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Metrics for cert-manager

Overview

All the cert-manager components serve Go runtime metrics, and Process metrics. The webhook and cainjector components serve controller-runtime metrics, and the controller component serves some bespoke metrics. By default, each cert-manager component has an HTTP metrics server which listens on TCP port 9402 on all interfaces. The Prometheus text based format is used. There are various metrics configuration options in the Helm chart.

PodMonitor for Prometheus Operator

The Helm chart also includes an optional PodMonitor resource, which you can enable if you use the Prometheus operator. Here is an example Helm values file which will enable the optional PodMonitor:

values.cert-manager.yaml
prometheus:
  enabled: true
  podmonitor:
    enabled: true

cert-manager metrics

  • certmanager_certificate_expiration_timestamp_seconds (GAUGE): The date after which the certificate expires. Expressed as a Unix Epoch Time.
  • certmanager_certificate_renewal_timestamp_seconds (GAUGE): The number of seconds before expiration time the certificate should renew.
  • certmanager_certificate_ready_status (GAUGE): The ready status of the certificate.
  • certmanager_http_acme_client_request_count (COUNTER): The number of requests made by the ACME client.
  • certmanager_http_acme_client_request_duration_seconds (SUMMARY): The HTTP request latencies in seconds for the ACME client.
  • certmanager_http_venafi_client_request_duration_seconds (SUMMARY): ALPHA: The HTTP request latencies in seconds for the Venafi client. This metric is currently alpha as we would like to understand whether it helps to measure Venafi call latency. Please leave feedback if you have any.
  • certmanager_controller_sync_call_count (COUNTER): The number of sync() calls made by a controller.
  • certmanager_controller_sync_error_count (COUNTER): The number of errors encountered during controller sync().
  • certmanager_clock_time_seconds (COUNTER): DEPRECATED: use clock_time_seconds_gauge instead. The clock time given in seconds (from 1970/01/01 UTC).
  • certmanager_clock_time_seconds_gauge (GAUGE): The clock time given in seconds (from 1970/01/01 UTC).

Info

These bespoke metrics are exported by the controller component of cert-manager.

Reference

controller

You can query the metrics endpoint and fetch the current metrics data as follows:

POD_NAME=$(kubectl get pod -n venafi -l app.kubernetes.io/instance=cert-manager,app.kubernetes.io/component=controller -o jsonpath='{ .items[0].metadata.name }')
kubectl get --raw "/api/v1/namespaces/venafi/pods/${POD_NAME}:9402/proxy/metrics" | grep -A1 'HELP'
Full metrics reference

Here are the metrics that the cert-manager controller exports:

