Aternity uses to collect data:

    • Registry: Monitor that checks Windows property in device's registry

    • WMI: Monitor that queries operating systems database that includes information about devices

    • Event Log: Monitor that gets notifications from Windows Event Viewer that includes information about application, system crashes, and more

    • PowerShell: Microsoft automation solution

    • Generic Plugin: Agent plugin that collects data from monitored devices

    • Dump Analyzer: Monitor that explores what caused a blue screen on the device
    Frequency

    Displays frequency of the check interval. How often the Agent will run the monitor and will query the WMI, Registry, Event Log or PowerShell. If there is an event, it will be detected and reported. If there is a change in a device attribute or a custom measurement data, it will be detected and reported, Depending on a metric or event you are monitoring, we recommend running the check once a day or once an hour, if required. For example, sample CPU usage every minute.

    Frequency for Event Log is predefined to 60 seconds.
    Rollout
    Displays the group of devices which monitor this entry:

    • Test Group indicates that Aternity only monitors this entry for users or devices in the test group.

    • All Users indicates that Aternity monitors this entry for all reporting devices.

    • Custom indicates that Aternity monitors this entry for users or devices in a custom group that you created.
    Last Modified

    Displays the time stamp when someone last changed anything in the XML, CSV, or PowerShell file.
  3. Step 3 Go to the Custom Data tab and add custom metrics to Aternity.

    Not necessarily application. For example, you can analyze CPU usage or temperature at every minute.

    1. a Select Add Monitor.
      Field Description
      Advanced Monitor

      Use Advanced Monitor to add to Aternity a monitoring XML file that queries Windows Event Log, WMI, or Device Registry and collects custom data.

      You can collect and analyze any performance parameter which Aternity does not normally detect. Add to Aternity any performance metrics you want to collect and then view them in the Custom Data (Advanced) dashboard.
      PowerShell

      Use PowerShell to add a PowerShell script to Aternity in order to collect custom data.

      You can detect anything with PowerShell scripts. For example, whether the recycle bin or any other folder on the PC exceeds its allowed size, if there are too many very large messages in Outlook, the BitLocker Status, or anything else you want to detect.

      Note

      Uploading PowerShell scrips is available only for Windows devices with Agent 12.0.1 or later.
    2. b Select either Advanced Monitor or PowerShell.
      Fill in all the fields. When adding PowerShell, upload the script as well.
      Create a monitor for custom data
    3. c Select Save.

      Now you can open the Custom Data dashboard to analyze the data (learn more).

    4. d To edit a monitor, select the row's context menu on the right > and then Edit.

      To download and edit the XML file, select the row's context menu on the right > and then Download XML.

      Edit the required fields and save the changes by selecting Update.

    5. e To disable monitor, select the row's context menu on the right > and then Disable.
    6. f To remove a health event from the list, select the row's context menu on the right > and then Delete.