how to get synthetics monitoring to work in new relic-Updates

how to get synthetics monitoring to work in new relic; Synthetic monitoring is a powerful tool that allows businesses to test their applications and websites for performance issues before they affect their users. New Relic is a popular tool for synthetic monitoring, but getting it to work properly can be a challenge for those who are new to the platform. In this article, we will explore how to get synthetics monitoring to work in New Relic.

To start using New Relic’s synthetic monitoring, the first step is to create an account on the New Relic platform. Once you have registered, you can access the New Relic dashboard and proceed with configuring synthetics monitoring. From there, you can create a monitor and choose the type of monitor you want to use, such as User flow/functionality for scripted browser.

Creating synthetic tests is a critical part of ensuring that your applications and websites are performing as expected. With New Relic’s synthetics monitoring, you can create tests that simulate user interactions and monitor the performance of your applications and websites. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can get started with synthetics monitoring and take advantage of the powerful tools that New Relic has to offer.

how to get synthetics monitoring to work in new relic

Understanding Synthetics Monitoring

Synthetics Monitoring is a method of monitoring web applications by simulating user interactions and directing the path taken through the application. It provides information about the uptime and performance of critical business transactions and most common paths in the application. This directed monitoring helps businesses to ensure the performance and availability of their applications.

Synthetic monitoring can be used alongside New Relic’s application performance management, infrastructure monitoring, and browser monitoring. It allows developers to gain valuable insights into their application’s health and ensure that it is meeting the needs of their customers.

To achieve the best possible results with synthetic monitoring, it is essential to define clear objectives before setting up synthetic monitors. This will help developers to clearly define their desired outcomes and ensure that they are monitoring the right metrics.

Synthetic monitoring provides a complete picture of an application’s performance, making it easier to analyze and identify any issues. By following best practices, businesses can gain valuable insights into their application’s health and ensure that it is meeting the needs of their customers.

Setting Up New Relic Account

To get started with synthetic monitoring in New Relic, the first step is to create a New Relic account. If you do not have an account, you can visit www.newrelic.com and sign up to create a new account.

Once you have created an account, you will need to sign in to your account. After signing in, you will be taken to the New Relic dashboard. From the dashboard, click on “Synthetic Monitoring” to access the synthetic monitoring page.

On the synthetic monitoring page, you can create a new synthetic monitor by clicking on “Add a monitor.” You will be prompted to choose the type of monitor you want to create: Browser or API.

If you choose to create a browser monitor, you will need to select the browser you want to use for the monitor. New Relic supports Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer. You will also need to specify the URL you want to monitor and the locations from which you want to run the monitor.

If you choose to create an API monitor, you will need to specify the endpoint you want to monitor, the HTTP method to use, and any headers or parameters required for the request.

Once you have created a monitor, you can view your data in the synthetic monitoring page. New Relic provides various charts and graphs to help you analyze your data. You can also set up alerts to notify you when your monitor fails or when certain conditions are met.

Overall, setting up a New Relic account and creating a synthetic monitor is a straightforward process. By following the steps outlined above, you can start monitoring your applications and improving your technology’s overall performance and user experience.

Installing New Relic Synthetics Agent

To enable Synthetics Monitoring in New Relic, the Synthetics agent needs to be installed. The agent is a lightweight piece of software that runs on the servers and allows New Relic to monitor the applications. Here are the steps to install the Synthetics agent:

Log in to the New Relic dashboard.
Navigate to the Synthetics section.
Click on the “Install Synthetics” button.
Follow the on-screen instructions to install the agent.

The installation process varies depending on the operating system. New Relic provides detailed installation instructions for various operating systems, including Linux, Windows, and macOS.

For Linux-based systems, the Synthetics agent can be installed using the command-line interface. For Windows-based systems, the agent can be installed using the Windows Installer.

Once the Synthetics agent is installed, it needs to be configured to monitor the applications. The agent can be configured to monitor HTTP endpoints, browser interactions, and scripted tests.

It is recommended to install the Synthetics agent on all servers that host the applications to be monitored. This ensures that the agent can collect performance data from all the servers and provide a comprehensive view of the application’s health.

Overall, installing the Synthetics agent is a straightforward process that can be completed in a few minutes. The agent is essential for monitoring the applications and identifying performance issues.

Configuring Synthetics Monitoring in New Relic

Synthetic monitoring is an essential part of ensuring the health of your applications, services, and Kubernetes environments. With New Relic, you can create synthetic monitors to test and improve your code, and pinpoint how endpoint failures affect the performance of your applications.

Setting Up Monitors

To create a new synthetic monitor in New Relic, follow these steps:

Log in to your New Relic account and navigate to the Synthetics section.
Click on the “Monitors” tab, then select the “New Monitor” button to begin the setup process.
Define the monitor type, location, frequency, and alert conditions. You can choose from various monitor types, including browser, API, and scripted browser monitors.
Configure the monitor settings, including the URL, expected response code, and response time threshold.
Save your monitor settings and start the monitor.

