Step by Step guide to correctly create alerts via New Relic API

curl -X GET 'https://api.newrelic.com/v2/applications.json'   -H 'Api-Key: NRAK-3T8WTXSP4KJSLMG74WHR5I3SSY9'   -H 'Content-Type: application/json'

  % Total    % Received % Xferd  Average Speed   Time    Time     Time  Current
                                 Dload  Upload   Total   Spent    Left  Speed
100   799    0   799    0     0    809      0 --:--:-- --:--:-- --:--:--   811{"applications":[{"id":1508171253,"name":"devopsschool","language":"java","health_status":"red","reporting":false,"settings":{"app_apdex_threshold":0.5,"end_user_apdex_threshold":7.0,"enable_real_user_monitoring":true,"use_server_side_config":false},"links":{"application_instances":[],"servers":[],"application_hosts":[]}}],"links":{"application.servers":"/v2/servers?ids={server_ids}","application.server":"/v2/servers/{server_id}","application.application_hosts":"/v2/application/{application_id}/hosts?ids={host_ids}","application.application_host":"/v2/application/{application_id}/hosts/{host_id}","application.application_instances":"/v2/application/{application_id}/instances?ids={instance_ids}","application.application_instance":"/v2/application/{application_id}/instances/{instance_id}"}}
Code language: JavaScript (javascript)

Here’s a step-by-step guide to correctly create alerts via New Relic API, with proper handling of:

• type
• condition_scope
• entities
• metric

This will help you avoid common errors like using the wrong entity type or unsupported metrics.

✅ STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO NEW RELIC ALERT API SETUP

🔹 STEP 1: Decide the Alert Use Case

What are you monitoring?

🔹 STEP 2: Find the Correct Entity (ID or GUID)

🔸 For APM App: Use numeric App ID

curl -X GET 'https://api.newrelic.com/v2/applications.json' \
  -H 'Api-Key: YOUR_API_KEY'
Code language: JavaScript (javascript)

Use id from the output in entities: [YOUR_APP_ID].

🔸 For Infrastructure (Host): Use hostname or tag via where_clause

🔹 STEP 3: Choose the Right type, condition_scope, and metric

✅ APM (Application Metrics)

curl -X POST 'https://api.newrelic.com/v2/alerts_conditions/policies/<policy_id>.json' \
  -H 'Api-Key: YOUR_API_KEY' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{
    "condition": {
      "type": "apm_app_metric",
      "name": "Error Rate Alert",
      "enabled": true,
      "condition_scope": "application",
      "entities": [1508171253],
      "metric": "error_percentage",
      "terms": [
        {
          "duration": "5",
          "operator": "above",
          "priority": "critical",
          "threshold": "5",
          "time_function": "all"
        }
      ]
    }
  }'
Code language: PHP (php)

✅ Allowed APM Metrics:

• apdex
• error_percentage
• response_time_web
• response_time_background
• throughput_web
• throughput_background

✅ Infrastructure Host Metrics

curl -X POST 'https://api.newrelic.com/v2/alerts_conditions.json' \
  -H 'Api-Key: YOUR_API_KEY' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{
    "condition": {
      "type": "infra_metric",
      "name": "High CPU Usage on Host",
      "enabled": true,
      "policy_id": 6269799,
      "event_type": "SystemSample",
      "select_value": "cpuPercent",
      "comparison": "above",
      "critical_threshold": {
        "value": 80,
        "duration_minutes": 5,
        "time_function": "all"
      },
      "where_clause": "hostname = '\''ip-10-0-0-1'\''"
    }
  }'
Code language: PHP (php)

✅ Common Infra Metrics (event_type: SystemSample)

• cpuPercent
• memoryUsedBytes
• diskUsedPercent
• loadAverageOneMinute

✅ Synthetics Monitor Example

curl -X POST 'https://api.newrelic.com/v2/alerts_synthetics_conditions/policies/<policy_id>.json' \
  -H 'Api-Key: YOUR_API_KEY' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{
    "synthetics_condition": {
      "name": "Ping Failure",
      "monitor_id": "your-monitor-id",
      "enabled": true,
      "runbook_url": "",
      "terms": [
        {
          "duration": "5",
          "operator": "above",
          "priority": "critical",
          "threshold": "0",
          "time_function": "all"
        }
      ]
    }
  }'
Code language: PHP (php)

🔹 STEP 4: Test the Entity Type (Optional)

If unsure whether an entity is valid for APM alert:

{
  actor {
    entity(guid: "GUID_HERE") {
      name
      domain
      type
      guid
    }
  }
}
Code language: JavaScript (javascript)

Use via: https://api.newrelic.com/graphiql

📘 Summary Reference Table

Rajesh Kumar

I’m Rajesh Kumar, a DevOps, SRE, DevSecOps, Cloud, and Platform Engineering expert passionate about sharing practical knowledge, real-world experiences, and industry best practices. I have worked at Cotocus and regularly write about technology, travel, investing, health, product reviews, and digital marketing through my various platforms.

I publish technical articles at DevOps School, travel stories at Holiday Landmark, stock market insights at Stocks Mantra, health and fitness guidance at My Medic Plus, product reviews at TrueReviewNow, and SEO and digital marketing strategies at Wizbrand.