2. Naming conventions
Four naming families coexist in the database. Recognizing them tells you the source of a metric and how to read it.
| Prefix | Count | Source and reading rules |
|---|---|---|
| magent_local_*, magent_shelf_* | 1,101 | The PanFS management agent statistics tree, flattened: magent_local_<hw|sw|sys>_<subsystem>_<stat>. Array statistics are flattened with a numeric suffix (_0.._37), and per slot items with an embedded index (nic1_, fs0_, hd12_). String stats become a series with value 1 and the text in a “value” label. |
| panfs_* | 27 | Realm level inventory and events from the management database. Info metric style: The sample is a state code, the content is in labels. Each family has a <family>_scrape_success gauge. |
| cpu_, mem_, disk_, diskio_, net_, netstat_, nstat_, ethtool_, processes_, procstat_, system_ | 370 | Telegraf input plugins, named <measurement>_<field>. Standard Linux semantics; counters need rate() or increase(). |
| ALERTS, ALERTS_FOR_STATE, observability_node_type | 3 | vmalert output and the agent role declaration. |
2.1 Metric types
VictoriaMetrics does not store type metadata, so types below were determined by observing behaviour over six hours. Counters (Telegraf diskio, net, nstat; magent fm op_count) increase monotonically and should be rated. Gauges are read directly. Info metrics have a constant sample value and carry content in labels; read them with last_over_time() or group by (…) and never with rate(). Interval gauges (the iopath measure_* group) already represent activity in the last collection interval; summing them across nodes gives a realm number, but rate() on them is wrong.
2.2 Confidence key
Each row in the reference tables carries a confidence mark. C means confirmed: The meaning is established by the collector semantics (Telegraf, Prometheus), by the sample dashboards that use the metric, or by matching label values against the realm. I means inferred: The reading follows from the metric name, PanFS terminology and observed values, and should be confirmed against the agent source or with engineering.