Once you have set up your monitors, you can view their results in the Synthetics section of your New Relic account. You can also use the data to troubleshoot any issues that arise and optimize the performance of your applications.

Defining Alert Policies

In addition to setting up monitors, you can define alert policies to receive notifications when issues are detected. To create an alert policy, follow these steps:

Navigate to the Alerts section of your New Relic account.
Click on the “Policies” tab, then select the “New Alert Policy” button to begin the setup process.
Define the conditions that trigger the alert, such as the failure rate or response time threshold.
Configure the notification settings, including the recipients and notification channels.
Save your alert policy and start receiving notifications when issues are detected.

By setting up monitors and defining alert policies, you can ensure the health and performance of your applications and quickly resolve any issues that arise. New Relic provides powerful tools and features to help you achieve this goal, making it an ideal solution for synthetic monitoring.

Testing and Verifying Synthetics Monitoring

To ensure that synthetics monitoring is working correctly, it is important to test and verify the monitoring process. This involves creating synthetic tests that simulate user behavior and verifying that the results are accurate and actionable.

One way to test synthetics monitoring is to create a simple ping monitor. This type of monitor sends a request to a URL and measures the response time. By creating a ping monitor for a website, one can verify that the website is responding and measure the response time. If the response time is slow, it may indicate that there is a problem with the website or the server.

Another way to test synthetics monitoring is to create a more advanced scripted browser monitor. This type of monitor simulates user behavior by interacting with a website as a user would. By creating a scripted browser monitor, one can verify that the website is functioning correctly and measure the response time for specific actions, such as logging in or making a purchase.

Once a synthetic test has been created, it is important to verify that the results are accurate and actionable. This can be done by setting up alerts and notifications for specific events, such as a website outage or slow response time. By monitoring these alerts and notifications, one can quickly identify and address issues with the website or server.

Overall, testing and verifying synthetics monitoring is an important step in ensuring that websites and servers are functioning correctly and providing a positive user experience. By creating synthetic tests and verifying the results, one can identify and address issues before they impact users.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Handling False Alerts

False alerts can be a frustrating issue for teams using synthetic monitoring in New Relic. False alerts occur when a monitor reports a failure, but the website or application is actually functioning correctly. To handle false alerts, teams should first verify the monitor’s configuration and check if any recent changes were made to the website or application. If the configuration is correct and no changes were made, teams should investigate if the monitor is experiencing connectivity issues.

If the monitor is experiencing connectivity issues, teams should check if the monitor’s location is experiencing network or connectivity issues. They can use the New Relic Synthetics dashboard to view monitor failures and check if other monitors from the same location are also failing. If other monitors from the same location are failing, teams should investigate if there are any network or connectivity issues in that location.

Resolving Connectivity Issues

Connectivity issues can be a common issue for monitors, especially when using monitors from locations with poor network connectivity. To resolve connectivity issues, teams should first check if the monitor’s location is experiencing network or connectivity issues. They can use the New Relic Synthetics dashboard to view monitor failures and check if other monitors from the same location are also failing. If other monitors from the same location are failing, teams should investigate if there are any network or connectivity issues in that location.

If the monitor’s location is not experiencing network or connectivity issues, teams should check if the monitor’s configuration is correct. Teams should verify if the monitor’s URL is correct and if there are any authentication or proxy issues. If the configuration is correct, teams can try running the monitor from a different location to check if the issue is location-specific. Teams can also try increasing the monitor’s timeout or retry settings to see if the monitor can successfully connect to the website or application.

In summary, handling false alerts and resolving connectivity issues are common issues teams face when using synthetic monitoring in New Relic. By verifying the monitor’s configuration, checking for network or connectivity issues, and running the monitor from a different location, teams can effectively troubleshoot and resolve these issues.

Optimizing Synthetics Monitoring for Better Results

New Relic’s Synthetics Monitoring is a powerful tool that allows businesses to monitor their website’s performance and ensure that their customers have an optimal experience. However, to get the most out of Synthetics Monitoring, it’s important to optimize the tool’s settings and configurations. This section will explore two key areas where optimization can lead to better results: using secure credentials and managing scripted browsers and monitors.

Using Secure Credentials

When setting up Synthetics Monitors, it’s important to use secure credentials to ensure that sensitive information is not compromised. New Relic provides several options for securely storing and managing credentials, including the use of environment variables, encrypted attributes, and secure credentials.

Using environment variables is a common practice for securely storing sensitive information, such as API keys, passwords, and tokens. Environment variables are stored outside of the application code and can be accessed by the application at runtime. New Relic allows users to store environment variables in the Synthetics settings, ensuring that the credentials are secure and not exposed to potential attackers.

Encrypted attributes are another option for securely storing sensitive information. New Relic allows users to encrypt attributes such as usernames and passwords, ensuring that the information is not visible to unauthorized users.

