---
title: NerdGraph tutorial: Configure Infinite Tracing
source: https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apis/nerdgraph/examples/configure-infinite-tracing-graphql
---

You can configure many of the settings for [Infinite Tracing](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/understand-dependencies/distributed-tracing/get-started/how-new-relic-distributed-tracing-works#tail-based) with the [Infinite Tracing settings app](https://one.newrelic.com/launcher/mtb-nerdlets.edge-launcher). You can also perform a variety of these configuration tasks using GraphQL. With our [NerdGraph GraphiQL explorer](https://api.newrelic.com/graphiql) you can execute and see the results of queries and mutations for Infinite Tracing configuration. This document explains some of the options that are available.

> #### 💡 TIP
>
> If you need help getting started with GraphQL, check out [Introduction to New Relic NerdGraph](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apis/nerdgraph/get-started/introduction-new-relic-nerdgraph).

## Update the random sampler on a trace observer [#updating-the-random-sampler]

As described in our [docs on the tail-based sampling algorithms](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/understand-dependencies/distributed-tracing/get-started/how-new-relic-distributed-tracing-works#tail-based) there are several ways Infinite Tracing chooses to sample a trace. The random sampler is configurable, allowing you to control the percent of traces kept.

> #### 💡 TIP
>
> If you need help about when it's appropriate to change the random filter, see [Infinite Tracing: Random trace filter](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/understand-dependencies/distributed-tracing/other-requirements/infinite-tracing-random-trace-filter).

The following example shows you how to update the value from the default of 1%:

1.  Go to the NerdGraph GraphiQL explorer at [api.newrelic.com/graphiql](https://api.newrelic.com/graphiql).
2.  Execute the following query to find the trace observer that contains the random sampler to modify:

    ```graphql
    {
      actor {
        account(id: YOUR_ACCOUNT_ID) {
          edge {
            tracing {
              traceObservers {
                id
                name
                providerRegion
                status
                traceFilters {
                  randomTraceFilter {
                    percentKept
                  }
                }
                endpoints {
                  agent {
                    host
                  }
                }
              }
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
    ```
3.  In the response, find the trace observer `id`. Here is an example where the value is `123456789`:

    ```json
    {
      "data": {
        "actor": {
          "account": {
            "edge": {
              "tracing": {
                "traceObservers": [
                  {
                    "endpoints": [
                      {
                        "agent": {
                          "host": "YOUR_UUID_GOES_HERE.aws-us-east-1.tracing.edge.nr-data.net"
                        }
                      }
                    ],
                    "id": 123456789,
                    "name": "Production Workload, US-EAST-1",
                    "providerRegion": "AWS_US_EAST_1",
                    "status": "CREATED",
                    "traceFilters": {
                      "randomTraceFilter": {
                        "percentKept": 1
                      }
                    }
                  }
                ]
              }
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
    ```
4.  Execute a mutation using the `id` and the percent you want to keep. For example, to raise the value to 50% for the trace observer with id `123456789` that we found in the previous step, run the following:

    ```graphql
    mutation {
      edgeUpdateTraceObservers(
        accountId: YOUR_ACCOUNT_ID, 
        traceObserverConfigs: {
          id: 123456789, 
          randomTraceFilterConfig: { percentKept: 50 }}
      ) {
        responses {
          errors {
            message
            type
          }
          traceObserver {
            traceFilters {
              randomTraceFilter {
                percentKept
              }
            }
            id
            endpoints {
              agent {
                host
              }
            }
            name
            status
          }
        }
      }
    }
    ```

