topic How to get the absolute value of a metric in a graph? in Dashboarding

How to get the absolute value of a metric in a graph?

SkipGroot — Wed, 24 May 2023 14:59:35 GMT

We have enabled NTP monitoring on our systems which provides us with the `builtin:tech.ntp.ntp_offset` metric. This value is the time offset from the actual which can be either positive or negative.

Now the problem is that for either alerting or thresholds in graphs I can only define positive offsets. I can't add an alert or threshold for anything below a certain value. So I'd like to transform the graph to convert any negative values into positive. The absolute value in mathematical terms.

I have tried

Looking for an absolute function, I don't believe there is any?
Neither are the square root or square/exponent functions which could provide this functionality with a formula.
Putting a - sign before the metric inverts the values. This allows me to create a normal and inverted graph which works for dashboarding and alerts. But it feels very much like a workaround since everything is duplicated.

Am I missing something here or is this functionality not available (yet)?

(Using Dynatrace Managed version 1.238 if that is relevant)

Re: How to get the absolute value of a metric in a graph

Yosi_Neuman — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 11:19:59 GMT

Hi @SkipGroot

Can the follow threshold setting help you?

And for alerting you will need to add 2 rules one for positive (above) and the other for negative (below)

HTH

Yos

Re: How to get the absolute value of a metric in a graph

SkipGroot — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 11:34:31 GMT

I did not realize the threshold definition colors were applied in the specified order, a weird way of doing it but it works perfectly!

And for the alerts I guess I'll just have to duplicate the metric there. Thanks for the help!