See Every Production Second. Fix Issues in Minutes.

Netdata monitors PLCs via SNMP and through Prometheus exporters for Modbus RTU/TCP and OPC-UA protocols. For comprehensive Level 0-1 monitoring, we recommend combining Netdata with specialized SCADA platforms while using Netdata for Level 2-4 (servers, databases, MES, ERP) where it excels.

Netdata integrates at multiple levels: (1) SQL collectors query MES databases directly for production KPIs like OEE and cycle times, (2) REST API collectors connect to SCADA/MES APIs, (3) SNMP monitors SCADA server hardware, (4) Process monitoring tracks SCADA application health, (5) systemd-journal captures service logs. This multi-layer approach provides comprehensive visibility without modifying existing systems.

Netdata delivers 90% cost reduction compared to traditional monitoring solutions at equivalent scale. The savings come from edge processing (no cloud ingestion fees), efficient storage (0.6 bytes/sample), and flat per-node pricing with unlimited metrics, logs, and ML - no data volume penalties or per-metric charges.

Netdata’s architecture supports compliance requirements (audit trails, encryption, data retention, access controls) but is not pre-certified for FDA 21 CFR Part 11 or CMMC. Organizations use Netdata for infrastructure monitoring (non-GxP systems) which simplifies validation. For GxP systems, combine Netdata with validated MES platforms like Siemens Opcenter or Rockwell FactoryTalk.

Typical timeline: Week 1 - Deploy agents on all servers (60 seconds per server), enable SNMP for network devices. Week 2-3 - Configure SQL collectors for MES databases, add Prometheus exporters for Modbus/OPC-UA if needed. Week 4 - Review ML results (first detection available after 15 minutes, full confidence in 2 days), fine-tune alerts, train team. Total: 2-4 weeks to comprehensive coverage.

Netdata Agents continue collecting, storing, and analyzing data locally during network outages. Each agent maintains buffered data and automatically replicates to Parents when connectivity restores. Local dashboards remain accessible at http://localhost:19999 on each server. This edge-native design ensures zero data loss and continuous visibility even during network partitions.

Yes, for most manufacturing use cases. Netdata provides superior capabilities: (1) Algorithmic dashboards vs manual Grafana building, (2) Per-second vs 10-second Prometheus scraping, (3) Built-in ML vs manual threshold tuning, (4) 36% less CPU and 88% less RAM at scale (based on Netdata benchmark testing). You can run both in parallel initially, with Netdata scraping Prometheus exporters, then migrate fully once validated.

Netdata uses unsupervised k-means clustering (k=2) with 18 models per metric trained on different 6-hour windows. Models train automatically within 15 minutes of deployment, requiring no labeled data or manual tuning. Unanimous consensus across all 18 models is required before flagging anomalies, achieving 99% false positive reduction in anomaly detection.

Agents are lightweight collectors installed on every monitored system (<5% CPU, 150-200 MB RAM). Parents are centralization points that aggregate data from multiple Agents, providing long-term storage, unified dashboards, and high availability. For manufacturing: deploy Agents on production servers/HMI workstations, Parents in plant network closets, and use Netdata Cloud for multi-site visibility.

Yes. Netdata’s unsupervised ML detects equipment degradation patterns automatically - bearing wear, motor anomalies, sensor drift - without requiring labeled failure data. Integrate SNMP sensors for vibration/temperature, and ML baselines equipment behavior within 15 minutes. For specialized vibration analysis (FFT/spectral), combine with dedicated condition monitoring systems.

Netdata has no cardinality limits or penalties. Each container gets full per-second monitoring with unlimited labels and dimensions. The efficient storage engine (0.6 bytes/sample) and edge processing architecture handle millions of ephemeral containers without performance degradation. Auto-discovery tracks container lifecycle automatically - new containers appear instantly, deleted containers vanish cleanly.

Business plan includes email/ticket support during business hours with SLA. Enterprise support (24/7, phone, dedicated team) available for large deployments. Professional services include architecture design, deployment assistance, MES/SCADA integration guidance, and custom collector development. Community support via Discord and forums for open-source users.

Yes, through multiple methods: (1) IPMI and RAPL for server power consumption, (2) SNMP for PDU monitoring (APC, Eaton, Cyberpower), (3) lm-sensors for hardware power metrics, (4) Custom StatsD metrics for carbon calculations. While Netdata doesn’t have native carbon tracking, you can build sustainability dashboards using collected power data and custom carbon-per-kWh calculations.

Different focus areas: Opcenter/FactoryTalk are MES platforms (Level 2-3) with native PLC integration, OEE modules, and FDA validation. Netdata excels at IT/OT convergence (Level 2-4) with superior infrastructure monitoring, ML anomaly detection, and 90% lower cost. Best practice: Use dedicated MES for production execution, Netdata for infrastructure observability and IT/OT integration.

Minimal. Point-and-click interface requires no query languages (no PromQL, no SQL for dashboards). Algorithmic dashboards generate automatically - no manual building. Junior engineers get the same visibility as senior staff. Typical onboarding: 2 hours for basic use, 1 day for advanced features like Anomaly Advisor and AI Troubleshooting.