How to get synthetics monitoring to work in new relic – Synthetic monitoring is a crucial aspect of modern performance monitoring, and New Relic is a leading provider in this field. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the intricacies of synthetic monitoring in New Relic, empowering you to effectively monitor your applications and ensure optimal performance.
New Relic’s synthetic monitoring capabilities provide valuable insights into the user experience, enabling you to proactively identify and resolve performance issues before they impact your customers. This guide will equip you with the knowledge and skills to harness the power of synthetic monitoring in New Relic, ensuring the smooth and efficient operation of your applications.
Introduction
Synthetic monitoring is a proactive approach to monitoring the availability and performance of your web applications and APIs from the perspective of real users. It involves simulating real user interactions with your application to identify and resolve issues before they impact actual users.Synthetic
monitoring is essential in New Relic because it:
- Provides visibility into the end-user experience of your applications.
- Helps identify and resolve performance issues before they affect real users.
- Ensures the reliability and availability of your applications.
Prerequisites
Before you can start using synthetic monitoring in New Relic, you need to make sure that you have the following requirements in place:
You need to have a New Relic account. If you don’t have one, you can create one for free at https://newrelic.com/signup.
You need to install the New Relic Synthetics agent on the machines that you want to monitor. The agent is available for Windows, Linux, and macOS. You can download the agent from https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/synthetics/new-relic-synthetics/getting-started/install-synthetics-agent.
Configure New Relic Account
Once you have created a New Relic account, you need to configure it to use synthetic monitoring. To do this, you need to:
- Log in to your New Relic account.
- Click on the “Synthetics” tab.
- Click on the “Settings” tab.
- Enter the following information:
- The URL of the website or application that you want to monitor.
- The frequency at which you want to monitor the website or application.
- The type of monitoring that you want to perform (e.g., HTTP, TCP, or DNS).
Install New Relic Synthetics Agent
Once you have configured your New Relic account, you need to install the New Relic Synthetics agent on the machines that you want to monitor. To do this, you need to:
- Download the New Relic Synthetics agent from https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/synthetics/new-relic-synthetics/getting-started/install-synthetics-agent.
- Install the agent on the machines that you want to monitor.
- Start the agent.
Creating and Configuring Monitors
Synthetic monitoring in New Relic allows you to create and configure monitors that simulate user interactions with your web applications and APIs. These monitors can help you proactively identify and resolve issues before they impact real users.
There are several types of synthetic monitors available in New Relic, including:
- Browser monitorssimulate user interactions with your website or web application.
- API monitorssimulate API calls to your backend systems.
- Mobile monitorssimulate user interactions with your mobile applications.
When creating a synthetic monitor, you can configure a variety of settings, including:
- Monitor name:The name of the monitor.
- Monitor type:The type of monitor (browser, API, or mobile).
- Monitor location:The geographic location from which the monitor will be run.
- Monitor frequency:The frequency with which the monitor will be run.
- Monitor thresholds:The thresholds that will trigger alerts if they are exceeded.
Once you have created and configured a synthetic monitor, New Relic will begin monitoring your application or API. If the monitor detects any issues, New Relic will send you an alert.
Monitor Settings
When configuring a synthetic monitor, you can specify a variety of settings to control how the monitor behaves. These settings include:
- Monitor name:The name of the monitor.
- Monitor type:The type of monitor (browser, API, or mobile).
- Monitor location:The geographic location from which the monitor will be run.
- Monitor frequency:The frequency with which the monitor will be run.
- Monitor thresholds:The thresholds that will trigger alerts if they are exceeded.
The monitor name is used to identify the monitor in New Relic. The monitor type determines the type of interactions that the monitor will simulate. The monitor location determines the geographic location from which the monitor will be run. The monitor frequency determines how often the monitor will be run.
The monitor thresholds determine the conditions that will trigger alerts.
Data Collection and Analysis
Synthetic monitoring data is collected and stored in New Relic’s distributed tracing infrastructure. This infrastructure allows New Relic to collect data from a variety of sources, including web browsers, mobile devices, and servers. The data is then stored in a time-series database, which allows New Relic to track changes in performance over time.
The types of data that can be collected by synthetic monitoring include:
- Response time: The amount of time it takes for a request to be processed and a response to be returned.
- Uptime: The percentage of time that a service is available.
- Errors: The number of errors that occur during a request.
Synthetic monitoring data can be analyzed to identify performance issues. For example, if you see that the response time for a particular request is increasing, you can investigate to determine the cause of the problem. You can also use synthetic monitoring data to track the impact of changes to your system.
For example, if you deploy a new version of your application, you can use synthetic monitoring to track the impact of the change on performance.
Data Analysis, How to get synthetics monitoring to work in new relic
Once you have collected synthetic monitoring data, you can analyze it to identify performance issues. There are a number of different ways to analyze synthetic monitoring data, including:
- Time series analysis:Time series analysis is a technique for analyzing data that is collected over time. You can use time series analysis to identify trends in performance, such as increasing response times or decreasing uptime.
- Statistical analysis:Statistical analysis is a technique for analyzing data to identify patterns and relationships. You can use statistical analysis to compare the performance of different services or to identify the impact of changes to your system.
- Machine learning:Machine learning is a technique for using data to train a model that can make predictions. You can use machine learning to predict future performance issues or to identify the root cause of performance problems.
By analyzing synthetic monitoring data, you can identify performance issues and take steps to resolve them. This can help you to improve the performance of your system and ensure that your users have a positive experience.
Troubleshooting and Maintenance: How To Get Synthetics Monitoring To Work In New Relic
Ensuring the smooth operation of synthetic monitoring requires a proactive approach. Troubleshooting common issues, regular maintenance, and leveraging support resources are essential for maintaining optimal performance.
Troubleshooting involves identifying and resolving issues that may arise during monitoring. Common issues include configuration errors, agent updates, and network connectivity problems. Regular maintenance, such as updating the agent and checking for configuration errors, helps prevent issues and ensures the monitoring system is up-to-date.
New Relic Support Resources
New Relic offers comprehensive support resources to assist with troubleshooting and maintenance. The documentation portal provides detailed guides and tutorials, while the community forum allows users to connect with experts and share knowledge. Additionally, New Relic offers dedicated support channels for premium customers.
Advanced Features
Synthetic monitoring in New Relic offers advanced capabilities that extend its monitoring abilities. These features empower users to customize and enhance their monitoring strategies.
Advanced features of synthetic monitoring in New Relic include:
Custom Monitors
New Relic allows users to create custom monitors tailored to their specific monitoring requirements. Custom monitors enable the monitoring of unique or complex business transactions, providing deeper insights into application performance.
Scripted Monitors
Scripted monitors leverage JavaScript to define custom monitoring logic. This advanced feature allows users to perform complex checks and interactions, simulating real user actions and scenarios. Scripted monitors offer greater flexibility and control over the monitoring process.
Integration with Other Tools and Services
New Relic integrates with a wide range of third-party tools and services, including cloud providers, DevOps platforms, and incident management systems. This integration enables seamless data sharing and streamlined monitoring workflows, enhancing the overall monitoring capabilities.