Selecting key attributes

When an attribute group can return more than one data row, each row represents an entity that is being monitored. Each time monitored data is sampled, the monitoring environment matches a row to the entity that is being monitored and to previous samples for that entity. This matching is done with key attributes. One or more attributes in the attribute group can be identified as key attributes. These key attributes, when taken together, distinguish one monitored entity from another. The key attributes do not change from one sample to the next for the same monitored entity.

Rate and delta attributes are calculated by comparing the current sample to the previous sample. Identical key attributes ensure that the agent is comparing values for the same monitored entity. Similarly, the summarization and pruning agent summarizes samples that have identical key attributes. In addition, any attribute that is set as a key attribute can also be used as a "Display item" in a situation.

You specify the details about your new data source in the Agent Initial Data Source page. If the selected data source might return multiple data rows, Agent Builder can sometimes detect the key attributes. Otherwise, it prompts you to select key attributes.