Build an NDM Profile (Advanced)

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Datadog Network Device Monitoring uses profiles for collecting metrics from network devices. These are defined narrowly by a MIB, or to collect metrics from a specific device make and model. This tutorial shows the steps for building a basic NDM profile that collects OID metrics from HP iLO4 devices.

NDM profiles use SNMP concepts. For basic details on SNMP, refer to the terminology.

This guide is for advanced users. Most devices can be configured using the GUI based experience in the Getting Started with Device Profiles documentation, or by using Datadog profiles.

Research

The first step to building an NDM profile is researching the device and determining the metrics to collect.

Device information

Refer to the manufacturer’s website or search the web to find the following information:

Device name, manufacturer, and system object identifier.
Understand the device and its use case. Metrics vary between routers, switches, bridges, etc. For example, according to the HP iLO Wikipedia page, iLO4 devices are used by system administrators for remote management of embedded servers.
Available versions of the device, and the versions to target. For example, HP iLO devices exist in multiple versions. This tutorial is specifically targeting HP iLO4.
Supported MIBs (ASN1, textual format), OIDs, and associated MIB files. For example, HP provides a MIB package for iLO devices their website. Note: The MIB is not required with the profile to collect metrics.

Note: For more details on device use cases, see Networking hardware.

Metrics selection

Next, decide the metrics to collect. Devices often expose thousands of metrics and OIDs that can span dozens of MIBs.

Some guidelines to help you in this process:

Keep the number of metrics between 10 and 40.
Explore base profiles to see which ones could be applicable to the device.
Explore manufacturer-specific MIB files looking for metrics such as:
- General health: status gauges
- Network traffic: bytes in/out, errors in/out
- CPU and memory usage
- Temperature: temperature sensors, thermal condition
- Power supply: on/off or total branch

Implementation

Add a profile

First, add a profile by creating a .yaml file with the sysobjectid and metrics, for example:

sysobjectid: 1.3.6.1.4.1.232.9.4.10

metrics:
  - MIB: CPQHLTH-MIB
    symbol:
      OID: 1.3.6.1.4.1.232.6.2.8.1.0
      name: cpqHeSysUtilLifeTime

Note: sysobjectid can be a wildcard pattern to match a sub-tree of devices, for example: 1.3.6.1.131.12.4.*.

Test the profile

Second, test the profile by targeting an IP address of a device that will use the profile.