---
title: "Configure dataset for Host Monitoring | Grafana Cloud documentation"
description: "Learn how to manage Host Monitoring dataset configuration"
---

> For a curated documentation index, see [llms.txt](/llms.txt). For the complete documentation index, see [llms-full.txt](/llms-full.txt).

# Configure dataset for Host Monitoring

Configure how the knowledge graph processes Host Monitoring metrics from Node Exporters and process metrics. This configuration enables entity discovery for non-Kubernetes hosts and processes running on physical or virtual machines.

For background on dataset configurations, environment labels, and cloud region labels, refer to [Manage dataset configurations](../).

> Note
> 
> Activating the knowledge graph using Host Monitoring is in private preview. To request access, contact your Grafana account representative or Grafana Support.

## Before you begin

Host Monitoring discovers entities from the following exporters and metric sources:

- Node Exporter metrics (`node_uname_info`, `node_exporter_build_info`)
- Windows Exporter metrics (`windows_os_info`)
- Process Exporter metrics for process discovery (`namedprocess_.+`)
- OpenTelemetry process metrics using semantic conventions (`process_.+`)
- Windows process metrics (`windows_process_.+`)

The Host Monitoring dataset is considered healthy when either `node_exporter_build_info` or `windows_os_info` metrics are present in your stack.

Complete the following steps to edit a dataset configuration for Host Monitoring:

1. Sign into Grafana Cloud and click **Observability > Configuration**.
2. Click **Connect knowledge graph**.
3. Next to Host Monitoring, click **Edit**.
4. Complete the following fields:
   
   Expand table
   
   | Field              | Description                                                                                                                                              |
   |--------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
   | Environment label  | Select the source environment you want to monitor with the knowledge graph.                                                                              |
   | Environments       | Deselect the environments you want to exclude from the knowledge graph.                                                                                  |
   | Cloud region label | Optional. If you selected a different environment label, choose `cluster` as the cloud region label. You can select a different site label, as required. |
   | Cloud regions      | Deselect the regions you want to exclude from the knowledge graph.                                                                                       |
5. If you want to add additional filters, complete the following steps:
   
   1. Click **+ Add filter**.
   2. Populate the fields with filter values and an operator.
      
      You can add multiple filters.
6. To manage framework selection, toggle **Advanced options** and deselect any frameworks you want to exclude from the knowledge graph.
7. Optionally, add more environments.
8. Click **Save Host Monitoring settings**.

## Required metric labels

The knowledge graph requires the following metrics and labels for entity discovery:

Expand table

| Metric               | Required labels | Purpose                          |
|----------------------|-----------------|----------------------------------|
| `node_uname_info`    | `instance`      | Discover Linux and Unix hosts    |
| `windows_os_info`    | `instance`      | Discover Windows hosts           |
| `process_.+`         | Varies          | Discover processes as services   |
| `windows_process_.+` | Varies          | Discover Windows process metrics |

If the required labels are missing, the knowledge graph can’t discover entities from those metrics. Refer to [Troubleshooting](/docs/grafana-cloud/knowledge-graph/get-started/troubleshooting/) for details on resolving missing label issues.

## Frameworks and vendors

Host Monitoring includes the following frameworks for entity discovery:

- **Node Exporter**: Discovers non-Kubernetes nodes from `node_uname_info` metrics
- **Windows Exporter**: Discovers non-Kubernetes Windows hosts from `windows_os_info` metrics
- **Process Exporter**: Discovers processes as `Service` and `ServiceInstance` entities from Prometheus exporter metrics
- **OpenTelemetry Process (SemConv)**: Discovers processes as `Service` and `ServiceInstance` entities from OpenTelemetry semantic conventions
- **Windows Process**: Discovers processes from Windows Exporter process collector metrics

Node Exporter and Windows Exporter frameworks are core to Host Monitoring. You can manage framework selection in **Advanced options** during configuration.

## Next steps

- Configure [logs correlation](/docs/grafana-cloud/knowledge-graph/configure/telemetry-correlation/logs/) to enrich host investigations
- Explore the [entity catalog](/docs/grafana-cloud/knowledge-graph/use-cases/) to view discovered hosts and processes
- Learn about [entity types](/docs/grafana-cloud/knowledge-graph/reference/entity-types/) to understand how hosts and processes are represented