Instana REST API rate limits

To help ensure fair usage and maintain the stability of Instana's services, the Instana REST API imposes certain rate limits on the number of requests that can be made in an hour. These limits are in place to prevent abuse and make sure that all users have equal access to the API resources.

Rate limit policies

The Instana REST API has the following rate limit policies:

  • Maximum API Calls per Hour: Up to 5,000 API calls can be made per hour.

Rate limit headers

Each response from the Instana REST API includes the following headers to help you manage your request limits:

Header name Description
X-RateLimit-Limit The maximum number of API calls that is allowed per hour.
X-RateLimit-Remaining The number of API calls remaining in the current hour.
X-RateLimit-Reset The time (in seconds since the Unix epoch) when the current rate limit window resets.

Managing rate limits

To manage your API usage within these limits, consider implementing the following strategies:

  1. Rate Limit Handling:

    • Monitor the rate limit headers in API responses to track your usage.
    • Implement exponential backoff or request queuing to handle 429 Too Many Requests responses.

  2. Optimize API Calls:

    • Reduce the frequency of API calls by caching responses.
    • Use bulk or batch operations when available to minimize the number of API requests.

  3. Error Handling:

    • Ensure that your application can gracefully handle rate limit errors and retry after the limit resets.

Example usage of rate limit headers

curl --request GET \
  --url https://<TENANT>-<UNIT>.instana.io/api/<INSTANA_REST_API_ENDPOINT> \
  --header 'Authorization: apiToken YOUR_API_TOKEN'

# Example response headers
X-RateLimit-Limit: 5000
X-RateLimit-Remaining: 4995
X-RateLimit-Reset: 1609459200

FAQ

Q: What happens if I exceed the rate limit?

A: If you exceed the rate limit, the API returns a 429 Too Many Requests response. Handle this response by pausing your requests until the rate limit resets.

Q: Can I request a higher rate limit?

A: Higher rate limits are typically not available on demand. If you require a higher rate limit for your application, contact Instana support to discuss your needs.

Q: How do I know when the rate limit resets?

A: The X-RateLimit-Reset header provides the time when the rate limit resets, in seconds since the Unix epoch.

For more information on API usage and best practices, see API documentation.

This page provides an overview of the rate limits for using the Instana REST API, helping you to manage your API usage effectively and avoid disruptions.