Introduction
Effective monitoring is a critical component of maintaining secure, reliable, and high-performing Azure environments. Azure Monitor provides powerful capabilities for collecting telemetry, analyzing performance metrics, monitoring network connectivity, and identifying issues before they impact workloads.
In this guide, you'll learn how to configure Azure Monitor by creating a Data Collection Endpoint (DCE), setting up a Data Collection Rule (DCR) to collect Windows Event Logs, and configuring Network Connection Monitor for a Linux Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) virtual machine. By completing these steps, you'll establish a centralized monitoring solution that improves operational visibility, streamlines troubleshooting, and strengthens the overall health of your Azure infrastructure.
Create a data collection endpoint.
- In the Azure Portal Search Bar, enter Monitor and select Monitor from the list of results.
- In the Monitor page, under Settings, choose Data Collection Endpoints.
- On the Data Collection Endpoints page, choose Create.
- On the Create Data Collection Endpoint page, provide the following settings and then choose Review + Create.
- Review the settings and choose Create.
Create a data collection rule
- In the Azure Portal Search Bar, enter Monitor and select Monitor from the list of results.
- In the Monitor page, under Settings, choose Data Collection Rules.
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- On the Data Collection Rules page, choose Create.
- On the Create Data Collection Rule page, configure the following settings and choose Next.
- On the Resources page, choose Add Resources.
- On the Select a scope page, enable the WS-VM1 checkbox and choose Apply.
- On the Create Data Collection Rule page, choose Next.
- On the Collect and Deliver page, choose Add data source.
- On the Add data source page, select Windows Event Logs. In the Application category enable the Critical and Error categories. In the Security category, choose the Audit Failure category. In the System category, enable the Critical and Error categories.
- Choose Next.
- On the Destination page, configure the following settings:
- Choose Apply
- Then click save.
Configure Network Connection Monitor for a Linux IaaS virtual machine
In the Azure Portal Search Bar, enter Network Watcher and select Network Watcher from the list of results.
Under Monitoring, choose Connection Monitor.
- On the Connection Monitor page, choose Create.
- On the Basics page of the Create Connection Monitor wizard, provide the following information and choose Next.
- On the Add test group details page, enter the name LinuxIPTest001 and choose Add sources and On the Add Sources page, select Azure Endpoints and set the type to Virtual machines. Select Subnet and then enable the Linux-VM checkbox. Choose Add Endpoints.
- Choose Add Test Configuration.
- On the Add Test Configuration page, enter the name DefaultHTTP and then choose Add Test Configuration.
- Choose Add Destinations. Select Azure Endpoints and set the type to Virtual machines. Select Subnet and then enable the WS-VM1 checkbox. Select Add Endpoints.
- Choose Add Test Group.
- Click Next>workspace
- Add workspace
- Choose Review and Create and then choose Create.
Conclusion
Successfully configuring Azure Monitor with Data Collection Endpoints, Data Collection Rules, and Network Connection Monitor provides a strong foundation for proactive infrastructure monitoring. These components work together to centralize log collection, monitor critical system events, and verify network connectivity between Azure resources.
With these monitoring capabilities in place, administrators can quickly detect issues, investigate performance bottlenecks, enhance security monitoring, and respond to incidents more efficiently. Implementing these best practices not only improves operational reliability but also supports better governance and informed decision-making across Azure environments.
Top comments (1)
Excellent walkthrough! š This guide simplifies what can often seem like a complex Azure Monitor configuration process by breaking it into clear, actionable steps. I especially appreciate the coverage of Data Collection Rules, IIS log collection, and Network Connection Monitor, as these are essential components for building a robust monitoring strategy for Azure compute services. A valuable resource for anyone preparing for Azure certifications or looking to strengthen their cloud monitoring skills. Well done! š