Synthetic Uptime Reporting

Introduction Key Concepts Step-by-Step Process Best Practices FAQ

Introduction

Synthetic uptime reporting involves simulating user interactions with your application to monitor its availability. This proactive approach allows teams to detect issues before users are affected.

Key Concepts

Definitions

Synthetic Monitoring: Involves using scripted tests to check the performance and availability of applications.
Uptime: Refers to the time a system is operational and accessible.
SLAs (Service Level Agreements): Contracts that specify expected service levels, including uptime percentages.

Important: Synthetic monitoring is best used in conjunction with real user monitoring (RUM) for comprehensive insights.

Step-by-Step Process

Setting Up Synthetic Uptime Monitoring

Identify critical user journeys on your application.
Choose a synthetic monitoring tool (e.g., Pingdom, New Relic).
Configure the monitoring tool to simulate user interactions.
Set up notifications for downtime alerts.
Regularly review and adjust tests as the application evolves.

Code Example: Basic HTTP Check


import requests

def check_uptime(url):
    try:
        response = requests.get(url)
        return response.status_code == 200
    except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
        return False

# Example usage
if check_uptime("https://example.com"):
    print("Website is up!")
else:
    print("Website is down!")

Best Practices

Run tests from multiple geographic locations to ensure global coverage.
Schedule tests at regular intervals (every minute or five minutes).
Implement error handling in your scripts to capture failures accurately.
Review test results periodically to identify patterns and areas for improvement.

FAQ

What is the difference between synthetic and real user monitoring?

Synthetic monitoring uses scripted tests to simulate user interactions, while RUM collects data from real users interacting with your application.

How often should I run synthetic tests?

Running tests every minute is common, but it can depend on your application's criticality and user traffic.

Can synthetic monitoring help with SLA compliance?

Yes, synthetic monitoring provides data that can be used to demonstrate compliance with SLAs regarding uptime.

Flowchart: Synthetic Uptime Monitoring Workflow


graph TD;
    A[Start] --> B{Identify Key User Journeys};
    B -->|Yes| C[Choose Monitoring Tool];
    B -->|No| D[Define User Journeys];
    D --> C;
    C --> E[Configure Synthetic Tests];
    E --> F[Run Tests Periodically];
    F --> G{Is Website Up?};
    G -->|Yes| H[Continue Monitoring];
    G -->|No| I[Alert Team];
    I --> H;