Azure Monitor alerts for Azure Cosmos DB provide real-time insights into your Azure Cosmos DB data by integrating with Azure Monitor and Azure Log Analytics. These alerts help DBAs and DevOps engineers maintain consistent and reliable system functioning. Becoming proficient with designing and implementing these alerts is a crucial competency tested in the DP-420 Designing and Implementing Native Applications Using Microsoft Azure Cosmos DB exam.
Azure Monitor collects metrics and logs for most Microsoft Azure services, including Azure Cosmos DB. Consequently, you can set up Azure Monitor alerts based on metrics or logs. Azure Monitor for Azure Cosmos DB is categorized into Database operations, Connectivity, and Latency metrics.
Database Operations
Database operations provide insights into the total requests, errors, throttled requests, etc. Some of these include:
- Total Requests: Total number of requests made to a specified Azure Cosmos DB.
- Throttled Requests: The total number of requests that were rate-limited per an explicit override of throughput or due to reaching account level limits.
Connectivity Metrics
Connectivity metrics provide you with information about connectivity to your Azure Cosmos DB account.
- Gateway Requests Charge: It shows the total request units charged for all gateway requests within a specified time range.
Latency Metrics
Latency metrics give you insights into performance. Some key metrics include:
- Average Request Units Charge: This provides the average request units charged for all operations within the specified time range.
- Max Request Units Charge: The maximum request units charged for any operation within a given time frame.
Configuring Azure Monitor Alerts for Azure Cosmos DB
To configure Azure Monitor Alerts for Azure Cosmos DB, you can utilize Azure portal following these steps:
- Navigate to the resource you want to monitor and click on the “Alerts” button.
- Click on the “New alert rule” button.
- Assign the desired name, description, and severity level for your alert.
- Determine the condition for your alert by selecting the target resource, signal type, and metric you want to track. Azure provides a wide array of metrics as mentioned.
- Define the alert logic by determining the operator (greater than, less than, equal to), and the aggregation type (Count, Sum, etc.).
In a typical case, the following metrics could be monitored:
| Metric | Threshold |
|---|---|
| Max Request Units Charge | >10000 |
| Total Requests | >100000 |
| Throttled Requests (Rate limiting / 429 errors) | >100 |
| Average Request Units Charge | >1000 |
| Gateway Requests Charge | >100 |
These thresholds are only for illustration and should be set according to individual needs and system capacities.
Remember to set the alert details and actions group. This group will determine who will receive the alerts and how – via email, text message etc.
After you set the alert, Azure will monitor your Cosmos DB based on the parameters you have specified. On crossing the threshold, Azure will shoot an alert to your action group.
By monitoring your Azure Cosmos DB with Azure Monitor, you will maintain the system’s reliability, and optimize its operation and performance. It’s an important part of managing Azure Cosmos DB successfully and a key skill tested the DP-420 exam.
Practice Test
True or False: Azure Monitor can be used to track and alert on metrics and logs for Azure Cosmos DB.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Azure Monitor collects, analyses, and acts on telemetry from your Azure and non-Azure resources, including Azure Cosmos DB. You can create alerts based on metrics or logs with the Azure Monitor.
Which of the following Azure Monitor services can you use for Azure Cosmos DB?(multiple select)
- A. Log Analytics
- B. Application Insights
- C. Azure Advisor
- D. Metrics Explorer
- E. None of the Above
Answer: A, B, D
Explanation: Log Analytics can analyse logs, Application Insights can monitor live applications, and Metrics Explorer can track and visualise metrics over time. Azure Advisor only provides recommendations, not monitoring.
True or False: Azure Monitor can be configured to send alerts to email, SMS, and webhook endpoints when the specified conditions for Azure Cosmos DB are met.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Azure Monitor can send alerts to different destinations extending beyond just emails. You can choose to send alerts via SMS, voice, push notifications, or even to external ITSM, DevOps, and ChatOps tools.
Which of the following alerts are not supported by Azure Cosmos DB?
- A. Storage usage alerts
- B. Provisioned throughput alerts
- C. Failed request alerts
- D. All of the above are supported
Answer: D. All of the above are supported
Explanation: Azure Monitor provides support for storage usage alerts, provisioned throughput alerts and failed requests alerts in Azure Cosmos DB.
Which of the following is not a type of Azure Monitor alert for Azure Cosmos DB?
- A. Metric
- B. Activity Log
- C. Log Search
- D. Health alert
Answer: D. Health alert
Explanation: Azure Monitor alerts for Azure Cosmos DB consist of Metric alerts, Activity Log alerts, and Log Search alerts. There is no specific “Health alert” type.
True or False: You can configure Azure Monitor to send alerts from Azure Cosmos DB to an Event Hub.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Azure Monitor can be configured to route metric alerts to various destinations including an Event Hub. This allows integration with external SIEMs, ITSM tools, and custom telemetry platforms.
