Data Collector functions

The Vertica Data Collector is a utility that extends system table functionality by providing a framework for recording events.

The Vertica Data Collector is a utility that extends system table functionality by providing a framework for recording events. It gathers and retains monitoring information about your database cluster and makes that information available in system tables with negligble performance impact.

Collected data is stored on disk in the DataCollector directory under the Vertica /catalog path. You can use the information the Data Collector retains in the following ways:

  • Query the past state of system tables and extract aggregate information

  • See what actions users have taken

  • Locate performance bottlenecks

  • Identify potential improvements to Vertica configuration

Data Collector works in conjunction with an advisor tool called Workload Analyzer, which intelligently monitors the performance of SQL queries and workloads and recommends tuning actions based on observations of the actual workload history.

By default, Data Collector is enabled and retains information for all sessions. If performance issues arise, a superuser can disable Data Collector by setting the EnableDataCollector configuration parameter to 0.