Here's the response confirming the change:

```json
{
  "data": {
    "edgeUpdateTraceObservers": {
      "responses": [
        {
          "errors": null,
          "traceObserver": {
            "endpoints": [
              {
                "agent": {
                  "host": "YOUR_UUID_GOES_HERE.aws-us-east-1.tracing.edge.nr-data.net"
                }
              }
            ],
            "id": 123456789,
            "name": "Production Workload, US-EAST-1",
            "status": "CREATED",
            "traceFilters": {
              "randomTraceFilter": {
                "percentKept": 50
              }
            }
          }
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

## Update the data sources on a trace observer [#updating-the-data-sources]

While some entities can be configured to send their tracing data directly to an Infinite Tracing trace observer, others can have their data routed by New Relic to a trace observer. Currently, we support this feature for mobile, browser, and Lambda entities. In the context of Infinite Tracing, we call these entities data sources.

> #### 💡 TIP
>
> If you need help about data sources in the trace observer, see [Set up the trace observer](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/distributed-tracing/infinite-tracing/set-trace-observer/#browser-mobile-lambda).

There are three ways you can update the data sources on a trace observer:

-   **ADD:** If you'd like to add new data sources to the existing ones on a trace observer, use the `ADD` `DataSourceGroupUpdateType`.  No data sources will be removed with this mutation.
-   **REPLACE:** If you'd like to replace your existing data sources on a trace observer with a new set of values, use the `REPLACE` `DataSourceGroupUpdateType`. Any existing values not in the new set will have their status set to `INACTIVE`.
-   **REMOVE:** If you'd like to remove one or more of your existing data sources on a trace observer, use the `REMOVE` `DataSourceGroupUpdateType`. Any values passed will have their status set to `INACTIVE`.

The following example shows you how to add to the existing data sources:

1.  Go to the NerdGraph GraphiQL explorer at [api.newrelic.com/graphiql](https://api.newrelic.com/graphiql).
2.  Execute the following query to find the trace observer that contains the data source group you would like to modify:

    ```graphql
    {
      actor {
        account(id: YOUR_ACCOUNT_ID) {
          edge {
            tracing {
              traceObservers {
                id
                name
                dataSourceGroup {
                  dataSources {
                    entity {
                      guid
                      name
                      entityType
                    }
                    status
                  }
                }
                endpoints {
                  agent {
                    host
                  }
                }
              }
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
    ```
3.  In the response, find the trace observer `id`. Here is an example with two trace observers. Let's say you want the one in US-EAST-1 called "Production services", whose `id` value is `259`:

    ```json
    {
      "data": {
        "actor": {
          "account": {
            "edge": {
              "tracing": {
                "traceObservers": [
                  {
                    "dataSourceGroup": {
                      "dataSources": [
                        {
                          "entity": {
                            "entityType": "BROWSER_APPLICATION_ENTITY",
                            "guid": "MXxCUk9XU0VSfEFQUExJQ0FUSU9OfDE",
                            "name": "My 1st Browser App"
                          },
                          "status": "ACTIVE"
                        },
                        {
                          "entity": {
                            "entityType": "MOBILE_APPLICATION_ENTITY",
                            "guid": "MXxNT0JJTEV8QVBQTElDQVRJT058Mg",
                            "name": "My 1st iOS App"
                          },
                          "status": "ACTIVE"
                        },
                        {
                          "entity": {
                            "entityType": "INFRASTRUCTURE_AWS_LAMBDA_FUNCTION_ENTITY",
                            "guid": "MXxJTkZSQXxOQXwz",
                            "name": "My 1st Lambda Function"
                          },
                          "status": "ACTIVE"
                        }
                      ]
                    },
                    "endpoints": [
                      {
                        "agent": {
                          "host": "YOUR_UUID_GOES_HERE.aws-us-east-1.tracing.edge.nr-data.net"
                        }
                      }
                    ],
                    "id": 259,
                    "name": "Production services"
                  },
                  {
                    "dataSourceGroup": {
                      "dataSources": [
                        {
                          "entity": {
                            "entityType": "BROWSER_APPLICATION_ENTITY",
                            "guid": "MXxCUk9XU0VSfEFQUExJQ0FUSU9OfDEw",
                            "name": "My Staging Browser App"
                          },
                          "status": "ACTIVE"
                        },
                        {
                          "entity": {
                            "entityType": "MOBILE_APPLICATION_ENTITY",
                            "guid": "MXxNT0JJTEV8QVBQTElDQVRJT058MTE",
                            "name": "My Staging Android App"
                          },
                          "status": "ACTIVE"
                        },
                        {
                          "entity": {
                            "entityType": "INFRASTRUCTURE_AWS_LAMBDA_FUNCTION_ENTITY",
                            "guid": "MXxJTkZSQXxOQXwxMg",
                            "name": "My Staging Lambda Function"
                          },
                          "status": "ACTIVE"
                        }
                      ]
                    },
                    "endpoints": [
                      {
                        "agent": {
                          "host": "YOUR_UUID_GOES_HERE.aws-us-west-2.tracing.edge.nr-data.net"
                        }
                      }
                    ],
                    "id": 632,
                    "name": "Staging Environment"
                  }
                ]
              }
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
    ```
4.  Execute a mutation using the ID, one or more entity guids, and whether you would like to `ADD`, `REPLACE`, or `REMOVE` them. For example, to add a new browser app and mobile app to the `Production services` trace observer with id `259`, which we found in the previous step, run the following:

    ```graphql
    mutation {
      edgeUpdateTraceObservers(
        traceObserverConfigs: {
          id: 259, 
          dataSourceGroupConfig: {
            updateType: ADD, 
            guids: ["MXxCUk9XU0VSfEFQUExJQ0FUSU9OfDQ5", "MXxNT0JJTEV8QVBQTElDQVRJT058MTY"]
          }
        }, 
        accountId: 1
      ) {
        responses {
          errors {
            message
            type
          }
          traceObserver {
            dataSourceGroup {
              dataSources {
                entity {
                  guid
                  name
                }
                status
              }
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }

    ```

Here's the response confirming the change:

