6. A Step-by-Step Approach to Azure Monitoring with Eyer.ai

published on 28 September 2024

Eyer.ai simplifies Azure Monitor setup and management. Here's what you need to know:

  • Eyer.ai works with Azure Monitor to track cloud resources
  • It helps set up monitoring, choose metrics, and create alerts
  • Key benefits: early problem detection, cost reduction, and improved security

Quick setup guide:

  1. Download and install Eyer.ai
  2. Connect to your Azure account
  3. Select resources to monitor
  4. Set up data collection rules
  5. Create alert rules
  6. Use the dashboard for analysis
Feature Eyer.ai Benefit
Easy setup Simplifies Azure Monitor configuration
Custom metrics Track business-specific data points
User-friendly interface Accessible for non-technical users
Automated analysis Quickly identifies root causes
Real-time data Provides up-to-date resource information

Eyer.ai makes Azure monitoring straightforward, helping you catch issues early and make smarter cloud decisions.

Key parts of Azure Monitor

Azure Monitor

Azure Monitor is your all-in-one tool for cloud management. Here's what it offers:

Main components

1. Metrics

These are your cloud's vital signs. They show:

  • CPU usage for VMs
  • Disk I/O for databases
  • Network traffic for web apps

Azure Monitor collects these automatically. You can view them in real-time or over time.

2. Logs

Think of logs as your cloud's diary. They record:

  • App errors
  • Security events
  • System changes

Azure Monitor Logs stores all this data. You can search, analyze, and set alerts based on it.

3. Alerts

Your early warning system. Set rules, and Azure Monitor watches for them. When triggered, you can:

  • Get notified
  • Run an Azure Function
  • Create an ITSM ticket

Here's how they work together:

Component Function Value
Metrics Collect performance data Spot trends and issues
Logs Record detailed events Deep analysis and troubleshooting
Alerts Notify on specific conditions Proactive problem-solving

Benefits for cloud management

Azure Monitor isn't just a dashboard. It's a game-changer:

  1. Catch problems early: Track metrics and logs to spot issues before they escalate.
  2. Cut costs: Right-size your resources based on actual usage.
  3. Boost security: Spot suspicious activities in your logs.
  4. Automate responses: Set up automatic fixes for common issues.
  5. Plan smarter: Use long-term trends to make better scaling decisions.

It's like having a super-smart assistant watching your cloud 24/7, ready to help when needed.

Getting ready to use Eyer.ai with Azure Monitor

Eyer.ai

Let's walk through the setup process for Eyer.ai with Azure Monitor.

What you need to run Eyer.ai

You'll need:

  • Windows 10 RS4 or higher
  • C++ Redistributable (2015 or newer)
  • 10 GB free disk space

Here's where that space goes:

Purpose Environment Path Space Needed
Package installation Windows C:\Packages\Plugins\Microsoft.Azure.Monitor.AzureMonitorWindowsAgent 500 MB
Extension Logs Windows C:\WindowsAzure\Logs\Plugins\Microsoft.Azure.Monitor.AzureMonitorWindowsAgent 100 MB
Agent Cache Windows C:\WindowsAzure\Resources\AMADataStore.{DataStoreName} 10.5 GB

Required Azure permissions

You'll need:

  1. Azure RBAC: A role for creating and managing Azure resources.
  2. Cognitive Services: For Azure OpenAI, you need one of these:
    • Cognitive Services OpenAI User
    • Cognitive Services OpenAI Contributor
    • Cognitive Services Contributor
  3. Key Vault: Owner or contributor access (for customer-managed keys).

Setting up Azure

  1. Turn on managed identity for your Azure VMs.
  2. Create a Data Collection Rule (don't link it yet).
  3. Make sure you can reach these HTTPS endpoints:
    • global.handler.control.monitor.azure.com
    • <virtual-machine-region-name>.handler.control.monitor.azure.com
    • <log-analytics-workspace-id>.ods.opinsights.azure.com
  4. Domain-join your device to a Microsoft Entra tenant.

Installing Eyer.ai

Let's get Eyer.ai set up for Azure monitoring. Here's how:

Download

  1. Go to eyer.ai
  2. Find "Downloads"
  3. Pick the Windows 10 RS4+ version
  4. Hit download

Install

Got the file? Great. Now:

  1. Find it (probably in Downloads)
  2. Right-click, "Run as administrator"
  3. Follow the wizard
  4. Pick where to install (default's fine)
  5. Choose components (for Azure, select all)
  6. Click "Install"

Heads up: You'll need 10 GB of free space.

Check It's Working

After install:

  1. Start menu > "Eyer.ai"
  2. Look for the icon in your system tray
  3. Right-click > "About" to see the version

Stuck? Check Eyer.ai docs or hit up their support team.

2. Linking Eyer.ai to Azure

Let's connect Eyer.ai to your Azure resources. This is key for setting up monitoring.