# HELP certmanager_certificate_expiration_timestamp_seconds The date after which the certificate expires. Expressed as a Unix Epoch Time.
# TYPE certmanager_certificate_expiration_timestamp_seconds gauge
--
# HELP certmanager_certificate_ready_status The ready status of the certificate.
# TYPE certmanager_certificate_ready_status gauge
--
# HELP certmanager_certificate_renewal_timestamp_seconds The number of seconds before expiration time the certificate should renew.
# TYPE certmanager_certificate_renewal_timestamp_seconds gauge
--
# HELP certmanager_clock_time_seconds DEPRECATED: use clock_time_seconds_gauge instead. The clock time given in seconds (from 1970/01/01 UTC).
# TYPE certmanager_clock_time_seconds counter
--
# HELP certmanager_clock_time_seconds_gauge The clock time given in seconds (from 1970/01/01 UTC).
# TYPE certmanager_clock_time_seconds_gauge gauge
--
# HELP certmanager_controller_sync_call_count The number of sync() calls made by a controller.
# TYPE certmanager_controller_sync_call_count counter
--
# HELP go_gc_duration_seconds A summary of the pause duration of garbage collection cycles.
# TYPE go_gc_duration_seconds summary
--
# HELP go_goroutines Number of goroutines that currently exist.
# TYPE go_goroutines gauge
--
# HELP go_info Information about the Go environment.
# TYPE go_info gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_alloc_bytes Number of bytes allocated and still in use.
# TYPE go_memstats_alloc_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_alloc_bytes_total Total number of bytes allocated, even if freed.
# TYPE go_memstats_alloc_bytes_total counter
--
# HELP go_memstats_buck_hash_sys_bytes Number of bytes used by the profiling bucket hash table.
# TYPE go_memstats_buck_hash_sys_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_frees_total Total number of frees.
# TYPE go_memstats_frees_total counter
--
# HELP go_memstats_gc_sys_bytes Number of bytes used for garbage collection system metadata.
# TYPE go_memstats_gc_sys_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_heap_alloc_bytes Number of heap bytes allocated and still in use.
# TYPE go_memstats_heap_alloc_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_heap_idle_bytes Number of heap bytes waiting to be used.
# TYPE go_memstats_heap_idle_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_heap_inuse_bytes Number of heap bytes that are in use.
# TYPE go_memstats_heap_inuse_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_heap_objects Number of allocated objects.
# TYPE go_memstats_heap_objects gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_heap_released_bytes Number of heap bytes released to OS.
# TYPE go_memstats_heap_released_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_heap_sys_bytes Number of heap bytes obtained from system.
# TYPE go_memstats_heap_sys_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_last_gc_time_seconds Number of seconds since 1970 of last garbage collection.
# TYPE go_memstats_last_gc_time_seconds gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_lookups_total Total number of pointer lookups.
# TYPE go_memstats_lookups_total counter
--
# HELP go_memstats_mallocs_total Total number of mallocs.
# TYPE go_memstats_mallocs_total counter
--
# HELP go_memstats_mcache_inuse_bytes Number of bytes in use by mcache structures.
# TYPE go_memstats_mcache_inuse_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_mcache_sys_bytes Number of bytes used for mcache structures obtained from system.
# TYPE go_memstats_mcache_sys_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_mspan_inuse_bytes Number of bytes in use by mspan structures.
# TYPE go_memstats_mspan_inuse_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_mspan_sys_bytes Number of bytes used for mspan structures obtained from system.
# TYPE go_memstats_mspan_sys_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_next_gc_bytes Number of heap bytes when next garbage collection will take place.
# TYPE go_memstats_next_gc_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_other_sys_bytes Number of bytes used for other system allocations.
# TYPE go_memstats_other_sys_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_stack_inuse_bytes Number of bytes in use by the stack allocator.
# TYPE go_memstats_stack_inuse_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_stack_sys_bytes Number of bytes obtained from system for stack allocator.
# TYPE go_memstats_stack_sys_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_sys_bytes Number of bytes obtained from system.
# TYPE go_memstats_sys_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_threads Number of OS threads created.
# TYPE go_threads gauge
--
# HELP process_cpu_seconds_total Total user and system CPU time spent in seconds.
# TYPE process_cpu_seconds_total counter
--
# HELP process_max_fds Maximum number of open file descriptors.
# TYPE process_max_fds gauge
--
# HELP process_open_fds Number of open file descriptors.
# TYPE process_open_fds gauge
--
# HELP process_resident_memory_bytes Resident memory size in bytes.
# TYPE process_resident_memory_bytes gauge
--
# HELP process_start_time_seconds Start time of the process since unix epoch in seconds.
# TYPE process_start_time_seconds gauge
--
# HELP process_virtual_memory_bytes Virtual memory size in bytes.
# TYPE process_virtual_memory_bytes gauge
--
# HELP process_virtual_memory_max_bytes Maximum amount of virtual memory available in bytes.
# TYPE process_virtual_memory_max_bytes gauge

webhook

You can query the metrics endpoint and fetch the current metrics data as follows:

POD_NAME=$(kubectl get pod -n venafi -l app.kubernetes.io/instance=cert-manager,app.kubernetes.io/component=webhook -o jsonpath='{ .items[0].metadata.name }')
kubectl get --raw "/api/v1/namespaces/venafi/pods/${POD_NAME}:9402/proxy/metrics" | grep -A1 'HELP'
Full metrics reference

