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RPM FAQ

About RPM | Billing & Subscription

About RPM

What's RPM?

New Relic's RPM stands for Rails performance management. RPM helps you see performance metrics in real time so you can find problems and fix them fast. RPM comes in two modes, Developer and Production.

What's the difference between RPM Developer Mode and RPM Production Mode?

When RPM runs in Developer Mode, it collects performance information in-memory and presents that information as a collection of web pages inside your application. Take a Tour »

When RPM runs in Production Mode, it connects to the New Relic RPM service and sends deep performance information as your application runs in production. Take a Tour »

Who needs it? How do I know if New Relic RPM can help me?

Whether your app is just starting out or it's already full-grown, you can rely on RPM to stop Rails performance problems in their tracks. The best way to know whether RPM can help you is to start using it. In the time it takes for you to finish your morning bagel, you could be up and running. Get the free plug-in. You can use RPM in Developer Mode for as long as you like. Or, if you've got 2 mongrels or fewer, take RPM Production Mode on a 90-day trial run. All set? Subscribe here »

How does it work?

How does RPM Developer Mode work?

• The Rails plug-in installs with zero configuration.
• Whenever you run your app in development, the New Relic Agent tracks the performance of every http request. It stores the last 100 http transactions in memory.
• RPM presents this info as a collection of web pages within your application. Don't worry-these pages stay in development mode, for your eyes only! The agent doesn't report data to NewRelic.com or anywhere else.
• To view performance information, including detailed SQL statement analysis, go to http://localhost:3000/newrelic and start drilling down.
• Try it as long as you like on your desktop. There's no expiration date.
• When you're ready to take your app to production, don't forget to take RPM with you.
• Take a Tour »

How does RPM Production Mode work?

• Choose a subscription level that fits the size of your application and register.
• We'll email a license key that you paste into your existing configuration file.
• RPM instantly starts collecting your performance information. It automatically runs whenever your app runs in production.
• The RPM Agent reports aggregate performance data to your RPM Console.
• Login to http://rpm.newrelic.com to see performance data for your entire application as it runs in production—even for hundreds of mongrels.
• Pay month to month, cancel whenever.
• Got 1 or 2 mongrels? Take RPM on a 90-day trial run. No credit card needed.
• Go for it. Subscribe to RPM today.
• Take a Tour »

Do you provide a way of analyzing the performance data collected from my application?

Yes, New Relic RPM provides drill-down analytic tools that let you quickly visualize your performance data in context.

What types of performance information does RPM show me?

Use the RPM Home Page to see such variables as:

• CPU
• Memory
• Application response time
• Load
• Slowest controller actions and response times
• Most called controller actions (page volume)
• and more...

Find database performance problems on your Active Record page. See things like:

• Application database utilization
• Database utilization problems by cluster and host
• Database response time
• Top database consumers
• Slowest ActiveRecord queries by caller
• Historical response time and load
• ActiveRecord calls sorted by controller action
• and more still...

Your controllers govern application response. Use the Controllers Page to drill down into application load and to identify the problem’s root cause. You can

• See call rates overlaid with response times
• Drill down into specific transactions like SQL statements, and into an EXPLAIN for each one
• View the application code that called each SQL

Does RPM give me a way to see cluster-level performance data?

Yes, you can see performance by mongrel, by host, or by cluster. Our logical clusters capability allows you to logically combine data from many instances to see aggregate performance information from applications that span hosts.

How do I access my performance data?

First, make sure you've installed the New Relic RPM Plug-In. To see your performance data in Developer Mode, go to http://localhost:3000/newrelic and start drilling down. To see your performance data in Production Mode, login to http://rpm.newrelic.com.

How long does New Relic store the performance data from my application?

We store your performance data for 1 week.

How often does the RPM agent send data to its servers?

The RPM agent reports data asynchronously via http or https post once per minute.

How does RPM impact response time?

Our testing shows that the RPM agent introduces minimal overhead. In production, response time for a typical controller action is impacted by fewer than 5 milliseconds. (That's significantly less time than is typically spent in mapping a request to the appropriate controller action.) For you, all of this means you can run RPM all the time. You'll always be connected to the information you need to fix performance problems and to ensure your application scales when you need it to.

Can I see the SQL statement performance information in Developer Mode?

In Developer Mode, you see a page listing all of your transactions and response times. You can drill down into the specific transactions to see exactly how they spent their time, right down to the individual SQL statement. From the SQL statement, you can drill down straight to an EXPLAIN, which gives you information on the performance of your query, such as which indices were used. Take a Tour »

What do I need to run RPM?

RPM monitors Ruby on Rails applications running 1.2x and 2.x on any major operating system. RPM supports Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer.

Can I host RPM entirely on my own servers?

No, RPM is a software as a service product. We host the application on our servers so you can start digging into your performance data right away. No complex installations or other hassles required.

Do I have to change my application's source code to start using RPM?

Nope.

Can I use RPM if my application is hosted by a third party?

Yes, many of our customers use third-party hosting providers to run their applications. RPM is an equal-opportunity performance data monitor.

Billing & Subscription

Can I try RPM before I buy it?

• Be our guest. Use RPM Developer Mode for free on your local machine for as long as you like.
• Got 1 or 2 mongrels? Take RPM Production Mode on a 90-day free trial run. No credit card needed.
• Subscribe to RPM today. After 30 days we will bill you for the next month.

How does the subscription plan work?

You pay by the month. We designed New Relic RPM to fit applications of all sizes and shapes. To pick the right plan for you, visit Get RPM for detailed feature and pricing information.

How does the free RPM Developer Mode plug-in work?

The free plug-in is, of course, free. You can use RPM Developer Mode on your local machine for as long as you like. Upgrade anytime when your app is production-ready by simply clicking the Upgrade link on your Developer Mode home page, or by visiting this page. Unplugging RPM is easy, too. If you don't like it, you can unplug in seconds, without a trace. Plug In to Developer Mode »

How does the 90-day free trial of RPM Production Mode work?

The 90-day free trial of RPM Production Mode is available for apps with 1 or 2 mongrels. You don't need to give us your credit card today. You can upgrade anytime. Get it »

Can I get the 90-day free trial if I have an application larger than 2 mongrels?

The 90-day free trial is available for apps with up to 2 mongrels. If your application is larger than that, go ahead and give it a whirl on 2 mongrels. If you like it, you can upgrade to cover your entire application.

How do I upgrade?

You can upgrade anytime by visiting this page or by clicking the "Upgrade" button within the RPM application. If you forget and try to add more mongrels than you pay for, we'll let you know. We'll take you to the easy upgrade page, where you can confirm what you need.

What if I want to cancel my service and get rid of the plug-in?

No problem. If you decide RPM isn't for you, simply cancel before your next billing period. You won't be charged for the next month of service.

How easy is it to remove RPM from my application?

Unplugging is easy. Simply remove our rails extension from your application and RPM is removed. But we really think you won't want to...

I'm already using RPM and I have a question. Can you help?

Check our Troubleshooting Guide & Documentation or reach out to us and the community in the New Relic Forums.