# Override "update every" using docker compose

**URL:** <https://community.netdata.cloud/t/override-update-every-using-docker-compose/3711>\
**Category:** Help\
**Tags:** agent\
**Created:** [January 5, 2023, 7:50pm UTC](https://community.netdata.cloud/t/override-update-every-using-docker-compose/3711 "2023-01-05T19:50:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![InstantDreams](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/community.netdata.cloud/instantdreams/32/1679_2.png) [@InstantDreams](https://community.netdata.cloud/u/InstantDreams)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 7:50pm UTC](https://community.netdata.cloud/t/override-update-every-using-docker-compose/3711/1 "2023-01-05T19:50:13Z")

</div>

## Problem/Question

To be able to override the `update every`setting without having to edit the `netdata.conf` file.

## Relevant docs you followed/actions you took to solve the issue

I would like to adjust the `update every` values for several of my docker containers. I store my docker configuration as code in git repositories.

My docker compose file mounts `/etc/netdata` to a host accessible location so that I can manage extra `*.conf` files for various plugins. Rather than pull the `netdata.conf` file (which may be updated over time) I’d like to pass an environment variable, or include a `netdata.d.conf` file, or something similar.

I note the latest stock version of `netdata.conf` contains the override `update every` under the `[global statistics]` section:

```auto
[global statistics]
	# update every = 1

```

I am trying to find a definitive and official list of environment variables. I did find an interesting note under External Plugins API section [environment variables](https://learn.netdata.cloud/docs/agent/collectors/plugins.d#environment-variables) that seems to indicate that these variables may be for plugins only.

There’s also the [environment variables](https://learn.netdata.cloud/docs/agent/daemon/config#environment-variables-section-options) that lists TZ, but it doesn’t seem to be a definitive list of all supported Netdata environment variables.

**Q1:** Where are the environment variables supported by the docker netdata image located in the documentation?

**Q2** : Is it possible to include a `netdata.conf` file that ONLY has an updated value, for example `update ever = 4`?

**Q3** : Does the `NETDATA_UPDATE_EVERY` environment variable do what I need?

## Environment/Browser/Agent’s version etc

Here’s my docker configuration file:

```auto
version: '3'

services:
  netdata:
    image: netdata/netdata:stable
    container_name: netdata
    hostname: ${HOSTNAME}-netdata
    ports:
      - 19999:19999
    pid: host
    cap_add:
      - SYS_PTRACE
      - SYS_ADMIN
    security_opt:
      - apparmor:unconfined
    environment:
      - PGID=${PGID}
      - TZ=${TZ}
    volumes:
      - ${APPDATA}:/etc/netdata
      - netdatalib:/var/lib/netdata
      - netdatacache:/var/cache/netdata
      - /etc/passwd:/host/etc/passwd:ro
      - /etc/group:/host/etc/group:ro
      - /proc:/host/proc:ro
      - /sys:/host/sys:ro
      - /etc/os-release:/host/etc/os-release:ro
      - /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock:ro
    restart: unless-stopped

volumes:
  netdatalib:
  netdatacache:

```

## What I expected to happen

For someone with Netdata knowledge to answer my questions 🙂

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ilyam8](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/community.netdata.cloud/ilyam8/32/134_2.png) [@ilyam8](https://community.netdata.cloud/u/ilyam8)\
**Post date:** [January 6, 2023, 9:54am UTC](https://community.netdata.cloud/t/override-update-every-using-docker-compose/3711/2 "2023-01-06T09:54:13Z")

</div>

Hi, @InstantDreams.

> Does the `NETDATA_UPDATE_EVERY` environment variable do what I need?

No.

> Is it possible to include a `netdata.conf` file that ONLY has an updated value, for example `update ever = 4` ?

Yes. Just a file with 2 lines, e.g.:

```auto
[db]
  update every = 4

```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![InstantDreams](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/community.netdata.cloud/instantdreams/32/1679_2.png) [@InstantDreams](https://community.netdata.cloud/u/InstantDreams)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 10:39pm UTC](https://community.netdata.cloud/t/override-update-every-using-docker-compose/3711/3 "2023-01-08T22:39:59Z")

</div>

If I include a `netdata.conf` file that contains the following:

```auto
[global statistics]
	update every = 4

```

Will this automatically set the following:

```auto
[db]
	update every = 4

[statsd]
	update every (flushInterval) = 4

[plugin:charts.d]
	update every = 4

[plugin:proc:diskspace]
	update every = 4

[plugin:perf]
	update every = 4

[plugin:apps]
	update every = 4

[plugin:ioping]
	update every = 4

[plugin:cgroups]
	update every = 4

[plugin:go.d]
	update every = 4

[plugin:fping]
	update every = 4

[plugin:python.d]
	update every = 4

[plugin:freeipmi]
	update every = 4

```

Or will I need to include each of these sections with their `update every` key value pair?

Once I’ve done this and restarted the docker container, how can I confirm the refresh value have taken?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ilyam8](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/community.netdata.cloud/ilyam8/32/134_2.png) [@ilyam8](https://community.netdata.cloud/u/ilyam8)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2023, 9:55am UTC](https://community.netdata.cloud/t/override-update-every-using-docker-compose/3711/4 "2023-01-09T09:55:56Z")

</div>

It is supposed to do so. It is global minimum update\_every.