CloudWatch metrics for DynamoDB - Step-by-Step Execution

Concept Flow - CloudWatch metrics for DynamoDB

DynamoDB Table Activity

↓

CloudWatch Metrics Collected

↓

Metrics Types: Read, Write, Throttling, Latency

↓

Metrics Sent to CloudWatch Dashboard

↓

User Views Metrics & Sets Alarms

↓

User Adjusts Table or Alarms Based on Metrics

DynamoDB table activity generates metrics that CloudWatch collects and displays, allowing users to monitor and react.

Execution Sample

DynamoDB

SELECT MetricName, Value, Timestamp FROM CloudWatchMetrics WHERE TableName = 'MyDynamoDBTable' ORDER BY Timestamp DESC LIMIT 5;

This query fetches the latest 5 CloudWatch metrics for a specific DynamoDB table.

Execution Table

Step	Action	MetricName	Value	Timestamp	Result
1	Fetch latest metric	ConsumedReadCapacityUnits	50	2024-06-01T12:00:00Z	Metric value retrieved
2	Fetch latest metric	ConsumedWriteCapacityUnits	30	2024-06-01T12:00:00Z	Metric value retrieved
3	Fetch latest metric	ThrottledRequests	0	2024-06-01T12:00:00Z	Metric value retrieved
4	Fetch latest metric	ReadThrottleEvents	0	2024-06-01T12:00:00Z	Metric value retrieved
5	Fetch latest metric	WriteThrottleEvents	1	2024-06-01T12:00:00Z	Metric value retrieved
6	End	-	-	-	All requested metrics fetched

💡 All requested metrics fetched for the specified DynamoDB table.

Variable Tracker

Variable	Start	After 1	After 2	After 3	After 4	After 5	Final
MetricName	-	ConsumedReadCapacityUnits	ConsumedWriteCapacityUnits	ThrottledRequests	ReadThrottleEvents	WriteThrottleEvents	-
Value	-	50	30	0	0	1	-
Timestamp	-	2024-06-01T12:00:00Z	2024-06-01T12:00:00Z	2024-06-01T12:00:00Z	2024-06-01T12:00:00Z	2024-06-01T12:00:00Z	-

Key Moments - 2 Insights

Why do some metrics like 'ThrottledRequests' show zero while others have values?

Because 'ThrottledRequests' counts how many requests were denied due to limits, zero means no throttling occurred at that time (see execution_table rows 3 and 4).

Why is the timestamp the same for all metrics fetched?

Because the query fetches the latest metrics snapshot at the same time point for consistency (see execution_table timestamps in all rows).

Visual Quiz - 3 Questions

Look at the execution_table, what is the value of 'ConsumedWriteCapacityUnits' at step 2?

A 30

B 50

C 0

D 1

💡 Hint

Check the 'Value' column in row 2 of the execution_table.

At which step does the metric 'WriteThrottleEvents' get fetched?

A Step 3

B Step 5

C Step 1

D Step 4

💡 Hint

Look for 'WriteThrottleEvents' in the 'MetricName' column of the execution_table.

If the 'ThrottledRequests' metric value changed from 0 to 5, which part of the execution_table would change?

A Step 1 'MetricName' column

B Step 5 'Timestamp' column

C Step 3 'Value' column

D Step 2 'Result' column

💡 Hint

Focus on the 'Value' column for 'ThrottledRequests' at step 3.

Concept Snapshot

CloudWatch metrics for DynamoDB track table activity like read/write capacity and throttling.
Metrics are collected continuously and can be queried or viewed on dashboards.
Common metrics: ConsumedReadCapacityUnits, ConsumedWriteCapacityUnits, ThrottledRequests.
Use these metrics to monitor performance and set alarms for issues.
Timestamps show when metrics were recorded.
Fetching latest metrics helps understand current table health.

Full Transcript

This visual execution shows how CloudWatch collects and reports metrics for a DynamoDB table. The flow starts with DynamoDB table activity generating metrics. These metrics include read and write capacity units consumed, throttling events, and latency. CloudWatch collects these metrics and makes them available for querying or dashboard display. The example query fetches the latest five metrics for a table named 'MyDynamoDBTable'. The execution table traces each step fetching a metric, showing metric name, value, and timestamp. The variable tracker shows how metric names and values change step by step. Key moments clarify why some metrics have zero values and why timestamps are consistent. The quiz tests understanding of metric values and steps. The snapshot summarizes key points about monitoring DynamoDB with CloudWatch metrics.