This page compares RRDtool to alternative time-series storage tools.
| Tool | Best For | Storage Model | License |
|---|---|---|---|
| RRDtool | Fixed-size, predictable | Round-robin files | GPL-2.0 |
| Prometheus | Cloud-native, queries | TSDB | Apache-2.0 |
| InfluxDB | High cardinality | TSM/TSI | MIT |
| Whisper | Graphite integration | Fixed files | Apache-2.0 |
| TimescaleDB | SQL-based | PostgreSQL tables | Apache-2.0 |
✅ Choose RRDtool when:
❌ Consider alternatives when:
Best for: Modern cloud-native monitoring
| Feature | RRDtool | Prometheus |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | Files | TSDB |
| Query | Basic | PromQL |
| Scaling | Single file | Federation |
| Model | Push | Pull |
Migration path: Use Prometheus remote write to long-term storage.
Best for: High cardinality, better queries
| Feature | RRDtool | InfluxDB |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | Fixed files | TSM |
| Query | Basic commands | InfluxQL/Flux |
| Retention | Manual (RRA) | Automatic |
| Scaling | Single file | Horizontal |
Migration path: Telegraf can read from various sources and write to InfluxDB.
Best for: Graphite ecosystem
| Feature | RRDtool | Whisper |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | Fixed files | Fixed files |
| Aggregation | RRA | Archive levels |
| Integration | collectd, MRTG | Graphite, Carbon |
| Query | rrdtool fetch | Graphite API |
Migration path: Similar round-robin model; concepts transfer directly.
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