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AppDynamics

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AppDynamics is a performance management program for applications. It helps users to gain a comprehensive understanding of the impact of technical difficulties on business goals, allowing IT teams to prioritize their efforts in a way that improves ROI.

AppDynamics parameters and supported features in Nobl9
General support:
Release channel: Stable, Beta
Connection method: Agent, Direct
Replay and SLI Analyzer: Historical data limit 30 days
Event logs: Supported
Query checker: Not supported
Query parameters retrieval: Supported
Timestamp cache persistence: Supported
Query parameters:
Query interval: 1 min
Query delay: 1 min
Jitter: 15 sec
Timeout: 30 sec
Agent details and minimum required versions for supported features:
Plugin name: n9appd
Query delay environment variable: APPD_QUERY_DELAY
Replay and SLI Analyzer: 0.68.0
Query parameters retrieval: 0.73.2
Timestamp cache persistence: 0.65.0
Additional notes:
No support for metric paths with Wild Cards
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Prerequisites​

  1. The Nobl9 agent has firewall access to http://<controller_host>:<controller_port>/controller/rest/<REST_URI>.

  2. To connect to AppDynamics, your AppDynamics API client needs at least the Applications and Dashboards Viewer permissions.

Authentication​

Nobl9 agent calls the Metric and Snapshot API | AppDynamics documentation. The agent and direct configurations for AppDynamics require the following credentials:

  • Client Name: To retrieve apiClientName, log in to your AppDynamics account, go to Administration (under cog icon) / API Clients tab, select an API client and copy Client Name.

  • Account Name: To retrieve your accountName, log in to your AppDynamics account, go to the License (under cog icon) / License Summary / Account Details section and copy the Name.

  • Controller URL: It is an entry point for Nobl9 to AppDynamics instance. Example: http://yourcompany.saas.appdynamics.com

  • Client Secret: Follow the instructions in the API Clients | AppDynamics documentation section of the AppDynamics documentation to create your Client Secret.

Adding AppDynamics as a data source​

You can add the AppDynamics data source using the direct or agent connection methods.

Direct connection method​

Direct connection to AppDynamics requires users to enter their credentials which Nobl9 stores safely.

Nobl9 Web​

To set up this type of connection:

  1. Navigate to Integrations > Sources.
  2. Click .
  3. Click the required Source button.
  4. Choose Direct.
  1. Select one of the following Release Channels:
    • The stable channel is fully tested by the Nobl9 team. It represents the final product; however, this channel does not contain all the new features of a beta release. Use it to avoid crashes and other limitations.
    • The beta channel is under active development. Here, you can check out new features and improvements without the risk of affecting any viable SLOs. Remember that features in this channel can change.

  2. Enter the Controller URL (required).
    Refer to the Authentication section for detailed instructions.

  3. Enter your AppDynamics Client Name.
    To retrieve the Client Name, log in to your AppDynamics account, go to Administration (under the cog icon) > API Clients tab, select an API client and copy the Client Name:

diagram
Image 1: Retrieving the Client Name in AppDynamics UI
  1. Enter your AppDynamics Account Name.
    To retrieve your Account Name, log in to your AppDynamics account, go to License (under the cog icon) > License Summary > Account Details section and copy the Name:
diagram
Image 2: Retrieving the Account Name in AppDynamics UI
  1. Select a Project.
    Specifying a project is helpful when multiple users are spread across multiple teams or projects. When the Project field is left blank, Nobl9 uses the default project.
  2. Enter a Display Name.
    You can enter a user-friendly name with spaces in this field.
  3. Enter a Name.
    The name is mandatory and can only contain lowercase, alphanumeric characters, and dashes (for example, my-project-1). Nobl9 duplicates the display name here, transforming it into the supported format, but you can edit the result.
  4. Enter a Description.
    Here you can add details such as who is responsible for the integration (team/owner) and the purpose of creating it.
  5. Specify the Query delay to set a customized delay for queries when pulling the data from the data source.
    • The default value in AppDynamics integration for Query delay is 1 minute.
    info
    Changing the Query delay may affect your SLI data. For more details, check the Query delay documentation.
  6. Enter a Maximum Period for Historical Data Retrieval.
    • This value defines how far back in the past your data will be retrieved when replaying your SLO based on this data source.
    • The maximum period value depends on the data source.
      Find the maximum value for your data source.
    • A greater period can extend the loading time when creating an SLO.
      • The value must be a positive integer.
  7. Enter a Default Period for Historical Data Retrieval.
    • It is used by SLOs connected to this data source.
    • The value must be a positive integer or 0.
    • By default, this value is set to 0. When you set it to >0, you will create SLOs with Replay.
  8. Click Add Data Source.
caution

