NAME

       rrdgraph_data - preparing data for graphing in rrdtool graph

SYNOPSIS

       DEF:<vname>=<rrdfile>:<ds-name>:<CF>[:step=<step>][:start=<time>][:end=<time>][:reduce=<CF>]

       VDEF:vname=RPN expression

       CDEF:vname=RPN expression

DESCRIPTION

       These three instructions extract data values out of the RRD files, optionally altering
       them (think, for example, of a bytes to bits conversion). If so desired, you can also
       define variables containing useful information such as maximum, minimum etcetera. Two of
       the instructions use a language called RPN which is described in its own manual page.

       Variable names (vname) must be made up strings of the following characters "A-Z, a-z, 0-9,
       -,_" and a maximum length of 255 characters.

       When picking variable names, make sure you do not choose a name that is already taken by
       an RPN operator. A safe bet it to use lowercase or mixed case names for variables since
       operators will always be in uppercase.

DEF

       DEF:<vname>=<rrdfile>:<ds-name>:<CF>[:step=<step>][:start=<time>][:end=<time>][:reduce=<CF>]

       This command fetches data from an RRD file.  The virtual name vname can then be used
       throughout the rest of the script. By default, an RRA which contains the correct
       consolidated data at an appropriate resolution will be chosen.  The resolution can be
       overridden with the --step option.  The resolution can again be overridden by specifying
       the step size.  The time span of this data is the same as for the graph by default, you
       can override this by specifying start and end.  Remember to escape colons in the time
       specification!

       If the resolution of the data is higher than the resolution of the graph, the data will be
       further consolidated. This may result in a graph that spans slightly more time than
       requested.  Ideally each point in the graph should correspond with one CDP from an RRA.
       For instance, if your RRD has an RRA with a resolution of 1800 seconds per CDP, you should
       create an image with width 400 and time span 400*1800 seconds (use appropriate start and
       end times, such as "--start end-8days8hours").

       If consolidation needs to be done, the CF of the RRA specified in the DEF itself will be
       used to reduce the data density. This behavior can be changed using ":reduce=<CF>".  This
       optional parameter specifies the CF to use during the data reduction phase.

       Example:

               DEF:ds0=router.rrd:ds0:AVERAGE
               DEF:ds0weekly=router.rrd:ds0:AVERAGE:step=7200
               DEF:ds0weekly=router.rrd:ds0:AVERAGE:start=end-1h
               DEF:ds0weekly=router.rrd:ds0:AVERAGE:start=11\:00:end=start+1h

VDEF

       VDEF:vname=RPN expression

       This command returns a value and/or a time according to the RPN statements used. The
       resulting vname will, depending on the functions used, have a value and a time component.
       When you use this vname in another RPN expression, you are effectively inserting its value
       just as if you had put a number at that place.  The variable can also be used in the
       various graph and print elements.

       Example: "VDEF:avg=mydata,AVERAGE"

       Note that currently only aggregation functions work in VDEF rpn expressions.  Patches to
       change this are welcome.

CDEF

       CDEF:vname=RPN expression

       This command creates a new set of data points (in memory only, not in the RRD file) out of
       one or more other data series. The RPN instructions are used to evaluate a mathematical
       function on each data point. The resulting vname can then be used further on in the
       script, just as if it were generated by a DEF instruction.

       Example: "CDEF:mydatabits=mydata,8,*"

About CDEF versus VDEF

       At some point in processing, RRDtool has gathered an array of rates ready to display.

       CDEF works on such an array.  For example, CDEF:new=ds0,8,* would multiply each of the
       array members by eight (probably transforming bytes into bits). The result is an array
       containing the new values.

       VDEF also works on such an array but in a different way.  For example,
       VDEF:max=ds0,MAXIMUM would scan each of the array members and store the maximum value.

   When do you use VDEF versus CDEF?
       Use CDEF to transform your data prior to graphing.  In the above example, we'd use a CDEF
       to transform bytes to bits before graphing the bits.

       You use a VDEF if you want max(1,5,3,2,4) to return five which would be displayed in the
       graph's legend (to answer, what was the maximum value during the graph period).

       If you want to apply 'complex' operations to the result of a VDEF you have to use a CDEF
       again since VDEFs only look like RPN expressions, they aren't really.

SEE ALSO

       rrdgraph gives an overview of how rrdtool graph works.  rrdgraph_data describes DEF,CDEF
       and VDEF in detail.  rrdgraph_rpn describes the RPN language used in the ?DEF statements.
       rrdgraph_graph page describes all of the graph and print functions.

       Make sure to read rrdgraph_examples for tips&tricks.

AUTHOR

       Program by Tobias Oetiker <tobi@oetiker.ch>

       This manual page by Alex van den Bogaerdt <alex@vandenbogaerdt.nl> with corrections and/or
       additions by several people