A beginner's guide to what Application Insights is, and how to get up and running with it quickly using Azure as a web application host.

2. Polaris Solutions ALM Practice Mgrsince Jan ‘12
Been in the software industry since 1999
Runs the Chicago ALM User Group
ALM MVP, PSM, PSD
Has a *possibly* unhealthy love of Halloween
Shameless self promotion
Polaris Solutions-http://www.polarissolutions.com/
Chicago Visual Studio ALM User Group -http://www.chicagoalmug.org/
Twitter: @OakParkGirl, @ChicagoALM, @TeamPolaris
Blog -http://www.tfswhisperer.com/

3. http://polarissolutions.com

4. Challenges in Modern Apps
Is my app available?
Is my app performing?
Is my app achieving its business goals?
Did I even build the right things?!?
9 out of 10 times, you are flying blind

5. Web service or web application: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn481100.aspx
Web pages that use JavaScript: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn481098.aspx
Windows Phone 8 app: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn481093.aspx
Windows Store app: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn509554.aspx

6. Availability
Performance
Usage
Exceptions

7. Easy setup
Dynamic Reports
User configurable Email Alerts
Easy to customize Dashboards

8. 1. Telemetry is collected at each
component: usage, performance,
exception, crash, event, synthetic
transactions, logs, developer-supplied
event data
2. Telemetry arrives to
Application Insights service
where it is processed
3. A 360 degree view of the
application – keep it available,
performing and succeeding.
Application
Insights
service

9. platform
infrastructure
app
1
3
4
5
6
Outside-in monitoring
Developer-emitted traces
Observed application behavior
Infrastructure performance
“Meta-telemetry”
URL pings and web tests from 16 global pointsof presence.
Whatever the developer would like to sendto Application Insights.
No coding required –service dependencies, queries, response time, exceptions, logs, etc.
System performance counters.
Source code, builds, deployments, configurationchanges.
2
Observed user behavior
How is the application being used?

10. What you need
What to do
What you get
Get perfand usage analytics for my ASP.NET app
Add Application Insights to your web project
Performance metrics: load counts, response times, ... Send events and metric from your server code
Custom business analyticsSend trace and exception telemetry from your server, or capture 3rd party log data.
Server app diagnostics. Search and filter log data.
Get usage analytics for my web pages (on any platform)
Insert the AI script in your web pages
Usage analytics: page views, returning users, session counts
Write event and metric calls in your web page scripts
Custom user experience analyticsWrite trace and diagnostic calls in your web page scripts
Search and filter log data.
Diagnose issues in an ASP.NET app already running on my web server
Install Status Monitor on your web server
Dependency call durations and counts; CPU, mem and network counters; load counts, response times
Monitor the availability of any web pages
Set up web tests on Application Insights
Availability monitor and alerts
Get perfand usage analytics for Windows Phone, Windows Store apps, or Java websitesFor now, use the older VSO version of Application Insights
Usage and performance analytics. We're gradually building up features in the Azure version.

11. What you need
What to do
What you get
Get perfand usage analytics for my ASP.NET app
Add Application Insights to your web project
Performance metrics: load counts, response times, ... Send events and metric from your server code
Custom business analyticsSend trace and exception telemetry from your server, or capture 3rd party log data.
Server app diagnostics. Search and filter log data.
Get usage analytics for my web pages (on any platform)
Insert the AI script in your web pages
Usage analytics: page views, returning users, session counts
Write event and metric calls in your web page scripts
Custom user experience analyticsWrite trace and diagnostic calls in your web page scripts
Search and filter log data.
Diagnose issues in an ASP.NET app already running on my web server
Install Status Monitor on your web server
Dependency call durations and counts; CPU, mem and network counters; load counts, response times
Monitor the availability of any web pages
Set up web tests on Application Insights
Availability monitor and alerts
Get perfand usage analytics for Windows Phone, Windows Store apps, or Java websitesFor now, use the older VSO version of Application Insights
Usage and performance analytics. We're gradually building up features in the Azure version.

14. Add App Insights to your existing project
-Or -
Configure new projects with App Insights
Then configure and run!

17. Availability
Server Requests
Server Response Time

20. Browser
Operating System
Page Stats
Client Requests
Client Response Times

26. I like the old VSO portal, can I continue using it?
Yup, just do NOT upgrade the App Insight tooling installed in Visual Studio. Keep in mind this portal is being phased out, so have a plan to migrate! If you started out on the Azure portal and want to go BACK to VSO, go to Visual Studio Tools > Extensions and Updates, and install Application Insights Tools for Visual Studio, version 1.*.
Do I need to use Visual Studio Online for my source code and build, in order to get Application Insights?
No. Application Insights is a separate service, and you can use any source code system.
Do I need to develop my application with Visual Studio to get Application Insights?
No, but it certainly makes things easier. Without using Visual Studio, you can create tests, monitor performance, and track usage, but you may have to add the NuGetpackages.

27. Is it REALLY free?
For now yes, that may change once the Preview period is over.
Also, to run web tests on the Azure Portal, you cannot be running the free azure website, you must upgrade to a Basic or Standard image which is MORE than covered by your MSDN benefits.
Can I use both versions of Application Insights side by side for the same project?
Web: Yes, but you need to insert TWO sets of scripts into the web pages to see usage analytics on both services.
Server: Nope, sorry The installed SDK determines the targeted portal.
Availability: Yes, but you have to set up web tests separately in each portal.

28. VSOnline
https://YourInstanceName.visualstudio.com/
Requires older AI tooling (AI 1.3)
Requires a VSOnline account
More fully functional
Could go away at any time!
Azure Portal
https://portal.azure.com/
Requires VS 2013.3+ and AI 2.0+ tooling
Requires an Azure subscription (free with MSDN)
Shinier
Not fully functioning yet

29. Demo

30. Getting started with Azure and ASP.NET http://azure.microsoft.com/en- us/documentation/articles/web-sites-dotnet-get-started/
-OR –
How to: Migrate and Publish a Web Application to an Azure Cloud Service from Visual Studio: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en- us/library/azure/hh420322.aspx
-THEN -
AI Tools for VS: https://visualstudiogallery.msdn.microsoft.com/82367b81- 3f97-4de1-bbf1-eaf52ddc635a

31. App Insights on MSDN Start Here! http://msdn.microsoft.com/en- us/library/dn481095.aspx
Walkthrough of Adding Application Insights to your Application: http://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/get-started/get-usage-data-vs.aspx
Track Custom Usage Events and Metrics: http://azure.microsoft.com/en- us/documentation/articles/app-insights-web-track-usage-custom-events- metrics/

32. Thank you!