Node.js APM with AWS Lambda
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Node.js APM with AWS Lambda

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Article Summary

This document details how to setup APM with your AWS Lambda Node.js Functions.

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Stackify AWS Monitor Setup

AWS Lambda support requires a Stackify AWS Monitor server to forward application data to Stackify.
A monitoring server is required for each AWS region you are using functions.

Log into your AWS account and click the Launch Stack button below to deploy the CloudFormation Stack Cloud Formation Template.
Set parameter StackifyLambda is set to true.

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Lambda Function Setup

Stackify APM works by adding a Lambda Layer to your function.

1. Add Stackify Layer to Function

On your function Configuration page, click the Add a layer button:
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Find the correct StackifyNodeAPMLayer ARN for the region you are working in below:

RegionLayer ARN
us-east-1arn:aws:lambda:us-east-1:686826687729:layer:StackifyNodeAPMLayer:1
us-east-2arn:aws:lambda:us-east-2:686826687729:layer:StackifyNodeAPMLayer:1
us-west-1arn:aws:lambda:us-west-1:686826687729:layer:StackifyNodeAPMLayer:1
us-west-2arn:aws:lambda:us-west-2:686826687729:layer:StackifyNodeAPMLayer:1
ap-south-1arn:aws:lambda:ap-south-1:686826687729:layer:StackifyNodeAPMLayer:1
ap-northeast-1arn:aws:lambda:ap-northeast-1:686826687729:layer:StackifyNodeAPMLayer:1
ap-northeast-2arn:aws:lambda:ap-northeast-2:686826687729:layer:StackifyNodeAPMLayer:1
ap-southeast-1arn:aws:lambda:ap-southeast-1:686826687729:layer:StackifyNodeAPMLayer:1
ap-southeast-2arn:aws:lambda:ap-southeast-2:686826687729:layer:StackifyNodeAPMLayer:1
ca-central-1arn:aws:lambda:ca-central-1:686826687729:layer:StackifyNodeAPMLayer:1
eu-central-1arn:aws:lambda:eu-central-1:686826687729:layer:StackifyNodeAPMLayer:1
eu-west-1arn:aws:lambda:eu-west-1:686826687729:layer:StackifyNodeAPMLayer:1
eu-west-2arn:aws:lambda:eu-west-2:686826687729:layer:StackifyNodeAPMLayer:1
eu-west-3arn:aws:lambda:eu-west-3:686826687729:layer:StackifyNodeAPMLayer:1
eu-north-1arn:aws:lambda:eu-north-1:686826687729:layer:StackifyNodeAPMLayer:1
sa-east-1arn:aws:lambda:sa-east-1:686826687729:layer:StackifyNodeAPMLayer:1

2. Configure Stackify Layer

The StackifyNodeAPMLayer works by changing your function handler to our profile. The profiler is a wrapper and calls the function set in the environment variable STACKIFY_LAMBDA_HANDLER.

  • Add Environment Variables
    • STACKIFY_LAMBDA_HANDLER - Your function handler ie) my_function.my_handler
    • STACKIFY_APPLICATION_NAME - Application Name to associate with function.
    • STACKIFY_ENVIRONMENT_NAME - Environment Name to associate with function.
  • Update Handler
    • For Async Functions: /opt/stackify-node-layer/node_modules/stackify-node-apm/aws-lambda.stackify_handler_async
    • For Sync Functions: /opt/stackify-node-layer/node_modules/stackify-node-apm/aws-lambda.stackify_handler
  • Save your function.

3. Test

Run a test execution of your function and verify that the Log output contains a STACKIFY-TRACE line.

  • After a few minutes of function traffic, goto Retrace > Monitoring > Other Apps.
  • Click Add App
  • Click Existing Server
  • Find your application by name and click Add

AWS Costs

  • Each Stackify AWS Monitor runs inside an t2.micro ec2 instance by default.
  • The StackifyNodeAPMLayer writes logs to CloudWatch for each function execution. We suggest reducing retention on CloudWatch LogGroups.

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