# Exporting Performance Insights metrics to CloudWatch
<a name="PI_metrics_export_CW"></a>

Performance Insights lets you export the preconfigured or custom metrics dashboard for your DB instance to Amazon CloudWatch. You can export the metrics dashboard as a new dashboard or add it to an existing CloudWatch dashboard. When you choose to add the dashboard to an existing CloudWatch dashboard, you can create a header label so that the metrics appear in a separate section in the CloudWatch dashboard.

You can view the exported metrics dashboard in the CloudWatch console. If you add new metrics to a Performance Insights metrics dashboard after you export it, you must export this dashboard again to view the new metrics in the CloudWatch console.

You can also select a metric widget in the Performance Insights dashboard and view the metrics data in the CloudWatch console.

For more information about viewing the metrics in the CloudWatch console, see [Viewing DB instance metrics in the CloudWatch console and AWS CLI](metrics_dimensions.md).

In the following sections, export Performance Insights metrics to CloudWatch as a new or existing dashboard and view Performance Insights metrics in CloudWatch.

**Topics**
+ [Exporting Performance Insights metrics as a new dashboard to CloudWatch](PI_metrics_export_CW.new_dashboard.md)
+ [Adding Performance Insights metrics to an existing CloudWatch dashboard](PI_metrics_export_CW.existing_dashboard.md)
+ [Viewing a Performance Insights metric widget in CloudWatch](PI_metrics_export_CW.individual_widget.md)

# Exporting Performance Insights metrics as a new dashboard to CloudWatch
<a name="PI_metrics_export_CW.new_dashboard"></a>

Choose a preconfigured or custom metrics dashboard from the Performance Insights dashboard and export it as a new dashboard to CloudWatch. You can view the exported dashboard in the CloudWatch console.

**To export a Performance Insights metric dashboard as a new dashboard to CloudWatch**

1. Open the Amazon RDS console at [https://console.aws.amazon.com/rds/](https://console.aws.amazon.com/rds/).

1. In the left navigation pane, choose **Performance Insights**.

1. Choose a DB instance. 

   The Performance Insights dashboard appears for the DB instance.

1. Scroll down and choose **Metrics**.

   By default, the preconfigured dashboard with Performance Insights metrics appears.

1. Choose a preconfigured or custom dashboard and then choose **Export to CloudWatch**.

   The **Export to CloudWatch** window appears.  
![\[Performance Insights dashboard with export to CloudWatch button\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonRDS/latest/UserGuide/images/PI-ExprtToCW.png)

1. Choose **Export as new dashboard**.  
![\[Export to CloudWatch window with export as new dashboard option selected\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonRDS/latest/UserGuide/images/PI-ExprtToCW-NewDashboard.png)

1. Enter a name for the new dashboard in the **Dashboard name** field and choose **Confirm**.

   A banner displays a message after the dashboard export is successful.  
![\[Banner with successful message\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonRDS/latest/UserGuide/images/PI-ExprtToCW-SuccessBanner.png)

1. Choose the link or **View in CloudWatch** in the banner to view the metrics dashboard in the CloudWatch console.

# Adding Performance Insights metrics to an existing CloudWatch dashboard
<a name="PI_metrics_export_CW.existing_dashboard"></a>

Add a preconfigured or custom metrics dashboard to an existing CloudWatch dashboard. You can add a label to the metrics dashboard to appear in a separate section in the CloudWatch dashboard.

**To export the metrics to an existing CloudWatch dashboard**

1. Open the Amazon RDS console at [https://console.aws.amazon.com/rds/](https://console.aws.amazon.com/rds/).

1. In the left navigation pane, choose **Performance Insights**.

1. Choose a DB instance. 

   The Performance Insights dashboard appears for the DB instance.

1. Scroll down and choose **Metrics**.

   By default, the preconfigured dashboard with Performance Insights metrics appears.

1. Choose the preconfigured or custom dashboard and then choose **Export to CloudWatch**.

   The **Export to CloudWatch** window appears. 

1. Choose **Add to existing dashboard**.  
![\[Export to CloudWatch window with add to existing dashboard option selected\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonRDS/latest/UserGuide/images/Pi-ExprtToCW-AddToExistingBoard.png)

1. Specify the dashboard destination and label, and then choose **Confirm**.
   + **CloudWatch dashboard destination** - Choose an existing CloudWatch dashboard.
   + **CloudWatch dashboard section label - optional** - Enter a name for the Performance Insights metrics to appear in this section in the CloudWatch dashboard.

   A banner displays a message after the dashboard export is successful.

1. Choose the link or **View in CloudWatch** in the banner to view the metrics dashboard in the CloudWatch console.

# Viewing a Performance Insights metric widget in CloudWatch
<a name="PI_metrics_export_CW.individual_widget"></a>

Select a Performance Insights metric widget in the Amazon RDS Performance Insights dashboard and view the metric data in the CloudWatch console. 

**To export a metric widget and view the metrics data in the CloudWatch console**

1. Open the Amazon RDS console at [https://console.aws.amazon.com/rds/](https://console.aws.amazon.com/rds/).

1. In the left navigation pane, choose **Performance Insights**.

1. Choose a DB instance. 

   The Performance Insights dashboard appears for the DB instance.

1. Scroll down to **Metrics**.

   By default, the preconfigured dashboard with Performance Insights metrics appears.

1. Choose a metric widget and then choose **View in CloudWatch** in the menu.  
![\[Selected widget with menu to view in CloudWatch\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonRDS/latest/UserGuide/images/PI-ExprtToCW-SelectedMetric.png)

   The metric data appears in the CloudWatch console.