/ 
Data-Collector-0.15
River stage zero No dependents
/ Data::Collector

NAME

Data::Collector - Collect information from multiple sources

VERSION

version 0.15

SYNOPSIS

Data::Collector collects various information from multiple sources and makes it available in different formats, similar to Puppet's Facter.

use Data::Collector;

my $collector = Data::Collector->new(
    engine      => 'OpenSSH', # default
    engine_args => { password => read_password('Pass: ') },
    format      => 'JSON', # default
);

my %data = $collector->collect;
...

Data::Collector uses Infos to determine what information is collected. It then uses Serializers to serialize that information.

An important concept in Data::Collector is that it does not use any modules to fetch the information, only shell commands. This might seem like a pain at first but it allows it to be run on remote machines without any RPC server/client set up. It might be changed in the future, but (at least now) it seems unlikely.

The main purpose of Data::Collector is to facilitate an information gatherning subsystem, much like Puppet's Facter, to be used in system monitoring and administration.

However, Data::Collector is much more dynamic. It supports any number of engines and formats. Thus, it can be used for push or pull situations, can work with monitoring systems, integrate with testing suites and otherwise a pretty wide variety of situations.

ATTRIBUTES

engine(Str)

The engine that will be used to collect the information. This is the underlying layer that will gather the information. The default is OpenSSH, you can use any other one you want and even create your own.

By implementing your own, you can have fetching done via database queries, online searching, local system commands or even telnet, if that's what you're using.

engine_args(HashRef)

Any arguments that the engine might need. These are passed to the engine's new method. Other than making sure it's a hash reference, the value is not checked and is left for the engine's discression.

Data::Collector::Engine::OpenSSH requires a host, and allows a user and passwd.

format(Str)

This is the format in which you want the information. This will most likely refer to the serializer you want, but it doesn't have to be. For example, you could implement your own Serializer which will actually be a module to push all the changes you want in a database you have.

The default is JSON.

format_args(HashRef)

Much like engine_args, you can supply any additional arguments that will reach the serializer's new method.

info_args(HashRef)

Much like engine_args and info_args, you can supply any additional arguments that should go to specific Info module's new method.

info_args => {
    IFaces => {
        ignore_ip    => ['127.0.0.1'],
        ignore_iface => ['lo'],
    },
},

data(HashRef)

While (and post) collecting, this attribute contains all the information [being] gathered. It is this data that is sent to the serializer in order to do whatever it wants with it.

engine_object(Object)

This attributes holds the engine object. This should probably be left for either testing or advanced usage. Please refrain from playing with it if you're unsure how it works.

SUBROUTINES/METHODS

collect

The main function of Data::Collector. It runs all the information collecting modules. When it is done, it runs the serialize method in order to serialize the information fetched.

serialize

Loads the serializer (according to the format selected) and asks it to serialize the data it collected.

This method can be run manually as well, but it is automatically run when you run collect.

clear_registry

Clears the information registry. The registry keeps all the keys of different information modules. The registry makes sure information modules don't step on each other.

This is merely a helper method. It simply runs:

Data::Collector::Info->clear_registry;

This is actually only a mere helper method.

BUILD

Internal initialize subroutine that sets the default OS to CentOS.

load_info

Loads all the infos available.

load_os

Currently not being used.

BUGS

Please report any bugs or feature requests to bug-data-collector at rt.cpan.org, or through the web interface at http://rt.cpan.org/NoAuth/ReportBug.html?Queue=Data-Collector. I will be notified, and then you'll automatically be notified of progress on your bug as I make changes.

SUPPORT

You can find documentation for this module with the perldoc command.

perldoc Data::Collector

You can also look for information at:

AUTHOR

Sawyer X <xsawyerx@cpan.org>

COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE

This software is copyright (c) 2012 by Sawyer X.

This is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as the Perl 5 programming language system itself.