How To Use Infrastructure Monitoring with CloudWatch on AWS

Amazon CloudWatch is a powerful monitoring and observability service by Amazon Web Services (AWS) that allows you to collect, access, and analyze metrics, logs, and events from AWS resources. By using CloudWatch for infrastructure monitoring, you can ensure that your AWS environment remains healthy, identify performance bottlenecks, optimize resource usage, and troubleshoot issues in real time.

This guide will walk you through the steps to set up and use CloudWatch for monitoring infrastructure on AWS.

Benefits of Using CloudWatch for Infrastructure Monitoring

• Real-Time Monitoring: Provides near real-time visibility into AWS resources like EC2, RDS, Lambda, and more.
• Automated Alarms and Notifications: Sends alerts when metrics exceed defined thresholds, enabling proactive incident response.
• Cost Optimization: Tracks and analyzes usage metrics to help optimize resource allocation and reduce costs.
• Enhanced Troubleshooting: Captures detailed logs for issue investigation and troubleshooting.

Steps to Use Infrastructure Monitoring with CloudWatch

Step 1: Set Up CloudWatch Monitoring for AWS Resources

1. Navigate to CloudWatch:
   • Log into the AWS Management Console, and open the CloudWatch dashboard.
2. Enable Detailed Monitoring (Optional):
   • By default, CloudWatch collects metrics at a 5-minute interval. For more granular monitoring, enable Detailed Monitoring (1-minute interval) on resources like EC2 instances.
   • To enable detailed monitoring, go to the EC2 dashboard, select your instance, choose Actions > Monitor and troubleshoot > Enable detailed monitoring.
3. Explore Built-In Metrics:
   • CloudWatch automatically collects basic metrics for AWS services. For EC2, this includes metrics like CPUUtilization, DiskReadOps, NetworkIn, and more.
   • Access these metrics by selecting Metrics from the CloudWatch dashboard and navigating to the relevant service (e.g., EC2, RDS, Lambda).

Step 2: Configure Custom Metrics (If Needed)

For specific application requirements, you may want to create custom metrics.

1. Create a Custom Metric:
   • Use the AWS CLI or SDKs to send custom metrics to CloudWatch. For example, you can track the number of active users or the response time of a custom application.
2. Use the PutMetricData API:
   • Use the PutMetricData API to send custom metric data to CloudWatch. Specify the metric name, namespace, dimensions, and values. Example:bashCopy codeaws cloudwatch put-metric-data --metric-name ActiveUsers --namespace MyApp/Metrics --value 23
3. View Custom Metrics:
   • After creating custom metrics, access them by selecting Metrics in CloudWatch and navigating to the namespace you used (e.g., MyApp/Metrics).

Step 3: Set Up CloudWatch Alarms

CloudWatch Alarms notify you when a metric reaches a specified threshold, enabling prompt action.

1. Create an Alarm:
   • In the CloudWatch dashboard, go to Alarms > Create Alarm.
2. Select a Metric:
   • Choose the AWS resource and specific metric you want to monitor, such as CPUUtilization for an EC2 instance.
3. Define Conditions:
   • Set a threshold condition for the metric. For example, to receive an alert when CPU utilization exceeds 80%, set the condition to Greater than 80.
4. Configure Actions:
   • Choose the action CloudWatch should take when the alarm is triggered, such as sending a notification through Amazon SNS (Simple Notification Service).
5. Name and Create the Alarm:
   • Give the alarm a descriptive name (e.g., “High-CPU-Usage”) and create it. You will receive notifications when the threshold is breached.

Step 4: Monitor Logs with CloudWatch Logs

CloudWatch Logs allow you to capture, store, and analyze log data from AWS services and applications.

