Defining and editing applications

You define and edit applications by adding (or removing) resource groups, icons and tags.

Before you begin

Ensure that you have your system set up with your required inventory connections and integrations, such as for Kubernetes or VMware, completed and working. These connections provide the topological data for your applications.

Ensure that resource groups have been created and are available on the Resource management page.

Defining an application

Defining an application involves selecting the groups of resources to compose the application, previewing the application, and then adding any additional details as required.

Procedure

  1. Log in to the console.
  2. From the main navigation, click Resource management. You can select either the Applications, Resource groups or Resources tabs.
  3. Click Define application.
    The page for defining an application is displayed.

Select resource groups

  1. Select the groups of resources that you want to include in the application.

    When you select a group, the group name is added to the sidebar. This sidebar shows all of the groups that you have selected for the application.

    You can browse through the table of resource groups to select groups or use search to find specific groups. You can search for groups by name, by the group type, or by tags to view similar groups. Use search to narrow the results to help you find specific groups. By default the results display the first results in the system. As you enter a search term, the results are narrowed down based on your entered term. The auto-suggest menu also displays suggested terms based on existing groups.

  2. Click Next to preview the application as a topology.

Preview application

  1. Preview the application.
    When you preview an application, you have access to most of the topology viewer functionality.
    • Deselect resource groups on the sidebar in order to visualize your application without those groups. To fully remove any superfluous resource groups from the application, use the - (minus symbol) to the right of the resource group.
    • Use the Pan and Zoom tools to focus on different areas or resources.
    • Use Overview to display a mini map in the bottom right corner, which provides an overview of the entire topology while you zoom in or out of the main topology. The mini map displays a red rectangle to represent the current topology view.
    • Use the Layout buttons to change the layout types and orientations.
    • Click View Legend to open a Help panel that describes the visual elements used in the display of the topology.
  2. Click Next to add additional details.

Add details

  1. Add more details to the application.
    • Enter a name for the application.
    • Set an icon for the application, using the drop-down list. This icon is used to identify the application resource type in the topology view of your applications.
    • (Optional:) Mark the application as a favorite.
    • (Optional:) Select any tags for classifying the application. Tags can be used to identify similar applications and to distinguish applications from other applications. To add a tag, you need to search for the tag by name and then select the tag. To create a new tag, type the tag and then select the Create tag option in the dropdown.
    • (Optional:) Remove any groups that you do not want in the application.
  2. Click Define application.
    The application is added to the list of all applications on the dashboard, and if selected, to the list of favorite applications.

Results

After the application is defined, you can view the application in the list of applications on the Resource management dashboard, from where you can edit or delete the application, or view it as a topology. For more information, see Viewing applications.

Editing an application

Procedure

  1. Log in to the console.
  2. From the main navigation, click Resource management, then select the Applications tab.
  3. In Favorites or All application results, find the application that you want to edit.
    You can use pagination or the search field to find the specific application.
  4. Click the options (3-dot icon) for the application entry in the table, and click Edit application on the menu.
    The Edit application page is displayed.
  5. Edit the groups of resources, then preview the application, and finally edit any additional details as required.
  6. After you complete your changes, click Update application.

Results

The application is updated.

Deleting an application

Procedure

  1. Log in to the console.
  2. From the main navigation, click Resource management, then select the Applications tab.
  3. In Favorites or All application results, find the application that you want to delete.
    You can use pagination or the search field to find the specific application.
  4. Click the options (3-dot icon) for the application entry in the table, and click Delete application on the menu.
    Remember: Instana applications cannot be deleted, and the delete function will be grayed out.
  5. On the Confirm delete dialog, click Delete application to confirm the deletion.

Results

The application is deleted and no longer displays in the list of all applications. The groups and resources that composed the application are not deleted.