Azure Learning

monitor-resources-with-azure-monitor

Properties1
tagsaz-104, monitor, module, azure-monitor, diagnostics

3 min read

Monitor Resources with Azure Monitor

MS Learn module: Monitor your Azure virtual machines with Azure Monitor (learn.azure.monitor-azure-vm-using-diagnostic-data) — the monitoring module of the AZ-104 path. Learning objectives: understand which monitoring data to collect from a VM; enable and view recommended alerts and diagnostics; use Azure Monitor to collect and analyze host metrics; use the Azure Monitor Agent to collect guest performance metrics and event logs; add VM Insights.

Overview (why this module matters)

This is the observability foundation of the path: it teaches you to collect telemetry — metrics, activity log, and logs — for each resource and route it to Azure Monitor. The pattern generalizes from VMs to any resource: enable diagnostics → data flows to metrics store + Log Analytics → analyze & alert.

Units / lessons covered

  • Understand which monitoring data to collect from a VM (host vs guest).
  • Enable and view recommended alerts and diagnostics.
  • Collect and analyze VM host metrics (platform metrics, no agent needed).
  • Use Azure Monitor Agent to collect guest performance metrics & event logs.
  • Enable VM Insights (workbooks-based health) and route logs to a workspace.
  • Azure Monitor — the umbrella platform collecting all telemetry.
  • Metrics — numeric platform/host telemetry (no setup for host metrics).
  • Activity log — control-plane/management audit events (separate from metrics/logs).
  • Log Analytics workspace — the destination for guest logs & diagnostics.
  • KQL — how you query logs in the workspace.
  • Workbooks — interactive VM health views (VM Insights).

Key terms / commands

  • Anomaly-gated “recommended alerts” appear automatically once VM Insights / diagnostics are on.
  • Diagnostics settings (az monitor diagnostic-settings create) route logs/metrics to LAW/storage/event hub.
  • Azure Monitor Agent (az vm extension set --name AzureMonitorLinuxAgent | AzureMonitorWindowsAgent) collects guest telemetry into the LAW.
  • View metrics: Monitor → Metrics; query logs: Monitor → Logs (“ContainerLogs”/“Perf”/“VMComputer” style tables).

Hands-on / what to try

  • Create a VM and open Metrics to see free host CPU/network/disk platform metrics (no agent).
  • Create a diagnostic setting streaming guest metrics + logs to a Log Analytics workspace.
  • Install the Azure Monitor Agent, enable VM Insights, and query agent data with KQL in the workspace.

Exam focus

  • Host metrics = free/automatic; guest metrics/logs need the Azure Monitor Agent.
  • Know the three sinks: Metrics, Activity Log (control plane), Log Analytics — and which data lands where.
  • Diagnostic settings are the switch that makes logs measurable; without them Log Analytics stays empty.
  • KQL basics (where, project, summarize) are frequently tested.

Path MOC · azure-monitor · azure-monitor-metrics · log-analytics · Next: alerts & action groups

Graph View

Backlinks