Documentation forVirtualization Manager
Monitoring virtual environments is a key capability of Hybrid Cloud Observability Advanced and is also available in a standalone module, Virtualization Manager (VMAN). Hybrid Cloud Observability Advanced and VMAN are built on the self-hosted SolarWinds Platform.

Configure virtualization thresholds

Alerts and recommendations are triggered when a monitored value exceeds a threshold. Thresholds set the trigger levels for warning and critical alerts and recommendations. Thresholds include global SolarWinds Platform thresholds, global virtualization thresholds, and specific VM thresholds. As the SolarWinds Platform Web Console collects and calculates data for VM performance, resource consumption, and status, all thresholds are compared against the data to pinpoint active and potential issues.

Thresholds include:

  • SolarWinds Platform thresholds - the SolarWinds Platform comes with predefined static thresholds for Orion product modules at the node level including average CPU load, disk usage, percent memory used, percent packet loss, and response time.

  • Virtualization Manager thresholds - VMAN uses a set of virtualization thresholds for triggering virtual system specific alerts and recommendations. These thresholds include network utilization, CPU load, memory usage, IOPS, latency, and capacity. You can configure these thresholds globally or override per cluster, host, datastore, or VM.

    Specific thresholds support only CPU load, memory usage, and network utilization.

If you want to change the predefined value for a threshold, use a static threshold or a dynamic baseline threshold.

Static threshold

This threshold is a constant value that you set for your threshold. The value does not change unless edited.

Example: You may enter a static value for the response time threshold as warning 500 ms and critical as 1000 ms.

Dynamic baseline threshold

Data for a threshold is collected for a week and used to calculate mean and standard deviation. The warning and critical threshold values are defined as 2 and 3 standard deviations above the mean, respectively. Dynamic baseline thresholds are the most accurate way to define thresholds for a specific device. You can recalculate baselines on demand after making threshold changes.

Example: If the mean value for packet loss for a specific node is 0%, the warning threshold for packet loss would be 3% (+2 standard deviations) and the critical threshold would be 4% (+3 standard deviations).

If you want to change the predefined value for a threshold, you use a static threshold or a dynamic baseline threshold.

Using the dynamic baseline feature, you can display baselines on different charts in the Orion Web Console. Dynamic baselines track performance and usage over time. This data generates into a baseline threshold matching your specific environment.

Data for a threshold is collected for a week and used to calculate mean and standard deviation. The warning and critical threshold values are defined as 2 and 3 standard deviations above the mean, respectively. Dynamic baseline thresholds are the most accurate way to define thresholds for a specific device. You can recalculate baselines on demand after making threshold changes.

Example: If the mean value for packet loss for a specific node is 0%, the warning threshold for packet loss would be 3% (+2 standard deviations) and the critical threshold would be 4% (+3 standard deviations).

Define a baseline for an individual node

  1. Click Edit thresholds on the resource, and select the thresholds you want to edit.
  2. Select Override Global Orion Threshold, and set either a static threshold, or click Use Dynamic Baseline Thresholds to define a formula for calculating a baseline.
  3. Click Submit.

Define a baseline for multiple nodes

  1. In the SolarWinds Platform Web Console, select Settings > All Settings > Node & Group Management > and click Manage Virtual Devices.
  2. Click the Thresholds tab.
  3. Select the entity type for which you want to configure a baseline threshold from the Show list.
  4. Select the nodes for which you want to configure a baseline.
  5. Click Edit Thresholds, and select the thresholds you want to edit.
  6. Select Override Global Orion Threshold, and set either a static threshold, or click Use Dynamic Baseline Thresholds to define a formula for calculating a baseline.
  7. Click Submit.

For example, to configure thresholds for all virtual machines under a given host, first select all vNodes, and then deselect the vNodes for which you do not want to define thresholds.