# Observability with RMT, logs, JMX and Activity Log

*Tableau Architect Study Guide · Monitor and Maintain a Tableau Deployment · Last updated November 13, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/tableau-architect/monitor-and-maintain-a-tableau-deployment/observability-with-rmt-logs-jmx-and-activity-log*

Map observability requirements to the Resource Monitoring Tool, logging levels, JMX, PerfMon or sysstat and the Activity Log; interpret what they report, revise the topology from it, check inter-node connectivity, and set up Activity Log delivery on Tableau Server and Tableau Cloud.

- Certification: Salesforce Tableau Architect
- Exam section: Monitor and Maintain a Tableau Deployment
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/tableau-architect

**Official exam objective:**

> 3.4 Maintain and tune a Tableau Server environment by using observability data: 3.4.1 Map the features and capabilities of the Tableau Server Resource Monitoring Tool to observability requirements; 3.4.2 Recommend a strategy for collecting and analyzing Tableau Server logs; 3.4.3 Recommend a strategy for collecting and analyzing Tableau Server process metrics; 3.4.4 Recommend a strategy for collecting and analyzing operating system and hardware-related metrics; 3.4.5 Interpret observability data; 3.4.6 Revise architecture based on observability data; 3.4.7 Troubleshoot connectivity in a single or multi-node environment, especially database connectivity; 3.4.8 Configure and implement Activity Log for Tableau Cloud or Tableau Server.

## What the exam expects

- Map observability requirements to Resource Monitoring Tool (RMT) features, and recognize what RMT cannot see.
- Recommend strategies for Tableau Server logs, process metrics (JMX) and operating system and hardware metrics.
- Interpret RMT status and incidents, and revise the architecture from observability data.
- Troubleshoot connectivity between nodes and to the repository.
- Configure the Activity Log on Tableau Server and on Tableau Cloud.

Key terms: **RMT** (Resource Monitoring Tool: an Agent on every node plus RMT Server, requires Advanced Management); **incident** (an RMT alert with severity Info, Warning or Critical); **JMX** (Java Management Extensions, used by tools such as JConsole to read Java process metrics); **Activity Log** (Advanced Management event logs for auditing, including permission changes); **environment** (one Tableau Server installation or cluster in RMT).

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| RMT Server minimum | 8 cores, 64 GB RAM; up to 10,000 views per hour | [RMT hardware](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/rmt-min-hardware-req.htm) |
| Not monitored | External repository and gateway status; External File Store status and sizes | [RMT charts](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/rmt-charts.htm) |
| Slow Query default | Warning at 30 seconds; config in milliseconds | [Slow Queries](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/rmt-incidents-slow-query.htm) |
| Status polling | 30 seconds, `background.pollRates.processStatus` | [Environment Down](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/rmt-incidents-environment-down.htm) |
| Blueprint thresholds | CPU 80% for 5 min; memory 25%, disk 20% available | [Hardware Monitoring](https://help.tableau.com/current/blueprint/en-us/bp_hardware_monitoring.htm) |
| Default log level | info; reset a key with `-d` | [Logging levels](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/logs_debug_level.htm) |
| Secure JMX | `tsm maintenance jmx enable`, readonly default, restarts | [JMX ports](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/ports_jmx.htm) |
| Port listing | `tsm topology list-ports`, all nodes | [TSM ports](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/ports.htm) |
| Data Engine CPU limit | 75% average default; 95% on dedicated nodes | [Extract query-heavy](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/perf_tuning_long_queries_for_extracts.htm) |
| Cloud S3 key | Single-region KMS key; multi-region unsupported | [Set Up Activity Log](https://help.tableau.com/current/online/en-us/activity_log_setup.htm) |
| Cloud S3 retention | S3 Lifecycle configuration | [Cloud Activity Log](https://help.tableau.com/current/online/en-us/activity_log_overview.htm) |

## Check yourself

- How much CPU and memory does an RMT Agent typically use on recommended hardware?
- When is an RMT environment Critical even though no critical incident occurred today?
- When a cluster's logging levels change, which node do you set them from?
- How often should TabMon sample, and how much data should it keep?

## Sources

- [Monitor Tableau Server Performance with Tableau Resource Monitoring Tool](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/rmt-charts.htm)
- [Resource Monitoring Tool Concepts](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/rmt-concepts.htm)
- [Tableau Resource Monitoring Tool - Incidents](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/rmt-incidents-index-incidents.htm)
- [Slow Queries](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/rmt-incidents-slow-query.htm)
- [Environment Down](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/rmt-incidents-environment-down.htm)
- [Agent Incidents](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/rmt-incidents-agents-unlicensed.htm)
- [Explore Monitoring Data Using Tableau Data Source Files](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/rmt-tds-files.htm)
- [Minimum Hardware Requirements - Resource Monitoring Tool](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/rmt-min-hardware-req.htm)
- [Hardware Monitoring (Tableau Blueprint)](https://help.tableau.com/current/blueprint/en-us/bp_hardware_monitoring.htm)
- [Change Logging Levels](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/logs_debug_level.htm)
- [Enable the JMX Ports](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/ports_jmx.htm)
- [Tableau Services Manager Ports](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/ports.htm)
- [tsm maintenance](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/cli_maintenance_tsm.htm)
- [Collect Data with Windows Performance Monitor](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/perf_collect_perfmon.htm)
- [Optimize for Extract Query-Heavy Environments](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/perf_tuning_long_queries_for_extracts.htm)
- [Activity Log (Tableau Server)](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/activity_log_overview.htm)
- [Audit Permissions Using the Activity Log](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/activity_log_audit_permissions.htm)
- [Activity Log (Tableau Cloud)](https://help.tableau.com/current/online/en-us/activity_log_overview.htm)
- [Set Up Activity Log](https://help.tableau.com/current/online/en-us/activity_log_setup.htm)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 20 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Tableau Architect pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams