Data Explorer’s new Gauge visualization displays the current value of the primary metric, which is set with the Metrics setting in sidebar’s Query pane. In the Gauge this number is set against a background that changes color depending on the metric’s current value in relation to user-defined “brackets” (ranges). Assigning colors to different value ranges allows a gauge to show at a glance whether the metric’s current value is fine or problematic.

Before configuring a gauge in Data Explorer, set your dimensions, filters, time, and devices as you would for a query of any other view type. Then choose Gauge from the View Type selector at the upper right of the display area. A new Bracketing pane will appear in the Sidebar; click it to open the Bracketing Options dialog.

In the dialog (shown below), you first specify the basis on which the brackets are defined (Bracketing Type), such as static ranges, percentages, or percentiles. Then you specify the current value that will be displayed and that will be evaluated to determine which bracket it’s in (and thus what the background color will be). The Bracketing Value switch determines whether “current” means the most recent datapoint of the primary metric or the primary metric’s value over query time-range (e.g. average Mbps for the last hour). Lastly you define the ranges. By default there are two, but you can have up to five ranges with different colors (e.g. orange for a range that’s slightly above normal and red for a critical peak). For more in-depth information on Bracketing, head on over to our Bracketing Pane Settings article in the KB.

Once you run the query you can add it to a dashboard as a panel. This is a really powerful tool, as you can see below where there’s a set of such Guage panels, each showing a different metric. With the dashboard set to Live Update you get really easy-to-grasp indicators that update as network traffic changes. Keep an eye on our Product Update, Knowledge Base, and blog sites for more upcoming features and enhancements around Dashboards and Bracketing.