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APM Server command referenceedit

APM Server provides a command-line interface for starting APM Server and performing common tasks, like testing configuration files.

The command-line also supports global flags for controlling global behaviors.

Use sudo to run the following commands if:

  • the config file is owned by root, or
  • APM Server is configured to capture data that requires root access
Commands

export

Exports the configuration or index template to stdout.

help

Shows help for any command.

keystore

Manages the secrets keystore.

run

Runs APM Server. This command is used by default if you start APM Server without specifying a command.

setup

Sets up the initial environment, including the ES index template.

test

Tests the configuration.

version

Shows information about the current version.

Also see Global flags.

export commandedit

Exports the configuration or index template to stdout. You can use this command to quickly view your configuration or see the contents of the index template.

SYNOPSIS

apm-server export SUBCOMMAND [FLAGS]

SUBCOMMANDS

config
Exports the current configuration to stdout. If you use the -c flag, this command exports the configuration that’s defined in the specified file.
template
Exports the index template to stdout. You can specify the --es.version and --index flags to further define what gets exported.

FLAGS

--es.version VERSION
When used with template, exports an index template that is compatible with the specified version.
-h, --help
Shows help for the export command.
--index BASE_NAME
When used with template, sets the base name to use for the index template. If this flag is not specified, the default base name is apm-server.

Also see Global flags.

EXAMPLES

apm-server export config
apm-server export template --es.version 7.1.1 --index myindexname

help commandedit

Shows help for any command. If no command is specified, shows help for the run command.

SYNOPSIS

apm-server help COMMAND_NAME [FLAGS]
COMMAND_NAME
Specifies the name of the command to show help for.

FLAGS

-h, --help
Shows help for the help command.

Also see Global flags.

EXAMPLE

apm-server help export

keystore commandedit

Manages the secrets keystore.

SYNOPSIS

apm-server keystore SUBCOMMAND [FLAGS]

SUBCOMMANDS

add KEY
Adds the specified key to the keystore. Use the --force flag to overwrite an existing key. Use the --stdin flag to pass the value through stdin.
create
Creates a keystore to hold secrets. Use the --force flag to overwrite the existing keystore.
list
Lists the keys in the keystore.
remove KEY
Removes the specified key from the keystore.

FLAGS

--force
Valid with the add and create subcommands. When used with add, overwrites the specified key. When used with create, overwrites the keystore.
--stdin
When used with add, uses the stdin as the source of the key’s value.
-h, --help
Shows help for the keystore command.

Also see Global flags.

EXAMPLES

apm-server keystore create
apm-server keystore add ES_PWD
apm-server keystore remove ES_PWD
apm-server keystore list

See Secrets keystore for more examples.

run commandedit

Runs APM Server. This command is used by default if you start APM Server without specifying a command.

SYNOPSIS

apm-server run [FLAGS]

Or:

apm-server [FLAGS]

FLAGS

-N, --N
Disables publishing for testing purposes. This option disables all outputs except the File output.
--cpuprofile FILE
Writes CPU profile data to the specified file. This option is useful for troubleshooting APM Server.
-h, --help
Shows help for the run command.
--httpprof [HOST]:PORT
Starts an http server for profiling. This option is useful for troubleshooting and profiling APM Server.
--memprofile FILE
Writes memory profile data to the specified output file. This option is useful for troubleshooting APM Server.

Also see Global flags.

EXAMPLE

apm-server run -e

Or:

apm-server -e

setup commandedit

Sets up the initial environment, including the ES index template

  • The index template ensures that fields are mapped correctly in Elasticsearch. If index lifecycle management is enabled it also ensures that the defined ILM policy and write alias are connected to the indices matching the index template. The ILM policy takes care of the lifecycle of an index, when to do a rollover, when to move an index from the hot phase to the next phase, etc.

This command sets up the environment without actually running APM Server and ingesting data.

SYNOPSIS

tag::setup-command-tag[]

apm-server setup [FLAGS]

FLAGS

-h, --help
Shows help for the setup command.
--index-management
Sets up components related to Elasticsearch index management including template, ilm policy, and write alias.
--pipelines
Registers the pipeline definitions set in ingest/pipeline/definition.json. end::apm-server[]
--template
Sets up the index template only.

Also see Global flags.

EXAMPLES

apm-server setup --dashboards
apm-server setup --machine-learning
apm-server setup --template
apm-server setup --index-management
apm-server setup --pipelines

end::setup-command-tag[]

test commandedit

Tests the configuration.

SYNOPSIS

apm-server test SUBCOMMAND [FLAGS]

SUBCOMMANDS

config
Tests the configuration settings.
output
Tests that APM Server can connect to the output by using the current settings.

FLAGS

-h, --help
Shows help for the test command.

Also see Global flags.

EXAMPLE

apm-server test config

version commandedit

Shows information about the current version.

SYNOPSIS

apm-server version [FLAGS]

FLAGS

-h, --help
Shows help for the version command.

Also see Global flags.

EXAMPLE

apm-server version

Global flagsedit

These global flags are available whenever you run APM Server.

-E, --E "SETTING_NAME=VALUE"

Overrides a specific configuration setting. You can specify multiple overrides. For example: 

apm-server -E "name=mybeat" -E "output.elasticsearch.hosts=['http://myhost:9200']"

This setting is applied to the currently running APM Server process. The APM Server configuration file is not changed.

-c, --c FILE
Specifies the configuration file to use for APM Server. The file you specify here is relative to path.config. If the -c flag is not specified, the default config file, apm-server.yml, is used.
-d, --d SELECTORS
Enables debugging for the specified selectors. For the selectors, you can specify a comma-separated list of components, or you can use -d "*" to enable debugging for all components. For example, -d "publish" displays all the "publish" related messages.
-e, --e
Logs to stderr and disables syslog/file output.
--path.config
Sets the path for configuration files. See the Directory layout section for details.
--path.data
Sets the path for data files. See the Directory layout section for details.
--path.home
Sets the path for miscellaneous files. See the Directory layout section for details.
--path.logs
Sets the path for log files. See the Directory layout section for details.
--strict.perms
Sets strict permission checking on configuration files. The default is -strict.perms=true. See Config file ownership and permissions in the Beats Platform Reference for more information.
-v, --v
Logs INFO-level messages.
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