# How To Work with Templates

We will follow the following process in this example:

- **Create Data Template** - Defines how we store the data in the RRDfile
- **Create Graph Template** - Defines how we graph the data in the RRDfile
- **Device Template** - Defines which Graphs to associate with a Device Type

## Data Template Creation

For this task, let's stick to SNMP stuff. For you to be able to reproduce this
example, I've chosen the **UDP** information of the IP MIB.

```console
snmpwalk -c <community string> -v1 <device> udp
UDP-MIB::udpInDatagrams.0 = Counter32: 7675
UDP-MIB::udpNoPorts.0 = Counter32: 128
UDP-MIB::udpInErrors.0 = Counter32: 0
UDP-MIB::udpOutDatagrams.0 = Counter32: 8406
```

As cacti does not use the MIBs but pure ASN.1 OIDs, let's search the OID used as
`udpInDatagrams`:

```console
snmpwalk -c <community string> -v1 -On <device> udp
.1.3.6.1.2.1.7.1.0 = Counter32: 7778
.1.3.6.1.2.1.7.2.0 = Counter32: 129
.1.3.6.1.2.1.7.3.0 = Counter32: 0
.1.3.6.1.2.1.7.4.0 = Counter32: 8514
```

The needed OID is .1.3.6.1.2.1.7.1.0. Now learn how to enter this into a new
Cacti Data Template: Please proceed to Data Templates and filter for SNMP. Check
the SNMP - Generic OID Template

![Data Templates](images/data-templates.png)

After clicking Go, you're prompted with a new page to enter
`udp/net - udp Out Datagrams` as the `Title Format` for the
new **Data Template**:

![Data Templates Duplicate](images/data-templates-copy.png)

Due to the filter defined above, you won't see the new Template at once, so
please enter `udp Out` as a new filter to find:

![Data Templates New](images/data-templates-new.png)

Now select this entry to change some definitions according to the following
images:

![Data Templates New 1](images/data-templates-new1.png)

![Data Templates New 2](images/data-templates-new2.png)

![Data Templates New 2](images/data-templates-new3.png)

for the lower one. Please pay attention to change the MAXIMUM value to 0 to
prevent data suppression for values exceeding 100. And you saw the OID
`.1.3.6.1.2.1.7.1.0` from above, didn't you? Please copy another one for OID
`.1.3.6.1.2.1.7.4.0`, using the description **udpOutDatagrams**

## Graph Template Creation

Now let's generate the **Graph Template** for those already generated Data
Templates. Please go to **Graph Templates** and **Add** a new one:

![Graph Template](images/graph-templates.png)

Now you have to fill in some global parameters:

![Graph Template New](images/graph-templates-new1.png)

and **Create** to see:

![Graph Template New 3](images/graph-templates-new2.png)

Now let's add some **Graph Template** **Graph Items**. They will specify,
which **Data Sources** defined by some **Data Template** should be displayed
on the **Graph**. Please click Add as shown on the last image:

![Graph Template Items 1](images/graph-templates-item1.png)

Now click Save to see the resulting image below.  Not that both the
**Graph Item** and the **Graph Item Input** have been created.

![Graph Template Items 1](images/graph-templates-item1s.png)

Next, we have to add a Legend in order for people viewing the **Graph** in the
future to obtain numeric data about the **Graph** contents.  We will create
a very simple one, though Graph Legends can be a very complex subject.

To add the Graph Legend, simply press the Add button again and fill out
the **Graph Item** as shown in the image below.  You should note that
for this second **Graph Item**, it remembered the previous **Data Source**.

![Graph Template Items](images/graph-templates-item2.png)

Press Save to see three legend items created in one step!

![Graph Template Items 2](images/graph-templates-item2s.png)

Now we could have continued to add the UDP Datagrams In by adding a second
RRDfile Data Source to our **Data Template**, but we will skip that for this
exercise and continue now that our **Graph Template** is reasonably completed.

At this point, since we only added **Graph Items** to the **Graph Template**
there is no need to resave it at this point.  We can simply continue to the
next step.

Now, you may add this new **Graph Template** to any **Devices** that
responds to the udp OID we specified in the **Data Template**. But in this
case, please wait a moment. Let's first proceed to the **Device Template**
and use this new **Graph Template** for our first own **Device Template**.

## Device Template Creation

The next task is to create a new **Device Template**. So, select **Device**
under `Console > Templates` and press the Add button as in previous
examples.  When you do that, you will be presented with an page that
resembles the one below.

![Add Host Template](images/device-template-add.png)

and fill in the name of this new Template:

![Add Host Template New](images/device-template-new.png)

Now you'll find two sections added. First, let's deal with
**Associated Graph Templates**. The Add **Graph template** select drop-down
contains all existing **Graph Templates**. In the images, you will see that
we are creating a **Device Template** for a NetApp Filer and adding some
common Graph Templates and Data Queries from the Cacti built-in collection.

![Host Template Associate Graph Template](images/device-template-new-gt.png)

and Add it:

![Host Template Associate Graph Template 2](images/device-template-new-gts.png)

Next, let's add the Data Query already selected above:

![Host Template - Data Query](images/device-template-new-dqs.png)

Keep in mind, this is one of the more simple Template examples.  Topics such
as **Data Queries**, **Data Input Methods**, and **Script Server** add a few
steps to the Template creation process.

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