Here are the metrics that the cert-manager webhook exports:

# HELP certwatcher_read_certificate_errors_total Total number of certificate read errors
# TYPE certwatcher_read_certificate_errors_total counter
--
# HELP certwatcher_read_certificate_total Total number of certificate reads
# TYPE certwatcher_read_certificate_total counter
--
# HELP controller_runtime_webhook_latency_seconds Histogram of the latency of processing admission requests
# TYPE controller_runtime_webhook_latency_seconds histogram
--
# HELP controller_runtime_webhook_requests_in_flight Current number of admission requests being served.
# TYPE controller_runtime_webhook_requests_in_flight gauge
--
# HELP controller_runtime_webhook_requests_total Total number of admission requests by HTTP status code.
# TYPE controller_runtime_webhook_requests_total counter
--
# HELP go_gc_duration_seconds A summary of the pause duration of garbage collection cycles.
# TYPE go_gc_duration_seconds summary
--
# HELP go_goroutines Number of goroutines that currently exist.
# TYPE go_goroutines gauge
--
# HELP go_info Information about the Go environment.
# TYPE go_info gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_alloc_bytes Number of bytes allocated and still in use.
# TYPE go_memstats_alloc_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_alloc_bytes_total Total number of bytes allocated, even if freed.
# TYPE go_memstats_alloc_bytes_total counter
--
# HELP go_memstats_buck_hash_sys_bytes Number of bytes used by the profiling bucket hash table.
# TYPE go_memstats_buck_hash_sys_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_frees_total Total number of frees.
# TYPE go_memstats_frees_total counter
--
# HELP go_memstats_gc_sys_bytes Number of bytes used for garbage collection system metadata.
# TYPE go_memstats_gc_sys_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_heap_alloc_bytes Number of heap bytes allocated and still in use.
# TYPE go_memstats_heap_alloc_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_heap_idle_bytes Number of heap bytes waiting to be used.
# TYPE go_memstats_heap_idle_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_heap_inuse_bytes Number of heap bytes that are in use.
# TYPE go_memstats_heap_inuse_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_heap_objects Number of allocated objects.
# TYPE go_memstats_heap_objects gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_heap_released_bytes Number of heap bytes released to OS.
# TYPE go_memstats_heap_released_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_heap_sys_bytes Number of heap bytes obtained from system.
# TYPE go_memstats_heap_sys_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_last_gc_time_seconds Number of seconds since 1970 of last garbage collection.
# TYPE go_memstats_last_gc_time_seconds gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_lookups_total Total number of pointer lookups.
# TYPE go_memstats_lookups_total counter
--
# HELP go_memstats_mallocs_total Total number of mallocs.
# TYPE go_memstats_mallocs_total counter
--
# HELP go_memstats_mcache_inuse_bytes Number of bytes in use by mcache structures.
# TYPE go_memstats_mcache_inuse_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_mcache_sys_bytes Number of bytes used for mcache structures obtained from system.
# TYPE go_memstats_mcache_sys_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_mspan_inuse_bytes Number of bytes in use by mspan structures.
# TYPE go_memstats_mspan_inuse_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_mspan_sys_bytes Number of bytes used for mspan structures obtained from system.
# TYPE go_memstats_mspan_sys_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_next_gc_bytes Number of heap bytes when next garbage collection will take place.
# TYPE go_memstats_next_gc_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_other_sys_bytes Number of bytes used for other system allocations.
# TYPE go_memstats_other_sys_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_stack_inuse_bytes Number of bytes in use by the stack allocator.
# TYPE go_memstats_stack_inuse_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_stack_sys_bytes Number of bytes obtained from system for stack allocator.
# TYPE go_memstats_stack_sys_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_sys_bytes Number of bytes obtained from system.
# TYPE go_memstats_sys_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_threads Number of OS threads created.
# TYPE go_threads gauge
--
# HELP process_cpu_seconds_total Total user and system CPU time spent in seconds.
# TYPE process_cpu_seconds_total counter
--
# HELP process_max_fds Maximum number of open file descriptors.
# TYPE process_max_fds gauge
--
# HELP process_open_fds Number of open file descriptors.
# TYPE process_open_fds gauge
--
# HELP process_resident_memory_bytes Resident memory size in bytes.
# TYPE process_resident_memory_bytes gauge
--
# HELP process_start_time_seconds Start time of the process since unix epoch in seconds.
# TYPE process_start_time_seconds gauge
--
# HELP process_virtual_memory_bytes Virtual memory size in bytes.
# TYPE process_virtual_memory_bytes gauge
--
# HELP process_virtual_memory_max_bytes Maximum amount of virtual memory available in bytes.
# TYPE process_virtual_memory_max_bytes gauge
--
# HELP rest_client_requests_total Number of HTTP requests, partitioned by status code, method, and host.
# TYPE rest_client_requests_total counter

