FAQ
How does Scout collect metrics?
- Add the Scout agent as an application dependency
- The agent automatically instruments key libraries (database, controllers, views)
- Every minute, the agent sends metrics to Scout servers over HTTPS
How long does Scout retain data?
- Metrics: 30 days
- Transaction traces: 7 days
What is Scout’s performance overhead?
Scout is designed for production environments and extensively benchmarked for high-traffic applications. The overhead is minimal and benchmarks are publicly available.
What happens with large transactions?
Scout records details for each database call, HTTP request, and view render. For very large transactions, Scout limits memory usage by: - Collecting detailed metrics and backtraces up to a limit - Aggregating metrics for calls beyond the limit
How does Scout handle security?
- All data is transmitted as serialized JSON over SSL
- The UI is only served under SSL
- Query parameters are sanitized before transmission
- Infrastructure resides in SOC2-compliant datacenters
What data does Scout collect?
- Timing information from instrumentation
- Gems/packages used by your application
- Transaction traces (URL, query parameters, client IP, sanitized SQL)
- Process memory and CPU usage
- Error counts
Does Scout access my source code?
For the GitHub integration, Scout: - Does NOT clone your repository - Only pulls commit history for git blame information - Secures commit history according to industry best practices
How do I get read-only GitHub access?
Create a GitHub user with read-only access: 1. Create a team with read-only access to your repositories 2. Create a new GitHub user and add them to that team 3. Authenticate Scout with this user
What’s the difference between Scout and New Relic?
Scout focuses specifically on finding slow custom application code quickly, while New Relic offers broader monitoring capabilities. Scout is an attractive alternative for teams who spend most of their optimization time debugging custom application code.
What about browser/RUM monitoring?
Scout focuses on application performance monitoring. For browser monitoring, consider dedicated tools like Raygun Pulse, or continue using New Relic for browser monitoring alongside Scout for APM.
How does billing work?
- Free trial is fully featured with no risk
- First bill is 30 days after signup
- Monthly and annual subscriptions available
- Contact support@scoutapm.com for pricing options
