---
title: "Python APM with AWS Lambda"
slug: "python-apm-with-aws-lambda"
description: "Learn how to set up APM for AWS Lambda Python Functions. Add Stackify Layer, configure environment variables, and monitor performance with ease."
updated: 2020-04-08T20:09:52Z
published: 2020-04-08T20:09:52Z
canonical: "docs.stackify.com/python-apm-with-aws-lambda"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.stackify.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Python APM with AWS Lambda

This document details how to setup **APM** with your **AWS Lambda Python Functions**.

![image.png](https://cdn.document360.io/3fcaf473-a1ef-4778-aa2c-fd28411c2b01/Images/Documentation/image%285%29.png)

## 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`.

[![image](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cloudformation-examples/cloudformation-launch-stack.png)](https://console.aws.amazon.com/cloudformation/home#/stacks/new?stackName=stackify-aws-monitor&templateURL=https://s3.amazonaws.com/download.stackify.com/aws-template/aws-monitor-cloudformation-template.yaml)

## 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: ![image.png](https://cdn.document360.io/3fcaf473-a1ef-4778-aa2c-fd28411c2b01/Images/Documentation/image%283%29.png)

Find the correct **StackifyPythonAPMLayer ARN** for the region you are working in below:

| Region | Layer ARN |
| --- | --- |
| us-east-1 | arn:aws:lambda:us-east-1:686826687729:layer:StackifyPythonAPMLayer:4 |
| us-east-2 | arn:aws:lambda:us-east-2:686826687729:layer:StackifyPythonAPMLayer:11 |
| us-west-1 | arn:aws:lambda:us-west-1:686826687729:layer:StackifyPythonAPMLayer:3 |
| us-west-2 | arn:aws:lambda:us-west-2:686826687729:layer:StackifyPythonAPMLayer:3 |
| ap-south-1 | arn:aws:lambda:ap-south-1:686826687729:layer:StackifyPythonAPMLayer:3 |
| ap-northeast-1 | arn:aws:lambda:ap-northeast-1:686826687729:layer:StackifyPythonAPMLayer:3 |
| ap-northeast-2 | arn:aws:lambda:ap-northeast-2:686826687729:layer:StackifyPythonAPMLayer:3 |
| ap-southeast-1 | arn:aws:lambda:ap-southeast-1:686826687729:layer:StackifyPythonAPMLayer:3 |
| ap-southeast-2 | arn:aws:lambda:ap-southeast-2:686826687729:layer:StackifyPythonAPMLayer:3 |
| ca-central-1 | arn:aws:lambda:ca-central-1:686826687729:layer:StackifyPythonAPMLayer:3 |
| eu-central-1 | arn:aws:lambda:eu-central-1:686826687729:layer:StackifyPythonAPMLayer:3 |
| eu-west-1 | arn:aws:lambda:eu-west-1:686826687729:layer:StackifyPythonAPMLayer:3 |
| eu-west-2 | arn:aws:lambda:eu-west-2:686826687729:layer:StackifyPythonAPMLayer:3 |
| eu-west-3 | arn:aws:lambda:eu-west-3:686826687729:layer:StackifyPythonAPMLayer:3 |
| eu-north-1 | arn:aws:lambda:eu-north-1:686826687729:layer:StackifyPythonAPMLayer:3 |
| sa-east-1 | arn:aws:lambda:sa-east-1:686826687729:layer:StackifyPythonAPMLayer:3 |

### 2. Configure Stackify Layer

The **StackifyPythonAPMLayer** works by changing your function handler to our profiler (**stackifyapm.contrib.aws_lambda.function.handler*). 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** to **stackifyapm.contrib.aws_lambda.function.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 **StackifyPythonAPMLayer** writes logs to **CloudWatch** for each function execution.  We suggest reducing retention on  **CloudWatch LogGroups**.