1. Set Up Log Collection:
   • For services like Lambda, RDS, and ECS, logs can be automatically sent to CloudWatch Logs. For EC2 instances, you need to install and configure the CloudWatch Agent.
2. Install the CloudWatch Agent (for EC2):
   • Use the following commands to install the CloudWatch Agent on your EC2 instance:bashCopy code# On Amazon Linux 2 or CentOS sudo yum install amazon-cloudwatch-agent # On Ubuntu or Debian sudo apt install amazon-cloudwatch-agent
3. Configure the CloudWatch Agent:
   • Create a configuration file to specify which logs and metrics to collect. You can use the wizard by running:bashCopy codesudo /opt/aws/amazon-cloudwatch-agent/bin/amazon-cloudwatch-agent-config-wizard
4. Start the CloudWatch Agent:
   • Start the agent to begin collecting logs and metrics.bashCopy codesudo systemctl start amazon-cloudwatch-agent
5. View Logs in CloudWatch:
   • In the CloudWatch console, navigate to Logs to view logs from all configured sources. You can filter logs, search for keywords, and create visualizations based on log data.

Step 5: Set Up CloudWatch Dashboards

CloudWatch Dashboards provide a centralized view of key metrics and logs.

1. Create a Dashboard:
   • Go to Dashboards in the CloudWatch console, and select Create Dashboard. Enter a name for the dashboard.
2. Add Widgets:
   • Choose Add widget and select the type of widget (e.g., line chart, number, text).
3. Select Metrics:
   • Configure each widget by selecting metrics from your resources, such as CPUUtilization for EC2 instances or Duration for Lambda functions.
4. Arrange Widgets:
   • Organize widgets on the dashboard to provide an at-a-glance view of system health, resource usage, and performance.
5. Save and Share the Dashboard:
   • Save the dashboard and, if desired, share it with other team members to facilitate collaborative monitoring.

Step 6: Set Up CloudWatch Insights for Log Analysis

CloudWatch Logs Insights is a powerful tool that lets you run queries to analyze log data.

1. Navigate to Logs Insights:
   • In the CloudWatch console, go to Logs Insights under the Logs section.
2. Select Log Groups:
   • Choose the log group you want to analyze, such as logs from specific EC2 instances or Lambda functions.
3. Run Queries:
   • Use the built-in query editor to search logs, filter events, and extract information. Example query to find error logs:sqlCopy codefields @timestamp, @message | filter @message like /ERROR/ | sort @timestamp desc | limit 20
4. Visualize Query Results:
   • You can visualize query results as graphs or tables, which makes it easier to spot trends and identify potential issues.
5. Save and Reuse Queries:
   • Save frequently used queries for easy access, or schedule them to run periodically for continuous log monitoring.

Step 7: Set Up CloudWatch Events and Automated Responses

CloudWatch Events allows you to automate responses to changes in your AWS environment.

1. Create a Rule in CloudWatch Events:
   • Go to Events in CloudWatch, and click Create Rule.
2. Select Event Source:
   • Choose the event source, such as an AWS service or a custom event. For example, you can trigger a rule based on EC2 instance state changes.
3. Define Targets:
   • Define the target action to take when the event occurs. You can invoke a Lambda function, send a notification via SNS, or trigger other AWS resources.
4. Create the Rule:
   • Name the rule and save it. CloudWatch Events will now monitor for the specified events and automatically respond when triggered.

Best Practices for Using CloudWatch for Infrastructure Monitoring

1. Use Alarms for Key Metrics: Set alarms for critical metrics to ensure you’re notified of any issues that need immediate attention.
2. Enable Detailed Monitoring for High-Value Resources: For essential resources like production EC2 instances, use 1-minute interval monitoring to catch issues faster.
3. Optimize Log Retention Policies: Adjust log retention settings to keep necessary data and avoid high storage costs.
4. Leverage Custom Dashboards: Create dashboards tailored to your team’s needs to provide a clear, real-time overview of infrastructure health.
5. Automate Responses to Common Events: Use CloudWatch Events to automate responses for repetitive or common scenarios, reducing manual intervention.
6. Regularly Review Metrics and Logs: Regularly review your collected metrics and logs to identify optimization opportunities and ensure your AWS environment is running efficiently.

Frequently Asked Questions Related to Using CloudWatch for Infrastructure Monitoring on AWS