Data intake and query system (DIQS) instances supporting applications including lower-tier, focused, work group oriented applications may be tailored to meet the specific needs of the users. Rather than offer pre-configured options, the DIQS-based application offers the user the ability to customize data collection before deploying the collectors for specified host entities within an IT environment. Once the user selects the metrics and/or log sources for data collection at a custom interface, the lower-tier DIQS generates custom script operable to establish collection of the source data having the selected metrics and events associated with selected log sources from the specified host entities. The user can display and analyze the collected data.