Set up usage data reporting

Basically, usage data reporting is the system of tracking and reporting on the utilization of Azure services in your Azure Stack Hub. To set it up, you need to understand the basic components, formats, and procedures related to Azure Stack Hub usage data.

1. Components of Azure Stack Hub Usage Data:

There are three main components that make up Azure Stack Hub usage data: usage records, usage aggregates, and marketplace items.

• Usage Records: These are individual records of resource usage that are collected and stored locally in the Azure Stack Hub.
• Usage Aggregates: These are the compiled usage records on Azure Stack Hub, grouped hourly or daily.
• Marketplace Items: These are details of the resources provisioned from the Azure Marketplace, which is tracked in the usage data.

2. Understanding Usage Data Formats:

Azure Stack Hub uses two different formats for usage data: Extended format and Simplified format.

• Extended Format: This includes all data fields and gives detailed usage information. It has higher data resolution compared to the simplified format.
• Simplified Format: This includes only necessary data fields and gives a simple overview of usage. It has a lower resolution, meaning less data points are included.

3. Setting Up Usage Data Reporting:

Follow the steps below to configure the usage data reporting on Azure Stack Hub:

1. Configure the Azure Stack Hub Operator: Before beginning, ensure the Azure Stack Hub operator has access to both the Azure Stack Hub user and admin portals.
2. Register Azure Stack Hub with Azure: Go to the Azure Stack Hub administrator portal, then under the dashboard, select ‘Register with Azure’. Follow the prompts to complete the registration.
3. Enable Usage Data Reporting: Under ‘Region management’, go to ‘Usage’. In the ‘Usage’ pane, go to ‘Configuration’ and set ‘Usage data reporting’ to ‘On’.
4. Configure Marketplace Reporting: Enable or disable the ‘Report marketplace usage’ as per your preference.

As you utilize Azure Stack usage data, remember that data collection begins at 12:00 AM UTC each day and usage data reporting runs every hour on the hour. Also, note that usage reports are retained for 13 months.

4. Interpreting and Utilizing Usage Data Reports

You can download and use usage data in several ways according to your operational needs. It can be exported as a .csv file and analyzed using Microsoft excel or any other preferred platform. The data can help in resource planning, cost management, and understanding the overall usage patterns.

Overall, understanding and setting up usage data reporting is an important aspect of operating a successful hybrid cloud with Microsoft Azure Stack Hub. Practicing and learning these concepts will provide a firm platform for candidates preparing for the AZ-600 exam.

Practice Test

True or False: Azure Stack Hub allows you to monitor usage and billing data.

• True
• False

Answer: True

Explanation: Azure Stack Hub provides a variety of tools and capabilities for monitoring usage and billing data.

Which of the following are necessary to enable usage data reporting in Azure Stack Hub? Select all that apply.

• A. Install Azure Stack Hub
• B. Set up a usage data reporting schedule.
• C. Register Azure Stack Hub with Azure.
• D. Reply to all usage report emails.

Answer: A, B, C

Explanation: Setting up usage data reporting in Azure Stack Hub requires you to install Azure Stack Hub, set up a usage data reporting schedule, and register Azure Stack Hub with Azure; replying to usage report emails is not necessary.

True or False: Usage data reporting can be set up at any point after Azure Stack Hub has been installed.

• True
• False

Answer: True

Explanation: Usage data reporting can be set up at any point after Azure Stack Hub has been installed, but it is recommended to set it up at the time of deployment to avoid any gaps in usage data.

What information in Azure Stack Hub is not reported to Azure through the usage service? Select all that apply.

• A. Usage records
• B. Tenant subscription identifiers
• C. Local customer billing data
• D. Customer data in Azure Stack Hub

Answer: C, D

Explanation: Azure Stack Hub’s usage service only sends usage records and tenant subscription identifiers to Azure. It does not send local customer billing data or customer data stored in Azure Stack Hub.

True or False: Usage data reporting in Azure Stack Hub can be disabled at any time.

• True
• False

Answer: True

Explanation: You can disable usage data reporting, though remember that this will prevent Microsoft from being able to pull usage data for the Azure Stack Hub.

Which of the following services in Azure Stack Hub doesn’t support usage data reporting?