Login Options

You've got two ways to connect:

  1. Microsoft Entra ID (recommended)
  2. API Key

Setting Up

For Microsoft Entra ID:

  1. Open Eyer.ai
  2. Go to Settings > Azure Connection
  3. Pick "Microsoft Entra ID"
  4. Enter your Azure tenant ID, client ID, and client secret

For API Key:

  1. In Eyer.ai, head to Settings > Azure Connection
  2. Choose "API Key"
  3. Put in your workspace ID and API key

"To access the Azure Monitor Log Analytics API, you need to register a client app with Microsoft Entra ID and request a token." - Azure Documentation

Test It Out

After entering your details:

  1. Hit "Test Connection" in Eyer.ai
  2. Wait a bit
  3. Green checkmark? You're good to go
  4. No luck? Double-check your info

Make sure your app has the right permissions. Azure says: "Ensure that your app has the necessary permissions to use the Log Analytics API by selecting the appropriate delegated permissions."

3. Choosing what to monitor

Let's dive into picking what to keep tabs on in Azure using Eyer.ai. We'll break it down into three key steps:

Picking resources to watch

First, identify your crucial Azure resources. These might be:

  • Virtual Machines
  • Storage Accounts
  • Databases
  • Networking Resources

Focus on what directly impacts your app's performance and user experience. Running a web app? Keep an eye on your web server VMs and database performance.

Adjusting settings

Now, let's fine-tune your monitoring. In Eyer.ai:

  1. Hit the "Resources" tab
  2. Pick your resource
  3. Click "Configure Monitoring"

Here's where you set:

  • How often to check
  • How long to keep data
  • Which metrics matter most

For a VM, you might track CPU usage, memory, and disk I/O.

Setting up custom metrics and alerts

Need something specific? Custom metrics are your friend.

To set one up:

  1. Go to "Custom Metrics" in Eyer.ai
  2. Click "Add New Metric"
  3. Define it (like number of active users)
  4. Choose how to collect data

Now for alerts:

  1. Head to "Alerts"
  2. Hit "Create New Alert Rule"
  3. Pick your resource and metric
  4. Set your conditions

For instance, alert when a VM's CPU hits 80% for over 5 minutes.

Alert Part What It Is Example
Resource What to watch Web Server VM
Signal What to measure CPU Usage
Threshold When to act > 80%
Time Window How long it's true 5 minutes
Action What happens Email sent

"To create an alert rule, combine the resources to be monitored, the monitoring data from the resource, and the conditions that trigger the alert." - Azure Documentation

Remember: Balance is key. Too little monitoring misses issues. Too much? Data overload.

4. Setting up data collection

Let's dive into setting up data collection in Eyer.ai. This step is crucial for getting the right info when you need it.

What Eyer.ai collects

Eyer.ai uses Azure Monitor to grab:

  • Platform metrics
  • Activity logs
  • Service health info
  • Alerts
  • Log analytics

This mix gives you a 360-view of your Azure resources.

Creating data collection rules

Data Collection Rules (DCRs) are the heart of Eyer.ai's data gathering. Here's how to set them up:

  1. Open Eyer.ai
  2. Hit "Data Collection"
  3. Click "Create New Rule"
  4. Pick your data source
  5. Choose your metrics or logs
  6. Set any tweaks or filters
  7. Pick where to send the data

For a web server VM, it might look like this:

Data Source Metrics Logs Destination
Web Server VM CPU Usage, Memory, Disk I/O IIS Logs, Windows Events Log Analytics workspace

How often to collect

You need to balance detail and system load. Here's a quick guide:

Resource Type Collection Frequency Why?
Critical VMs Every 1 minute Catch issues fast
Standard VMs Every 5 minutes Good middle ground
Storage accounts Every 15 minutes Metrics change slower
Databases Every 2 minutes Spot performance hiccups

More frequent collection = more data and potentially higher costs. Start here and tweak as needed.

Pro tip: Use the Azure Monitor DCR Config Generator tool to kickstart your DCRs. This PowerShell script can save you time and catch any data points you might miss.

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5. Setting up alerts

Let's dive into setting up alerts in Eyer.ai for Azure Monitor. It's crucial for keeping tabs on your cloud resources.

Making alert rules

Here's how to create an alert rule:

  1. Open Eyer.ai
  2. Go to "Alerts"
  3. Hit "New Alert Rule"
  4. Pick resources to monitor
  5. Set the trigger condition
  6. Choose actions for when it's triggered

For instance, to watch a critical VM's CPU:

Resource Metric Condition Time Action
VM-PROD-01 CPU Usage > 90% 5 minutes Email IT team

Setting alert limits

Think about these when setting limits:

  • Resource type
  • Importance
  • Normal behavior

Quick guide:

Resource Metric Warning Critical
VM CPU > 80% > 90%
Database DTU > 70% > 85%
Storage Latency > 100ms > 250ms

Choosing how to send alerts

Eyer.ai offers these notification options:

  • Email
  • SMS
  • Voice call
  • Webhook (for custom integrations)

Pick what works for your team. For urgent stuff, use multiple channels.

