This page describes how to configure which built-in metrics the Monitoring agent collects from a Linux VM.The content on this page is intended for system administrators who want tomodify the default configuration of the Monitoring agent.

You cannot configure the Monitoring agent when it is installed on a Windows VM.

This page doesn't describe how to configure the Monitoring agent to monitorthird-party applications or how to use the agent to collect user-definedmetrics. For information on those topics, see the following pages:

• Monitoring third party applications
• User-defined metrics from the agent

Before you begin

If you haven't installed the Monitoring agent on a VM,seeInstall the Monitoring agent.

Changing the default Monitoring agent configuration

To change the configuration of the Monitoring agent, do the following:

1. Edit the Monitoring agent configuration file/etc/stackdriver/collectd.conf.

2. Restart the Monitoring agent by running the following command:

sudoservicestackdriver-agentrestart

Stopping the collection of process metrics

For information about how to stop the collection ofprocess metrics—the metrics with the prefixagent.googleapis.com/processes—seeDisable collection of process metrics.

Configuring reported CPU metrics

By default, the Monitoring agent reports the total CPU utilization by statefor all CPUs on the VM by using theagent.googleapis.com/cpu/utilization metric type.This behavior is specified in the configuration file by the followingsettings:

• ValuesPercentage true
• ReportByCpu false

You must modify these settings if you want the agent to report theutilization per CPU, or if you want it to report CPU usage time,agent.googleapis.com/cpu/usage_time, metrics:

• To configure the Monitoring agent to report theagent.googleapis.com/cpu/utilization per CPU,do the following:

  • LeaveValuesPercentage at the default value oftrue.
  • SetReportByCpu totrue.

• To configure the Monitoring agent to report theagent.googleapis.com/cpu/usage_time per CPU, do the following:

  • SetValuesPercentage tofalse.
  • SetReportByCpu totrue.

The Monitoring agent can either report the CPU utilization or the CPU usage,but not both metrics.This is a known limitation ofcollectd.WhenReportByCpu istrue, theValuesPercentage field determinesif the utilization or usage is reported. WhenReportByCpu isfalse,the agent reports the CPU utilization.

Troubleshooting

If you're having trouble installing or running the agent, seeTroubleshooting agent installation.