On Azure, Network Watcher is the go-to service for monitoring, diagnosing, and maintaining the health of your Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) resources. This blog breaks down what Network Watcher offers, its key features, and why it’s a must-have for Azure users.
Understanding Azure Network Watcher
Azure Network Watcher provides a comprehensive suite of tools to:
- Monitor network health,
- Diagnose connectivity issues, and
- View traffic metrics.
It focuses exclusively on Azure IaaS products, including:
- Virtual Machines (VMs)
- Virtual Networks (VNets)
- Application Gateways
- Load Balancers
Important: Network Watcher is not designed for PaaS monitoring or web analytics.
Core Features of Azure Network Watcher
Azure Network Watcher delivers three primary capabilities:
1. Monitoring
You can monitor the real-time state of your Azure network. It enables the proactive detection of potential bottlenecks and failures within VNets, VM-to-VM communication, or application gateways.
2. Network Diagnostic Tools
From diagnosing latency issues to packet loss or misconfigured firewalls, Network Watcher offers tools such as:
- IP Flow Verify — Simulates a packet’s path to ensure routing rules are correctly applied.
- Connection Troubleshoot — Tests if your endpoints can communicate.
- Next Hop — Verifies effective routes for your VMs or subnets.
3. Traffic Insights
Network Watcher can analyze network traffic for deeper insights. Using features like:
- Network Security Group (NSG) Flow Logs — Tracks inbound and outbound traffic in VNets.
- Traffic Analytics — Delivers actionable insights into traffic patterns, suspicious flows, and trends.
Why Should You Use Azure Network Watcher?
- Improved Network Health: Constant visibility into your Azure resources means fewer outages and faster resolutions.
- Enhanced Security: Tools like NSG Flow Logs let you detect suspicious activity early.
- Cost-Optimization: Monitoring traffic trends helps you optimize resource allocation and avoid unnecessary expenditures.
- Ease of Troubleshooting: The diagnostic tools reduce guesswork, saving valuable time for your DevOps and infrastructure teams.
Setting Up Azure Network Watcher
Network Watcher is automatically enabled when you create a Virtual Network in Azure. To use it:
- Go to the Azure Portal.
- Search for Network Watcher in the search bar.
- Select your desired region and enable it if it’s not already running.
- Start exploring tools like IP Flow Verify, Packet Capture, or Traffic Analytics.
Common Use Cases for Network Watcher
- Diagnosing VM connectivity issues during application deployments.
- Analyzing traffic patterns to identify abnormal spikes.
- Ensuring security compliance by validating NSG rules.
- Troubleshooting route configurations in hybrid setups.
FAQs About Azure Network Watcher
1. Is Azure Network Watcher free?
Network Watcher is free to enable, but some features, such as packet capture and flow logs, may incur costs depending on usage.
2. Can I use Network Watcher for PaaS resources?
No, Network Watcher is intended for IaaS resources like VMs and VNets. For PaaS monitoring, you should explore tools like Azure Monitor or Application Insights.
3. How does Network Watcher handle large environments?
Network Watcher scales seamlessly across multiple regions and subscriptions, allowing you to monitor and diagnose large infrastructures effectively.
4. Can I integrate Network Watcher with third-party tools?
Yes, Network Watcher data can be exported to tools like Log Analytics, SIEMs, or other monitoring platforms for deeper insights.
5. Is there an API for Network Watcher?
Yes, Azure provides REST APIs and SDKs to automate Network Watcher functions programmatically.
NOTE:
As of this writing, Network watchers are enabled by default but when you opt-out, only Azure support can help enable it back
Final Thoughts
Azure Network Watcher is an indispensable tool for any organization leveraging Azure IaaS resources. By combining real-time monitoring, advanced diagnostics, and traffic insights, it ensures your infrastructure remains reliable, secure, and cost-efficient.
Whether you’re diagnosing a stubborn VM connection issue or optimizing network flow for your applications, Network Watcher has your back.
Start exploring Network Watcher today and take your Azure network management to the next level!