Migrate JMX extensions

Latest Dynatrace
How-to guide
3-min read
Published Jun 16, 2025

The Extensions Framework for JMX has been available since version 1.213 and brings you new possibilities for visualizing and querying your data. Follow this guide to learn how to leverage Visual Studio Code to convert your 1.0 extensions to the new format automatically.

Prerequisites

Complete the first-time setup for your editor

For simplicity, this guide will assume you have already configured your editor for first-time use. If you haven't used Dynatrace Extensions for VS Code before, follow our Getting started guide to complete your first-time setup.

This guide assumes you have access to developer credentials. If you followed the Getting started guide, store the generated credentials in VS Code's global settings. An example is shown the Settings page.
Enable JMX 2.0 extensions in your environment

Go to Settings > Preferences > OneAgent features and enable Java Metric Extensions (JMX), then restart your monitored Java processes.

Convert a JMX Extension as a new project

Initialize your workspace

Create a new folder on your computer and open it in VS Code.
Press F1 then select the command Dynatrace extensions: Initialize workspace
Next, choose schema version 1.275.0 from the list
When prompted about certificates, choose Use existing
When prompted about project type, choose JMX 1.0 Conversion

Your workspace has been initialized, and you're ready to convert your old extension.

Convert your extension

You need to load the JMX 1.0 Extension for conversion. You can browse your local filesystem for a .zip or plugin.json file or browse your connected Dynatrace environment. As part of this guide, we'll do the latter. Choose to load it Remotely.
You are now presented with a list of extensions from your tenant. Choose which one you want to convert.

After selecting an extension, you may be prompted for a new extension name if your old one is too long.
Next, you should select a technology so that Process pages can be configured automatically. Choose one that applies to your Java process. Otherwise, choose All other.
Optionally, we can also show the data on your Host's page. To follow along with this guide, select Yes.

The conversion will generate your new extension manifest at extension/extension.yaml.

Convert a JMX Extension standalone

If you don't want to initialize a new workspace for your project or you're already working within a registered workspace, you can run our automation as a standalone command.

Press F1 and select the command Dynatrace Extensions: Convert JMX. This workflow starts by first prompting you to load the extension and follows the same steps as mentioned above.

At the end, your new manifest will be placed in extension/extension.yaml, or you'll be prompted for a save destination if this folder doesn't exist in the currently opened workspace.

Deploy and configure your new extension

Build and upload to Dynatrace

Build the extension by pressing F1 then clicking the command Dynatrace extensions: Build.
Then, choose to upload it to Dynatrace by clicking Yes.
Next, activate this extension by clicking Yes.

Add a monitoring configuration

Open your extension either from the prompt or from the Extensions menu in Dynatrace.
Add a monitoring configuration by clicking the button.
Select a Host running your Java process, then click Next step.
On the next page click Next step once again, then add a description and click Activate.

Once your monitoring configuration is activated, data collection starts automatically.

Find your extension's data

Open the details page of one of the hosts running your monitored Java process. You should see a card (towards the bottom) with a title starting with JMX Metrics.

From that card, select any of the processes listed. Then click ... and choose Metrics and logs analysis.

On the page that opens, you'll have multiple cards from your extension.

The cards on the Process page are only added if you selected a technology during the conversion.