Azure dashboards - Step-by-Step Execution

Process Flow - Azure dashboards

Start: Open Azure Portal

↓

Navigate to Dashboard Section

↓

Create New Dashboard

↓

Add Tiles/Widgets

↓

Configure Tile Settings

↓

Save Dashboard

↓

View or Share Dashboard

↓

Edit or Delete Dashboard (Optional)

This flow shows how you open the Azure portal, create a dashboard, add and configure tiles, save it, and then view or share it.

Execution Sample

Azure

1. Open Azure Portal
2. Click 'Dashboard'
3. Click '+ New dashboard'
4. Add tile: 'Metrics'
5. Configure tile to show CPU usage
6. Save dashboard

This sequence creates a new Azure dashboard with a CPU usage metric tile.

Process Table

Step	Action	Input/Selection	Result/State
1	Open Azure Portal	URL: https://portal.azure.com	Azure portal home page loads
2	Navigate to Dashboard Section	Click 'Dashboard' in left menu	Dashboard page opens, showing existing dashboards
3	Create New Dashboard	Click '+ New dashboard'	Blank dashboard canvas appears
4	Add Tile	Select 'Metrics' tile	Metrics tile added to dashboard canvas
5	Configure Tile	Set metric to 'CPU Usage' for VM	Tile shows CPU usage graph
6	Save Dashboard	Click 'Save' and name dashboard 'VM Monitor'	Dashboard saved and listed in dashboards
7	View Dashboard	Select 'VM Monitor' dashboard	Dashboard displays with CPU usage tile
8	Share Dashboard	Click 'Share', set permissions	Dashboard shared with selected users
9	Edit Dashboard	Add another tile or change layout	Dashboard updated
10	Delete Dashboard	Select dashboard, click 'Delete'	Dashboard removed from list

💡 Process ends after dashboard is saved, viewed, shared, edited, or deleted as needed.

Status Tracker

Variable	Start	After Step 3	After Step 5	After Step 6	Final
Dashboard Canvas	Empty	Blank canvas ready	Canvas with CPU Usage tile	Saved dashboard 'VM Monitor'	Dashboard viewed/shared/edited/deleted

Key Moments - 3 Insights

Why does the dashboard show no data after adding a tile?

At Step 5 in the execution_table, configuring the tile with the correct resource and metric is necessary. Without this, the tile remains empty.

Can I share a dashboard before saving it?

No. According to Step 6 and 8, the dashboard must be saved first before sharing options become available.

What happens if I delete a dashboard?

Step 10 shows that deleting removes the dashboard from your list and it cannot be recovered unless recreated.

Visual Quiz - 3 Questions

Look at the execution_table, what is the state of the dashboard canvas after Step 5?

A Canvas is empty with no tiles

B Dashboard is saved and named

C Canvas has a CPU Usage tile added

D Dashboard is shared with users

💡 Hint

Refer to Step 5 in the execution_table where the tile is configured and added.

At which step does the dashboard get saved?

A Step 4

B Step 6

C Step 8

D Step 10

💡 Hint

Check the execution_table for the step where 'Save Dashboard' action occurs.

If you want to add another tile after saving, which step describes this action?

A Step 9

B Step 5

C Step 3

D Step 10

💡 Hint

Look at the step where editing the dashboard is mentioned.

Concept Snapshot

Azure dashboards let you create custom views of your cloud resources.
Create a new dashboard in the Azure portal, add tiles like metrics or charts.
Configure each tile to show data from your resources.
Save the dashboard to keep it and share with others.
Edit or delete dashboards anytime from the dashboard list.

Full Transcript

Azure dashboards are visual pages in the Azure portal where you can add tiles showing data from your cloud resources. The process starts by opening the Azure portal and navigating to the dashboard section. You create a new dashboard, add tiles such as metrics, configure them to show specific data like CPU usage, then save the dashboard with a name. After saving, you can view, share, edit, or delete the dashboard. Each step changes the dashboard state, from empty canvas to a saved, shareable dashboard. Configuring tiles correctly is important to see data. Sharing is only possible after saving. Deleting removes the dashboard permanently.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of an Azure dashboard?

easy

A. To manage user access permissions

B. To provide a single view of cloud resources and their status

C. To write code for Azure functions

D. To create virtual machines

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Azure dashboard role

   Azure dashboards show a combined view of your cloud resources and their health.

