Self-Serve Test Settings and Alerts for Connected Devices

Product Update Notice

As ThousandEyes continues to evolve, navigation and terminology may differ from earlier guides or screenshots. This document reflects the current General Availability (GA) experience for Connected Devices.

Prerequisites

This guide is intended for ISP network operations and product teams familiar with ThousandEyes. To optimize monitoring and alerting for Connected Devices, ensure you:

• Know how to deploy and manage Connected Devices Agents.

• Understand how to create and manage network performance tests and custom alerts.

• Are aware of your current agent deployment and versioning. All agents must be running version 8.

• Have knowledge of your network's structure and relevant use cases, such as regulatory, pre-deployment, lab, or targeted device monitoring.

Introduction

This guide outlines best practices for using Self-Serve Test Settings and Alerts with Connected Devices. These features enable you to manage test creation, agent assignment, alerting, and remote upgrades, allowing for faster, more flexible, and scalable monitoring.

Target Audience and Use Cases

These features are designed for:

• Universal Test Deployments: Assign tests or alerts across your agent fleet when a uniform configuration is needed.

• Targeted Testing: Assign up to 500 agent IDs for specialized monitoring, ideal for smaller deployments or precise targeting.

• Lab and Pre-Deployment Environments: Experiment with test configurations or conduct pre-deployment device testing with a limited number of devices.

• Regulatory and Compliance Testing: Document and manage tests for compliance or funding requirements across devices.

Best Practices for Test Settings

1. Agent Versioning

Ensure all agents are running version 8 to access these features. Plan and complete upgrades for compatibility.

2. Test Assignment Strategies

• Assign to All Agents: Use for scenarios requiring universal coverage. Offers scalability and low maintenance.

• Assign to Specific Agent IDs: Enter up to 500 agent IDs per test for precise targeting. Ideal for labs, pilots, or small device groups. Tip: Maintain a reference list or spreadsheet of agent IDs for easier configuration.

• Organize with Tags and Groups: Use descriptive group names and tags to efficiently filter, manage, and report on test suites.

3. Test Configuration

• Templates: Start with recommended templates, such as Network Tests, and customize as needed.

• Advanced Settings: Adjust test duration, packet frequency, and protocols to meet monitoring goals.

• Scheduling: Set intervals to balance data granularity with network and agent load (e.g., 15 minutes for frequent insights).

• On-Demand Testing: Enable trigger tests for immediate troubleshooting via UI or API.

4. Bandwidth Awareness

Review estimated network load before deploying high-frequency or bandwidth-intensive tests to avoid impact.

Best Practices for Alerts

1. Alert Rule Creation

• Granularity: Create separate alert rules for key metrics (latency, loss, jitter) as required.

• Scope: Apply alert rules to all agents for broad coverage or up to 500 agent IDs for targeted monitoring.

• Severity and Thresholds: Define severity levels (info, minor, major, critical) and set thresholds to prioritize and filter alerts.

2. Notification and Integration

• Channels: Enable real-time notifications via webhooks, email, or supported integrations (PagerDuty and ServiceNow integration coming soon).

• Alert Management: Regularly review, snooze, and refine alert rules to reduce noise and enhance response.

Monitoring and Data Analysis

• Single-Agent View: Use the Constant Care view to assess individual agent performance and troubleshoot device-specific issues.

• Aggregate Analytics: Access the Analytics module for fleet-wide trends, comparisons, and historical data reviews.

Summary and Recommendations

• Upgrade all Connected Devices agents to version 8.

• Use "assign all agents" for broad coverage, or up to 500 agent IDs for targeted monitoring.

• Organize tests and alerts with clear names, tags, and groups.

• Continuously monitor agent and network performance, and refine alerting to minimize false positives.

For additional support, consult the Connected Devices documentation or contact your ThousandEyes representative.