Install Cloudwatch

Additional logs and metrics can be capture by installing and configuring the CloudWatch agent.

  1. Navigate to Systems Manager Parameter Store

    • Click here or:
      • Navigate to the AWS Console
      • Start typing Systems Manager in the AWS Services search box
      • Select Systems Manager
      • Select Parameter Store from the navigation menu
      • Copy the Name to use later

  2. View the CloudWatch Configuration

    • Click on the Name to view the details

    We have created a parameter that will be used to configure the CloudWatch agent for the application. The code is displayed below for easy reading.

    
    {
        "logs": {
            "logs_collected": {
                "files": {
                    "collect_list": [{
                        "file_path": "/var/log/messages",
                        "log_group_name": "messages"
                    }, {
                        "file_path": "/var/log/demsg",
                        "log_group_name": "dmesg"
                    }, {                    
                        "file_path": "/var/log/boot.log",
                        "log_group_name": "boot.log"
                    }, {
                        "file_path": "/opt/imagetrends/log/application.log",
                        "log_group_name": "application.log"
                    }, {
                        "file_path": "/opt/imagetrends/log/production.log",
                        "log_group_name": "production.log"
                    }]
                }
            }
        },
        "metrics": {
            "append_dimensions": {
                "AutoScalingGroupName": "${aws:AutoScalingGroupName}",
                "ImageId": "${aws:ImageId}",
                "InstanceId": "${aws:InstanceId}",
                "InstanceType": "${aws:InstanceType}"
            },
            "metrics_collected": {
                "cpu": {
                    "measurement": ["cpu_usage_idle", "cpu_usage_iowait", "cpu_usage_user", "cpu_usage_system"],
                    "metrics_collection_interval": 60,
                    "resources": ["*"],
                    "totalcpu": false
                },
                "disk": {
                    "measurement": ["used_percent", "inodes_free"],
                    "metrics_collection_interval": 60,
                    "resources": ["*"]
                },
                "diskio": {
                    "measurement": ["io_time"],
                    "metrics_collection_interval": 60,
                    "resources": ["*"]
                },
                "mem": {
                    "measurement": ["mem_used_percent"],
                    "metrics_collection_interval": 60
                },
                "statsd": {
                    "metrics_aggregation_interval": 60,
                    "metrics_collection_interval": 10,
                    "service_address": ":8125"
                },
                "swap": {
                    "measurement": ["swap_used_percent"],
                    "metrics_collection_interval": 60
                }
            }
        }
    }

  3. Install CloudWatch

    • Click Run Command in the navigation menu
    • Click Run command button
    • Select AWS-ConfigureAWSPackage
    • In the Action list, choose Install.
    • In the Name field, type AmazonCloudWatchAgent
    • Under Targets select Specify instance tags
    • Enter Name for Tag key
    • Enter Lab App host for Tag Value
    • Click Add
    • Uncheck Enable writing to an S3 bucket under Output options
    • Click Run button
    • Click on the refresh icon in the menu near the top
    • Wait until the Command status changes to Success

    You should now see two instances having CloudWatch installed. If you don’t see any targets, repeat the previous steps and ensure the tags match your instances.

    Inventory

  4. Configure CloudWatch

    • Click Run Command in the navigation menu
    • Click Run command button
    • Search Document name AmazonCloudWatch-ManageAgent
    • Select AmazonCloudWatch-ManageAgent radio button
    • In the Optional Configuration Location enter [the name you copied from parameter store]
    • Under Targets select Specify instance tags
    • Enter Name for Tag key
    • Enter Lab App host for Tag Value
    • Click Add
    • Uncheck Enable writing to an S3 bucket under Output options
    • Click Run button
    • Click on the refresh icon in the menu near the top
    • Wait until the Command status changes to Success

    You should now see two instances having CloudWatch configured. If you don’t see any targets, repeat the previous steps and ensure the tags match your instances.

You have now configured your environment to provide telemetry with CloudWatch logging and metrics.