Vercel Monitoring - A Comprehensive Step-by-Step Guide

Vercel, formerly known as ZEIT, is a cloud platform for deploying and monitoring serverless applications. This guide will walk you through the process of setting up Vercel monitoring for your projects, ensuring optimal performance and security.

Table of Contents

1. Setting up a Vercel Account
2. Creating a Project on Vercel
3. Setting up Monitoring in Vercel
4. Analyzing Performance Metrics
5. Troubleshooting Common Issues

Setting up a Vercel Account

Before you can start monitoring your applications, you need to create a Vercel account. Follow these steps:

1. Go to vercel.com and click Get Started.
2. Sign up using your preferred method: GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, or Email.
3. After signing up, you'll be redirected to the Vercel dashboard.

Creating a Project on Vercel

To create a new project, follow these steps:

1. In the Vercel dashboard, click Import Project.
2. Choose the Git provider where your project repository is hosted (e.g., GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket).
3. Authorize Vercel to access your Git provider account.
4. Choose the repository you want to import.
5. Configure your project settings (e.g., project name and framework preset) and click Deploy.

Vercel will automatically deploy your project and provide you with a live preview URL.

Setting up Monitoring in Vercel

Vercel offers built-in monitoring features for your projects. To get started, follow these steps:

1. In your Vercel dashboard, click on the project you want to monitor.
2. Click the Analytics tab.
3. If you're using Vercel Pro or Enterprise, you'll see real-time performance metrics for your project. To enable Vercel Analytics on the Hobby plan, follow the upgrade prompt.

Analyzing Performance Metrics

Vercel Analytics provides you with valuable insights into your project's performance. Here's what you can expect to find:

• Core Web Vitals: Analyze your project's Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) scores.
• Page Views: Track the total number of page views and unique visitors for your project.
• Performance by Browser: Compare the performance of your project across different browsers and devices.
• Performance by Region: Identify performance issues specific to certain geographic regions.
• Real User Monitoring: Collect data from actual users to gain insights into real-world performance.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If you're experiencing issues with your Vercel project or monitoring, consider the following troubleshooting tips:

1. Check your build logs: If your project fails to deploy, review the build logs in your Vercel dashboard for errors.
2. Verify your custom domain: Ensure your custom domain is properly configured and pointing to your Vercel project.
3. Optimize your assets: Large images and unminified code can negatively impact your project's performance. Optimize your assets for faster load times.
4. Test on different browsers and devices: Performance issues may be specific to certain browsers or devices. Identify and address compatibility issues.

By following this guide, you'll be well on your way to setting up Vercel monitoring for your projects and ensuring their optimal performance. Happy monitoring!