- 9 minutes to read

Configuring Service Bus

Note

Before any monitoring and remote configuration can be performed, you must first install the Message Queueing Monitoring Agent and create a Monitoring Agent Configuration. First-time users start here.

Monitoring the Azure Service Bus requires some steps to authenticate with the Azure REST API make sure to first read the Azure Application Access page.

From the Service Bus tab you can manage any number of Azure Subscriptions; Each with its own set of properties.

Remote Configuration Service Bus Tab
Here's an example of the Service Bus Tab where you configure Azure Subscriptions to monitor

Remember to click on the Save button to persist changes. It may take some time (depending on the user-defined synchronization interval) for Nodinite to reflect on changes.

Add Service Bus Subscription

click the Add button to add a new Azure Subscription with Azure Service Bus Resources to Monitor, repeat as needed.
Add Subscription Button
Click Add button to add Azure Subscription.

Empty Accordion
Here's an example of new entry.

Next, follow the steps in the Edit Service Bus Configuration section below.

Remove Service Bus Subscription

Click the Remove button to remove the configuration for monitoring the Azure Subscription with Azure Service Bus Resources to Monitor.
Remove Subscription Button
Here's an example of Remove button to remove Azure Subscription configuration from monitoring.

Instead of removing an Azure Subscription, you can simply disable monitoring. By doing so, you will keep your configuration.

Enable Service Bus Subscription

A disabled Monitoring Configuration is clearly marked with a ban sign. Only disabled subscriptions can be Enabled.
Disabled Subscription
Disabled subscriptions have a ban sign to mark that the subscription is not actively monitored.

Click the checkbox to re-enable monitoring of Azure Service Bus related Resources.
Enable ServiceBus Monitoring
Service Bus Monitoring is enabled when the checkbox is checked.

Disable Service Bus Subscription

You can stop monitoring the Service Bus without removing the configuration by disabling the selected configuration. An enabled Monitoring Configuration does not have a ban sign. Only enabled subscriptions can be Disabled.
Enabled Subscription
Enabled subscriptions do not have a ban sign.

Un-check the checkbox to disable monitoring of Azure Service Bus related Resources.

Edit Service Bus Configuration

Click the accordion to open the entry to start editing the connection. Configurable properties are separated within the following tabs:
Connection tabs

Basic tab

You need to first provide the following general information in the Basic tab:
AzureSubscriptionDetails
Edit the connection information for your Azure Subscription with Azure Service Bus related resources

  • Enable Service Bus monitoring - When checked, the configured Service Bus will be monitored
  • Configuration Name - The user-friendly name for this Azure Subscription Entry
  • Description - Text where you can provide additional information about this entry

Queue Thresholds tab

From within the Thresholds tab, you can manage the following queue monitoring properties :

    1. Global - Default values used when not overridden by a specific setting
    1. Specific queue settings - Overrides global configuration on named queue
    1. Queue exclusion filter - use one or more RegEx expressions to remove queues you do not want to monitor

ServiceBus Queue Thresholds tab
Queue tab with global and specific thresholds.

You can provide different global thresholds for different configurations (e.g. different subscriptions).
Global Thresholds
Global thresholds for Azure Service Bus Queues.

The following settings are available:

  • Count Evaluation Type
    • None
    • Fixed
    • Percentage
    • Which comes first (both)
  • Time-based evaluation

Count Evaluation Type
Here's an example of the Count Evaluation Type.

Time-based evaluation

Time-based evaluation is always evaluated. If you do not want to perform an evaluation based on time then simply provide long enough thresholds.

State Name Data Type Description
Warning TimeSpan Timespan 00:05:00 (5 minutes) The age of first message on the queue to trigger Warning alert
Error TimeSpan Timespan 01:10:00 (1 hour 10 minutes) The age of first message on the queue to trigger Error alert

None

If you select the None option for Count Evaluation Type then monitoring is not based on the number of messages in the queue.

Fixed

If you select the Fixed option for Count Evaluation Type then monitoring is based on the number of messages in the queue.

State Name Data Type Description
Warning Count integer The number of messages to go above on the queue to trigger a Warning alert
Error Count integer The number of messages to go above on the queue to trigger Error alert

Percentage

If you select the Percentage option for Count Evaluation Type then monitoring is based on the quota set for the queue.

State Name Data Type Description
Warning Count Limit % integer The percentage to go above on the queue to trigger a Warning alert
Error Count Limit % integer The percentage to go above on the queue to trigger Error alert

Which comes first (both)

If you select the Which comes first (both) option for Count Evaluation Type then monitoring is based on both Fixed and Percent.

Specific queue settings

You can provide specific thresholds for named service bus queues belonging for each subscription.
SpecificQueueThresholds
Add one or more named queues to provide specific settings.

