Documentation

4.9. Analytics and alerts

4.9.1. Introduction

The analytics resource is defined for monitoring and recording the activity of SFTPPlus.

For example, it collects last user login information that can be later retrieved and displayed as a report inside the Web Manager. The logins span across all services configured on the server (FTP, SFTP, Web Manager, etc.).

At the configured interval, a dedicated event containing the usage counters is generated.

Exceptional events are emitted when the usage for a resource hits a certain value / limit. These events can be linked with the email-sender event handler, in order to raise alerts over email.

An example for monitoring resource usage every 2 minutes (120 seconds), triggering an exceptional event when there are more than 1000 total active connections:

[resources/03c4-1caf-fee0]
enabled = yes
name = Analytics Engine
type = analytics
monitor_interval = 120
connections_count_trigger = 1000

4.9.2. enabled

Optional:

Yes

Default value:

Yes

Values:
  • Yes

  • No

From version:

4.0.0

Description:

Set to Yes to have the resource monitor enabled.

Set it to No to have the resource stopped.

You can still manually start and stop the resource from the Web Manager.

4.9.3. monitor_interval

Default value:

60

Optional:

No

Values:
  • Number of seconds

From version:

3.44.0

Description:

Time interval, in seconds, between system resources measurements.

This value is only used for metrics which require taking constant snapshots of the system state.

Login date, time, and transfer activity is recorded in real time.

For production environments we recommend setting a value equal to or greater than 60 seconds. Lower values may impact the overall performance of the system.

4.9.4. memory_resident_trigger

Default value:

0

Optional:

Yes

Values:
  • Number of bytes

  • 0

From version:

3.44.0

Description:

Amount of resident / non-swapped physical memory used by SFTPPlus, in bytes, for which to emit an exception event if its process is using more than the configured value.

On Windows, it matches the Mem Usage column of the task manager. On other OSes, it matches the RES column of the top command.

Leave it to 0 to disable triggering an event based on the usage of this resource.

4.9.5. memory_virtual_trigger

Default value:

0

Optional:

Yes

Values:
  • Number of bytes

  • 0

From version:

3.44.0

Description:

Total amount of virtual memory used by SFTPPlus, in bytes, for which to emit an exception event if its process is using more than the configured value.

This includes both physical memory and swapped memory.

On Windows, it matches the VM Size column of the task manager. On other OSes, it matches the VIRT column of the top command.

Leave it to 0 to disable triggering an event based on the usage of this resource.

4.9.6. connection_count_trigger

Default value:

0

Optional:

Yes

Values:
  • Number

  • 0

From version:

3.44.0

Description:

Total number of connections (server-side and client-side) used by SFTPPlus for which to trigger an exceptional event.

This includes the following connection categories: * Incoming connections made to file transfer services * Outgoing connections made to remote servers through configured transfers * Syslog / HTTP Authentication / HTTP Event Handlers connections * Connections made to the Web Manager service.

Leave it to 0 to disable triggering an event based on the usage of this resource.

4.9.7. file_count_trigger

Default value:

0

Optional:

Yes

Values:
  • Number

  • 0

From version:

3.44.0

Description:

Total number of local files used by SFTPPlus for which to trigger an exceptional event.

This includes all files opened by SFTPPlus as part of file transfer operations or for administrative operations.

For example, log files used by event handlers are included in this count.

A single connection can trigger the opening of multiple local files.

Leave it to 0 to disable triggering an event based on the usage of this resource.

4.9.8. thread_count_trigger

Default value:

0

Optional:

Yes

Values:
  • Number

  • 0

From version:

3.44.0

Description:

Total number of threads used by SFTPPlus for which to trigger an exceptional event.

Take into consideration that multiple transfers can use the same thread.

Leave it to 0 to disable triggering an event based on the usage of this resource.