Keep note that AppDynamics Metric and Snapshot API downsamples data differently based on the period of fetched historical data, and it may affect your SLI charts.

Also, the resolution of data points in the Appdynamics UI and what Nobl9 extracts from AppDynamics Metric and Snapshot API may differ. This is because the data's granularity in AppDynamics API differs from the AppDynamics Controller UI. Check this thread for more details.

For more details refer to Data Retention for Metric and Snapshot API | AppDynamics documentation.

sloctl​

  1. Create a YAML definition to set up a direct connection with AppDynamics. For this, refer to the following example:
YAML definition for the direct connection method
apiVersion: n9/v1alpha
kind: Direct
metadata:
  name: app-dynamics
  displayName: AppDynamics Direct
  project: default
spec:
  description: Example AppDynamics Direct
  releaseChannel: stable
  appDynamics:
    url: https://my-org.saas.appdynamics.com
    clientID: ""
    clientName: prod-direct
    accountName: my-account
    clientSecret: "[secret]"
  historicalDataRetrieval:
    maxDuration:
      value: 30
      unit: Day
    defaultDuration:
      value: 15
      unit: Day
    triggeredBySloCreation:
      value: 15
      unit: Day
    triggeredBySloEdit:
      value: 15
      unit: Day
  queryDelay:
    value: 2
    unit: Minute
FieldTypeDescription
queryDelay.unit
mandatory
enumSpecifies the unit for the query delay. Possible values: Second | Minute.
• Check query delay documentation for default unit of query delay for each source.
queryDelay.value
mandatory
numericSpecifies the value for the query delay.
• Must be a number less than 1440 minutes (24 hours).
• Check query delay documentation for default unit of query delay for each source.
logCollectionEnabled
optional
booleanOptional. Defaults to false. Set to true if you'd like your direct to collect event logs. Contact us to activate it.
releaseChannel
mandatory
enumSpecifies the release channel. Accepted values: beta | stable.
Source-specific fields
appDynamics.url
mandatory
stringBase URL to an AppDynamics Controller. For more details, check AppDynamics Concepts.
appDynamics.clientName
mandatory
stringSee authentication section above for more details.
appDynamics.accountName
mandatory
stringSee authentication section above for more details.
appDynamics.clientSecret
mandatory
stringSee authentication section above for more details.
Replay-related fields
historicalDataRetrieval
optional
n/aOptional structure related to configuration related to Replay.
❗ Use only with supported sources.
• If omitted, Nobl9 uses the default values of value: 0 and unit: Day for maxDuration and defaultDuration.
maxDuration.value
optional
numericSpecifies the maximum duration for historical data retrieval. Must be integer ≥ 0. See Replay documentation for values of max duration per data source.
maxDuration.unit
optional
enumSpecifies the unit for the maximum duration of historical data retrieval. Accepted values: Minute | Hour | Day.
defaultDuration.value
optional
numericSpecifies the default duration for historical data retrieval. Must be integer ≥ 0 and ≤ maxDuration.
defaultDuration.unit
optional
enumSpecifies the unit for the default duration of historical data retrieval. Accepted values: Minute | Hour | Day.
  1. Apply your YAML definition using the sloctl apply command.

Agent connection method​

Nobl9 Web​

Follow the instructions below to create your AppDynamics agent connection.

  1. Navigate to Integrations > Sources.
  2. Click .
  3. Click the required Source button.
  4. Choose Agent.
  1. Select one of the following Release Channels:
    • The stable channel is fully tested by the Nobl9 team. It represents the final product; however, this channel does not contain all the new features of a beta release. Use it to avoid crashes and other limitations.
    • The beta channel is under active development. Here, you can check out new features and improvements without the risk of affecting any viable SLOs. Remember that features in this channel can change.

