Scheduling Synthetic Tests
Introduction
Synthetic monitoring involves simulating user interactions with your application to monitor its performance and availability. Scheduling synthetic tests is crucial to ensuring that these tests run at optimal times to gather meaningful data.
Key Concepts
Definitions
- Synthetic Test: A scripted interaction that mimics user behavior.
- Monitoring Schedule: The frequency and timing of synthetic tests.
- Alerting: Notifications triggered by performance issues detected in synthetic tests.
Scheduling Process
To schedule synthetic tests effectively, follow these steps:
- Identify the critical user journeys that need monitoring.
- Determine the frequency of testing (e.g., every 5 minutes, hourly).
- Select appropriate time windows for testing to avoid high-traffic periods.
- Implement a scheduling tool or use built-in scheduler features of your monitoring tool.
- Review and adjust schedules based on performance data and alerts.
Tip: Always ensure that synthetic tests run outside of regular maintenance windows to avoid false negatives.
Example Code Snippet
Here’s an example of how to schedule a synthetic test using a cron job:
*/5 * * * * curl -s https://myapp.com/synthetic-testBest Practices
- Run tests from multiple geographic locations to get a comprehensive view of performance.
- Adjust the frequency of tests based on traffic patterns and application changes.
- Use realistic user scenarios for more meaningful results.
- Automate the alerting process to quickly respond to performance issues.
FAQ
What tools can be used for synthetic monitoring?
Common tools include New Relic, Datadog, and Pingdom, each offering built-in scheduling features.
How often should synthetic tests be run?
The frequency depends on your application's criticality, but common intervals are every 5, 15, or 30 minutes.
Can synthetic tests affect real user traffic?
Well-configured synthetic tests should not impact real user traffic significantly; however, it's best to schedule them during off-peak hours.