Configure rate limits for metric rules

task brazil Updated Oct 23, 2026 1 min read configure-metric-rule-rate-limits.md
Raw file servicenow.com

Control alert volume by setting the maximum number of alerts a single metric or event rule can raise in a time window, and the total across all rules. Use rate limits to help prevent alert storms and keep processing within your instance capacity.

Before you begin

Role required: sn_dex.admin

About this task

The per-rule limit and the total limit are enforced independently. Either limit can stop alert processing first, depending on the values that you set. For details about how the limits interact, see Metric rule rate limiting.

Procedure

  1. From your ServiceNow instance, navigate to All > All properties.

  2. Select the sn_dex.per_alert_rule_rate_limit property.

    The System Properties form opens.

  3. In the Value field, enter the maximum number of alerts a single rule can raise in one window.

    The default limit is 300000 every 5 minutes, which is the maximum for the total number of metric rule alerts.

  4. Select Update.

    The new value for the property is saved.

  5. Select the sn_dex.alert.rate_limit property to set the combined limit for all metric rules and event rules.

Result

The new limits take effect in the current 5-minute window.

Note: The value of sn_dex.per_alert_rule_rate_limit for all metric or event rules doesn't exceed the total rate limit defined in sn_dex.per_alert_rule_rate_limit.

Keywords configure metric rule rate limitset alert rate limitevent rule rate limitsystem propertiesalert volumethrottle alerts
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