Configure Azure Monitor Logs

Azure Monitor Logs is a cloud-based, scalable tool that collects and analyzes data generated by resources in your cloud and on-premises environments. This data gives your teams real-time insights using integrated analytics, dashboards, and alerts. Configuring Azure Monitor Logs is an integral part of administrating Microsoft Azure as tested in the AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator exam.

Understanding Azure Monitor Logs

Azure Monitor Logs uses a Log Analytics workspace, a logical storage unit in Azure Monitor Logs where your log data is collected and stored. When you create a Log Analytics workspace, you associate it with a subscription, and the resources are added to that workspace. The workspace stores data in the specified geographic region, ensuring data sovereignty compliance.

Configuring Azure Monitor Logs

Here, we will configure Azure Monitor Logs for a virtual machine, and to do so, we first need to create a Log Analytics workspace.

Creating a Log Analytics Workspace

We can create a Log Analytics workspace through Azure portal, following below steps:

1. Navigate to the Azure portal and select ‘Create a resource’.
2. In the ‘Search the Marketplace’ box, search for ‘Log Analytics workspace’.
3. Select ‘Log Analytics workspace’ from the search result.
4. Fill in the required details and click on ‘Create’ button.

Configuring Azure Monitor Logs for Azure VM

Once the workspace is created, follow the below steps to enable monitoring for an Azure VM:

1. Navigate to the virtual machine in the Azure portal.
2. In the menu, select ‘Monitoring’.
3. In the ‘Logs (Analytics)’ section, choose ‘Enable’.
4. Fill in the details and select the correct workspace.

Writing Queries in Azure Monitor Logs

After configuration, you are ready to perform data analysis in Azure Monitor Logs. The language used is Kusto Query Language. Below is an example of a basic query that filters the significant amount of log data that is collected into a more manageable set.

Example Code:

Perf
| where TimeGenerated > ago(1h)
| where CounterName == “% Processor Time” and InstanceName == “_Total”
| summarize AvgValue = avg(CounterValue) by bin(TimeGenerated, 1m), Computer
| render timechart

This query returns the average processor time for a specified computer from the last hour, presented in a time sequence chart.

Azure Monitor Logs is a robust tool that enables you to get insights from your application by collecting data on their performances. This ability is crucial for maintaining the health of your systems and applications. Thoroughly understanding how to configure Azure Monitor Logs will be a useful application when taking the AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator exam.

For deeper understanding of Azure Monitor Logs, I would recommend you to work through Microsoft’s own learning and documentation resources. It’s detailed and comprehensive, plus has the added advantage of being continuously updated with the latest changes and advancements in the platform.

Practice Test

True or False: Azure Monitor Logs is a feature that allows you to perform real-time analysis of your operational data?

• True
• False

Answer: True.

Explanation: Azure Monitor Logs supports analysis of the operational data (logs) of your cloud and on-premises environments.

Which of the following is not a key capability of Azure Monitor Logs?

• A. Log Data Collection
• B. Log Data Analysis
• C. Log Data Transfer
• D. Log Data Storage

Answer: C. Log Data Transfer

Explanation: The key capabilities of Azure Monitor Logs are log data collection, analysis and storage. Data transfer is part of collection and storage.

True or False: Azure Monitor Logs can analyze data not only from Azure, but also from other clouds and on-premises.

• True
• False

Answer: True.

Explanation: Azure Monitor Logs supports analysis of data from a variety of sources, including Azure, other clouds and on-premises.

What is the primary tool used with Azure Monitor Logs for analysis and query execution?

• A. Azure Cosmos DB
• B. Azure Synapse Analytics
• C. Azure Kusto Query Language
• D. Azure Data Factory

Answer: C. Azure Kusto Query Language

Explanation: Azure Kusto Query Language is specifically designed to handle large scale data analytics, which makes it an ideal choice for use with Azure Monitor Logs.

True or False: Azure Monitor Logs data can be accessed directly from Azure but not by using API.

• True
• False

Answer: False.

Explanation: Azure Monitor Logs data can be accessed directly from Azure Management and also programmatically using Microsoft’s APIs and SDKs.

The Azure Monitor Logs allows you to?

• A. Analyze only real-time data
• B. Ignore performance bottlenecks
• C. Create a centralized repository for data
• D. Generate alerts based on data trends

Answer: D. Generate alerts based on data trends

Explanation: Azure Monitor Logs offers a range of capabilities such as complex analysis across data types, trend identification and alert generation on specified conditions.

When configuring Azure Monitor Logs, you can export data to which of the following?

• A. Azure Storage
• B. Power BI
• C. Azure Automation Runbooks
• D. All of the above

Answer: D. All of the above

Explanation: Azure Monitor Logs supports exporting to a variety of sources for easy integration and extended analysis, including Azure Storage, Power BI, and Azure Automation runbooks.

True or False: Azure Monitor Logs retains data indefinitely.

• True
• False

Answer: False.