cainjector

You can query the metrics endpoint and fetch the current metrics data as follows:

POD_NAME=$(kubectl get pod -n venafi -l app.kubernetes.io/instance=cert-manager,app.kubernetes.io/component=cainjector -o jsonpath='{ .items[0].metadata.name }')
kubectl get --raw "/api/v1/namespaces/venafi/pods/${POD_NAME}:9402/proxy/metrics" | grep -A1 'HELP'
Full metrics reference

Here are the metrics that the cert-manager cainjector exports:

# HELP certwatcher_read_certificate_errors_total Total number of certificate read errors
# TYPE certwatcher_read_certificate_errors_total counter
--
# HELP certwatcher_read_certificate_total Total number of certificate reads
# TYPE certwatcher_read_certificate_total counter
--
# HELP controller_runtime_active_workers Number of currently used workers per controller
# TYPE controller_runtime_active_workers gauge
--
# HELP controller_runtime_max_concurrent_reconciles Maximum number of concurrent reconciles per controller
# TYPE controller_runtime_max_concurrent_reconciles gauge
--
# HELP controller_runtime_reconcile_errors_total Total number of reconciliation errors per controller
# TYPE controller_runtime_reconcile_errors_total counter
--
# HELP controller_runtime_reconcile_time_seconds Length of time per reconciliation per controller
# TYPE controller_runtime_reconcile_time_seconds histogram
--
# HELP controller_runtime_reconcile_total Total number of reconciliations per controller
# TYPE controller_runtime_reconcile_total counter
--
# HELP go_gc_duration_seconds A summary of the pause duration of garbage collection cycles.
# TYPE go_gc_duration_seconds summary
--
# HELP go_goroutines Number of goroutines that currently exist.
# TYPE go_goroutines gauge
--
# HELP go_info Information about the Go environment.
# TYPE go_info gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_alloc_bytes Number of bytes allocated and still in use.
# TYPE go_memstats_alloc_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_alloc_bytes_total Total number of bytes allocated, even if freed.
# TYPE go_memstats_alloc_bytes_total counter
--
# HELP go_memstats_buck_hash_sys_bytes Number of bytes used by the profiling bucket hash table.
# TYPE go_memstats_buck_hash_sys_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_frees_total Total number of frees.
# TYPE go_memstats_frees_total counter
--
# HELP go_memstats_gc_sys_bytes Number of bytes used for garbage collection system metadata.
# TYPE go_memstats_gc_sys_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_heap_alloc_bytes Number of heap bytes allocated and still in use.
# TYPE go_memstats_heap_alloc_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_heap_idle_bytes Number of heap bytes waiting to be used.
# TYPE go_memstats_heap_idle_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_heap_inuse_bytes Number of heap bytes that are in use.
# TYPE go_memstats_heap_inuse_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_heap_objects Number of allocated objects.
# TYPE go_memstats_heap_objects gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_heap_released_bytes Number of heap bytes released to OS.
# TYPE go_memstats_heap_released_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_heap_sys_bytes Number of heap bytes obtained from system.
# TYPE go_memstats_heap_sys_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_last_gc_time_seconds Number of seconds since 1970 of last garbage collection.
# TYPE go_memstats_last_gc_time_seconds gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_lookups_total Total number of pointer lookups.
# TYPE go_memstats_lookups_total counter
--
# HELP go_memstats_mallocs_total Total number of mallocs.
# TYPE go_memstats_mallocs_total counter
--
