Use OpenTelemetry auto-instrumentation for Node.js so your app can send traces, metrics, and logs to Rocketgraph with minimal setup. You set environment variables and load the auto-instrumentation module before your application code runs.

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Prerequisites

  • Node.js 18+
  • Your Rocketgraph ingress endpoint: https://ingress.us-east-2.rocketgraph.app

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1. Install the auto-instrumentation package

Install the OpenTelemetry API and the Node auto-instrumentations metapackage: 
npm install --save @opentelemetry/api @opentelemetry/auto-instrumentations-node
This metapackage includes instrumentations for http, express, pg, redis, mongodb, and many other libraries. See OpenTelemetry JS auto-instrumentations for the full list.

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2. Configure via environment variables

Point the OTLP exporter at your Rocketgraph ingress and set your service name: 
export OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_ENDPOINT="https://ingress.us-east-2.rocketgraph.app"
export OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_HEADERS="Authorization=Bearer rg_live_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"

export OTEL_SERVICE_NAME="my-node-service"
export OTEL_TRACES_EXPORTER="otlp"
export OTEL_METRICS_EXPORTER="otlp"
export OTEL_LOGS_EXPORTER="otlp"
export NODE_OPTIONS="--require @opentelemetry/auto-instrumentations-node/register"
Replace rg_live_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx with your actual Rocketgraph API key in your settings page. The SDK will append the correct OTLP paths for traces, metrics, and logs.
Optional:
  • OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_PROTOCOL — Use http/protobuf (common for HTTP) or grpc.
  • OTEL_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES — Add attributes such as deployment.environment=production or k8s.pod.name=my-pod.

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3. Run your application

Load the auto-instrumentation module with Node’s --require flag so it runs before your app. Your existing entry file stays the same: 
node app.js
Or with a custom config file: 
node --require ./tracing.js server.js
Example tracing.js that registers the same auto-instrumentations and uses env vars for the endpoint: 
const { NodeSDK } = require('@opentelemetry/sdk-node');
const { getNodeAutoInstrumentations } = require('@opentelemetry/auto-instrumentations-node');
const { OTLPTraceExporter } = require('@opentelemetry/exporter-trace-otlp-http');
const { OTLPMetricExporter } = require('@opentelemetry/exporter-metrics-otlp-http');
const { PeriodicExportingMetricReader } = require('@opentelemetry/sdk-metrics');

const sdk = new NodeSDK({
  traceExporter: new OTLPTraceExporter(),
  metricReader: new PeriodicExportingMetricReader({
    exporter: new OTLPMetricExporter(),
  }),
  instrumentations: [getNodeAutoInstrumentations()],
});
sdk.start();
Once the app is running, telemetry is sent to Rocketgraph. In the dashboard, pick a time window to see traces, metrics, and logs and use AI root cause analysis.

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Next steps