> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.localops.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# .NET

> Expose .NET runtime and custom Prometheus metrics from a .NET service running on LocalOps, and visualize them with a community Grafana dashboard.

A complete walkthrough of instrumenting a .NET service using [`prometheus-net`](https://github.com/prometheus-net/prometheus-net),
the most widely adopted .NET Prometheus client.

See the [overview](/environment/services/instrument-service) for the general approach.

## 1. Add the dependency

```bash theme={null}
dotnet add package prometheus-net
dotnet add package prometheus-net.AspNetCore
```

## 2. Register custom metrics and expose `/metrics`

`prometheus-net` automatically registers .NET runtime metrics (GC, JIT, thread pool, exceptions) and process metrics.
`KestrelMetricServer` starts a standalone metrics endpoint on a dedicated port.

```csharp theme={null}
using Prometheus;

var emailsSent = Metrics.CreateCounter(
    "emails_sent_total",
    "Total number of emails sent",
    new CounterConfiguration
    {
        LabelNames = new[] { "status" },
    });

var server = new KestrelMetricServer(port: 9090);
server.Start();

emailsSent.WithLabels("success").Inc();

// Keep the process alive (e.g., in a console app)
await Task.Delay(Timeout.Infinite);
```

<Tip>
  If you're already running ASP.NET Core, use `app.UseMetricServer()` and `app.UseHttpMetrics()` to expose `/metrics`
  on your main app port — `UseHttpMetrics` also automatically tracks HTTP request durations, status codes, and route
  labels. Just point `ops.json` at your main app port.
</Tip>

## 3. Declare the metrics endpoint in `ops.json`

```json theme={null}
{
    "metrics": {
        "endpoint": "/metrics",
        "interval": 15,
        "port": 9090
    }
}
```

## 4. Visualize with a community dashboard

| Dashboard                                                                                      | ID      | Notes                                                                                                                       |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [prometheus-net](https://grafana.com/grafana/dashboards/10427)                                 | `10427` | Pre-built dashboard for the default metrics exposed by `prometheus-net` / `Prometheus.AspNetCore`.                          |
| [ASP.NET Core - controller summary (Prometheus)](https://grafana.com/grafana/dashboards/10915) | `10915` | Visualizes ASP.NET Core HTTP metrics provided by the `prometheus-net` middleware (per-controller request rates, durations). |
| [Dotnet Runtime Metrics](https://grafana.com/grafana/dashboards/23179)                         | `23179` | .NET runtime metrics dashboard supporting both .NET 9+ built-in metrics and `OpenTelemetry.Instrumentation.Runtime`.        |

To import: in Grafana, go to **Dashboards → New → Import**, enter the dashboard ID, and select your LocalOps Prometheus
data source. You'll instantly see GC heap usage, JIT activity, thread pool stats, exception rates, and HTTP request
throughput. Your custom application metrics (`emails_sent_total`, etc.) can be charted alongside.