Coverage Matrix
| Chkk Curated Release Notes | v0.14.0 to latest |
| Private Registry | Supported |
| Custom Built Images | Supported |
| Safety, Health, and Readiness Checks | v0.16.1 to latest |
| Supported Packages | Helm, Kustomize, Kube |
| EOL Information | Available |
| Version Incompatibility Information | Available |
| Upgrade Templates | In-Place, Blue-Green |
| Preverification | Available |
Prometheus JMX Exporter Overview
Prometheus JMX Exporter collects metrics from Java applications using Java Management Extensions (JMX) and exposes them in a Prometheus-friendly format. Deployed either as a Java agent within JVMs or as a standalone service, it efficiently monitors applications such as Kafka or Cassandra. The Java agent mode is typically preferred for Kubernetes due to its simpler networking model compared to standalone mode. The exporter supports essential observability standards, including OpenTelemetry integration, enabling comprehensive monitoring for JVM-based workloads.Chkk Coverage
Curated Release Notes
Chkk provides concise, curated summaries of Prometheus JMX Exporter release notes, focusing on critical new features, breaking changes, or significant fixes impacting your environment. For instance, Chkk flags changes like metric endpoint paths or altered naming conventions from new releases. It highlights the introduction of security features such as HTTPS or BasicAuth and informs about deprecated support for older Java versions. This targeted approach ensures platform engineers quickly understand relevant upgrade impacts without parsing detailed upstream notes.Preflight & Postflight Checks
Chkk performs preflight checks before upgrading the JMX Exporter, validating Java version compatibility and configuration file correctness. These checks identify issues such as deprecated YAML syntax or unsupported JVM versions, preventing upgrade failures. Post-upgrade, Chkk verifies metrics availability, ensures successful Prometheus scrapes, and analyzes exporter logs for errors or metric collection issues. This proactive validation helps engineers swiftly address potential issues and maintain continuous monitoring reliability.Version Recommendations
Chkk continuously tracks Prometheus JMX Exporter releases, alerting when your deployed version falls out of the maintenance window or misses critical updates. It flags key improvements, like standardized metric endpoints and security patches, guiding you towards safer upgrade paths. Chkk considers community feedback and stability reports when recommending optimal upgrade versions, balancing new features against operational reliability. This approach helps teams proactively maintain exporter health, reducing unexpected issues from running obsolete or unstable releases.Upgrade Templates
Chkk provides detailed Upgrade Templates, outlining best practices for both in-place and blue-green upgrades of the JMX Exporter. The templates include clear, sequential steps such as incrementally updating Java agents or sidecar deployments, verifying metrics, and ensuring compatibility with Prometheus configurations. Canary templates guide phased rollouts, facilitating side-by-side comparisons of metrics and performance between exporter versions, along with rollback procedures. These structured playbooks significantly reduce risk and streamline integration into GitOps or CI/CD pipelines.Preverification
Chkk offers a preverification environment for rehearsing JMX Exporter upgrades, effectively simulating the upgrade process in isolation. This practice identifies configuration issues, compatibility errors, and metric discrepancies before they affect production systems. Platform teams can proactively adjust exporter configurations or address resource allocation issues surfaced during preverification. By validating each upgrade step beforehand, engineers confidently execute production upgrades, minimizing downtime or monitoring gaps.Supported Packages
Chkk fully supports common deployment methods for the Prometheus JMX Exporter, including Helm charts, plain YAML manifests, and direct Java agent configurations. It accommodates custom builds, private registries, and vendor-specific variations, ensuring compatibility with diverse infrastructure setups. Chkk integrates seamlessly with GitOps workflows, accurately mapping existing configurations to recommended upgrade targets. This flexibility allows engineers to maintain established deployment practices while leveraging Chkk’s version analysis and upgrade guidance.Common Operational Considerations
- Standalone Mode Pitfalls: JMX Exporter standalone mode requires complex RMI port configuration and may conflict with Kubernetes networking. Prefer Java agent mode for simpler deployments.
- Exporter Overload: Excessive scrape frequencies or concurrent Prometheus scrapes can overwhelm the exporter. Maintain moderate scrape intervals and consider thread pool tuning.
- Metric Filtering & Cardinality: Unfiltered metric collection can overwhelm Prometheus with excessive or dynamic metrics. Regularly refine exporter rules to expose only necessary metrics.
- Resource Usage: JMX Exporter can increase JVM CPU and memory overhead, especially with extensive metrics. Monitor resource consumption and adjust scrape intervals or metric scope accordingly.
- Metrics Endpoint Security: The exporter’s HTTP metrics endpoint is unsecured by default. Consider enabling HTTPS and authentication or restrict access via network policies.
- Scrape Configuration Alignment: Prometheus scrape configurations must match exporter deployments, particularly regarding endpoint paths and ports. Confirm scrape alignment after deploying or upgrading the exporter.