Azure Connection monitor can I use Azure Monitoring Agent instead of Log Analytics Agent for onprem?

18203024 60

So currently I am using the Log analytics agent to monitor connection between a non azure endpoint and an azure server. I'm looking at the documentation for connection monitor and it isn't entirely clear to me that I can use the Azure Monitoring Agent. Even when I go into the Connection monitor and select to add an endpoint that is not part of azure, the only options are endpoints with ARC, and MMO (Microsoft Monitoring Agent or Log Analytics Agent) I don't even see an option to select the Azure monitoring agent. Is it possible to monitor an HTTP or TCP connectivity between an on prem workstation and an azure server using the new Azure Monitoring agent?

Umar 160 Reputation points

2024-04-30T05:36:28.5+00:00

It seems that for monitoring connections between a non-Azure endpoint and an Azure server, the options currently available are limited to using the Log Analytics Agent. The Azure Monitoring Agent may not directly support this specific scenario at the moment. We recommend sticking with the Log Analytics Agent for now to ensure compatibility and functionality. If there are any updates or changes in the future regarding support for monitoring with the Azure Monitoring Agent, we'll be sure to communicate them.

1 answer

AnuragSingh-MSFT 20,431 Reputation points

2024-04-30T07:10:59.3566667+00:00

@18203024, thank you for posting this question on Microsoft Q&A.

Connection monitor does support Azure Monitor Agent for endpoint monitoring. Please review the steps available in the following document for more details - Monitor network connectivity using Azure Monitor agent with connection monitor

Furthermore, as you are using LA agent and under process to evaluate/migrate to AMA, the following document will help you with the step-by-step guide for the migration - Migrate to Azure Monitor Agent from Log Analytics agent. For specific features which were supported with log analytics agent, review the Migrate additional services and features link which contains table with information about migrating those features to Azure Monitor Agent (AMA).

Hope this helps.

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18203024 60 Reputation points

2024-04-30T15:02:19.4333333+00:00

Yes I have reviewed all the listed documentation. I just wanted to make sure I was reading it right. It sounded like Microsoft is intending the connection monitor to just be to monitor the connection of on premise servers by utilizing Azure Arc and Azure connection agent and Azure monitoring agent.
Although the migration documentation does state that you can use Azure Monitoring agent for connection monitor, there don't seem to be any instructions on how to do that for devices that are not servers.

Would I still be able to utilize log analytics agent for this purpose after it is phased out? it sounded like Microsoft will no longer offer support or updates for LA but it did not sound like they would remove functionality within azure.

AnuragSingh-MSFT 20,431 Reputation points

2024-05-01T05:59:13.3533333+00:00

18203024, thank you for the reply.

I would like to add the following clarification -

Azure Arc connects on-prem and other non-Azure servers to Azure, which is the prerequisite to have Azure Monitor Agent installed. Using "Connection Monitor", you can monitor endpoint's connection from these servers (which have been added to Azure Arc and have AMA installed) - in other words, to test/monitor whether the endpoints can be accessed from these servers.

As announced earlier, The legacy Log Analytics agent will be deprecated by August 2024. After this date, Microsoft will no longer provide any support for the Log Analytics agent.

For your query related to "...here don't seem to be any instructions on how to do that for devices that are not servers." - Can you please elaborate a bit more and provide the relevant documentation covering this scenario for LA agent. Even with LA agent, you cannot install it on devices to monitor endpoint, therefore I am trying to understand this scenario.

18203024 60 Reputation points

2024-05-01T14:14:50.77+00:00

It was actually very easy to use the LA to monitor a single endpoint. All that was necessary was to install the agent and in azure, to ensure that the environment was setup correctly.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-monitor/agents/agent-windows?tabs=setup-wizard

AnuragSingh-MSFT 20,431 Reputation points

2024-05-03T06:22:40.0266667+00:00

18203024 thank you for sharing this feedback. The link you shared is for installing LA agent on a machine. I understand that it would have been easier to install but onboarding server through Azure Arc ensures that you are able to manage these servers from Azure Portal and additional extensions can be installed.

With LA agent, only monitoring scenario was covered. Please let me know if you have any questions.
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Azure Connection monitor can I use Azure Monitoring Agent instead of Log Analytics Agent for onprem?

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