Threshold Profiles

In this article, we're going to take a look at Threshold Profiles. We'll be discussing topics relating to:

• The purpose and value of the policies functionality for Thresholds.
• How Threshold Profiles provide a consistent way to rapidly deploy common criteria on the platform.
• System Administration functions for thresholds and how to configure thresholds on the platform.
• Examples to understand the use of the Policies for thresholds when creating dashboards.
• Where to find help.

Threshold Overview (Session Only)

So, what exactly are thresholds? Well, we're glad you asked! Related only to session data, they are part of the Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance (formerly Skylight performance analytics) platform for providing a way to both simply and consistently deploy a series of predefined thresholds, consistent color schemes, and naming against various dashboards. Naming of these thresholds is critical, because the drop-down list does not describe the contents of the profile, so you must make the name of the profile meaningful for your implementation.

Threshold Profiles have support for session metrics (Packet loss %, Jitter (avg), etc.), including both the value, baseline value, and percentage baseline. In addition, we have a picklist in dashboard creation, which is defined by the metric definition that you are actually selecting so keep in mind that you must select a metric before you are offered the profiles. If a post aggregate is selected, the threshold level is selectable and then the crossing percentages are defined manually.

Important to note, Threshold Profiles are configured by administrative level and are available for any user with dashboard edit capability; these thresholds cannot be seen for normal usage. (Thresholds are added in the Policies area of system administration.)

Help is covered in the General Settings area of Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance documentation.

Policies – Threshold Profiles Configuration Examples

System Admin ▶ Policies ▶ Threshold Profiles

Let us dive on in and have a look. You can find a list of any created Threshold Profiles under System Admin ▶ Policies ▶ Threshold Profiles.

The possible Threshold types include:

• Single metric: Included are a series of levels, selection criteria as well as color schemes.
• Two metrics: Two metrics can be utilized, such as with Bin Profiles (Session only).
• Three metrics: Three metrics can be utilized, such as when using an ultra low latency profile.
  

Use of Threshold Bin Profiles in Dashboard (Session Only)

As can be seen in the above figure, there are three different types of Bin profiles and three diferent implementations to demonstrate these profiles:

• Pie chart
• Line chart
• Table

You can essentially use these bin profiles, or threshold bin profiles, in three different dashboard components or cards, as well as in three different types of dashboard themselves, three different card types.

Policies – Threshold Profiles Dashboard Usage

Creating an Aggregation card with a Threshold Profile

To create an aggregation card with a Threshold Profile

1. Click Author in the top-right corner of your screen.
2. Click Card.
3. Select the Widget type that you would like to use.
4. Where it reads Data, click the + button to select the data set you want; for example, Packet loss %.
   

You will be given a number.

5. Click Set up bins and select the pre-aggregation and then the profile.
   When the profile is selected, you will be given a drop-down list of all your items, allowing you to select the one you want.
6. Click the checkmark when you're done.
   The profile, for example a pie chart or line chart, will appear immediately without performing all the manual selection of colors and thresholds on it.

You can also change to another profile, if you want, and it immediately changes that view. That is to say, it is much more elegant than doing a manual creation of all of these because we have profiles that we can swap settings to immediately.

Jumping into a final view of dashboard types and, as can be seen in the above image, we have some manually created dashboard bin levels and you can see where they are set up using the profiles. We have two ways of setting them up; we can do them manually or directly.

Main Benefits of Using Thresholds Policies

To summerize what we have learned, below are the main benefits to keep in mind when using Thresholds Policies:

• Rapid deployment of common representation and thresholds.
• Ensures consistency in color usage in thresholds.
• Common metric thresholds can be used in Pie, line and table representations.
• Enables complex dashboards to be rolled out with reuse of common references.
• Thresholds can be configured for multiple metrics in one policy.

Well, there we have it ladies and gentlemen, Threshold Profiles!