Network Watcher for diagnostics in Azure - Step-by-Step Execution

Process Flow - Network Watcher for diagnostics

Enable Network Watcher

↓

Select Resource Group

↓

Choose Virtual Network

↓

Run Diagnostic Tools

↓

Flow Logs

↓

Analyze Results

↓

Fix Issues

Start by enabling Network Watcher, then select your network resources and run diagnostic tools like flow logs, connection monitor, or packet capture to analyze and fix network issues.

Execution Sample

Azure

az network watcher flow-log configure --resource-group MyResourceGroup --nsg MyNSG --enabled true --storage-account MyStorageAccount
az network watcher connection-monitor create --location westus --name MyConnectionMonitor --resource-group MyResourceGroup --source-resource-id MyVM --dest-address 8.8.8.8
az network watcher packet-capture create --location westus --resource-group MyResourceGroup --vm MyVM --name MyPacketCapture

These commands enable flow logs on a network security group, create a connection monitor from a VM to an IP, and start a packet capture on a VM.

Process Table

Step	Action	Resource Targeted	Command Result	Next Step
1	Enable Network Watcher in resource group	Network Watcher	Network Watcher enabled	Select virtual network
2	Select virtual network for diagnostics	Virtual Network	Virtual network selected	Run IP flow verify
3	Enable flow logs	Network Security Group	Flow log enabled	Run connection troubleshoot
4	Create connection monitor	Virtual Machine to IP	Connection monitor created	Start packet capture
5	Start packet capture	Virtual Machine	Packet capture started	Analyze results
6	Analyze results	Captured data	Diagnostic data available	Fix network issues
7	Fix network issues	Network configuration	Issues resolved	End diagnostics

💡 All diagnostics completed and network issues fixed or identified

Status Tracker

Variable	Start	After 1	After 2	After 3	After 4	After 5	Final
Network Watcher Status	Disabled	Enabled	Enabled	Enabled	Enabled	Enabled	Enabled
Flow Log Status	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled	Enabled	Enabled	Enabled	Enabled
Connection Monitor Status	Not Created	Not Created	Not Created	Created	Created	Created	Created
Packet Capture Status	Not Started	Not Started	Not Started	Not Started	Not Started	Started	Started
Diagnostic Data	None	None	None	None	None	Available	Available
Network Issues	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Identified	Resolved

Key Moments - 3 Insights

Why do we need to enable Network Watcher before running diagnostics?

Network Watcher must be enabled first (see Step 1 in execution_table) because it provides the tools and data collection needed for diagnostics.

What does enabling flow logs on a Network Security Group do?

Enabling flow logs (Step 3) starts recording network traffic information, which helps analyze allowed or denied traffic patterns.

How does packet capture help in diagnostics?

Packet capture (Step 5) records actual network packets on a VM, allowing detailed inspection of traffic to find issues not visible in logs.

Visual Quiz - 3 Questions

Look at the execution_table, at which step is the connection monitor created?

A Step 4

B Step 3

C Step 5

D Step 2

💡 Hint

Check the 'Action' and 'Command Result' columns in execution_table rows for connection monitor creation.

According to variable_tracker, what is the status of Packet Capture after Step 4?

A Started

B Not Started

C Enabled

D Created

💡 Hint

Look at the 'Packet Capture Status' row under 'After 4' column in variable_tracker.

If Network Watcher was not enabled at Step 1, what would happen to the following steps?

A Diagnostics would still run normally

B Flow logs would enable but connection monitor would fail

C All diagnostic commands would fail

D Only packet capture would work

💡 Hint

Refer to key_moments about the importance of enabling Network Watcher first.

Concept Snapshot

Network Watcher helps diagnose Azure network issues.
Enable it first in your resource group.
Use tools like flow logs, connection monitor, and packet capture.
Analyze collected data to find and fix network problems.
Commands start with 'az network watcher'.

Full Transcript

Network Watcher is a tool in Azure that helps you check and fix network problems. First, you enable Network Watcher in your resource group. Then, you pick the virtual network or resources you want to check. You can turn on flow logs to see traffic patterns, create a connection monitor to test connectivity, or start a packet capture to record network packets. After running these tools, you look at the results to find any issues. Finally, you fix the problems based on what you learned. This step-by-step process helps keep your network healthy and working well.

