Creating AWS CloudWatch connections

Creating AWS CloudWatch connections

To create an AWS CloudWatch connection, complete the following steps:

1. Log in to IBM Cloud Pak Automation console.

2. Expand the navigation menu (four horizontal bars), then click Define > Data and tool connections.

3. On the Data and tool connections page, click Add connection.

4. From the list of available connections, find and click the AWS CloudWatch tile.

   Note: If you do not immediately see the connection that you want to create, you can filter the tiles by type of connection. Click the type of connection that you want in the Category section.

5. On the side-panel, review the instructions and when ready to continue, click Connect.

6. On the Add connection page, define the general connection details:

   • Name: Type in the display name of your connection.
   • Description: Provide an optional description for the connection.
   • Endpoint: Enter an endpoint for the connection.
   • Access Key: Enter an Access Key for the connection.
   • Secret Key: Enter a Secret Key for the connection. For getting access and secret keys, contact admin.
   • AWS CloudWatch region: Select a region from the available regions in AWS, for example, us-east-1.
   • Deployment options: Select one of the following options: Local or Remote. The Local option deploys the connection in the same cluster where Cloud Pak for Watson AIOps is installed. Alternatively, the Remote option deploys it in your chosen location. Note: If you select the remote option, you are provided with a bootstrap command after adding the connection to finish the deployment.

7. Click Test connection. A message stating whether the test connection succeeded or failed is displayed.

8. Click Next.

9. Enter the following Collect metric data information. It defines how you want to collect metric data.

   • Enable data collection: Set the toggle button to on. Note: If you disable data flow, a new connection is created, but metrics are not collected.
   • Namespace: Select one or more namespaces from the list to see its associated metrics in the filter table. By default, all metrics are selected in the table. You can search and select or remove metrics from it.
   • Aggregation interval (minutes): Enter a value in minutes. This value is the frequency at which data is collected. The default value is 5 minutes.
   • Select live or historical data collection Note: If you choose to collect only live data, you cannot collect historical data after the live data collection starts. However, if you collect historical data, you can continue live data collection afterwards.
     • Live data collection: To collect live data, complete the following steps:
       • Only collect live data once the connection is established: Select the checkbox.
       • Scheduler run time (minutes): Enter a value in minutes. The value represents the frequency at which live scheduler runs. For example, if you set the value to 10 minutes, the live scheduler runs every 10 minutes. The default value is 5 minutes.
     • Historical data collection: To collect historical data, complete the following steps:
       • Start date and time: Select the start date from the calendar and enter the time in the 'hh:mm' format (hours and minutes). Note: The start date must not exceed 31 days from the present as the maximum time period for historical data collection is 31 days. The recommended time period is two weeks.
       • Time zone: Select your time zone from the dropdown list.
       • End date and time: Select a date from the calendar. Also, enter the time in the hh:mm format (hours and minutes). If you want to the end date, click Remove end date. Note: If you do not set an end date, IBM Cloud Pak for Watson AIOps collects historical data from the specified start date and continues with live data collection. You cannot collect historical data after the live data collection starts.
       • Scheduler run time (minutes): Enter a value in minutes. The value represents the frequency at which live scheduler runs. The default value is 5 minutes. Note: Scheduler run time is only applicable to live mode. You must configure the scheduler run time only if you do not add an end date as the connector will continue to run in live mode after historical mode.

10. Click Done.

For more information about performance considerations for metric data collection, see Performance considerations for metric data collection.

Enabling and disabling AWS CloudWatch connections

If you didn't enable your data collection during creation, you can enable your connection afterward. You can also disable a previously enabled connection the same way. To enable or disable a created connection, complete the following steps:

1. Log in to IBM Cloud Pak Automation console.

2. Expand the navigation menu (four horizontal bars), then click Define > Data and tool connections.

3. On the Manage connections tab of the Data and tool connections page, click the AWS CloudWatch connection type.

4. Click the connection that you want to enable or disable.

5. Go to the Collect metric data section. Set Enable data collection to On or Off to enable or disable data collection. Disabling data collection for a connection does not delete the connection.

You enabled or disabled your connection. For more information about deleting a connection, see Deleting AWS CloudWatch connections.

Editing AWS CloudWatch connections

After you create your connection, you can edit it. To edit a connection, complete the following steps:

1. Log in to IBM Cloud Pak Automation console.

2. Expand the navigation menu (four horizontal bars), then click Define > Data and tool connections.

3. Click the AWS CloudWatch connection type on the Manage connections tab of the Data and tool connections page.

4. On the AWS CloudWatch connections page, click the name of the connection that you want to edit. Alternatively, you can click the options menu (three vertical dots) for the connection and click Edit. The connection configuration opens.

5. Edit your connection as required. Click Save when you are done editing.

Deleting AWS CloudWatch connections

If you no longer need your AWS CloudWatch connection and want to not only disable it, but delete it entirely, you can delete the connection from the console.

To delete a connection, complete the following steps:

1. Log in to IBM Cloud Pak Automation console.

2. Expand the navigation menu (four horizontal bars), then click Define > Data and tool connections.

3. Click the AWS CloudWatch connection type on the Manage connections tab of the Data and tool connections page.

4. On the AWS CloudWatch connections page, click the options menu (three vertical dots) for the connection that you want to delete and click Delete.

5. Enter the name of the connection to confirm that you want to delete your connection. Then, click Delete.

Your connection is deleted.