Monitor Azure Functions Availability and Responsiveness

B.

You can create an Azure Function with TrackAvailability() that will run periodically according to the configuration given in TimerTrigger function with your own business logic.

The results of this test will be sent to your Application Insights resource, where you will be able to query for and alert on the availability results data.

This allows you to create customized tests similar to what you can do via Availability Monitoring in the portal.

Customized tests will allow you to write more complex availability tests than is possible using the portal UI, monitor an app inside of your Azure VNET, change the endpoint address, or create an availability test even if this feature is not available in your region.

To monitor the availability and responsiveness of the Azure Function app's REST API endpoints, there are multiple ways to achieve it. However, some options might be more effective or efficient than others depending on the specific scenario. Here is a detailed explanation of each answer choice:

A. Create a URL ping test This option involves creating an external service that periodically sends a request to the REST API endpoints of the Azure Function app and checks the response time or status code. If any endpoint is unavailable or responds too slowly, the external service can send an alert or trigger an action.

Pros:

• This option is simple to implement and can be done using various tools or services, such as Azure Monitor, Azure Application Insights, or third-party services.
• This option can monitor the endpoints from an external perspective, which can detect issues that may not be visible from within the Azure Function app, such as network connectivity issues or DNS resolution problems.

Cons:

• This option may generate additional network traffic and incur costs, especially if the external service is running from a different region or cloud provider.
• This option may not provide detailed insights into the cause of the issues, such as specific error messages or stack traces.

B. Create a timer-triggered function that calls TrackAvailability() and sends the results to Application Insights This option involves adding a new function to the Azure Function app that periodically sends requests to the REST API endpoints and measures the response time or status code. The function can use the TrackAvailability() method of the Application Insights SDK to log the results and set up alerts based on predefined thresholds.

Pros:

• This option can be integrated with the Azure Function app's existing codebase and dependencies, such as the Application Insights SDK or other libraries.
• This option can provide detailed insights into the cause of the issues, such as error messages or stack traces captured by the Application Insights SDK.

Cons:

• This option may increase the execution time and resource usage of the Azure Function app, which can affect the performance and cost.
• This option may require additional configuration and maintenance of the Application Insights instance, such as setting up alerts or dashboards.

C. Create a timer-triggered function that calls GetMetric("Request Size") and sends the results to Application Insights This option involves adding a new function to the Azure Function app that periodically retrieves a specific metric, such as the request size, from the Azure Functions platform and sends it to Application Insights. By monitoring this metric, the function can detect issues that may affect the availability and responsiveness of the REST API endpoints.

Pros:

• This option can leverage the built-in monitoring capabilities of the Azure Functions platform, such as metrics and logs.
• This option can provide insights into the underlying infrastructure and resources used by the Azure Function app, such as the network or storage.

Cons:

• This option may not directly measure the availability and responsiveness of the REST API endpoints, but instead rely on indirect signals.
• This option may require additional configuration and access to the Azure Functions platform, such as enabling monitoring and diagnostics settings.

D. Add a new diagnostic setting to the Azure Function app. Enable the FunctionAppLogs and Send to Log Analytics options. This option involves configuring the Azure Function app to send its logs and metrics to a central location, such as Azure Log Analytics. By analyzing the logs and metrics, operators can monitor the availability and responsiveness of the REST API endpoints and set up alerts based on predefined rules.

Pros:

• This option can centralize the monitoring and logging of multiple Azure Function apps, which can simplify the management and troubleshooting.
• This option can provide granular insights into the behavior and performance of the Azure Function app, such as detailed error messages or resource usage.

Cons:

• This option may require additional configuration and access to the Azure Log Analytics instance, such as setting up data sources and queries.