"We use email for non-critical alerts and SMS for immediate attention. It's cut our response time by 50%", says Sarah Chen, DevOps Lead at TechCorp.

6. Understanding monitoring data

Using the Eyer.ai dashboard

The Eyer.ai dashboard is your monitoring command center. Here's how to use it:

  1. Get a quick overview of your resources
  2. Use filters to zoom in on what matters
  3. Create custom views for your go-to data

Reading metrics and logs

Eyer.ai grabs two main data types from Azure:

Data Type What is it? When to use it
Metrics Numbers collected regularly Spot performance issues fast
Logs Detailed event records Dig deep into problems

For metrics:

  • Look at trends, not just single points
  • Compare now vs. then
  • Watch for sudden changes

For logs:

  • Use KQL to slice and dice data
  • Hunt for errors and weird stuff
  • Connect the dots between logs and metrics

Spotting patterns and unusual events

To catch issues before they blow up:

  1. Know what's "normal" for your resources
  2. Let Eyer.ai flag the weird stuff
  3. Look for repeating patterns

"Eyer.ai's ML smarts helped us catch problems 30% faster than before", says Alex Chen, TechSolutions Inc. CTO.

Keep an eye out for regular spikes or dips - they might point to tasks you can tweak.

Fixing common problems

Using Eyer.ai with Azure Monitor? Here's how to tackle the most common issues:

Connection issues

Can't connect to Azure? Try this:

  1. Double-check your Azure login
  2. Confirm your permissions
  3. Test the connection again

Still no luck? Log out and back in.

Data collection problems

No data flowing? Here's what to do:

  1. Review your data collection rules
  2. Check your collection frequency
  3. Run this query to check for daily limit issues:
Operation | where OperationCategory == 'Data Collection Status'

A "Warning" status? You've probably hit your cap. Think about upgrading or tweaking your settings.

Alert setup troubles

Alerts acting up? Follow these steps:

  1. Go over your alert rules
  2. Check your alert limits
  3. Test your action group
Issue Fix
No notifications Check email filters and action group settings
Alert overload Adjust thresholds or combine similar alerts
Slow alerts Review data collection frequency

Keep in mind: There's a 100/hour limit for email alerts per address. SMS and voice calls? One every five minutes per number.

Still stuck? Eyer.ai's support team is ready to help you get your monitoring back on track.

Tips for using Eyer.ai with Azure Monitor

Speed Things Up

Want to make Azure Monitor work faster with Eyer.ai? Here's how:

1. Optimize your queries

Filter early and skip evaluated where clauses. Your queries will run WAY faster.

2. Aggregate smartly

When using summarize and join, pick your dimensions carefully. It'll save your CPU a headache.

3. Don't scan everything

Add TimeGenerated filters to ALL subqueries. It keeps your resource use in check.

Tip What It Does
Early filtering Processes less data
Skip evaluated where clauses Keeps queries fast
Smart aggregation Uses less CPU
TimeGenerated filters Scans less data

Lock Down Your Data

Keep your monitoring info safe:

  • Use TLS 1.3 (at least) for your agent
  • Set up customer-managed keys for more control
  • Put data locks on your Log Analytics workspace

Keep Things Running Smooth

Don't forget to:

  • Check your security settings often
  • Watch for idle resources and cut them loose
  • Set up alerts for weird stuff
  • Look at how your resources are doing over time

Conclusion

Let's recap how to use Eyer.ai with Azure Monitor:

  1. Download and set up Eyer.ai
  2. Connect it to your Azure account
  3. Pick your Azure resources to monitor
  4. Set up your data collection
  5. Create your alerts
  6. Use the dashboard to analyze your data

Why bother with Eyer.ai? It makes Azure Monitor better:

Feature What it does for you
Custom metrics Track what matters to your business
Easy-to-use interface Non-techies can use it too
Auto root cause analysis Find and fix issues fast
Real-time data Get the latest on your Azure resources

With Eyer.ai and Azure Monitor, you can:

  • Catch problems early
  • Make smarter decisions
  • Save on cloud costs

It's that simple.

FAQs

How do you implement monitoring in Azure?

Setting up monitoring in Azure is straightforward:

  1. Open Azure portal
  2. Search for "Monitor"
  3. Click "Monitor" in results
  4. Choose "Log Analytics" from the menu
  5. Select a workspace to start

Here's how to create alerts from log data:

Step Action
1 Go to "Alerts" in Monitor menu
2 Click "Create > Alert Rule"
3 Choose resource scope
4 Set alert logic in "Conditions"
5 Set up notifications in "Actions"
6 Name alert and set severity in "Details"
7 Click "Review + Create"

Adjust thresholds as needed. Too many alerts? Increase the threshold. Missing issues? Lower it.

"Azure Monitor is available out of the box once you have an active subscription in Azure", - Microsoft documentation

Costs to consider:

  • Basic alert rule: ~$0.1/month
  • Dynamic Threshold rule: ~$0.2/month
  • Email notifications: ~$2/month per 1,000 emails

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