  2. Enter the Controller URL.

  1. Select a Project.
    Specifying a project is helpful when multiple users are spread across multiple teams or projects. When the Project field is left blank, Nobl9 uses the default project.
  2. Enter a Display Name.
    You can enter a user-friendly name with spaces in this field.
  3. Enter a Name.
    The name is mandatory and can only contain lowercase, alphanumeric characters, and dashes (for example, my-project-1). Nobl9 duplicates the display name here, transforming it into the supported format, but you can edit the result.
  4. Enter a Description.
    Here you can add details such as who is responsible for the integration (team/owner) and the purpose of creating it.
  5. Specify the Query delay to set a customized delay for queries when pulling the data from the data source.
    • The default value in AppDynamics integration for Query delay is 1 minute.
    info
    Changing the Query delay may affect your SLI data. For more details, check the Query delay documentation.
  6. Enter a Maximum Period for Historical Data Retrieval.
    • This value defines how far back in the past your data will be retrieved when replaying your SLO based on this data source.
    • The maximum period value depends on the data source.
      Find the maximum value for your data source.
    • A greater period can extend the loading time when creating an SLO.
      • The value must be a positive integer.
  7. Enter a Default Period for Historical Data Retrieval.
    • It is used by SLOs connected to this data source.
    • The value must be a positive integer or 0.
    • By default, this value is set to 0. When you set it to >0, you will create SLOs with Replay.
  8. Click Add Data Source.
  9. Deploy your agent in a Kubernetes cluster or Docker container.

sloctl​

  1. Create a YAML definition to set up an agent connection with AppDynamics. For this, refer to the following example:
YAML definition for the agent connection method
apiVersion: n9/v1alpha
kind: Agent
metadata:
  name: app-dynamics
  displayName: AppDynamics Agent
  project: default
spec:
  description: Example AppDynamics Agent
  releaseChannel: stable
  appDynamics:
    url: https://my-org.saas.appdynamics.com
  historicalDataRetrieval:
    maxDuration:
      value: 30
      unit: Day
    defaultDuration:
      value: 15
      unit: Day
  queryDelay:
    value: 2
    unit: Minute
FieldTypeDescription
queryDelay.unit
mandatory
enumSpecifies the unit for the query delay. Possible values: Second | Minute.
• Check query delay documentation for default unit of query delay for each source.
queryDelay.value
mandatory
numericSpecifies the value for the query delay.
• Must be a number less than 1440 minutes (24 hours).
• Check query delay documentation for default unit of query delay for each source.
releaseChannel
mandatory
enumSpecifies the release channel. Accepted values: beta | stable.
Source-specific fields
appDynamics.url
mandatory
stringBase URL to an AppDynamics Controller. For more details, check AppDynamics Concepts.
Replay-related fields
historicalDataRetrieval
optional
n/aOptional structure related to configuration related to Replay.
❗ Use only with supported sources.
• If omitted, Nobl9 uses the default values of value: 0 and unit: Day for maxDuration and defaultDuration.
maxDuration.value
optional
numericSpecifies the maximum duration for historical data retrieval. Must be integer ≥ 0. See Replay documentation for values of max duration per data source.
maxDuration.unit
optional
enumSpecifies the unit for the maximum duration of historical data retrieval. Accepted values: Minute | Hour | Day.
defaultDuration.value
optional
numericSpecifies the default duration for historical data retrieval. Must be integer ≥ 0 and ≤ maxDuration.
defaultDuration.unit
optional
enumSpecifies the unit for the default duration of historical data retrieval. Accepted values: Minute | Hour | Day.
  1. Apply your YAML definition using the sloctl apply command.
  2. Deploy your agent in a Kubernetes cluster or Docker container.
For a more in-depth look, consult additional resources:
WildcardsAppDynamics docsConfiguring Agents in KubernetesAppDynamics docsConfigure Resource URL SegmentsAppDynamics docsAppDynamics ConceptsAppDynamics docsMetric and Snapshot APIAppDynamics docsAgent metricsAgentCreating SLOs via TerraformTerraformCreating agents via TerraformTerraform
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