metric_alerts.conf

The following are the spec and example files for metric_alerts.conf.

metric_alerts.conf.spec

   Version 8.0.1

 This file contains possible setting/value pairs for metric alert entries in the
 metric_alerts.conf file. You can configure metric alerts by creating your own
 metric_alerts.conf file.

 There is a default metric_alerts.conf file in $SPLUNK_HOME/etc/system/default. To
 set custom configurations, place a metric_alerts.conf file in
 $SPLUNK_HOME/etc/system/local/. For examples, see the
 metric_alerts.conf.example file. You must restart Splunk to enable configurations.

 To learn more about configuration files (including precedence) please see the
 documentation located at
 http://docs.splunk.com/Documentation/Splunk/latest/Admin/Aboutconfigurationfiles

GLOBAL SETTINGS

 Use the [default] stanza to define any global settings.
  * You can also define global settings outside of any stanza, at the top of
    the file.
  * Each conf file should have at most one default stanza. If there are
    multiple default stanzas, settings are combined. In the case of multiple
    definitions of the same settings, the last definition in the file wins.
  * If a setting is defined at both the global level and in a specific
    stanza, the value in the specific stanza takes precedence.

*******
 The possible settings for the metric_alerts.conf file are:
*******

[<alert_name>]

* The <alert_name> is the name of the metric alert. 
* Required.

description = <string>
* This string provides a description of the metric alert. 
* Optional.
* Default: No default

groupby = <list of dimension fields>
* The list of dimension fields, delimited by comma, for the group-by clause of 
  the alert search.
* This leads to multiple aggregation values, one per group, instead of one 
  single value.
* Optional.
* Default: No default
 
filter = <string>
* This setting provides one or more Boolean expressions like 
  '<dimension_field>=<value>' to define the search result dataset to monitor 
  for the alert condition. 
* Link multiple Boolean expressions with the 'AND' operator.
* The filter does not support subsearches, macros, tags, event types, or time 
  modifiers such as 'earliest' or 'latest'.
* This setting combines with the metric_index setting to provide the full alert 
  search filter.
* Optional.
* Default: No default

metric_indexes = <metric index name>
* Specifies one or more metric indexes, delimited by comma.
* Combines with the filter setting to define search result dataset to monitor 
  for the alert condition. 
* Required.
* Default: No default

condition = <boolean eval expression>
* Specifies an alert condition for one or more metric_name and aggregation 
  pairs. The Splunk software applies this evaluation to the results of the 
  alert search on a regular interval. When the alert condition evaluates to 
  'true', the alert is triggered. 
* The condition must reference at least one 'mstats_aggregation(metric_name)' 
  field in single quotes.
* The condition can also reference dimensions specified in the group-by fields.
* Required.
* Default: No default

trigger.suppress = <time-specifier>
* Specifies the suppression period to silence alert actions and notifications.
  * The suppression period goes into effect when an alert is triggered.
  * During this period, if the alert is triggered, its actions do not happen 
    and its notifications do not go out. 
  * When the period elapses, a subsequent triggering of the alert causes alert 
    actions and notifications to take place as usual, and the alert is
    suppressed again.
* Use [number]m to specify a timespan in minutes.
* Set to 0 to disable suppression.
* Default: 0

trigger.expires = <time-specifier>
* Sets the period of time that a triggered alert record displays on the
  Triggered Alerts page.
* Use [positive integer][time-unit], where time_unit can be 'm' for minutes,
  'h' for hours, and 'd' for days.
* Set to 0 to make triggered alerts expire immediately so they do not appear on
  the Triggered Alerts page at all.
* Default: 24h

trigger.max_tracked = <number>
* Specifies the maximum number of instances of this alert that can display in 
  the triggered alerts dashboard.
* When this threshold is passed, the Splunk software removes the earliest 
  instances from the dashboard to honor this maximum number.
* Set to 0 to remove the cap.
* Default: 20

label.<label-name> = <label-value>
* Arbitrary key-value pairs for labeling this alert.
* These settings will be opaque to the backend (not interpreted in any way).
* Can be used by applications calling `alerts/metric_alerts` endpoint.

splunk_ui.<label-name> = <label-value>
* For Splunk internal use only.
* Arbitrary key-value pairs for labeling this alert for the exclusive use by 
  Splunk.
* These settings are automatically generated and should not be changed.

*******
 generic action settings.
 For a comprehensive list of actions and their arguments, refer to the 
 alert_actions.conf file.
*******

action.<action_name> = <boolean>
* Indicates whether the action is enabled or disabled for a particular metric 
  alert.
* The 'action_name' can be: email | logevent | rss | script | webhook
* For more about the defined alert actions see the alert_actions.conf file.
* Optional.
* Default: No default

action.<action_name>.<parameter> = <value>
* Overrides an action's parameter as defined in the alert_actions.conf file, 
  with a new <value> for this metric alert only.
* Default: No default

metric_alerts.conf.example

#   Version 8.0.1
#
# This file contains example metric alerts.
#
# To use one or more of these configurations, copy the configuration block into
# metric_alerts.conf in $SPLUNK_HOME/etc/system/local/. You must restart Splunk
# to enable configurations.
#
# To learn more about configuration files (including precedence) please see the
# documentation located at
# http://docs.splunk.com/Documentation/Splunk/latest/Admin/Aboutconfigurationfiles


# The following searches are example searches.  To create your own search,
# modify the values by following the spec outlined in metric_alerts.conf.spec.


[alert1]
groupby = host, app
filter = region=east
condition = 'avg(mem.used)' > 50
action.email = 1
action.email.to = nonexist@abc.xyz
 
[alert2]
groupby = host, app
filter = region=east
condition = 'max(cpu.util)' > 80
action.email = 1
action.email.to = nonexist@abc.xyz