Device Studio is specifically designed to build custom pollers for missing or vendor-specific metrics that are not natively included in node details. It is best used to enrich the node details with custom OID-based metrics from devices.
From the documentation:
"Use Device Studio to build pollers for new metrics not present in the default node details, particularly for custom or third-party equipment." References:
NPM Administrator Guide: Device Studio - Use Cases and Best Practices

The Universal Device Poller (UDP) in SolarWinds NPM allows users to monitor any SNMP-exposed value, including interface traffic, UPS battery status, and CPU temperature, provided the device ' s MIB exposes the relevant OIDs. Users configure the UDP to poll these custom OIDs, making it a flexible option for monitoring a wide range of metrics across diverse devices.
Reference:
" The Universal Device Poller (UDP) can be configured to monitor virtually any SNMP-enabled parameter, such as interface traffic, UPS battery status, CPU temperature, and more, by specifying the relevant OID. "
- (Network Performance Monitor Administrator Guide, Universal Device Poller section)

To edit trigger conditions for flow alerts in SolarWinds, the SolarWinds Query Language (SWQL) is required. SWQL is a proprietary subset of SQL designed specifically for the SolarWinds Orion Platform. The documentation specifies:
"Editing advanced alert trigger conditions and custom queries for flow-based alerts requires the use of SWQL, not PowerShell, Python, or standard SQL." References:
NPM Administrator Guide: Alerting and SWQL for Advanced Flow Alert Triggers

For critical devices and connections, peak calculation is the recommended capacity planning method. This approach uses the highest observed utilization values within a time period, ensuring that planning accounts for maximum network demand and helps avoid bottlenecks during traffic spikes. SolarWinds documentation advises using peak calculations for important links to ensure network reliability and performance.
Reference:
Network Performance Monitor Administrator Guide, "Capacity Planning Methods,"
" Peak calculation is best for important interfaces and connections to capture maximum usage periods. "