Azure VM Backups Monitoring

Host Template: Cloud - Azure - VM Backups

Azure VM Backups allow you to monitor various performance metrics for virtual machine backups, these include metrics for Logical Disk, Memory, Processor, System and Heartbeat.

The service checks in This Host Template are designed to complement the service checks in the Azure - Virtual Machines Host Template (which works for both Linux and Windows VMs). If installed, This Host Template will provide a set of metrics for Windows VMs comparable to the OS - Windows Base Opspack. Configuring it requires administrator-level permissions for Azure, or the help of an administrator.

How does This Host Template differ from OS - Windows Base?

Using OS - Windows Base requires the installation of an Opsview Agent for Windows on the target VM - this may be computationally heavy and intrusive for use with small VMs or highly dynamic environments, or where Microsoft solutions are preferred.

However, OS - Windows Base does not require Azure administrator permissions, only the ability to launch and configure a VM with internet connectivity and adjust security groups to let the agent communicate with the Opsview Master.

What does This Host Template offer above Azure - Virtual Machines?

The Azure - Virtual Machines Host Template offers the ability to track VM read/write operations, network traffic in and out, and CPU load. These metrics are gathered via Azure API calls using an administrator defined "Application" or "Service Principal".

This Host Template complements Azure - Virtual Machines by offering extended metrics including memory utilization, processor queue length, processor time, logical disk space, heartbeats, and restart/shutdown history. This requires the additional use a Microsoft-approved, open source Azure Monitor Agent, which Azure can auto-install on your target VM when enabled (see Instructions: Setup Azure Monitor Logs).

This Host Template allows you to monitor the performance metrics for Windows virtual machines - in particular memory utilization, processor queue length, processor time, logical disk space, heartbeats, and restart/shutdown history.

This Host Template includes the following Service Checks:

Service Check Name	Description	Default Thresholds (Warning, Critical)	UOM
Azure - VM Backup - Backup Status	The backup status of a Virtual Machine in Azure [Default Timespan = 5mins, Default Check Interval = 5mins]	N/A	NA

NOTE: The "Default Timespan" given for these Service Checks refers to the time period we use when retrieving metrics from Azure.

NOTE: See details about Nagios thresholds here.

Usage Instructions

To use this Host Template you will need to provide access to the subscription you wish to monitor

Navigate to the Subscriptions section and select your Subscription.

In the Subscription to be monitored, click Access Control (IAM).

Then click the Add button, select the required role and select the application, once for each of the following roles: * Reader * Backup Contributor

Repeat these steps for each subscription you wish to monitor.

Step 1: Add this Host Template

Add the Cloud - Azure - VM Backups Host Template to your Opsview Monitor host. If the resource you're monitoring has no hostname or public IP, then open the Advanced settings pane and change Host Check Command to Always assumed to be UP.

For more information, refer to Opsview Knowledge Center - Adding Host Templates to Hosts.

Step 2: Add and configure variables required for this Host Template

The Service Checks in this Host Template use the following variables, and they will be added to your Opsview Monitor instance when you import the Opspack:

AZURE_CREDENTIALS

The Value is not used and therefore can be set to anything. Override the arguments with your Azure Credentials.

Parameter	Position in Variable	Name	Description
--subscription-id	Arg1	Subscription ID	The Subscription ID of your Azure Subscription
--client-id	Arg2	Client ID	The Client ID of your Azure Subscription
--secret-key	Arg3	Secret Key	The Secret Key of your Azure Subscription
--tenant-id	Arg4	Tenant ID	The Tenant ID of your Azure Subscription

AZURE_RESOURCE_DETAILS

The Value is not used and therefore can be set to anything. Override the arguments with your Azure Resource Details.

Parameter	Position in Variable	Name	Description
--resource-group	Arg1	Resource Group	Name of the Azure resource group to be monitored
--resource-name	Arg2	Resource Name	Name of the Azure resource to be monitored

For more information, refer to Opsview Knowledge Center - Adding Variables to Hosts.

For mode-specific help, run the plugin with the -h -m <mode> flags. This will list the required and optional Variable Arguments for that mode. The appropriate mode for each Service Check is listed here: