--- title: Introduction to New Relic for .NET source: https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apm/agents/net-agent/getting-started/introduction-new-relic-net --- With our .NET agent for application performance monitoring, you can: - Use [APM](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apm/new-relic-apm/getting-started/welcome-new-relic-apm) to get a [high-level overview of your app](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apm/applications-menu/monitoring/apm-overview-page), to see code-level details like [transaction traces](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apm/transactions/transaction-traces/transaction-traces), [database queries](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apm/transactions/transaction-traces/sql-statements), and [errors](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apm/applications-menu/events/view-apm-error-analytics), and to [track activity across a large distributed system](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apm/distributed-tracing/getting-started/introduction-distributed-tracing). - Get proactive notifications from [alerts](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/alerts/alert-policies/understanding-alert-policies/alerting-new-relic) to ensure your app is up and running smoothly. - Use the [query builder](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/query-your-data/explore-query-data/query-builder/use-advanced-nrql-mode-specify-data) to query your data and create custom [dashboards](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/query-your-data/explore-query-data/dashboards/introduction-new-relic-one-dashboards) with that data. - Install [infrastructure monitoring](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/infrastructure/new-relic-infrastructure/installation/install-infrastructure-windows-server) to view the performance of your app's host environment. ![Screenshot showing an overview of the .NET agent in the UI](https://docs.newrelic.com/images/apm_screenshot-crop_overview-of-the-dotnet-agent.webp "Screenshot showing an overview of the .NET agent in the UI") After installing the .NET agent, you'll see a summary of your app's performance on our APM **Summary** page. ## Install the agent [#installation] To use the .NET agent: 1. Make sure your system meets the [.NET agent compatibility](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apm/agents/net-agent/configuration/net-agent-configuration/) 2. [Sign up](https://newrelic.com/signup) for a New Relic account. 3. Install the .NET agent via the in-product launcher below or by following our standard install procedures in the docs. [Add .NET data](https://one.newrelic.com/marketplace/install-data-source?state=3782cb1e-1733-6408-71c3-c3474a90bc07) [Read the install docs](https://docs.newrelic.com/install/dotnet) ## Support for both .NET Framework and .NET Core [#core-features] New Relic's .NET agent supports both [.NET Framework and .NET Core](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apm/agents/net-agent/configuration/net-agent-configuration/), and it works with all .NET compatible languages, such as VB.NET, C#, and CLI. The agent's support for .NET Core takes advantage of the compatibility, speed, expanded API features, and cross-platform capabilities of Microsoft's .NET Core. The agent **does not** support Microsoft .NET Core versions earlier than 2.0. With New Relic's support for .NET, you can monitor your apps in dynamic or distributed environments, such as: - Cloud-managed server VM images - On-host VM servers - Microsoft Azure App Services - Self-hosted Windows and Linux systems - AWS EC2 VMs ## Extend your instrumentation [#extend] After installing the .NET agent, extend the agent's instrumentation with one or more of these methods: | **Instrumentation options** | **Details** | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | [Browser instrumentation](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/agents/net-agent/features/page-load-timing-net) | Integrate the .NET agent with [browser monitoring](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/browser/new-relic-browser/getting-started/new-relic-browser) to gain visibility into end-user activity. - ASP.NET apps (.NET Framework only): Use any of the available options to [install the browser agent](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/browser/new-relic-browser/installation/install-new-relic-browser-agent). - ASP.NET Core apps (targeting .NET Core or .NET Framework): Use either the [API method](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/agents/net-agent/net-agent-api/get-browser-timing-header) or the [copy/paste method](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/browser/new-relic-browser/installation/install-new-relic-browser-agent#copy-paste-app) to inject the browser agent into your webpages. | | [Custom instrumentation](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/agents/net-agent/custom-instrumentation/introduction-net-custom-instrumentation) | Instrument transactions not captured as part of New Relic's automatic framework instrumentation. | | [Agent API](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/agents/net-agent/features/net-agent-api) | See the [.NET agent API guide](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/agents/net-agent/api-guides/guide-using-net-agent-api) to learn how to customize the agent's behavior. For example, you can collect custom metrics, flag an error, or ignore a particular transaction entirely. | | [Custom attributes](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apm/agents/net-agent/net-agent-api/itransaction/#addcustomattribute) | Customize the [attributes](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/agents/manage-apm-agents/agent-metrics/agent-attributes) attached to transactions. Customizing attributes allows you to avoid sending sensitive attributes, or to collect additional attributes for deeper visibility into your transactions. | | [Distributed tracing](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apm/distributed-tracing/getting-started/introduction-distributed-tracing) | Enable [distributed tracing](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apm/distributed-tracing/getting-started/introduction-distributed-tracing) to understand activity across a complex, distributed system that uses many services and microservices. | | [Open source telemetry](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/integrations/open-source-telemetry-integrations/get-started/introduction-new-relics-open-source-telemetry-integrations) | Explore these tools: [OpenTelemetry exporter](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/integrations/open-source-telemetry-integrations/open-source-telemetry-integration-list/new-relics-opentelemetry-integration) and [.NET Telemetry SDK](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/data-ingest-apis/get-data-new-relic/new-relic-sdks/telemetry-sdks-send-custom-telemetry-data-new-relic). | ## View logs for your APM and infrastructure data [#logs-context] You can also bring your logs and application's data together to make troubleshooting easier and faster. With [logs in context](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/logs/logs-context/net-configure-logs-context-all), you can see log messages related to your errors and traces directly in your app's UI. You can also see logs in context of your [infrastructure data](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/logs/forward-logs/forward-your-logs-using-infrastructure-agent/), such as Kubernetes clusters. No need to switch to another UI page. ## Check the source code [#source-code] The .NET agent is open source software. That means you can [browse its source code](https://github.com/newrelic/newrelic-dotnet-agent) and send improvements, or create your own fork and build it. For more information, see the [README](https://github.com/newrelic/newrelic-dotnet-agent/blob/main/README.md).