6.5. Viewing statistics Previous topic Parent topic Child topic Next topic

You can optionally display and plot statistics gathered by each monitored Radiator. Radiator gathers over 20 statistical measures for the server as a whole, and for each Radiator object (i.e. for each Client, Realm, Handler, AuthBy and Host in the Radiator configuration). Radar allows you plot any or all of the available statistics from any or all objects within a Radiator.
Plotting statistics allows you to see, for example, when Total throughput is unusually low, or if Average response time is usually high, indicating a problem in the authentication system. Many other interesting and useful statistics are also available, allowing you to keep close tabs on the health of your authentication system.
To view a plotter for a Radiator, click on the server in the server list, then choose Tools->Plot statistics. You will see a plotter window in the tools area, similar to Figure 11. Viewing a Radiator statistics plot. This plotter will show statistics gathered for the server as a whole.
To view a plotter for an object with Radiator, expand the server in the server list by clicking on the +. The server will expand to show all the configurable parameters and objects at that level within the server. You can drill down to see objects embedded within other objects. For example, to plot statistics for a single Client, click on + next to the server name to expand it, then click on the + next to Client. It will expand to list the name of each Client in the Radiator configuration. Click on the Client name, then choose Tools->Plot statistics. You will see a new plotter window in the tools area, similar to Figure 10 on page 15. This plotter will show statistics gathered for just that Client

Figure 11. Viewing a Radiator statistics plot

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You can have any number of plotters for any number of Radiator internal objects. For example, you could have a `Total requests' plotter for the server as a whole, a separate `Average Response Time' plotter for the server as a whole, a `Bad authenticators in accounting requests' for a certain Client that is currently causing trouble, and a `Total requests' plotter for a Host in an AuthBy RADIUS, showing how many requests are being proxied. Furthermore, each plotter can plot any number of the available statistics for that object at the same time. However, it is not possible to have statistics from two different objects plotted in the same plotter. See Figure 12. Viewing multiple statistics plots, showing an example of Radar plotting statistics for two different servers.
Note that if a Radar becomes disconnected or unavailable while being plotted, the plot line for that Radiator will not be drawn while it is disconnected. This means there may be gaps in the plot line reflecting times when there was no statistical data available from that server. This is normal behaviour for Radar, but the cause of the diconnection should be investigated.

Figure 12. Viewing multiple statistics plots

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For each plotter, you can extensively customize what statistics are displayed and how they are displayed. You can add and remove data items from the plotter, change colors and titles, and change the scale factors and plotting frequency.
To change the configuration of a plotter, click on the Properties button in the plotter. A configuration dialog similar to Figure 14. Changing plotter configuration Data Sets will appear.
The plotter configuration dialog contains two tabs. General (Figure 13. Changing plotter configuration General) allows you to configure parameters for the whole plotter. Data Sets (Figure 14. Changing plotter configuration Data Sets) allows you to configure each individually plotted statistic.

Figure 13. Changing plotter configuration General

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The general tab allows you to configure the behaviour of the plotter as a whole.

Figure 14. Changing plotter configuration Data Sets

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The Data Sets tab allows you to configure the look of each individual statistic displayed. On the left side, there is a list of available statistics from that object. Clicking on one will show how it is configured on the right. The following options are available
The plotter window can be resized vertically at any time by dragging the adjuster in the lower left corner of the window.
Tip
There is a right mouse button menu available on the plotting area of the plotter window. It includes a Properties button. If you click the right mouse button close enough to a data sample, it will show the name of the data item, and the time of the sample.