Explains how dashboards and dashlets display policy-based metrics and how customization options help you monitor focused data views in Crosswork Network Controller.
A dashboard is a centralized interface that displays metrics and trends through interactive components called dashlets.
Dashboards appear as individual tabs, allowing you to monitor and compare different sets of data in a single view.
Dashboards help you monitor and analyze performance across various policies by highlighting the most relevant metrics. Crosswork Network Controller provides a set of default dashboards, which you can personalize by adding or customizing dashlets to meet your specific monitoring needs.
The data displayed in each dashlet is polled based on the configured policies. Some dashlets allow you to edit the metrics to customize the displayed data. For information on the policies, refer to the Monitor device and inventory health chapter in Cisco Crosswork Network Controller 7.2 Device Lifecycle Management.
Dashboard customizations
The dashboard framework includes customization options to help you tailor dashboards to your specific needs:
| View |
Description |
|---|---|
| Histogram |
Shows how many monitored elements fall within the Healthy, Minor, Major, and Critical ranges configured for the metric. |
| Summary |
Shows aggregated values such as total, minimum, maximum, and average for the selected metric and time range. |
| Top Groups |
Ranks eligible groups for the selected metric. |
| Trend |
Shows how histogram counts or summary values changed over time. |
| Top Metrics |
Lists the highest-ranked elements, such as device, interface, QOS class map, and sensors for further investigation. |
| Element view |
Shows metric history for an individual elements. |
| Capability |
Description |
|---|---|
| Multiple dashboard tabs |
Create and manage dashboards for different data views or operational areas. |
| Dashboard actions |
Add, copy, rename, or delete custom dashboards. |
| Dashlet actions |
Add, edit, copy, or delete dashlets. |
| Dashboard-level filters |
Filter compatible dashlets by device group or port group. |
| Saved views |
Save and reload dashboard layouts and filters for different monitoring scenarios. |
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Multiple dashboard tabs per user: Create and manage several dashboards to monitor different data views or operational areas.
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Dashboard actions: Add, copy, rename, or delete dashboards as needed to stay organized and focused on your goals.
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Dashlet actions: Add, edit, copy, and delete dashlets to control how information is displayed and shared.
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Dashboard-level filters: Apply filters across the dashboard to view device group or port-based data.
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Save and load views: Capture customized dashboard layouts and reload them as needed, so you can quickly switch between different monitoring scenarios.
These capabilities help you create a flexible, data-driven workspace that evolves with your business needs.
Histogram dashlets classify monitored elements according to the health thresholds configured for each metric. To review or modify these ranges, choose Administration > Health settings. Changes to severity settings may take up to 24 hours to appear in dashboard results.
Use dashboards to investigate performance issues
Dashboards support a progressive approach to investigating performance issues. Start with an aggregated network view to identify a potential issue. Use the trend view to determine when the issue started, and then open Top Metrics to identify the affected devices or interfaces. From Top Metrics, select an individual element to examine its metric history.