SQL Virtual Tables (Monitoring API)
Vertica provides an API for monitoring various features and functions within a database in the form of virtual tables that can be queried using a limited form of the SELECT statement.
You can use external tools to query the virtual tables and act upon the information as desired. For example, when a host failure causes the 
K-Safety level to fall below a desired level, you can use any means necessary to notify the appropriate personnel.
K represents the maximum number of nodes in a database that can fail and recover with no loss of data. In Vertica V2.1, the value of K can be zero (0) or one (1). The value of K can be one (1) only when the Physical Schema design meets certain requirements. The designs generated by the Database Designer are K-Safe.
A physical schema consists of a set of projections used to store data on disk. The projections in the physical schema are based on the objects in the Logical Schema.
See the section on Using the SQL Monitoring API for more information.
