Neptune Apex Input Plugin

This plugin gathers metrics from Neptune Apex controller instances, allowing aquarium hobbyists to monitor and control their tanks based on various probes.

⭐ Telegraf v1.10.0 🏷️ iot 💻 all

Global configuration options

Plugins support additional global and plugin configuration settings for tasks such as modifying metrics, tags, and fields, creating aliases, and configuring plugin ordering. See CONFIGURATION.md for more details.

Configuration

toml

# Neptune Apex data collector
[[inputs.neptune_apex]]
  ## The Neptune Apex plugin reads the publicly available status.xml data from a local Apex.
  ## Measurements will be logged under "apex".

  ## The base URL of the local Apex(es). If you specify more than one server, they will
  ## be differentiated by the "source" tag.
  servers = [
    "http://apex.local",
  ]

  ## The response_timeout specifies how long to wait for a reply from the Apex.
  #response_timeout = "5s"

Troubleshooting

sendRequest failure

This indicates a problem communicating with the local Apex controller. If on Mac/Linux, try curl:

curl apex.local/cgi-bin/status.xml

to isolate the problem.

parseXML errors

Ensure the XML being returned is valid. If you get valid XML back, open a bug request.

Missing fields/data

The neptune_apex plugin is strict on its input to prevent any conversion errors. If you have fields in the status.xml output that are not converted to a metric, open a feature request and paste your whole status.xml

Metrics

The Neptune Apex controller family allows an aquarium hobbyist to monitor and control their tanks based on various probes. The data is taken directly from the /cgi-bin/status.xml at the interval specified in the telegraf.conf configuration file.

No manipulation is done on any of the fields to ensure future changes to the status.xml do not introduce conversion bugs to this plugin. When reasonable and predictable, some tags are derived to make graphing easier and without front-end programming. These tags are clearly marked in the list below and should be considered a convenience rather than authoritative.

neptune_apex (All metrics have this measurement name)
- tags:
  - host (mandatory, string) - host on which telegraf runs
  - source (mandatory, string) - contains the hostname of the apex device This can be used to differentiate between different units. By using the source instead of the serial number, replacements units won't disturb graphs.
  - type (mandatory, string) - maps to the different data types Values can be "controller" (The Apex controller itself), "probe" for the different input probes, or "output" for any physical or virtual outputs. The Watt and Amp probes attached to the physical 120V outlets are aggregated under the output type.
  - hardware (mandatory, string) - controller hardware version
  - software (mandatory, string) - software version
  - probe_type (optional, string) - contains the probe type as reported by Apex
  - name (optional, string) - contains the name of the probe or output
  - output_id (optional, string) - represents the internal unique output ID This is different from the device_id.
  - device_id (optional, string) - maps to either the aquabus address or internal reference
  - output_type (optional, string) - categorizes the output into different categories. This tag is DERIVED from the device_id. Possible values are: "variable" for the 0-10V signal ports, "outlet" for physical 120V sockets, "alert" for alarms (email, sound), "virtual" for user-defined outputs, and "unknown" for everything else
- fields:
  - value (float, various unit) - represents the probe reading.
  - state (string) - represents the output state as defined by the Apex. Examples include "AOF" for Auto (OFF), "TBL" for operating according to a table, and "PF*" for different programs
  - amp (float, Ampere) - amount of current flowing through the 120V outlet
  - watt (float, Watt) - amount of energy flowing through the 120V outlet
  - xstatus (string) - xstatus of an outlet, found on wireless Vortech devices
  - power_failed (int64, Unix epoch in ns) - last power loss of the controller Omitted if the apex reports it as "none".
  - power_restored (int64, Unix epoch in ns) - last powered on of the controller Omitted if the apex reports it as "none"
  - serial (string, serial number)
- time:
  - metric time as parsed from the status.xml page. This helps when cross-referencing events with the local system of Apex Fusion. Since the Apex uses NTP, this should not matter in most scenarios.

Example Output

text

neptune_apex,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=controller power_failed=1544814000000000000i,power_restored=1544833875000000000i,serial="AC5:12345" 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,device_id=base_Var1,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=VarSpd1_I1,output_id=0,output_type=variable,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=output state="PF1" 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,device_id=base_Var2,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=VarSpd2_I2,output_id=1,output_type=variable,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=output state="PF2" 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,device_id=base_Var3,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=VarSpd3_I3,output_id=2,output_type=variable,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=output state="PF3" 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,device_id=base_Var4,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=VarSpd4_I4,output_id=3,output_type=variable,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=output state="PF4" 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,device_id=base_Alarm,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=SndAlm_I6,output_id=4,output_type=alert,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=output state="AOF" 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,device_id=base_Warn,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=SndWrn_I7,output_id=5,output_type=alert,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=output state="AOF" 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,device_id=base_email,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=EmailAlm_I5,output_id=6,output_type=alert,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=output state="AOF" 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,device_id=base_email2,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=Email2Alm_I9,output_id=7,output_type=alert,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=output state="AOF" 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,device_id=2_1,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=RETURN_2_1,output_id=8,output_type=outlet,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=output amp=0.3,state="AON",watt=34 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,device_id=2_2,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=Heater1_2_2,output_id=9,output_type=outlet,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=output amp=0,state="AOF",watt=0 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,device_id=2_3,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=FREE_2_3,output_id=10,output_type=outlet,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=output amp=0,state="OFF",watt=1 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,device_id=2_4,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=LIGHT_2_4,output_id=11,output_type=outlet,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=output amp=0,state="OFF",watt=1 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,device_id=2_5,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=LHead_2_5,output_id=12,output_type=outlet,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=output amp=0,state="AON",watt=4 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,device_id=2_6,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=SKIMMER_2_6,output_id=13,output_type=outlet,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=output amp=0.1,state="AON",watt=12 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,device_id=2_7,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=FREE_2_7,output_id=14,output_type=outlet,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=output amp=0,state="OFF",watt=1 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,device_id=2_8,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=CABLIGHT_2_8,output_id=15,output_type=outlet,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=output amp=0,state="AON",watt=1 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,device_id=2_9,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=LinkA_2_9,output_id=16,output_type=unknown,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=output state="AOF" 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,device_id=2_10,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=LinkB_2_10,output_id=17,output_type=unknown,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=output state="AOF" 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,device_id=3_1,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=RVortech_3_1,output_id=18,output_type=unknown,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=output state="TBL",xstatus="OK" 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,device_id=3_2,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=LVortech_3_2,output_id=19,output_type=unknown,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=output state="TBL",xstatus="OK" 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,device_id=4_1,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=OSMOLATO_4_1,output_id=20,output_type=outlet,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=output amp=0,state="AOF",watt=0 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,device_id=4_2,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=HEATER2_4_2,output_id=21,output_type=outlet,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=output amp=0,state="AOF",watt=0 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,device_id=4_3,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=NUC_4_3,output_id=22,output_type=outlet,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=output amp=0.1,state="AON",watt=8 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,device_id=4_4,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=CABFAN_4_4,output_id=23,output_type=outlet,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=output amp=0,state="AON",watt=1 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,device_id=4_5,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=RHEAD_4_5,output_id=24,output_type=outlet,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=output amp=0,state="AON",watt=3 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,device_id=4_6,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=FIRE_4_6,output_id=25,output_type=outlet,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=output amp=0,state="AON",watt=3 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,device_id=4_7,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=LightGW_4_7,output_id=26,output_type=outlet,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=output amp=0,state="AON",watt=1 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,device_id=4_8,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=GBSWITCH_4_8,output_id=27,output_type=outlet,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=output amp=0,state="AON",watt=0 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,device_id=4_9,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=LinkA_4_9,output_id=28,output_type=unknown,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=output state="AOF" 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,device_id=4_10,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=LinkB_4_10,output_id=29,output_type=unknown,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=output state="AOF" 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,device_id=5_1,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=LinkA_5_1,output_id=30,output_type=unknown,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=output state="AOF" 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,device_id=Cntl_A1,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=ATO_EMPTY,output_id=31,output_type=virtual,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=output state="AOF" 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,device_id=Cntl_A2,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=LEAK,output_id=32,output_type=virtual,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=output state="AOF" 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,device_id=Cntl_A3,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=SKMR_NOPWR,output_id=33,output_type=virtual,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=output state="AOF" 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=Tmp,probe_type=Temp,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=probe value=78.1 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=pH,probe_type=pH,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=probe value=7.93 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=ORP,probe_type=ORP,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=probe value=191 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=Salt,probe_type=Cond,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=probe value=29.4 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=Volt_2,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=probe value=117 1545978278000000000
neptune_apex,hardware=1.0,host=ubuntu,name=Volt_4,software=5.04_7A18,source=apex,type=probe value=118 1545978278000000000

Contributing

This plugin is used for mission-critical aquatic life support. A bug could very well result in the death of animals. Neptune does not publish a schema file and as such, we have made this plugin very strict on input with no provisions for automatically adding fields. We are also careful to not add default values when none are presented to prevent automation errors.

When writing unit tests, use actual Apex output to run tests. It's acceptable to abridge the number of repeated fields but never inner fields or parameters.