## (Potential Backward Compatibility Break) Changes around metrics collection
**TLDR**: we've made extensive **changes to metrics exposure/collection, which concern people using an external Prometheus server**. If you don't know what that is, you don't need to read below.
**Why do major changes to metrics**? Because various services were exposing metrics in different, hacky, ways. Synapse was exposing metrics at `/_synapse/metrics` and `/_synapse-worker-.../metrics` on the `matrix.DOMAIN`. The Hookshot role was **repurposing** the Granana web UI domain (`stats.DOMAIN`) for exposing its metrics on `stats.DOMAIN/hookshot/metrics`, while protecting these routes using Basic Authentication **normally used for Synapse** (`/_synapse/metrics`). Node-exporter and Postgres-exporter roles were advising for more `stats.DOMAIN` usage in manual ways. Each role was doing things differently and mixing variables from other roles. Each metrics endpoint was ending up in a different place, protected by who knows what Basic Authentication credentials (if protected at all).
**The solution**: a completely revamped way to expose metrics to an external Prometheus server. We are **introducing new `https://matrix.DOMAIN/metrics/*` endpoints**, where various services *can* expose their metrics, for collection by external Prometheus servers. To enable the `/metrics/*` endpoints, use `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_enabled: true`. There's also a way to protect access using [Basic Authentication](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic_access_authentication). See the `matrix-nginx-proxy` role or our [Collecting metrics to an external Prometheus server](docs/configuring-playbook-prometheus-grafana.md#collecting-metrics-to-an-external-prometheus-server) documentation for additional variables around `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_enabled`.
**If you are using the [Hookshot bridge](docs/configuring-playbook-bridge-hookshot.md)**, you may find that:
1. **Metrics may not be enabled by default anymore**:
- If Prometheus is enabled (`matrix_prometheus_enabled: true`), then Hookshot metrics will be enabled automatically (`matrix_hookshot_metrics_enabled: true`). These metrics will be collected from the local (in-container) Prometheus over the container network.
- **If Prometheus is not enabled** (you are either not using Prometheus or are using an external one), **Hookshot metrics will not be enabled by default anymore**. Feel free to enable them by setting `matrix_hookshot_metrics_enabled: true`. Also, see below.
2. When metrics are meant to be **consumed by an external Prometheus server**, `matrix_hookshot_metrics_proxying_enabled` needs to be set to `true`, so that metrics would be exposed (proxied) "publicly" on `https://matrix.DOMAIN/metrics/hookshot`. To make use of this, you'll also need to enable the new `https://matrix.DOMAIN/metrics/*` endpoints mentioned above, using `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_enabled`. Learn more in our [Collecting metrics to an external Prometheus server](docs/configuring-playbook-prometheus-grafana.md#collecting-metrics-to-an-external-prometheus-server) documentation.
3. **We've changed the URL we're exposing Hookshot metrics at** for external Prometheus servers. Until now, you were advised to consume Hookshot metrics from `https://stats.DOMAIN/hookshot/metrics` (working in conjunction with `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_synapse_metrics`). From now on, **this no longer works**. As described above, you need to start consuming metrics from `https://matrix.DOMAIN/metrics/hookshot`.
**If you're using node-exporter** (`matrix_prometheus_node_exporter_enabled: true`) and would like to collect its metrics from an external Prometheus server, see `matrix_prometheus_node_exporter_metrics_proxying_enabled` described in our [Collecting metrics to an external Prometheus server](docs/configuring-playbook-prometheus-grafana.md#collecting-metrics-to-an-external-prometheus-server) documentation. You will be able to collect its metrics from `https://matrix.DOMAIN/metrics/node-exporter`.
**If you're using [postgres-exporter](docs/configuring-playbook-prometheus-postgres.md)** (`matrix_prometheus_postgres_exporter_enabled: true`) and would like to collect its metrics from an external Prometheus server, see `matrix_prometheus_postgres_exporter_metrics_proxying_enabled` described in our [Collecting metrics to an external Prometheus server](docs/configuring-playbook-prometheus-grafana.md#collecting-metrics-to-an-external-prometheus-server) documentation. You will be able to collect its metrics from `https://matrix.DOMAIN/metrics/postgres-exporter`.
**If you're using Synapse** and would like to collect its metrics from an external Prometheus server, you may find that:
1. Exposing metrics is now done using `matrix_synapse_metrics_proxying_enabled`, not `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_synapse_metrics: true`. You may still need to enable metrics using `matrix_synapse_metrics_enabled: true` before exposing them.
