Sending Metrics, Logs, and Traces from Micronaut Native Image Applications to Azure Monitor

Logico_jp explains how to enable metrics, log, and trace telemetry for Micronaut applications, including GraalVM Native Images, on Azure Monitor. The article discusses integration options and the recently introduced micronaut-azure-tracing dependency.

Sending Metrics, Logs, and Traces from Micronaut Native Image Applications to Azure Monitor

Author: Logico_jp

Overview

This guide addresses how to collect and send metrics, logs, and traces from Micronaut-based applications running on Azure, including support for GraalVM Native Images, leveraging the latest updates in the Micronaut ecosystem.

Customer Query

A customer using Micronaut for microservices on Azure Container Apps requested:

• How to send traces (beyond logs/metrics) to Azure Monitor.
• Whether this works with GraalVM Native Image builds.

Context: Existing Solutions in Java Frameworks

Java frameworks like Spring Boot and Quarkus offer built-in dependencies to facilitate Azure Monitor integration:

• Spring Boot Starter for OpenTelemetry
• Quarkus OpenTelemetry Exporter for Azure
• Monitoring Spring Boot Native Images on Azure
• Monitoring Quarkus Native Apps on Azure

Options to Enable Telemetry in Micronaut on Azure

1. Java Agent

• Easiest to use for Java applications.
• Drawbacks: Increased startup time; not compatible with Native Images as of July 2025.

2. Fat JAR with Micronaut Dependencies

• Use dependencies like io.micronaut.micrometer:micronaut-micrometer-registry-azure-monitor and io.micronaut.azure:micronaut-azure-logging for metrics and logs.
• Previously, no direct dependency for traces.

3. Azure Monitor Agent with OpenTelemetry Protocol (OTLP)

• Enable Azure Monitor Agent in Azure Container Apps environment.
• Works with any application stack.
• Limitation: Cannot send metrics (per Microsoft docs).

Recent Improvements — Trace Support for Micronaut Native Images

As of Micronaut 4.9.0, the new dependency io.micronaut.azure:micronaut-azure-tracing enables sending traces to Application Insights. This is powered by the Azure Monitor OpenTelemetry SDK Autoconfigure Distro, not by the Azure Monitor Agent.

• Compatibility: Works with GraalVM Native Images.
• No need to abandon Native Images for trace support.
• See Azure Monitor OpenTelemetry SDK Autoconfigure Distro documentation

Key Considerations for Sending Telemetry

• Use Micronaut dependencies for logs/metrics/traces:
  • Metrics: micronaut-micrometer-registry-azure-monitor
  • Logs: micronaut-azure-logging
  • Traces: micronaut-azure-tracing (since 4.9.0)
• For Azure Container Apps:
  • Agent-based OTLP is simple, but does not handle metrics.
  • Fat JAR with dependencies allows full coverage, including traces in Native Images.

Reference Links

• Official Guide: Send Metrics from Micronaut Native Apps to Azure Monitor
• Send Traces from Micronaut Native Image Apps to Azure Monitor
• Send Logs from Micronaut Native Image Apps to Azure Monitor
• Send Signals via Zero-Code Instrumentation

Conclusion

Micronaut 4.9.0 introduces direct support for sending traces to Azure Monitor from both JAR and GraalVM Native Image applications using the micronaut-azure-tracing dependency. Combined with logging and metrics dependencies, this enables comprehensive observability for Micronaut applications on Azure.

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