AZ-104 Microsoft Azure Administrator Exam

Analyze Performance Metrics and Logs

Azure Monitor Insights is a critical tool for monitoring the performance of Azure resources like virtual machines, storage accounts, and networks. It allows you to interpret metrics, logs, and alerts, helping identify performance issues and optimizing resource utilization.

Session Hosts

Monitoring session hosts involves the installation of the Azure Monitor Agent on all hosts within a pool, directing data to a Log Analytics workspace. If hosts aren't sending data correctly, you'll receive an alert indicating this. To address such issues:

• Select the appropriate Data Collection Rules (DCR) to ensure data collection.
• Deploy the Azure Monitor Agent with a configured managed identity.
• Refresh the configuration workbook for consistent setup across hosts.

Workspace Performance Counters

Performance counters are essential for evaluating the performance data from session hosts. When setting these up:

• Review Configured counters and identify any Missing counters in your configuration workbook.
• Activate any missing counters by selecting Configure performance counters and then apply these settings.
• Check the workbook after refreshing it to confirm all necessary counters are enabled.

Configure Windows Event Logs

To capture errors, warnings, and relevant information from session hosts, the setup of Windows Event Logs is necessary. The process involves:

• Identifying both Configured Event Logs and Missing Event Logs within your configuration workbook.
• Enabling missing logs by setting Configure Events and deploying the configuration.
• Refreshing the workbook to check that all required logs have been activated.

Optional: Configure Alerts

Setting up alerts in Azure Monitor is vital for proactive problem-solving. Alerts allow you to respond promptly to performance issues, ensuring you can take corrective actions as needed. The monitoring of alerts extends to connectivity tests and traffic analytics throughout all subscriptions.

Traffic

The Traffic feature in Azure Monitor Insights offers insights into network security group configurations using NSG flow logs and Traffic analytics. You can search specific IP addresses, review configuration status, and check alerts related to network security groups.

Diagnostic Toolkit

The Diagnostic Toolkit provides a range of tools for troubleshooting network issues. Tools like packet capture, VPN troubleshoot, connection troubleshoot, next hop, and IP flow verify aid in diagnosing and addressing network performance challenges.

Availability of Resources

Using Azure Monitor Insights helps you view the health and metrics of networking resources. Resources that are Onboarded offer a specific topology view alongside a built-in metrics workbook, simplifying exploration and troubleshooting efforts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

In instances of performance problems or failures, consulting documentation specific to the malfunctioning resource is recommended. Modifications or additions to visualizations in Azure Monitor Insights can be made through Edit Mode available in the workbook.

Estimating Diagnostics Ingestion

The diagnostics service logs activities such as WVDCheckpoints, WVDConnections, and WVDErrors. Understanding the estimated data ingestion per VM per day aids in managing monitoring costs and resources effectively.

Measure and Manage Your Performance Counter Data

Analyzing data ingestion within your Log Analytics workspace through custom queries helps track frequency and size, pinpointing areas for cost management. Effective analysis can help target cost reduction measures.

Estimating Total Costs

Evaluate total data ingestion costs by estimating daily size for performance counters, events, and diagnostics. Consider pricing options like the Pay-as-you-go model or the Capacity Reservation model for Log Analytics.

Manage Your Data Ingestion to Reduce Costs

Understanding how to measure and control data ingestion helps optimize costs. Providing feedback enables further improvement of the monitoring setup, addressing any emerging issues.

Known Issues and Limitations

Keep abreast of known challenges such as query errors, overcounting sessions, or missing connection events, regularly updating your monitoring configurations to rectify these challenges effectively.

More Information

For further understanding and practical application, refer to documentation on using Azure Virtual Desktop Insights, monitoring costs estimation, and familiarization with relevant Azure monitoring terms and concepts.

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In conclusion, analyzing performance metrics and logs with Azure Monitor Insights involves a comprehensive approach in managing various Azure resources. From installing agents and configuring logs to estimating costs and troubleshooting network issues, each aspect contributes to optimized resource management. Proper alerts setup ensures timely responses to potential issues, enhancing overall efficiency and effectiveness in resource handling. Understanding these Focus Areas provides insights into cost management while maintaining high performance standards across Azure environments.