In Azure Monitor, which among the following can be used to snoop for specific events and issue alerts for Azure Cosmos DB?
- A. Log Search Alert Rules
- B. Metric alert rules
- C. Event Hub Alert Rules
- D. None of the above
Answer: A. Log Search Alert Rules
Explanation: Log Search Alert Rules can be configured to watch for specific events and issue alerts when the defined conditions are met.
True or False: Azure Cosmos DB’s API for MongoDB supports Azure Monitor out-of-the-box.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Azure Cosmos DB’s API for MongoDB does support Azure Monitor and you can track the metrics and logs for it.
Which of these options are part of the Azure Monitor Local Monitoring for Cosmos DB? (Multiple select)
- A. ROI
- B. CPU Usage
- C. Activity Log
- D. Network Latency
Answer: B. CPU Usage, C. Activity Log, D. Network Latency
Explanation: Azure Monitor Local Monitoring for Cosmos DB includes monitoring of CPU Usage, Activity Log and Network Latency.
True or False: Cosmos DB Managed Private Endpoints can be monitored using Azure monitor.
- True
- False
Answer: True.
Explanation: Cosmos DB Managed Private Endpoints can indeed be monitored using Azure Monitor, helping to gather insights about network traffic to and from a private endpoint.
Which of these actions can be performed on Azure Monitor using its REST API? (Multiple select)
- A. Create, disable, or enable alert rules
- B. Delete alert rules
- C. Get a list of alert rules
- D. None of the Above.
Answer: A. Create, disable, or enable alert rules, B. Delete alert rules, C. Get a list of alert rules
Explanation: The Azure Monitor REST API allows you to create, enable, disable, and delete alert rules, as well as list existing alert rules.
Interview Questions
What is Azure Monitor alerts for Azure Cosmos DB?
Azure Monitor alerts for Azure Cosmos DB is a feature that allows you to monitor your data and applications and receive notifications when certain conditions are met. You can set up alert rules for metric and log data, and respond to critical issues before they impact your services.
How can you configure Azure Monitor alerts for Azure Cosmos DB?
You can configure Azure Monitor alerts in the Azure portal by creating a new alert rule. The alert rule specifies the conditions that cause the alert to fire, and action groups list the people or systems that will receive and handle the alert.
What metrics are commonly monitored in Azure Cosmos DB?
Some commonly monitored metrics in Azure Cosmos DB include Total Requests, Data Usage, and Average Request Units consumed per second.
Can Azure Monitor alerts for Azure Cosmos DB be managed programmatically?
Yes. Azure Monitor alerts for Azure Cosmos DB can be managed programmatically using Azure Monitor REST API, PowerShell, and the Azure CLI.
How often are data points evaluated when tracking Azure Cosmos DB metrics?
Data points are evaluated for alerts every minute when tracking Azure Cosmos DB metrics.
Can Azure Monitor alerts be set for different thresholds?
Yes, alerts can be set for different thresholds. These thresholds can be easily configured in the Azure portal.
What happens when an Azure Monitor alert is triggered in Azure Cosmos DB?
When an Azure Monitor alert is triggered in Azure Cosmos DB, all configured actions in the action group are carried out. This can include sending an email or SMS, calling a webhook, or executing a Logic App or Azure Function.
Can Azure Monitor alert rules be created for automatic scaling of Azure Cosmos DB resources?
Yes, Azure Monitor alert rules can be created to automatically scale Azure Cosmos DB resources using Autoscale mode, which adjusts resources as demand fluctuates.
What is Signal logic for Azure Monitor alerts for Azure Cosmos DB?
Signal logic defines the specific criteria that should be met in order for an alert to be activated. This could include specifying a threshold for a certain metric or log.
What are the different states of an Azure Monitor Alert?
The different states of an Azure Monitor Alert are New, Acknowledged, and Closed.
What are Action Groups in Azure Monitor Alerts for Azure Cosmos DB?
Action Groups in Azure Monitor alerts are a list of notification preferences defined by the user. These can include email addresses, SMS messages, and webhooks.
Can you create an alert rule in Azure Cosmos DB that monitors multiple resources at once?
Yes, it is possible to create a single alert that monitors multiple resources.
What is the role of the “Suppression Config” in Azure Monitor Alerts for Azure Cosmos DB?
The “Suppression Config” allows you to specify periods during which alerts are not sent. This is useful for avoiding alerts during scheduled maintenance, for example.
Are the Azure Cosmos DB metrics latency sensitive, and what does it imply?
Yes, Azure Cosmos DB metrics are latency sensitive. This implies that latency-related metrics should be monitored closely for any anomalies or unexpected spikes.
How are Azure Monitor alerts billed in Azure Cosmos DB?
Azure Monitor alert rules, including data ingested, are billed separately based on the Azure Monitor pricing model. The cost depends on the number of metrics monitored, the frequency, and type of alerts.
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