• A. Compute
• B. Network
• C. Storage
• D. SQL Database

Answer: D

Explanation: All capacity (compute, network storage) services in Azure Stack Hub support usage data reporting but SQL Database service does not support usage data reporting.

True or False: You need to set up usage data reporting on a per-service basis in Azure Stack Hub.

• True
• False

Answer: False

Explanation: Usage data reporting, once enabled, will cover all services in Azure Stack Hub. You don’t need to set it up for each service individually.

Can Azure Stack Hub report usage data to third-party billing systems?

• A. Yes
• B. No

Answer: A

Explanation: Azure Stack Hub can send usage data to Azure Commerce for billing, but it can also send usage data to a third-party system if desired.

What is a prerequisite for starting usage reporting on Azure Stack Hub?

• A. Registering the Azure Stack Hub with Azure
• B. Creating a Resource Group
• C. Deleting all existing resources
• D. Sending a request to Microsoft

Answer: A

Explanation: Registering the Azure Stack Hub with Azure is required before you can start usage reporting.

True or False: Microsoft has no visibility into the customer usage data reported by Azure Stack Hub.

• True
• False

Answer: True

Explanation: Microsoft only has access to data about how Azure Stack Hub is used, not what it is used for; customer usage data remains the property of the customer and is not visible to Microsoft.

Usage data in Azure Stack Hub is retained for how long?

• A. 1 month
• B. 3 months
• C. 6 months
• D. 12 months

Answer: B

Explanation: Usage data in Azure Stack Hub is retained for three months.

Interview Questions

What method of transportation is used to send usage data from Azure Stack Hub to Microsoft Azure?

Usage data is sent from Azure Stack Hub to Microsoft Azure using the Azure Stack Hub’s usage bridge API.

What is required to send usage data from Azure Stack Hub to Microsoft Azure?

An Azure Stack Hub operator and a tenant subscription to Microsoft Azure are required to send usage data from Azure Stack Hub to Microsoft Azure.

Can an operator use the usage data records to generate their own billing system?

Yes, an operator can use the usage data records from Azure Stack Hub for generating their own billing system.

What does the daily usage data contain?

The daily usage data contains the usage information about the Azure Stack Hub services that were consumed and the quantity of usage in each day.

What user role is needed to set up usage data reporting on Azure Stack Hub?

The user of the Global Administrator role is needed to set up usage data reporting on Azure Stack Hub.

How often does Microsoft collect usage data from Azure Stack Hub?

Microsoft collects usage data from Azure Stack Hub every 4 hours and also once a day at 12 a.m. UTC to gather the daily usage data and send it to the Azure Commerce server.

Do you need an internet connection to report service usage in Azure Stack Hub?

Yes, a direct connection to the internet, a VPN connection, or ExpressRoute needs to be present to report usage data.

What is the purpose of Azure Stack Hub’s usage data?

Azure Stack Hub’s usage data helps operators understand how their tenants are utilizing the Stack, and track usage for reporting or chargeback.

What is the billing model for usage data reporting in Azure Stack Hub?

The billing model for usage data reporting in Azure Stack Hub is “Pay-as-you-use”.

What is the role of the Azure Stack Hub Usage API in usage data reporting?

The Azure Stack Hub Usage API provides a set of REST endpoints that an operator can use to get usage data.

What format is usage data received in from Azure Stack Hub?

Usage data is received in the JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) format from Azure Stack Hub.

What type of encryption is used by Azure Stack Hub to protect the sensitive data during the transmission process?

Azure Stack Hub uses an HTTPS connection to protect the sensitive data during transmission which uses TLS (Transport Layer Security) for encryption.

What happens if a daily usage record in Azure Stack Hub fails to upload?

If a daily usage record fails to upload, Azure Stack Hub will keep trying to send the record for 14 days.

What does a usage record in Azure Stack Hub contain?

A usage record in Azure Stack Hub contains a number of properties like subscription ID, meter ID, quantity, and resource URI.

Why is it important to validate the usage data reporting configuration in Azure Stack Hub?

It is important to validate the usage data reporting configuration to ensure that Azure Stack Hub is properly collecting and transmitting usage data and will function correctly under various circumstances.