Set up Node.js applications

Configure the Node.js OpenTelemetry register hook to send application telemetry to Logit.io. This setup covers instrumentation for traces and metrics. It does not include a logs SDK setup. For application log files, use Send server log files.

Install instrumentation

npm install @opentelemetry/api @opentelemetry/auto-instrumentations-node

Configure the process

Create and load the shared environment file, then build authentication and set the standard SDK header.

The onboarding environment includes OTEL_TRACES_EXPORTER=otlp, OTEL_METRICS_EXPORTER=otlp and OTEL_LOGS_EXPORTER=otlp. These settings select exporters; they do not add a logging integration by themselves.

Node.js does not automatically load .env. Load it before starting the process on Linux or Windows. Use the base HTTPS endpoint with http/protobuf.

Start the application

node --require @opentelemetry/auto-instrumentations-node/register app.js

Replace app.js with your entry point. Generate application requests, then check the result. Traces need the APM add-on and metrics need the Metrics add-on for storage and viewing.