Explanation: Azure Monitor Logs has a data retention period that is configurable from 31 days to 2 years.

Azure Monitor Logs can ingest data directly from which of the following sources?

• A. Windows event logs
• B. Linux syslog
• C. Custom applications
• D. All of the above

Answer: D. All of the above

Explanation: Azure Monitor Logs can ingest data directly from a wide array of sources including Windows event logs, Linux syslog, custom apps, etc.

True or False: The cost of Azure Monitor Logs is based on the volume of data ingested per day.

• True
• False

Answer: True.

Explanation: The pricing model for Azure Monitor Logs is based primarily on the volume of data ingested for analysis.

Which Azure service can be used to visualize the data analyzed by Azure Monitor Logs?

• A. Azure Data Factory
• B. Azure Logic Apps
• C. Azure Synapse Analytics
• D. Power BI

Answer: D. Power BI

Explanation: Power BI can be used to visualize the operational data analyzed by Azure Monitor Logs for rich insights and reporting.

Which of the following is not a data source for Azure Monitor Logs?

• A. Azure Active Directory
• B. Azure Storage Accounts
• C. Azure Virtual Machines
• D. Azure Cosmos DB

Answer: D. Azure Cosmos DB

Explanation: Azure Cosmos DB is a database service and is not a data source for Azure Monitor Logs. The other options are valid data sources.

In Azure Monitor Logs, “Workspace” refers to?

• A. A user interface for log analysis
• B. A unique environment to store and manage data
• C. A tool for generating alerts
• D. A storage account for saving logs

Answer: B. A unique environment to store and manage data

Explanation: Workspace in Azure Monitor Logs refers to a unique environment where data is collected, stored, and analyzed.

True or False: Azure Monitor Logs is integrated with Azure Monitor.

• True
• False

Answer: True.

Explanation: Azure Monitor Logs is an integral feature of Azure Monitor, the comprehensive service in Azure that provides an end-to-end monitoring experience.

Azure Monitor Logs primarily uses which language for writing queries?

• A. SQL
• B. KQL
• C. C#
• D. Python

Answer: B. KQL

Explanation: Azure Monitor Logs uses the Kusto Query Language (KQL), which is designed for high volumes of data and ad-hoc queries.

Interview Questions

What is Azure Monitor Logs?

Azure Monitor Logs is a feature of Azure Monitor that collects and organizes log and performance data from monitored resources. It can analyze the data to diagnose problems and understand patterns and trends.

What is the main service used within Azure Monitor Logs to analyze and query log data?

The main service used within Azure Monitor Logs for analysis and querying is Log Analytics.

What language is used to write queries inside Azure Monitor Logs?

Kusto Query Language (KQL) is used to write queries inside Azure Monitor Logs.

Can Azure Monitor Logs be used with both cloud-based and on-premises systems?

Yes, Azure Monitor Logs can collect data from both Azure and on-premises systems, including other cloud platforms.

How will you monitor multiple Azure resources together?

We can monitor multiple Azure resources together using Azure Monitor Logs by including them in a single Log Analytics workspace.

How long does Azure Monitor Logs keep the data?

By default, Azure Monitor Logs keeps data for 31 days. However, data retention can be increased up to 2 years with incremented costs.

Can you export data from Azure Monitor Logs?

Yes. Azure Monitor Logs allows exporting data to several formats, including CSV and Excel or Power BI for additional analytics.

How is the data secured in Azure Monitor Logs?

Azure Monitor Logs uses Azure Security Center to provide threat detection capabilities, and it encrypts data at rest and during transmission.

What is the role of a ‘workspace’ in Azure Monitor Logs?

In Azure Monitor Logs, a workspace is a unique environment that contains all the data collected by Azure Monitor. It provides a scoped space for data analysis.

Is it possible to perform real-time analysis with Azure Monitor Logs?

Yes, Azure Monitor Logs can perform near real-time analysis, with data being available within a few minutes of telemetry being collected.

Can Azure Monitor Logs alert you when specific conditions are met?

Yes, Azure Monitor Logs allows users to create alerts based on specific criteria or conditions. When these conditions are met, Azure Monitor Logs can send email notifications, call webhooks, or trigger Azure Functions.

Where can you view the logs collected by Azure Monitor?

You can view the logs collected by Azure Monitor in the Azure Monitor Logs section in the Azure portal.

Is it possible to integrate Azure Monitor Logs with other Azure monitoring tools?

Yes, Azure Monitor Logs can be integrated with other Azure services like Azure Monitor Metrics, Application Insights, and Azure Security Center for a more comprehensive monitoring solution.

Can Azure Monitor Logs monitor virtual machines?

Yes, Azure Monitor Logs can monitor many types of Azure resources, including virtual machines, application gateways, and more.

What is the purpose of a Log Analytics agent in Azure Monitor Logs?

A Log Analytics agent is responsible for collecting data from the machine environment and sending it to Azure Monitor Logs for analysis. It can be installed on both physical and virtual machines.