As an observability architect, I have seen firsthand the power and importance of a robust monitoring solution. For infrastructure monitoring System Center Operations Manager (SCOM) stands tall. It is widely adopted and excels at monitoring the health and performance of infrastructure. However, as the need for advanced observability grows, such as tracking application logs and tracing code paths, SCOM's capabilities can fall short. This is where Grafana, and specifically the LGTM stack (Loki, Grafana, Tempo, Mimir), enters the picture.
Grafana brings a holistic, open-source approach to observability, allowing users to track, log, and trace across full application stacks. At the same time, SCOM brings its own set of strengths. At Opslogix, we set out to explore how combining the best of both platforms can create powerful synergies.
We already offer a free SCOM Data Source for Grafana, providing a straightforward way to pull operational data from SCOM into Grafana to build status dashboards. But for application teams, accessing SCOM data in Grafana can be challenging, as the imported data is not formatted in the familiar PromQL or LogQL structure they’re used to working with in Grafana.
So, we set out to find a way to make SCOM data more accessible and actionable for those who work in Grafana every day. The solution we’re developing, now in the prototype stage, is a SCOM Prometheus Exporter. This tool fetches data directly from SCOM and makes it available in a format that Prometheus (and by extension, Grafana) can easily interpret.
The beauty of this solution is that from here, the data can be sent to Grafana Cloud or a local Grafana installation, where users can work with it in familiar ways, using tools like LogQL and PromQL. Imagine the power of infrastructure data in SCOM combined with advanced features like forecasting and machine learning insights in Grafana Cloud.
With this prototype, we’re hoping to break down the silos between infrastructure monitoring and application observability, leveraging the best of both worlds. Our goal is to empower teams to get even more value from their data and make informed, data-driven decisions faster.
By bridging the gap between SCOM and Grafana, organizations can leverage the benefits of both solutions to enhance their IT operations and achieve wider monitoring possibilities.
Follow along as we continue to refine and test this tool. We’re excited to see how it will reshape the monitoring landscape for SCOM users and provide a seamless integration with Grafana’s observability solutions.
Do you want to know how you can connect SCOM and Grafana? Or maybe you want to discuss how to get started with the Grafana LGTM Stack?
Let's discuss it together, reach out to us below!