Dashboard & Visualization
Beacon’s Dashboard & Visualization module is the primary interface through which users consume observability data. It brings together monitoring signals, query analytics, index findings, alerts, and historical trends into cohesive, interactive views that make database health immediately understandable.
This module answers the question: “What is the state of my databases right now, and how do I see it clearly?”
Capabilities
Section titled “Capabilities”1. Overview Dashboard
Section titled “1. Overview Dashboard”The overview dashboard provides a consolidated, at-a-glance view across all monitored instances.
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Instance Health Summary | Status indicator for each registered database. |
| Active Alerts | Currently firing alerts, prioritized by severity. |
| Key Performance Indicators | High-level metrics across the fleet. |
| Top Queries | The most impactful queries by time or frequency. |
| Resource Snapshot | Aggregate CPU, memory, and storage utilization. |
| Recent Activity | Latest notable events and changes. |
Operational value: Provides an immediate answer to “is everything healthy?” without navigating multiple views.
2. Instance Dashboard
Section titled “2. Instance Dashboard”Each monitored database has a dedicated dashboard focused on its specific health and behavior.
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Health Score | Composite indicator of instance well-being. |
| Session Overview | Active, idle, and blocked session counts. |
| Transaction Activity | Commit and rollback rates over time. |
| Lock Contention | Current blocking chains and lock waits. |
| Resource Charts | CPU, memory, I/O, and storage over time. |
| Replication Status | Replica health and lag where applicable. |
| Query Highlights | Most expensive queries for this instance. |
| Index Findings | Recommendations specific to this instance. |
Operational value: Serves as the operational home page for a single database instance.
3. Interactive Charts
Section titled “3. Interactive Charts”Beacon presents metrics through responsive, interactive visualizations.
| Chart Capability | Description |
|---|---|
| Time-Series Plotting | Metrics rendered over selectable time ranges. |
| Zoom & Pan | Focus on specific periods of interest. |
| Hover Detail | Precise values revealed on inspection. |
| Multi-Series Overlay | Compare related signals on a shared timeline. |
| Threshold Markers | Visual indication of alert and warning boundaries. |
| Annotation Markers | Events such as deployments or incidents marked on the timeline. |
Operational value: Turns abstract numbers into patterns that are easy to interpret and act upon.
4. Real-Time Monitoring Views
Section titled “4. Real-Time Monitoring Views”Beacon provides live views for active observation.
| Capability | Description |
|---|---|
| Live Session List | Continuously updated view of connected sessions. |
| Live Lock View | Current blocking relationships as they form and clear. |
| Live Query Activity | Queries currently executing across the instance. |
| Auto-Refresh Controls | Configurable refresh intervals. |
| Live Alert Feed | Alerts appearing in real time as conditions trigger. |
Operational value: Essential during active incidents, when a static snapshot is not enough.
5. Widget Customization
Section titled “5. Widget Customization”Beacon allows dashboards to be tailored to different users and purposes.
| Capability | Description |
|---|---|
| Widget Library | A catalog of available dashboard components. |
| Drag-and-Drop Layout | Arrange widgets freely on the dashboard canvas. |
| Resize Controls | Adjust widget size to match importance. |
| Save Layouts | Persist custom arrangements for reuse. |
| Multiple Dashboards | Create distinct dashboards for different purposes. |
| Default Dashboard | Set which dashboard opens on sign-in. |
Operational value: Lets each team shape the interface around the signals they care about most.
6. Filtering & Scoping
Section titled “6. Filtering & Scoping”Beacon allows views to be narrowed to relevant subsets of data.
| Filter Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Instance Filter | Focus on one or more databases. |
| Time Range Filter | Select the period displayed. |
| Severity Filter | Show only alerts of a given severity. |
| Query Category Filter | Narrow to specific query patterns. |
| Schema Filter | Restrict views to particular schemas. |
| Saved Filters | Persist frequently used filter combinations. |
Operational value: Reduces noise and directs attention to what matters for the task at hand.
7. Drill-Down Navigation
Section titled “7. Drill-Down Navigation”Beacon supports seamless movement from summary to detail.
| Navigation Path | Description |
|---|---|
| Dashboard → Instance | From fleet overview to a single database. |
| Instance → Query | From instance health to a specific query’s detail. |
| Query → Plan | From query detail to its execution plan. |
| Alert → Context | From an alert to the signal that triggered it. |
| Chart → Data | From a visual trend to the underlying records. |
Operational value: Supports the natural investigative flow from “something looks wrong” to “here is the cause.”
8. Visualization Types
Section titled “8. Visualization Types”Beacon employs a range of visualization styles suited to different data.
| Visualization | Typical Use |
|---|---|
| Time-Series Lines | Trends in metrics over time. |
| Bar Charts | Comparisons across categories or periods. |
| Stacked Areas | Composition of totals over time. |
| Heatmaps | Density or intensity across dimensions. |
| Node Graphs | Relationships, plans, and dependencies. |
| Tables | Detailed, structured listings. |
| Status Indicators | Binary or tiered health states. |
| Sparklines | Compact inline trend indicators. |
Operational value: Matches the visual form to the nature of the data, improving comprehension.
9. Export & Sharing
Section titled “9. Export & Sharing”Beacon allows visualizations and their data to be shared beyond the platform.
| Capability | Description |
|---|---|
| Chart Export | Save visualizations as images for reports or presentations. |
| Data Export | Export the underlying data for external analysis. |
| Dashboard Sharing | Share a dashboard configuration with other users. |
| Scheduled Snapshots | Deliver periodic dashboard snapshots to stakeholders. |
Operational value: Extends observability insights to audiences outside the platform.
Dashboard Views
Section titled “Dashboard Views”Fleet Overview
Section titled “Fleet Overview”Aggregate health across all monitored instances.
Instance Dashboard
Section titled “Instance Dashboard”Focused operational view of a single database.
Query Analytics Dashboard
Section titled “Query Analytics Dashboard”Query-centric view emphasizing performance analysis.
Index Dashboard
Section titled “Index Dashboard”Index health and recommendations at a glance.
Alerts Dashboard
Section titled “Alerts Dashboard”Alert activity, trends, and current state.
Custom Dashboards
Section titled “Custom Dashboards”User-defined dashboards tailored to specific needs.
Configuration Options
Section titled “Configuration Options”| Option | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Default Dashboard | Which dashboard loads on sign-in. |
| Refresh Interval | How often live views update. |
| Theme Preference | Light or dark display mode. |
| Chart Density | Compact or detailed visualization rendering. |
| Timezone Display | How timestamps are presented. |
| Widget Defaults | Default widgets included in new dashboards. |
Operational Scenarios
Section titled “Operational Scenarios”Scenario 1 — Morning health check A team member opens Beacon, views the Fleet Overview, and confirms all instances are healthy with no critical alerts, then proceeds to other work.
Scenario 2 — Investigating an incident An alert fires for elevated lock contention. The user drills from the alert into the instance dashboard, then into the live lock view, identifying the blocking session in seconds.
Scenario 3 — Preparing a stakeholder update A team lead exports key charts from the instance dashboard and includes them in a presentation on database performance.
Scenario 4 — Building a specialized view A DevOps engineer creates a custom dashboard combining replication status, storage trends, and alert history — tailored to their specific operational responsibilities.
Summary
Section titled “Summary”Beacon’s Dashboard & Visualization module is the lens through which all observability data becomes understandable. By combining aggregate and instance-level views, interactive charts, real-time monitoring, customization, and seamless drill-down, it turns complex database behavior into clear, actionable insight — accessible to every member of the team.