10. Selecting a time period

Table of Contents

10.1. Using the Time selector
10.1.1. Using custom time selection
10.2. Making a time selection by dragging the mouse

sFlowTrend-Pro stores a history of network, host and application performance data (see Section 15.1, “Server custom configuration settings” for information on configuring the length of history stored). The Time selector allows you to select the period in the history for which data is to be displayed. Since sFlowTrend stores one hour of data, the Time selector is not available and sFlowTrend always displays the last hour of data.

A time selection is defined by a start and end time, and, when data is displayed as a trend over time, an interval size. The interval size defines the granularity of the data displayed. For example Tue 10 Apr, 2007 01:00 - Tue 10 Apr, 2007 05:59, Interval = 2 mins, defines a 6 hour time period, with data points for each 2 minute interval in the time period. There are two ways to make a time selection:

10.1. Using the Time selector

The Time selector includes the following, commonly used, time selections:

Last hour
Last hour, with a data point for each 1 minute interval.
Last 6 hours
Last 6 hours, with a data point for each 2 minute interval.
Last 12 hours
Last 12 hours, with a data point for each 5 minute interval.
Last 24 hours
Last 24 hours, with a data point for each 15 minute interval.
Today
Today, with a data point for each 15 minute interval.
Yesterday
Yesterday, with a data point for each 15 minute interval.
This week
This week, with a data point for each 1 day interval.
Last week
Last week, with a data point for each 1 day interval.
Custom
Custom time selections see Section 10.1.1, “Using custom time selection”

[Note] Note

If the start time of the time selection is earlier than the start of the stored history, the start time will be adjusted to the start of the stored history. For example if sFlowTrend-Pro is configured to store 7 days of data and today is Friday 18, Dec 2015, then the earliest day for which there will be stored data will be Saturday 12 Dec, 2015. In this case, when Last week is selected, the start time will be adjusted to Saturday 12 Dec, 2015 (rather than Sunday 29 Nov, 2015).

The Time selector also includes back and forward buttons that can be used to view data for the previous or next time period. For example if the time selection is Last 6 hours and the current time is Mon 21 Dec 2015, 12:53, clicking on the back arrow will cause the previous 6 hours of data, ending at Mon 21 Dec 2015, 06:53, to be displayed (using the Custom time selection). The back and forward buttons will be inactive if the current time selection is at the beginning or the end of the stored data.

When a non-custom time period is selected, the displayed chart will be updated automatically when the next data point is available, thus displaying a rolling window of data. The Progress indicator will show when the chart will next be updated.

When you choose a time selection which has an interval size greater than 1 minute, the Progress indicator will have two parts. The outer part will show progress through the current minute, whilst the inner part will show progress through the chosen interval (ie how long until the next data point will be available).

10.1.1. Using custom time selection

The Custom time selection gives full flexibility in accessing the stored historical data.

When you click on the start time or end time fields a calendar will be displayed. You can use the calendar or you can type directly into the fields to select the desired start and end time. The calendar indicates the days for which data is available. Click on the OK button to cause the chart for the selected time period to be displayed.

[Note] Note

The Time selector displays time in the server time zone. Similarly sFlowTrend-Pro always interprets a time period for a query in the server time zone and the resulting charts display the time period in the server time zone.

[Note] Note

There is a maximum number of data points that can be displayed in a chart, so small interval size selections will not be available for long time period selections.

When the Custom time selection is used, the charts are static and are not updated as more data becomes available.