Windows Service Monitoring (reduce false alerts with consecutive sample module)

Sometimes customers need to create their own Windows service monitors. This usually leads them to the Windows Service wizard in the Operations Console.

 

There is nothing wrong with using the wizard, but let me tell you about one of the drawbacks with using the wizard to create your service monitors. The resultant monitor will check if the service is running at an interval. If it is detected that the service is not running for a single sample, the monitor changes state and generates an alert.

 

This might be exactly what you want, but sometimes this type of “single pass” monitor can potentially generate a high volume of “false” alerts. The real problem lies in the fact that sometimes a service is stopped or paused for a very short period of time for some reason, and then the service might be running again at the next interval. If you’re using the monitor type created by the wizard, this will appear to create false alerts and “noise” in the environment.

 

The primary reason we will run into this condition is due to the fact that there is no consecutive sampling implemented here. For this, I created a monitor type that includes a consecutive sample module, which will help decrease the volume of state change events and “false” alerts, and add integrity to your service outage tests by requiring at least two or more intervals to pass while the service is not running.

 

In addition to including a consecutive sample module, there is another monitor type in this library you can leverage that includes a scheduler module. Reference this monitor type to schedule runtime of this monitor to only generate state changes during business hours. This is useful in cases where you do not want to be alerted about a particular service outage during non-peak times or overnight hours.

 

Monitor types in the attached sample library

· Check Service State Consecutive Samples Monitor Type

· Check Service State Consecutive Samples with Scheduler Monitor Type

 

Note: It is suggested to seal the sample Service.Monitoring.Library.xml file attached to this post before importing into your test environment. Sealing the library pack will enable you to reference the monitor types for use in your custom packs.

 

See part 2 of this article to learn more about how you can leverage this library to create your own Windows service monitors.

 

 

 

 

Service.Monitoring.Library.xml

Comments

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  Hi Jonathan, When I save the xml file, it is coming up empty. same for the file from 2nd post. Your help is much appreciated. I need to have a copy of it as I am running into similar need. Regards, Fahim

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  Thanks guys.  I did a follow-up on how to leverage this library to create your service monitor here: blogs.technet.com/.../windows-service-monitoring-reduce-false-alerts-part-2.aspx.  Hope this helps!

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  This can be done, but would require modifications to the attached sample.

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  Hi jon, I don't have words to say but few questions By using the Check Service State Consecutive Samples Monitor Type, can i check wether a service is running or not. and also i have to start the service automatically. i need to do 3 attempts to start the service automatically and if doesnot started i have to geenrate an alert. can i do this using the above sample ?

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  Great work Jonathan.  I wish these would make it into the Microsoft.Windows.Library for sure... and become the standard MT for all MP service monitors... exposing these options via overrides.

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  Hi Pavel.  That's an interesting way of composing your service monitor.  Thanks for sharing your insights.

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  June 24, 2011
  +1 on Kevin's comment. Can you throw up a few screen shots on how you implement this... essentially dumb it down for the rest of us?  :-)