Build the Data Collection Device Cluster

Add BIG-IQ data collection devices

You can add a new BIG-IQ data collection device (DCD) to the list of devices from which a BIG-IQ can retrieve data. A DCD is necessary if you want to view statistics, event, or alert log data generated by your managed devices.

1. From BIG-IQ, at the top of the screen, click System, then, on the left, click BIG-IQ DATA COLLECTION > BIG-IQ Data Collection Devices.

   The BIG-IQ Data Collection Devices screen opens listing the DCDs in the cluster. The Services column lists the BIG-IP services monitored by each DCD. If no services are enabled for a DCD, this column displays Add Services instead.

2. For theDiscovery/Listener Address, type one of the self IP addresses for this DCD.

   The BIG-IQ system uses this address to discover the DCD. The DCD uses this address to listen for alerts from your managed devices.

3. In the Username field, type the admin account user name.

4. In the Password field, type the admin password.

5. In the Data Collection IP Address field, type one of the self IP addresses for this DCD.

   The DCD uses this address to exchange data and replicas with other DCDs in the cluster.

   Note: The DCD and BIG-IQ should both use the same VLAN.

6. Note the Data Collection Port value (9300). This field displays the number of the port that DCDs in your cluster use for internal polling and communication with each other.

   You cannot change the port, but knowing the port number might be useful when resolving DCD communications issues.

7. For the Zone setting, either select the disaster recovery zone in which you want this DCD to reside, or use the default setting.

   • If your organization does not use zones, use default.

   • To use an existing zone, select it.

   • To create a zone:

     • Select Create New. A new text box opens.

     • Type the name for the new zone. DCD zones serve two purposes:

     • You can use zones to optimize statistics traffic routing. By assigning DCDs to a zone and then assigning managed BIG-IP devices to that zone, you control which DCDs collect statistic traffic for each device.

     • DCD zone awareness factors into how the DCD cluster performs during Disaster Recovery scenarios. The role zones play in these scenarios is discussed in the Disaster Recovery Best Practices article on support.f5.com.

8. Click Save & Close.

While the devices remain active, the Elasticsearch on all devices will automatically restart, including the primary BIG-IQ device. This has no impact on data collection services.

Check the health of devices in a DCD cluster

You can view the health and status of the devices in your data collection device (DCD) cluster using the BIG-IQ Data Collection Device Settings screen. Use the information here, both before and after an upgrade to verify that the devices in your DCD cluster are configured as you expect it to be.

1. From BIG-IQ, at the top of the screen, click System, then, on the left, click BIG-IQ DATA COLLECTION and then select BIG-IQ Data Collection Cluster.

   The BIG-IQ Data Collection Cluster screen opens. On this screen, you can view summary status for the Data Collection Device (DCD) cluster and access the screens that you can use to configure the DCD cluster.

   • Under SUMMARY, you can access screens detailing how much data is stored, as well as how the data is stored.
   • Under CONFIGURATION, you can access the screens that control DCD cluster performance.

2. Click the Settings button.

   The Settings screen opens to display the current state of the DCD cluster defined for this BIG-IQ device.

3. Inspect the DCD cluster details listed in the Summary area.

   Sub-screen	What details are provided here?
   Status	Look here for information about the current status of the cluster.
   Nodes	Look here for information about the current state of the cluster nodes.
   Indexes	Look here for information about the current state of the cluster indexes.
   Shards	Look here for information about the current state of the cluster shards.
   Cluster Settings	Look here for information about the DCD cluster configured for this device.
   External Storage & Snapshots	Look here for summary information about the external storage location used to keep the backup snapshots you create for the DCD cluster configured for this device.
   Logging Data Collection	Look here for summary information about the event and alert log indices that have been configured for this DCD.
   Statistics Data Collection	Look here for details about the statistics data stored on this DCD.

   This information provides a fairly detailed overview that describes the DCD cluster you have created to store data. After you complete an upgrade, you can check the health to verify that the cluster restored successfully.