From the rrddef.cfg comments: *# Each section key is the column- or data-name reported from your

client test.* Typically this is "cpu", "memory", "tcp", or some

custom test you have created.

In your original script: [ buda ext]# cat httpd_threads.sh #!/bin/bash THREADS_HTTP=ps -ef | grep -c [h]ttpd *LINE="data $MACHINE.trends* [httpd_threads.rrd] DS:threads:GAUGE:5:U:U $THREADS_HTTP" $BB $BBDISP "$LINE"

it appears that your data name is "trends". This is what xymon is trying to match in rrddef.cvf. The key you should be using in rrddef.cfg.

[trends] -s 5 RRA:AVERAGE:0.5:60:576 RRA:AVERAGE:0.5:360:576 RRA:AVERAGE:0.5:1440:576 RRA:AVERAGE:0.5:17280:576

With that said, "trends" is already a column heading... I'm not sure that using it for your rrd key won't cause other problems in xymon.
Maybe change it to "httpd_threads"?

If that doesn't work, try putting the -s in the default section "[]", and see if that works. You shouldn't leave it there as it will set all future graphs to a 5 second step, but it works there, then you know your problem is with your data name and key.