Implement Agent Request Buffering to Prevent Metric Outages

Dear Instana Product Team,

I would like to propose the implementation of a request buffering mechanism within the Instana agent to mitigate and avoid metric outages during periods of network instability or high latency.

Problem Statement

Currently, when the Instana agent encounters network issues or connectivity problems, it may lead to metric data loss, resulting in gaps in monitoring and performance analysis. This can severely impact the reliability of the metrics being collected, which in turn affects our ability to accurately monitor the health and performance of our systems.
Proposed Enhancement

I propose that the Instana agent includes a request buffering feature, which would temporarily store the metrics data in a local buffer during network disruptions. Once the network connection is restored, the buffered data would then be sent to the Instana backend, ensuring that no metrics are lost and providing a more reliable and continuous monitoring experience.

Benefits

• Improved Reliability: Ensures continuous monitoring even during temporary network issues, reducing the risk of data gaps.

• Enhanced Data Integrity: Maintains the integrity of collected metrics, providing more accurate and comprehensive performance data.

• Better User Experience: Reduces the need for manual intervention or workaround solutions during network disruptions, leading to a smoother experience for users.