2. Step 2: Compare options

   Options A, B, and D describe other Azure features, not dashboards.

3. Final Answer:

   To provide a single view of cloud resources and their status -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Dashboard = resource overview [OK]

Hint: Dashboards show resource status in one place [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing dashboards with coding or VM creation
• Thinking dashboards manage permissions
• Assuming dashboards are for resource creation

2. Which of the following is the correct way to add a tile to an Azure dashboard?

easy

A. Click 'Add tile' and select the resource or metric to display

B. Write a JSON script in the dashboard editor

C. Use Azure CLI to create a dashboard tile

D. Upload a CSV file with resource data

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall dashboard customization steps

   Adding a tile is done by clicking 'Add tile' and choosing what to show.

2. Step 2: Evaluate other options

   Options B, C, and D are not standard ways to add tiles in the Azure portal dashboard UI.

3. Final Answer:

   Click 'Add tile' and select the resource or metric to display -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Add tile = click and select [OK]

Hint: Add tiles via dashboard UI, no coding needed [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to add tiles by scripting or CLI
• Uploading files instead of using UI
• Confusing tile addition with resource creation

3. You have created a dashboard with a metric tile showing CPU usage. What will happen if the monitored VM is deleted?

medium

A. The tile will continue showing old data indefinitely

B. The tile will automatically show data from another VM

C. The dashboard will delete itself

D. The tile will show an error or no data

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand dashboard tile data source

   Tiles depend on live data from resources; if the VM is deleted, data stops.

2. Step 2: Analyze tile behavior on resource deletion

   The tile cannot show data from another VM automatically, nor does the dashboard delete itself. Old data is not kept indefinitely.

3. Final Answer:

   The tile will show an error or no data -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Deleted VM = tile error/no data [OK]

Hint: Deleted resource tiles show errors, no auto-switch [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming tiles auto-switch to other resources
• Thinking dashboards delete with resources
• Believing tiles keep old data forever

4. You tried to share your Azure dashboard with a colleague, but they cannot see any tiles. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. The colleague lacks permission to view the underlying resources

B. The dashboard was not saved before sharing

C. Azure dashboards cannot be shared

D. The colleague's browser does not support Azure portal

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand sharing requirements

   Sharing a dashboard requires the viewer to have access to the resources shown.

2. Step 2: Evaluate other options

   Dashboards can be saved and shared; browser support is broad; lack of permissions is the common cause of missing tiles.

3. Final Answer:

   The colleague lacks permission to view the underlying resources -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Missing tiles = permission issue [OK]

Hint: Check viewer permissions if tiles are missing [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming dashboards cannot be shared
• Forgetting to save before sharing
• Blaming browser compatibility first

5. You want to create a dashboard that shows CPU usage, memory usage, and network traffic for multiple VMs in different subscriptions. What is the best approach?

hard

A. Create a dashboard in each subscription separately and switch between them

B. Create a single dashboard in your home subscription and add tiles from all subscriptions using resource IDs

C. Use Azure Monitor workbooks instead of dashboards for cross-subscription views

D. Export VM metrics to Excel and manually combine data

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand cross-subscription dashboard limits

   Azure dashboards do not natively support tiles from multiple subscriptions in one dashboard.

2. Step 2: Identify best tool for cross-subscription monitoring

   Azure Monitor workbooks allow combining data from multiple subscriptions in one view.

3. Step 3: Evaluate other options

   Creating separate dashboards or manual Excel exports are less efficient; adding tiles from other subscriptions directly is not supported.

4. Final Answer:

   Use Azure Monitor workbooks instead of dashboards for cross-subscription views -> Option C

5. Quick Check:

   Cross-subscription = use workbooks [OK]

Hint: Use workbooks for multi-subscription monitoring [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to add tiles from multiple subscriptions in one dashboard
• Relying on manual data exports
• Not knowing about Azure Monitor workbooks