Deployment Options for .NET Microservices Agent

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It’s easy to get started with AppDynamics’ new .NET Microservices Agent. Featuring advanced portability, refinement and ease of use, this agent delivers great value to our customers who monitor .NET Core applications. Its flexibility in deployment is a boon to AppDynamics users hosting .NET apps in the cloud.

There are numerous ways to develop .NET applications, and several ways to run them. As the landscape expands for .NET development—including advances in .NET Core with its cross-platform capabilities, self-contained deployments, and even the ability to run an ASP.NET Core app on a Raspberry PI with the upcoming .NET Core 2.1 ARM32 support—it’s only fitting that AppDynamics should advance its abilities to monitor this new landscape.

One of these advancements is our new .NET Microservices Agent. Like .NET Core, this agent has evolved to become more portable and easier to use, providing more value to our customers who monitor .NET Core applications. Its portability and refinement enable a couple of installation options, both of which align closely with the movement to host .NET applications in the cloud, the development of microservices, and the growing use of containers. This flexibility in deployment was a requirement of our customers, as they had concerns over the one-size fits all deployment options of some of our competitors. These deployment methods include:

Each method has its advantages and disadvantages:

The Easy Option: AppDynamics Site Extension

Azure provides the ability to add Site Extensions, a simple way to add functionality and tooling to an Azure App Service.

In the case of AppDynamics’ .NET Microservices Agent, Site Extensions is a wonderful deployment method that allows you to set up monitoring on an Azure App Service without having to modify your application. This method is great for an operations team that either wants to monitor an existing Azure App Service without deploying new bits, or decouple the monitoring solution from the application.

The installation and configuration of the AppDynamics Site Extension is simple:

  1. Add the Site Extension to the App Service from the Site Extension Gallery.
  2. Launch the Controller Configuration Form and set up the Agent.

As always, Azure provides multiple ways to do things. Let’s break down these simple steps and show installation from two perspectives: from the Azure Portal, and from the Kudu service running on the Azure App Service Control Manager site.

Installing the Site Extension via the Azure Portal

The Azure Portal provides a very easy method to install the AppDynamics Site Extension. As the Portal is the most common interface when working with Azure resources, this method will feel the most comfortable.

Step 1: Add the Site Extension

Fig 1: Click the Add button to load the Site Extension Gallery.
Fig 2: Select the AppDynamics Site Extension to install.
Fig 3: AppDynamics Site Extension will be ready to configure.

Step 2: Launch and Configure

Fig 4: Click Browse to launch the AppDynamics Controller Configuration form for the agent.
Fig 5: Click the Validate button to begin monitoring your Azure application

Installing the Site Extension via Kudu

Every Azure App Service is created with a secondary site running the Kudu service, which you can learn more about at the projectkudu on GitHub. The Kudu service is a powerful tool that gives you a behind-the-scenes look at your Azure App Service. It’s also the place where Site Extensions are run. Installing the AppD Site Extension from the Kudu service is just as simple as from the Azure Portal.

Step 1: Add Site Extension

Fig 6: Select Advanced Tools.
Fig 7: Kudu Environment
Fig 8: Kudu top menu bar
Fig 9: Press the add “+” icon to install the AppDynamics Site Extension

Step 2: Launch and Configure

Fig 10: Click the (play button) to launch the AppDynamics Controller Configuration form.

AppDynamics Site Extension in Kudu Debug Console

One of the advantages of the Kudo service is the ability to use the Kudu Debug Console to locate App Service files, including the AppDynamics Site Extension installation and AppDynamics Agent log files. Should the Agent need configuration changes, such as adding a “tier” name, you can use the Kudu Debug Console to locate the AppDynamicsConfig.json file and make the necessary modifications.

Fig 11: Kudu Debug Console

The Versatile Option: AppDynamics NuGet Packages

The NuGet package installation option is the most versatile deployment method, as the agent is bundled with the application. Wherever the application goes, the agent and monitoring solutions go too. This method is great for monitoring .NET applications running in Azure Service Fabric and Docker containers.

AppDynamics currently has four separate NuGet packages for the .NET Microservices Agent, and each is explained in greater detail in the AppDynamics documentation. Your choice of package should be based on where your application will be hosted, and which .NET framework you will use.

Fig 12: AppDynamics NuGet Packages

In the example below, we will use the package best suited for an Azure App Service, for a comparison to the Site Extension.

Installing the AppDynamics App Service NuGet Package

The method for installing a NuGet package will vary by tooling, but for simplicity we will assume a simple web application is open in Visual Studio, and that we’re using Visual Studio to manage NuGet packages. If you’re working with a more complex solution with multiple applications bundled together, NuGet package installation will vary by project deployment.

Step 1: Getting the Correct Package

Fig 13: Right click on your project at the Solution Explorer and press Manage NuGet Packages.

Step 2: Configure the Agent

Fig 13: Configure the AppDynamicsConfig.json file with the Controller configuration information.

I hope these steps give you an overview of how easy it is to get started with our .NET Microservices Agent. Make sure to review our official .NET Microservices Agent and Deploy AppDynamics for Azure documentation for more information.

Discover faster, more efficient performance monitoring with an enterprise APM product learning from your apps. Take the AppDynamics APM Guided Tour!

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