Secure credentials are another way to ensure that sensitive information is not compromised. New Relic provides a secure credentials store that allows users to securely store and manage credentials for use in Synthetics Monitors.

Managing Scripted Browsers and Monitors

Scripted browsers and monitors are at the heart of Synthetics Monitoring. To get the most out of Synthetics Monitoring, it’s important to manage and optimize the scripted browsers and monitors.

When creating scripted browsers, it’s important to choose the right browser type and version. Different browsers have different capabilities and may perform differently on different operating systems. New Relic provides a list of supported browsers and versions, ensuring that users can choose the right browser for their needs.

Another way to optimize scripted browsers is to use custom headers and cookies. Custom headers and cookies can be used to simulate user behavior and ensure that the website is functioning properly.

Managing monitors is also important for getting the most out of Synthetics Monitoring. It’s important to ensure that monitors are running at the right frequency and are monitoring the right pages and transactions. New Relic provides tools for managing monitors, including the ability to pause, resume, and delete monitors.

In conclusion, optimizing Synthetics Monitoring is essential for getting the most out of the tool. By using secure credentials and managing scripted browsers and monitors, businesses can ensure that their website is performing optimally and providing the best possible experience for their customers.

Conclusion

In conclusion, setting up and optimizing synthetic monitoring in New Relic is a straightforward process that can greatly benefit businesses by allowing them to simulate user interactions and monitor their applications from various locations. By pinpointing how endpoint failures affect the health of their apps, services, and Kubernetes environments, businesses can quickly pivot to browser monitoring for resolution and know if issues stem from AWS outages, third-party resources, or backend services and infrastructure.

To get started with synthetic monitoring in New Relic, businesses should follow these steps:

Sign up for a New Relic account and install the New Relic agent on their server.
Create a synthetic monitor by specifying the URL of the application they want to monitor and selecting the locations from which they want to run the monitor.
Configure the synthetic monitor by specifying the frequency, duration, and the type of browser they want to use.
Analyze the results of the synthetic monitor to identify any issues and take corrective action as needed.

By following these steps, businesses can ensure that their applications are performing optimally and providing a positive user experience. Additionally, they can use the data collected by synthetic monitoring to identify areas for improvement and make data-driven decisions about how to optimize their applications further.

Overall, synthetic monitoring is a powerful tool that can help businesses improve the performance and reliability of their applications. By investing in synthetic monitoring and following best practices, businesses can ensure that their applications are performing optimally and providing a positive user experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to set up a Synthetics monitor in New Relic?

To set up a Synthetics monitor in New Relic, you can follow these steps:

Log in to your New Relic account and navigate to the Synthetics tab.
Click on the “Create a monitor” button.
Choose the type of monitor you want to create, such as a browser or API monitor.
Configure the monitor settings, such as the location, frequency, and alert conditions.
Write the monitor script or use the built-in script editor to generate the script.
Save the monitor and wait for it to start running.

How to troubleshoot Synthetics monitor failures in New Relic?

If a Synthetics monitor fails in New Relic, you can troubleshoot the issue by following these steps:

Check the monitor logs to see if there are any error messages or stack traces.
Verify that the monitor script is correct and up-to-date.
Check the target application or service to make sure it is running and accessible.
Check the monitor settings, such as the location and frequency, to ensure they are correct.
Contact New Relic support for assistance if the issue persists.

What are the best practices for configuring Synthetics monitors in New Relic?

Some best practices for configuring Synthetics monitors in New Relic include:

Choosing the appropriate monitor type for your use case.
Configuring the monitor settings to match your application or service requirements.
Writing efficient and effective monitor scripts.
Using multiple monitors to cover different scenarios and locations.
Setting up alerts and notifications to stay informed of any issues.

How to use Synthetics API tests in New Relic?

To use Synthetics API tests in New Relic, you can follow these steps:

Create a new API monitor in the Synthetics tab.
Configure the monitor settings, such as the endpoint URL, HTTP method, and headers.
Write the API test script using the built-in script editor or an external editor.
Save the monitor and wait for it to start running.
Use the monitor logs and results to troubleshoot any issues.

How to create a scripted browser monitor in New Relic Synthetics?

To create a scripted browser monitor in New Relic Synthetics, you can follow these steps:

Log in to your New Relic account and navigate to the Synthetics tab.
Click on the “Create a monitor” button.
Choose the “Browser” monitor type.
Configure the monitor settings, such as the location, frequency, and alert conditions.
Use the built-in script editor to write the monitor script or import an existing script.
Save the monitor and wait for it to start running.

How to configure Synthetics alerts in New Relic?

To configure Synthetics alerts in New Relic, you can follow these steps:

Navigate to the Alerts tab in your New Relic account.
Click on the “New alert policy” button.
Choose the Synthetics monitor you want to configure alerts for.
Configure the alert conditions, such as the threshold and duration.
Set up the notification channels, such as email or Slack.
Save the alert policy and wait for alerts to be triggered if the conditions are met.

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