scrapeinterval

ScrapeInterval is a configuration parameter used by monitoring agents and collectors to determine the frequency at which they query target systems for metric data. It defines the time interval between the start of one data‑collection cycle and the start of the next. Because metric reliability depends on timely updates, the chosen value directly impacts resource utilization, network traffic, and the freshness of the recorded data.

In commonly used monitoring platforms such as Prometheus, the default ScrapeInterval is fifteen seconds. Users may modify this value in the scrape‑config block of the server’s configuration file. Setting a shorter interval increases the granularity of the monitored data but also raises load on both the collector and the target services. Conversely, extending the interval reduces overhead but may cause stale metrics and delay the detection of transient issues. Prometheus supports fractional seconds (e.g., 1.5s) and includes safeguards to enforce a minimum interval of 0.2s.

Typical usage scenarios involve adjusting ScrapeInterval to match the expected volatility of the target. For slowly‑changing metrics like average disk utilization, intervals of one to five minutes might be sufficient, whereas systems with rapid state changes, such as cache hit rates, may require intervals of one or two seconds. In addition to the global setting, individual job configurations can specify a distinct ScrapeInterval to accommodate heterogeneous target characteristics. Documentation for each system provides the exact syntax and allowable value ranges, ensuring consistent and reproducible deployment.