```json
{
  "data": {
    "edgeUpdateTraceObservers": {
      "responses": [
        {
          "errors": null,
          "traceObserver": {
            "dataSourceGroup": {
              "dataSources": [
                {
                  "entity": {
                    "guid": "MXxCUk9XU0VSfEFQUExJQ0FUSU9OfDE",
                    "name": "My 1st Browser App"
                  },
                  "status": "ACTIVE"
                },
                {
                  "entity": {
                    "guid": "MXxNT0JJTEV8QVBQTElDQVRJT058Mg",
                    "name": "My 1st iOS App"
                  },
                  "status": "ACTIVE"
                },
                {
                  "entity": {
                    "guid": "MXxJTkZSQXxOQXwz",
                    "name": "My 1st Lambda Function"
                  },
                  "status": "ACTIVE"
                },
                {
                  "entity": {
                    "guid": "MXxCUk9XU0VSfEFQUExJQ0FUSU9OfDQ5",
                    "name": "My 2nd Browser App"
                  },
                  "status": "ACTIVE"
                },
                {
                  "entity": {
                    "guid": "MXxNT0JJTEV8QVBQTElDQVRJT058MTY",
                    "name": "My 2nd Mobile App"
                  },
                  "status": "ACTIVE"
                }
              ]
            }
          }
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

## Update the name on a trace observer [#updating-trace-observer-name]

Here's how you can change the name of a trace observer:

1.  Go to the NerdGraph GraphiQL explorer at [api.newrelic.com/graphiql](https://api.newrelic.com/graphiql).
2.  Find the trace observer whose name you'd like to update:

    ```graphql
    {
      actor {
        account(id: YOUR_ACCOUNT_ID) {
          edge {
            tracing {
              traceObservers {
                id
                name
                providerRegion
                status
                endpoints {
                  agent {
                    host
                  }
                }
              }
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
    ```
3.  In the response, find the trace observer `id` that is returned:

    ```json
    {
      "data": {
        "actor": {
          "account": {
            "edge": {
              "tracing": {
                "traceObservers": [
                  {
                    "endpoints": [
                      {
                        "agent": {
                          "host": "YOUR_UUID_GOES_HERE.aws-us-east-1.tracing.edge.nr-data.net"
                        }
                      }
                    ],
                    "id": 123456789,
                    "name": "Production Workload, US-EAST-1",
                    "providerRegion": "AWS_US_EAST_1",
                    "status": "CREATED"
                  }
                ]
              }
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
    ```
4.  Execute a mutation that includes the new value for the name. For example, to change the name to `Global Workload, US-EAST-1` for the trace observer with id `123456789`, run the following:

    ```graphql
    mutation {
      edgeUpdateTraceObservers(
        accountId: YOUR_ACCOUNT_ID, 
        traceObserverConfigs: {
          id: 123456789, 
          name: "Global Workload, US-EAST-1"
        }
      ) {
        responses {
          errors {
            message
            type
          }
          traceObserver {
            id
            endpoints {
              agent {
                host
              }
            }
            name
            status
          }
        }
      }
    }
    ```

Here's the response confirming the change:

```json
{
  "data": {
    "edgeUpdateTraceObservers": {
      "responses": [
        {
          "errors": null,
          "traceObserver": {
            "endpoints": [
              {
                "agent": {
                  "host": "YOUR_UUID_GOES_HERE.aws-us-east-1.tracing.edge.nr-data.net"
                }
              }
            ],
            "id": 123456789,
            "name": "Global Workload, US-EAST-1",
            "status": "CREATED"
          }
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}
```