Cloud computing has many benefits, but it also poses some challenges for network administrators. How can you troubleshoot network issues when you don't have direct access to the infrastructure? Here are some tips and tools to help you diagnose and resolve cloud network problems.
Ping and traceroute are basic commands that can help you test the connectivity and latency of your cloud network. Ping sends a packet of data to a destination and measures the time it takes to receive a response. Traceroute shows the path and hops that the packet takes to reach the destination. You can use these commands to check if your cloud network is reachable, if there are any bottlenecks or delays, and if there are any routing errors or misconfigurations.
There are several options you have at your disposal, combining these should point in the right direction of the root cause: - Log analysis - for example VPC flow logs will indicate whether packets are allowed or dropped - Tools like AWS Reachability Analyzer and Azure Network Watcher - diagnostic tools can verify the flows and where it's going wrong - Feature like Aviatrix Flightpath will verify every service from source to destination - route tables, (network) security groups, peerings, etc. and show where the connection is broken
Most cloud providers offer a status page or dashboard that shows the current and historical availability and performance of their services and regions. You can check this page to see if there are any ongoing or recent incidents or maintenance that might affect your cloud network. You can also subscribe to alerts or notifications from your cloud provider to stay updated on any issues or changes that might impact your network.
Cloud monitoring tools can help you collect, analyze, and visualize data about your cloud network's health and performance. You can use these tools to set up metrics, thresholds, and alerts for your network components, such as virtual machines, load balancers, firewalls, VPNs, and DNS. You can also use these tools to track network traffic, bandwidth, throughput, latency, errors, and anomalies. Some examples of cloud monitoring tools are CloudWatch, Azure Monitor, Google Cloud Monitoring, and Datadog.
Cloud logging tools can help you store, search, and filter logs from your cloud network's devices and applications. You can use these tools to troubleshoot network issues by identifying the root cause, the impact, and the resolution. You can also use these tools to audit and secure your network by detecting and responding to threats, vulnerabilities, and compliance violations. Some examples of cloud logging tools are CloudTrail, Azure Log Analytics, Google Cloud Logging, and Splunk.
Cloud diagnostics tools can help you perform specific tests and checks on your cloud network's components and connections. You can use these tools to diagnose network issues such as connectivity failures, configuration errors, firewall rules, DNS resolution, latency, packet loss, and bandwidth. You can also use these tools to simulate network scenarios and events, such as failover, load balancing, traffic shaping, and routing. Some examples of cloud diagnostics tools are CloudPing, Azure Network Watcher, Google Cloud Network Intelligence Center, and Wireshark.
If you can't troubleshoot your cloud network issues by yourself, you can use the cloud support services offered by your cloud provider or a third-party vendor. You can contact the support team via phone, email, chat, or ticket and get assistance from experts who can help you resolve your network problems. You can also access the documentation, forums, blogs, and videos provided by your cloud provider or vendor to learn more about cloud network troubleshooting and best practices.
Leverage cloud monitoring tools like AWS CloudWatch, Azure Monitor, or Google Cloud Monitoring to analyze performance metrics and detect anomalies. Explore cloud logging tools such as AWS CloudTrail or Google Cloud Logging for detailed insights into system activities. Utilize cloud diagnostics tools to examine network traffic patterns and identify potential bottlenecks. Engage with the cloud provider's support services for assistance, and consider community forums or social platforms like LinkedIn for insights from peers who may have encountered similar issues. This comprehensive approach, combining various tools and services, allows for effective troubleshooting in a cloud environment without direct infrastructure access.