topic Re: Alternate approach to setting env variables to separate processes in Dashboarding

Use Alternative Methods for Environment Separation in Dashboards

Mik — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 12:24:53 GMT

Summary: This post discusses alternatives for separating environment‑specific dashboard content when env variables cannot be used. It includes filtering techniques and tile‑based approaches.

Dynatrace is detecting multiple similar processes in the host and putting them under the same process group and instance.

I used the environment variable "DT_NODE_ID" at the host level to separate these processes, but I have to give these environment variables to each process at every reboot of the Linux machine.

Is there any alternate approach to this problem? The metadata, like EXE path, command line args, is the same for these processes.

Re: Alternate approach to setting env variables to separate processes

MostafaHussein — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 19:52:15 GMT

you can try something like add the set env variable to the bash command which running the application like

DT_NODE_ID='123456' /bin/bash -c ./filename.sh

Re: Alternate approach to setting env variables to separate processes

Mik — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 04:35:28 GMT

So, I will have to mention this env variable everytime before starting the process right?

Re: Alternate approach to setting env variables to separate processes

Islam_Zedan — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 06:40:27 GMT

Hello,

You can add a custom process rule to monitor using the EXE path like the below SC. this will separate the processes.

Thanks,

Islam

Re: Alternate approach to setting env variables to separate processes

Mik — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 05:21:18 GMT

Hi,

Both the processes that I want to separate have the same EXE path. The only difference being that they run on different ports. Is there a way to separate them?

Re: Alternate approach to setting env variables to separate processes

PacoPorro — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 09:11:20 GMT

I'm afraid the port is not an option.
Best option is using an ENV variable.
https://docs.dynatrace.com/docs/shortlink/process-groups#env

Re: Alternate approach to setting env variables to separate processes

MostafaHussein — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 21:27:31 GMT

exactly, you can put this command within another .sh file and execute your process through it instead of running it directly