2. Protecting metrics endpoints using [Basic Authentication](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic_access_authentication) is now done in another way. See our [Collecting metrics to an external Prometheus server](docs/configuring-playbook-prometheus-grafana.md#collecting-metrics-to-an-external-prometheus-server) documentation
3. If Synapse metrics are exposed, they will be made available at `https://matrix.DOMAIN/metrics/synapse/main-process` or `https://matrix.DOMAIN/metrics/synapse/worker/TYPE-ID` (when workers are enabled), not at `https://matrix.DOMAIN/_synapse/metrics` and `https://matrix.DOMAIN/_synapse-worker-.../metrics`
4. The playbook still generates an `external_prometheus.yml.example` sample file for scraping Synapse from Prometheus as described in [Collecting Synapse worker metrics to an external Prometheus server](docs/configuring-playbook-prometheus-grafana.md#collecting-synapse-worker-metrics-to-an-external-prometheus-server), but it's now saved under `/matrix/synapse` (not `/matrix`).
| metrics | `/metrics/hookshot` | `matrix_hookshot_metrics_enabled` and `matrix_hookshot_metrics_proxying_enabled`. Requires `/metrics/*` endpoints to also be enabled via `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_enabled` (see the `matrix-nginx-proxy` role). Read more in the [Metrics section](#metrics) below. | Prometheus |
See also `matrix_hookshot_matrix_nginx_proxy_configuration` in [init.yml](/roles/matrix-bridge-hookshot/tasks/init.yml).
@ -63,7 +63,14 @@ The provisioning API will be enabled automatically if you set `matrix_dimension_
### Metrics
If metrics are enabled, they will be automatically available in the builtin Prometheus and Grafana, but you need to set up your own Dashboard for now. If additionally metrics proxying for use with external Prometheus is enabled (`matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_synapse_metrics`), hookshot metrics will also be available (at `matrix_hookshot_metrics_endpoint`, default `/hookshot/metrics`, on the stats subdomain) and with the same password. See also [the Prometheus and Grafana docs](../configuring-playbook-prometheus-grafana.md).
Metrics are **only enabled by default** if the builtin [Prometheus](configuring-playbook-prometheus-grafana.md) is enabled (by default, Prometheus isn't enabled). If so, metrics will automatically be collected by Prometheus and made available in Grafana. You will, however, need to set up your own Dashboard for displaying them.
To explicitly enable metrics, use `matrix_hookshot_metrics_enabled: true`. This only exposes metrics over the container network, however.
**To collect metrics from an external Prometheus server**, besides enabling metrics as described above, you will also need to:
- enable the `https://matrix.DOMAIN/metrics/*` endpoints on `matrix.DOMAIN` using `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_enabled: true` (see the `matrix-nginx-role` or [the Prometheus and Grafana docs](configuring-playbook-prometheus-grafana.md) for enabling this feature)
- expose the Hookshot metrics under `https://matrix.DOMAIN/metrics/hookshot` by setting `matrix_hookshot_metrics_proxying_enabled: true`
@ -9,8 +9,12 @@ Remember to add `stats.<your-domain>` to DNS as described in [Configuring DNS](c
```yaml
matrix_prometheus_enabled: true
# You can remove this, if unnecessary.
matrix_prometheus_node_exporter_enabled: true
# You can remove this, if unnecessary.
matrix_prometheus_postgres_exporter_enabled: true
matrix_grafana_enabled: true
matrix_grafana_anonymous_access: false
@ -34,6 +38,7 @@ Name | Description
-----|----------
`matrix_prometheus_enabled`|[Prometheus](https://prometheus.io) is a time series database. It holds all the data we're going to talk about.
`matrix_prometheus_node_exporter_enabled`|[Node Exporter](https://prometheus.io/docs/guides/node-exporter/) is an addon of sorts to Prometheus that collects generic system information such as CPU, memory, filesystem, and even system temperatures
`matrix_prometheus_postgres_exporter_enabled`|[Postgres Exporter](configuring-playbook-prometheus-postgres.md) is an addon of sorts to expose Postgres database metrics to Prometheus.
`matrix_grafana_enabled`|[Grafana](https://grafana.com/) is the visual component. It shows (on the `stats.<your-domain>` subdomain) the dashboards with the graphs that we're interested in
`matrix_grafana_anonymous_access`|By default you need to log in to see graphs. If you want to publicly share your graphs (e.g. when asking for help in [`#synapse:matrix.org`](https://matrix.to/#/#synapse:matrix.org?via=matrix.org&via=privacytools.io&via=mozilla.org)) you'll want to enable this option.
