Getting Started with Dynatrace: Essential Commands for Web Monitoring

 Dynatrace is a leading observability platform that provides insights into application performance, infrastructure, and user experience. Whether you’re managing a complex microservices architecture or monitoring a simple application, Dynatrace empowers you to stay ahead of performance issues. In this post, we’ll explore some essential Dynatrace commands to help you get started with monitoring and troubleshooting effectively.

What is Dynatrace?

Dynatrace is an AI-powered monitoring tool that offers application performance monitoring (APM), infrastructure monitoring, log analytics, and real-time user session insights. It supports a wide range of platforms, including cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments. The Dynatrace Command-Line Interface (CLI) and APIs provide powerful ways to interact with the platform programmatically.

Dynatrace CLI Setup

Before running Dynatrace commands, you need to set up the CLI.

1. Install the CLI: Download the CLI binary for your platform from the Dynatrace Downloads page. Extract the binary and add it to your system’s PATH.
2. Authenticate with Dynatrace: Use the following command to authenticate:

   dynatrace login --api-token <YOUR_API_TOKEN> --environment-id <YOUR_ENVIRONMENT_ID>
   

   Replace <YOUR_API_TOKEN> with the API token from your Dynatrace environment and <YOUR_ENVIRONMENT_ID> with your Dynatrace environment ID.

Essential Dynatrace Commands

Check Active Sessions

Monitor active sessions in real-time:

dynatrace sessions list

This command lists all active user sessions, providing insights into user behavior.

List Monitored Entities

Get a list of monitored entities, such as applications, services, or hosts:

dynatrace entities list

Add filters to narrow down specific entities:

dynatrace entities list --type SERVICE

This fetches a list of services being monitored.

Query Problems

Identify ongoing or historical problems detected by Dynatrace:

dynatrace problems list

Get detailed information about a specific problem:

dynatrace problems get --id <PROBLEM_ID>

Replace <PROBLEM_ID> with the ID of the problem you want to inspect.

Retrieve Host Metrics

Monitor host-level metrics like CPU and memory usage:

dynatrace hosts metrics --host-name <HOST_NAME>

Replace <HOST_NAME> with the name of your host.

Application Insights

List all monitored applications:

dynatrace applications list

Get detailed information about a specific application:

dynatrace applications get --id <APPLICATION_ID>

Network and Connectivity Checks

Diagnose connectivity issues between monitored components:

dynatrace connectivity check --type <TYPE>

Replace <TYPE> with options like CLUSTER, AGENT, or NETWORK.

Install OneAgent

Install Dynatrace OneAgent on a host for deep monitoring:

dynatrace oneagent install --host-name <HOST_NAME> --token <INSTALLATION_TOKEN>

Replace <HOST_NAME> with the target host name and <INSTALLATION_TOKEN> with the installation token from your Dynatrace environment.

Log Analysis

Search and analyze logs directly from Dynatrace:

dynatrace logs search --query "<SEARCH_TERM>" --from <START_TIME> --to <END_TIME>

Example:

dynatrace logs search --query "error" --from 2024-12-01T00:00:00 --to 2024-12-08T23:59:59

Configure Alerts

Set up alerts for specific metrics:

dynatrace alerts create --name "<ALERT_NAME>" --metric "<METRIC_ID>" --threshold <THRESHOLD>

Example:

dynatrace alerts create --name "High CPU Alert" --metric "builtin:host.cpu.usage" --threshold 80

Generate Reports

Export performance data for sharing or archiving:

dynatrace reports generate --type <REPORT_TYPE> --format <FORMAT>

Example:

dynatrace reports generate --type performance --format pdf

Automating Dynatrace Monitoring with Scripts

The Dynatrace CLI commands can be integrated into automation scripts for regular monitoring and alerting. Below is an example of a Bash script that checks for problems every 10 minutes and sends notifications:

#!/bin/bash

while true; do
    problems=$(dynatrace problems list --severity critical)
    if [[ ! -z "$problems" ]]; then
        echo "Critical problems detected:"
        echo "$problems"
        # Add email or webhook notification here
    else
        echo "No critical problems detected."
    fi
    sleep 600
done

Dynatrace commands give you powerful control over your monitoring ecosystem, enabling real-time insights and efficient problem resolution. With these essential commands, you can quickly get started with monitoring applications, diagnosing issues, and automating repetitive tasks.

For more advanced usage, check out the official Dynatrace API documentation.