Each specific queue needs to be identified by its namespace and queue name. You can also provide a user-friendly description.
SpecificQueueConfiguration.png

The rest of the properties are the same as already described in the global configuration.

Tip

It is much easier to perform specific configurations using the Edit threshold menu item available on the Actions button in the list of queues (Resources) with Monitor Views with Remote Actions Option checked.

Queue exclusion filter

The Queue exclusion filter feature provides a means for you to use one or more RegEx expressions to remove queues that you want to exclude from being monitored.
Exclude Filter

Whenever you apply one or more filters the configuration accordion will reflect this by displaying a filter icon to help you know there is an exclusion filter being used.
Filter icon
Here's an example of filter icon whenever exclusions are configured.

You can Add and Remove as many RegEx expressions as you like.

Important

We have had many support incidents with reports of missing queues due to this functionality. If you miss out a queue in your Monitor Views then first make sure your filters are not the ones responsible for this. Remember; With great power comes great responsibility

Topic Thresholds tab

From within the Topic Thresholds tab, you can manage the following topic monitoring properties :

    1. Global - Default values used when not overridden by a specific setting
    1. Specific queue settings - Overrides global configuration on named topic
    1. Queue exclusion filter - use one or more RegEx expressions to remove topics you do not want to monitor

ServiceBus Topic Thresholds Tab
Topic tab with global and specific thresholds.

You can provide different global thresholds for different configurations (e.g. different subscriptions)

Global Thresholds
Global thresholds for Azure Service Bus Topics.

The following settings are available:

  • Count Evaluation Type
    • None
    • Fixed
  • Time-based evaluation

Count Evaluation Type
Here's an example of the Count Evaluation Type.

Time-based evaluation

Time-based evaluation is always evaluated. If you do not want to perform an evaluation based on time then simply provide long enough thresholds.

State Name Data Type Value Example Description
Warning TimeSpan Timespan 00:05:00 (5 minutes) The age of first message on the queue to trigger Warning alert
Error TimeSpan Timespan 01:10:00 (1 hour 10 minutes) The age of first message on the queue to trigger Error alert

None

If you select the None option for Count Evaluation Type then monitoring is not based on the number of messages at the topic/subscription.

Fixed

If you select the Fixed option for Count Evaluation Type then monitoring is based on the number of messages at the topic/subscription.

State Name Data Type Value Example Description
Warning Count integer >=0 The number of messages to go above on the topic/subscription to trigger Warning alert
Error Count integer >=0 The number of messages to go above on the topic/subscription to trigger Error alert

Specific Topic settings

You can provide specific thresholds for named service bus topic (affects all subscriptions for that topic).
SpecificTopicThresholds
Add one or more named topics to provide specific settings

Each specific topic needs to be identified by its namespace and topic name. You can also provide a user-friendly description.
SpecificTopicConfiguration.png

The rest of the properties are the same as already described in the global configuration.

Tip

It is much easier to perform specific configurations using the Edit threshold menu item available on the Actions button in the list of topics (Resources) with Monitor Views with Remote Actions Option checked.

Topic exclusion filter

The Topic exclusion filter feature provides a means for you to use one or more RegEx expressions to remove topics that you want to exclude from being monitored.
Exclude Filter

Whenever you apply one or more filters the configuration accordion will reflect this by displaying a filter icon to help you know there is an exclusion filter being used.
Filter icon
Here's an example of filter icon whenever exclusions are configured

You can Add and Remove as many RegEx expressions as you like.

Important

We have had many support incidents with reports of missing queues due to this functionality. If you miss out a queue in your Monitor Views then first make sure your filters are not the ones responsible for this. Remember; With great power comes great responsibility

Resource Groups tab

You can opt to only include Service Bus Resources from named Azure Resource Groups. These are also monitored with their own Category; "Resource Group". This means that if someone renames or removes a Resource group from the Azure Subscription, you will be alerted(!).

Resource Group Tab
Here's an example of the Resource Groups tab.

Click the accordion to expand the configuration. You must set the name of the Resource group to include.

Resource group configuration
Here's an example of Resource group to include in monitoring

Repeat for all named Resource groups to monitor as required by your business case.

Resource Group
Here's an example of filtered Monitor View by category Resource Group

Authentication tab

Monitoring the Azure Service Bus requires some steps to authenticate with the Azure REST API make sure to first read the Azure Application Access page

  • TenantId
  • SubscriptionId
  • ClientId
  • ClientSecret

If you provide invalid credentials you will see this in the Monitor View since each configuration is presented as a Resource by Category Service Bus Configuration.

Category Service Bus Configuration

Remember to click on the Save button to persist changes.


Next Step

Add or manage a Monitoring Agent Configuration
Install Message Queueing Monitoring Agent