`matrix_grafana_default_admin_user`<br>`matrix_grafana_default_admin_password`|By default Grafana creates a user with `admin` as the username and password. If you feel this is insecure and you want to change it beforehand, you can do that here
@ -48,28 +53,54 @@ Most of our docker containers run with limited system access, but the `prometheu
## Collecting metrics to an external Prometheus server
If you wish, you could expose homeserver metrics without enabling (installing) Prometheus and Grafana via the playbook. This may be useful for hooking Matrix services to an external Prometheus/Grafana installation.
**If the integrated Prometheus server is enabled** (`matrix_prometheus_enabled: true`), metrics are collected by it from each service via communication that happens over the container network. Each service does not need to expose its metrics "publicly".
When you'd like **to collect metrics from an external Prometheus server**, you need to expose service metrics outside of the container network.
The playbook provides a single endpoint (`https://matrix.DOMAIN/metrics/*`), under which various services may expose their metrics (e.g. `/metrics/node-exporter`, `/metrics/postgres-exporter`, `/metrics/hookshot`, etc). To enable this `/metrics/*` feature, use `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_enabled`. To protect access using [Basic Authentication](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic_access_authentication), see `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_basic_auth_enabled` below.
To do this, you may be interested in the following variables:
The following variables may be of interest:
Name | Description
-----|----------
`matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_enabled`|Set this to `true` to enable metrics exposure for various services on `https://matrix.DOMAIN/metrics/*`. Refer to the individual `matrix_SERVICE_metrics_proxying_enabled` variables below for exposing metrics for each individual service.
`matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_basic_auth_enabled`|Set this to `true` to protect all `https://matrix.DOMAIN/metrics/*` endpoints with [Basic Authentication](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic_access_authentication) (see the other variables below for supplying the actual credentials). When enabled, all endpoints beneath `/metrics` will be protected with the same credentials
`matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_basic_auth_username`|Set this to the Basic Authentication username you'd like to protect `/metrics/*` with. You also need to set `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_basic_auth_password`. If one username/password pair is not enough, you can leave the `username` and `password` variables unset and use `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_basic_auth_raw_content` instead
`matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_basic_auth_password`|Set this to the Basic Authentication password you'd like to protect `/metrics/*` with
`matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_basic_auth_raw_content`|Set this to the Basic Authentication credentials (raw `htpasswd` file content) used to protect `/metrics/*`. This htpasswd-file needs to be generated with the `htpasswd` tool and can include multiple username/password pairs. If you only need one credential, use `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_basic_auth_username` and `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_basic_auth_password` instead.
`matrix_synapse_metrics_enabled`|Set this to `true` to make Synapse expose metrics (locally, on the container network)
`matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_synapse_metrics`|Set this to `true` to make matrix-nginx-proxy expose the Synapse metrics at `https://matrix.DOMAIN/_synapse/metrics`
`matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_synapse_metrics_basic_auth_enabled`|Set this to `true` to password-protect (using HTTP Basic Auth) `https://matrix.DOMAIN/_synapse/metrics` (the username is always `prometheus`, the password is defined in `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_synapse_metrics_basic_auth_key`)
`matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_synapse_metrics_basic_auth_key`|Set this to a password to use for HTTP Basic Auth for protecting `https://matrix.DOMAIN/_synapse/metrics` (the username is always `prometheus` - it's not configurable). Do not write the password in plain text. See `man 1 htpasswd` or use `htpasswd -c mypass.htpasswd prometheus` to generate the expected hash for nginx.
`matrix_server_fqn_grafana`|Use this variable to override the domain at which the Grafana web user-interface is at (defaults to `stats.DOMAIN`)
`matrix_synapse_metrics_proxying_enabled`|Set this to `true` to expose Synapse's metrics on `https://matrix.DOMAIN/metrics/synapse/main-process` and `https://matrix.DOMAIN/metrics/synapse/worker/TYPE-ID` (only takes effect if `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_enabled: true`). Read [below](#collecting-synapse-worker-metrics-to-an-external-prometheus-server) if you're running a Synapse worker setup (`matrix_synapse_workers_enabled: true`).
