vSphere Performance Data Collection
In a vSphere environment, virtual and physical components generate performance data. To track the use of resources, ESXi Servers perform real-time data collection and vCenter Servers store the data in the vCenter database. vCenter Servers also store a historical rollup of the data according to defined performance intervals.
Historical data rollup – A vCenter Server collects data from all of the hosts that the vCenter Server manages. The PerformanceManager defines performance intervals that specify time periods for performance data rollup, a methodology for combining data values. The server stores the rolled up performance counter data in the vCenter database.
The following figure represents vSphere performance data collection and retrieval.
vSphere Performance Data Collection and Retrieval
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The following table defines terms that are used to describe vSphere performance management.
Combination of a counter ID and an instance. You use metric IDs – PerfMetricId objects – when you construct a performance query specification to identify the data to be collected.
“*” – An asterisk directs the vSphere Server to return all instances plus rollup data. This is not supported for some disk-related counters.
““ – A string of length zero directs the vSphere Server to return only aggregated instance data or rollup type data.
Data object (PerfInterval) which defines the time interval between collection events, the collection level, and the time period that the data will be stored on the Server.
ESXi Servers define a built-in performance interval that specifies data collection every 20 seconds for each performance counter. ESXi Servers also define a single historical interval (PerformanceManager.historicalInterval) that defines aggregate performance data. This system-defined performance interval specifies aggregate data collection every 300 seconds for each counter. You cannot modify the performance intervals on an ESXi Server.
Number between one and four that is assigned to a performance interval (PerformanceManager.historicalInterval[].level). The interval collection level corresponds to the level specified for individual performance counters (PerfCounterInfo.level). A vCenter Server uses a performance interval to perform performance data aggregation, using data for the counters with levels that match the performance interval collection level.
Methodology for producing a single value from a set of statistical values (PerformanceManager.perfCounter[].rollupType). Examples of rollup types are average, latest, and summation.
A single value that represents a set of instance data values collected for a performance counter. The single value is derived using one of the rollup types.