Practice

1. What is the primary purpose of Azure Network Watcher?

easy

A. To monitor and diagnose network issues in Azure

B. To create virtual machines

C. To manage Azure subscriptions

D. To deploy web applications

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Network Watcher role

   Network Watcher is designed to monitor and diagnose network problems in Azure environments.

2. Step 2: Compare with other options

   Creating VMs, managing subscriptions, and deploying web apps are unrelated to network diagnostics.

3. Final Answer:

   To monitor and diagnose network issues in Azure -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Network Watcher = Monitor and diagnose network issues [OK]

Hint: Network Watcher = network monitoring tool [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing Network Watcher with VM or app services
• Thinking it manages subscriptions
• Assuming it deploys applications

2. Which Azure resource is required to enable flow logs in Network Watcher?

easy

A. App Service

B. Virtual Machine

C. Storage Account

D. SQL Database

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify flow log storage needs

   Flow logs record network traffic and must be saved somewhere persistent.

2. Step 2: Match resource for storing logs

   Storage Account is used to store flow logs generated by Network Watcher.

3. Final Answer:

   Storage Account -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Flow logs need Storage Account [OK]

Hint: Flow logs save data in Storage Account [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Choosing VM or App Service instead of storage
• Confusing SQL Database with log storage
• Not knowing where logs are saved

3. Given this Azure CLI command to enable flow logs, what will it do?

az network watcher flow-log create --resource-group MyResourceGroup --nsg MyNSG --enabled true --storage-account mystorage

medium

A. Delete flow logs from mystorage

B. Disable flow logs for the NSG

C. Create a new NSG named mystorage

D. Enable flow logs for the NSG and save logs to mystorage

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze command parameters

   The command enables flow logs (--enabled true) for the NSG named MyNSG in MyResourceGroup.

2. Step 2: Understand storage account usage

   Logs will be saved to the storage account named mystorage as specified.

3. Final Answer:

   Enable flow logs for the NSG and save logs to mystorage -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   --enabled true + storage-account = enable logs saved [OK]

Hint: Look for --enabled true and storage-account to confirm enabling logs [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking it disables logs
• Confusing storage account name with NSG
• Assuming it deletes logs

4. You tried to enable flow logs but received an error: "Storage account not found." What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. Network Watcher is disabled in the region

B. The storage account name is misspelled or does not exist

C. The NSG is not created yet

D. Flow logs are already enabled

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand error message

   "Storage account not found" means the specified storage account cannot be located.

2. Step 2: Identify common causes

   Most often this happens if the storage account name is wrong or the account does not exist in the subscription or region.

3. Final Answer:

   The storage account name is misspelled or does not exist -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Storage account error = wrong or missing storage account [OK]

Hint: Check storage account name spelling and existence first [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming NSG or Network Watcher status causes this error
• Thinking flow logs already enabled causes storage error
• Ignoring storage account region or subscription

5. You want to monitor network traffic for multiple NSGs across different regions. Which combination of Azure resources and steps is best practice to set up Network Watcher diagnostics?

hard

A. Enable Network Watcher in each region, create one storage account per region, and configure flow logs for each NSG pointing to its region's storage

B. Create one storage account in any region and configure all NSGs to send flow logs there without enabling Network Watcher in regions

C. Enable Network Watcher only in one region and configure flow logs for NSGs in all regions to that single watcher

D. Use Azure Monitor instead of Network Watcher for NSG flow logs

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand regional scope of Network Watcher

   Network Watcher must be enabled in each Azure region where you want to monitor NSGs.

2. Step 2: Storage account best practice

   Creating a storage account per region reduces latency and complies with data residency rules.

3. Step 3: Configure flow logs per NSG

   Each NSG's flow logs should point to the storage account in its region for efficient storage and retrieval.

4. Final Answer:

   Enable Network Watcher in each region, create one storage account per region, and configure flow logs for each NSG pointing to its region's storage -> Option A

5. Quick Check:

   Regional watchers + regional storage + per-NSG config = best practice [OK]

Hint: Enable watcher and storage per region for best flow log setup [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using one watcher or storage for all regions
• Skipping enabling Network Watcher in some regions
• Confusing Azure Monitor with Network Watcher for flow logs