`matrix_prometheus_node_exporter_enabled`|Set this to `true` to enable the node (general system stats) exporter (locally, on the container network)
`matrix_prometheus_node_exporter_metrics_proxying_enabled`|Set this to `true` to expose the node (general system stats) metrics on `https://matrix.DOMAIN/metrics/node-exporter` (only takes effect if `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_enabled: true`)
`matrix_prometheus_postgres_exporter_enabled`|Set this to `true` to enable the [Postgres exporter](configuring-playbook-prometheus-postgres.md) (locally, on the container network)
`matrix_prometheus_postgres_exporter_metrics_proxying_enabled`|Set this to `true` to expose the [Postgres exporter](configuring-playbook-prometheus-postgres.md) metrics on `https://matrix.DOMAIN/metrics/postgres-exporter` (only takes effect if `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_enabled: true`)
`matrix_bridge_hookshot_metrics_enabled`|Set this to `true` to make [Hookshot](configuring-playbook-bridge-hookshot.md) expose metrics (locally, on the container network)
`matrix_bridge_hookshot_metrics_proxying_enabled`|Set this to `true` to expose the [Hookshot](configuring-playbook-bridge-hookshot.md) metrics on `https://matrix.DOMAIN/metrics/hookshot` (only takes effect if `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_enabled: true`)
`matrix_SERVICE_metrics_proxying_enabled`|Various other services/roles may provide similar `_metrics_enabled` and `_metrics_proxying_enabled` variables for exposing their metrics. Refer to each role for details. Only takes effect if `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_enabled: true`
`matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_additional_user_location_configuration_blocks`|Add nginx `location` blocks to this list if you'd like to expose additional exporters manually (see below)
Example for how to make use of `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_additional_user_location_configuration_blocks` for exposing additional metrics locations:
Using `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_additional_user_location_configuration_blocks` only takes effect if `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_enabled: true` (see above).
### Collecting worker metrics to an external Prometheus server
### Collecting Synapse worker metrics to an external Prometheus server
If you are using workers (`matrix_synapse_workers_enabled`) and have enabled `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_synapse_metrics` as described above, the playbook will also automatically proxy the all worker threads's metrics to `https://matrix.DOMAIN/_synapse-worker-TYPE-ID/metrics`, where `TYPE` corresponds to the type and `ID` to the instanceId of a worker as exemplified in `matrix_synapse_workers_enabled_list`.
If you are using workers (`matrix_synapse_workers_enabled: true`) and have enabled `matrix_synapse_metrics_proxying_enabled` as described above, the playbook will also automatically expose all Synapse worker threads' metrics to `https://matrix.DOMAIN/metrics/synapse/worker/TYPE-ID`, where `TYPE` corresponds to the type and `ID` to the instanceId of a worker as exemplified in `matrix_synapse_workers_enabled_list`.
The playbook also generates an exemplary prometheus.yml config file (`matrix_base_data_path/external_prometheus.yml.template`) with all the correct paths which you can copy to your Prometheus server and adapt to your needs, especially edit the specified `password_file` path and contents and path to your `synapse-v2.rules`.
The playbook also generates an exemplary config file (`/matrix/synapse/external_prometheus.yml.template`) with all the correct paths which you can copy to your Prometheus server and adapt to your needs. Make sure to edit the specified `password_file` path and contents and path to your `synapse-v2.rules`.
### Collecting system and Postgres metrics to an external Prometheus server (advanced)
When you normally enable the Prometheus and Grafana via the playbook, it will also show general system (via node-exporter) and Postgres (via postgres-exporter) stats. If you are instead collecting your metrics to an external Prometheus server, you can follow this advanced configuration example to also export these stats.
It would be possible to use `matrix_prometheus_node_exporter_container_http_host_bind_port` etc., but that is not always the best choice, for example because your server is on a public network.
Use the following variables in addition to the ones mentioned above:
Name | Description
-----|----------
`matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_grafana_enabled`|Set this to `true` to make the stats subdomain (`matrix_server_fqn_grafana`) available via the Nginx proxy
`matrix_ssl_additional_domains_to_obtain_certificates_for`|Add `"{{ matrix_server_fqn_grafana }}"` to this list to have letsencrypt fetch a certificate for the stats subdomain
`matrix_prometheus_node_exporter_enabled`|Set this to `true` to enable the node (general system stats) exporter
`matrix_prometheus_postgres_exporter_enabled`|Set this to `true` to enable the Postgres exporter
`matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_grafana_additional_server_configuration_blocks`|Add locations to this list depending on which of the above exporters you enabled (see below)
You can customize the `location`s to your liking, just point your Prometheus to there later (e.g. `stats.DOMAIN/node-exporter/metrics`). Nginx is very picky about the `proxy_pass`syntax: take care to follow the example closely and note the trailing slash as well as absent use of variables. postgres-exporter uses the nonstandard port 9187.