# HELP go_memstats_mcache_inuse_bytes Number of bytes in use by mcache structures.
# TYPE go_memstats_mcache_inuse_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_mcache_sys_bytes Number of bytes used for mcache structures obtained from system.
# TYPE go_memstats_mcache_sys_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_mspan_inuse_bytes Number of bytes in use by mspan structures.
# TYPE go_memstats_mspan_inuse_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_mspan_sys_bytes Number of bytes used for mspan structures obtained from system.
# TYPE go_memstats_mspan_sys_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_next_gc_bytes Number of heap bytes when next garbage collection will take place.
# TYPE go_memstats_next_gc_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_other_sys_bytes Number of bytes used for other system allocations.
# TYPE go_memstats_other_sys_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_stack_inuse_bytes Number of bytes in use by the stack allocator.
# TYPE go_memstats_stack_inuse_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_stack_sys_bytes Number of bytes obtained from system for stack allocator.
# TYPE go_memstats_stack_sys_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_memstats_sys_bytes Number of bytes obtained from system.
# TYPE go_memstats_sys_bytes gauge
--
# HELP go_threads Number of OS threads created.
# TYPE go_threads gauge
--
# HELP leader_election_master_status Gauge of if the reporting system is master of the relevant lease, 0 indicates backup, 1 indicates master. 'name' is the string used to identify the lease. Please make sure to group by name.
# TYPE leader_election_master_status gauge
--
# HELP process_cpu_seconds_total Total user and system CPU time spent in seconds.
# TYPE process_cpu_seconds_total counter
--
# HELP process_max_fds Maximum number of open file descriptors.
# TYPE process_max_fds gauge
--
# HELP process_open_fds Number of open file descriptors.
# TYPE process_open_fds gauge
--
# HELP process_resident_memory_bytes Resident memory size in bytes.
# TYPE process_resident_memory_bytes gauge
--
# HELP process_start_time_seconds Start time of the process since unix epoch in seconds.
# TYPE process_start_time_seconds gauge
--
# HELP process_virtual_memory_bytes Virtual memory size in bytes.
# TYPE process_virtual_memory_bytes gauge
--
# HELP process_virtual_memory_max_bytes Maximum amount of virtual memory available in bytes.
# TYPE process_virtual_memory_max_bytes gauge
--
# HELP rest_client_requests_total Number of HTTP requests, partitioned by status code, method, and host.
# TYPE rest_client_requests_total counter
--
# HELP workqueue_adds_total Total number of adds handled by workqueue
# TYPE workqueue_adds_total counter
--
# HELP workqueue_depth Current depth of workqueue
# TYPE workqueue_depth gauge
--
# HELP workqueue_longest_running_processor_seconds How many seconds has the longest running processor for workqueue been running.
# TYPE workqueue_longest_running_processor_seconds gauge
--
# HELP workqueue_queue_duration_seconds How long in seconds an item stays in workqueue before being requested
# TYPE workqueue_queue_duration_seconds histogram
--
# HELP workqueue_retries_total Total number of retries handled by workqueue
# TYPE workqueue_retries_total counter
--
# HELP workqueue_unfinished_work_seconds How many seconds of work has been done that is in progress and hasn't been observed by work_duration. Large values indicate stuck threads. One can deduce the number of stuck threads by observing the rate at which this increases.
# TYPE workqueue_unfinished_work_seconds gauge
--
# HELP workqueue_work_duration_seconds How long in seconds processing an item from workqueue takes.
# TYPE workqueue_work_duration_seconds histogram