`matrix_prometheus_postgres_exporter_enabled`|Enable the postgres prometheus exporter. This sets up the docker container, connects it to the database and adds a 'job' to the prometheus config which tells prometheus about this new exporter. The default is 'false'
`matrix_prometheus_postgres_exporter_database_username`| The 'username' for the user that the exporter uses to connect to the database. The default is 'matrix_prometheus_postgres_exporter'
`matrix_prometheus_postgres_exporter_database_password`| The 'password' for the user that the exporter uses to connect to the database.
`matrix_prometheus_postgres_exporter_database_password`| The 'password' for the user that the exporter uses to connect to the database. By default, this is auto-generated by the playbook
`matrix_prometheus_postgres_exporter_metrics_proxying_enabled`|If set to `true`, exposes the Postgres exporter metrics on `https://matrix.DOMAIN/metrics/postgres-exporter` for usage with an [external Prometheus server](configuring-playbook-prometheus-grafana.md#collecting-metrics-to-an-external-prometheus-server) (only takes effect if `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_enabled: true`)
# Controls whether proxying for (Prometheus) metrics (`/metrics/*`) for the various services should be done (on the matrix domain)
# If the internal Prometheus server (`matrix-prometheus` role) is used, proxying is not necessary, since Prometheus can access each container directly.
# This is only useful when an external Prometheus will be collecting metrics.
#
# To control what kind of metrics are exposed under `/metrics/` (e.g `/metrics/node-exporter`, `/metrics/postgres-exporter`, etc.),
# use `matrix_SERVICE_metrics_proxying_enabled` variables in each respective role.
# Roles inject themselves into the matrix-nginx-proxy configuration.
#
# To protect the metrics endpoints, see `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_basic_auth_enabled`
# Controls whether Basic Auth is enabled for all `/metrics/*` endpoints.
#
# You can provide the Basic Auth credentials in 2 ways:
# 1. A single username/password pair using `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_basic_auth_username` and `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_basic_auth_password`
# 2. Using raw content (`htpasswd`-generated file) provided in `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_basic_auth_raw_content`
# `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_basic_auth_raw_content` value will be written verbatim to the htpasswd file protecting `/metrics/*` endpoints.
# Use this when a single username/password is not enough and you'd like to get more control over credentials.
#
# Read the manpage at `man 1 htpasswd` to learn more, then encrypt your password, and paste the encrypted value here.
# e.g. `htpasswd -c mypass.htpasswd prometheus` and enter `mysecurepw` when prompted yields `prometheus:$apr1$wZhqsn.U$7LC3kMmjUbjNAZjyMyvYv/`
# The whole thing is needed here. matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_basic_auth_raw_content: "prometheus:$apr1$wZhqsn.U$7LC3kMmjUbjNAZjyMyvYv/"
# A list of strings containing additional configuration blocks to add to the `location /metrics` configuration (matrix-domain.conf).
# Do not modify `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_additional_location_configuration_blocks` and `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_additional_system_location_configuration_blocks`.
# If you'd like to inject your own configuration blocks, use `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_additional_user_location_configuration_blocks`.
# The following value will be written verbatim to the htpasswd file that stores the password for nginx to check against and needs to be encoded appropriately.
# Read the manpage at `man 1 htpasswd` to learn more, then encrypt your password, and paste the encrypted value here.
# e.g. `htpasswd -c mypass.htpasswd prometheus` and enter `mysecurepw` when prompted yields `prometheus:$apr1$wZhqsn.U$7LC3kMmjUbjNAZjyMyvYv/`
# The part after `prometheus:` is needed here. matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_synapse_metrics_basic_auth_key: "$apr1$wZhqsn.U$7LC3kMmjUbjNAZjyMyvYv/"
`matrix_nginx_proxy_ssl_preset` needs to be set to a known value.
when:"matrix_nginx_proxy_ssl_preset not in ['modern', 'intermediate', 'old']"
- name:Fail if Basic Auth enabled for metrics, but no credentials supplied
fail:
msg:|
Enabling Basic Auth for metrics (`matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_basic_auth_enabled`) requires:
- either a username/password (provided in `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_basic_auth_username` and `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_basic_auth_password`)
- or raw htpasswd content (provided in `matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_basic_auth_raw_content`)
when:"matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_basic_auth_enabled|bool and (matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_basic_auth_raw_content == '' and (matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_basic_auth_username == '' or matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_metrics_basic_auth_password == ''))"
- block:
- name:(Deprecation) Catch and report renamed settings
Slavi Pantaleev
2 years ago