Capturing baseline network performance

Can you explain what network performance baselining is and why it’s important in an AWS environment?

Network performance baselining is the process of measuring the typical performance of a network under normal conditions. In an AWS environment, this is important because it establishes a reference point for comparison, allowing you to detect anomalies, plan for capacity, and evaluate the impact of changes. AWS services like CloudWatch, VPC Flow Logs, and CloudTrail can be used to collect metrics for baselining.

What are some of the key metrics that you would consider when capturing a baseline for network performance on AWS?

Key metrics include bandwidth usage, latency, throughput, packet loss, error rates, and the number of connections. AWS CloudWatch can monitor metrics such as network in/out, while tools like CloudFront or Route53 can be used for more specific metrics like latency and DNS query response times.

How would you ensure that your performance baseline captures peak usage patterns on AWS?

To ensure that the performance baseline captures peak usage patterns, you need to monitor the network over a sufficient period of time that includes expected peak usage intervals. This may involve using CloudWatch alarms and setting up detailed monitoring to collect high-resolution data.

Describe how to capture network performance baseline data in a multi-AZ AWS deployment.

In a multi-AZ deployment, one should collect performance data from each availability zone. AWS CloudWatch can collect metrics from multiple AZs, and aggregating this data can provide a comprehensive view. Additionally, VPC Flow Logs can record all traffic in and out of individual subnets in each AZ.

How can VPC Flow Logs help in capturing network performance baselines?

VPC Flow Logs capture information about the IP traffic going to and from network interfaces in your VPC. They can be analyzed to understand traffic patterns, such as communications between services or external traffic. This information is crucial for establishing a performance baseline regarding traffic rates and patterns.

What tools and services would you use within AWS for real-time network performance monitoring?

AWS CloudWatch for monitoring and alarms, AWS X-Ray for tracing and insights into application performance, and Elastic Load Balancing (ELB) Access Logs for request-level monitoring. For network traffic visibility, VPC Flow Logs and AWS Transit Gateway Flow Logs can be used.

In relation to network performance, explain the significance of establishing a performance baseline before deploying Amazon CloudFront?

Establishing a baseline before using Amazon CloudFront is significant because it helps in understanding the performance improvement gained by using the CDN. This includes changes in latency, data transfer speeds, and load times. It also helps you to configure CloudFront distributions accurately and optimize caching behaviors based on the baseline performance data.

How can you use AWS Direct Connect to influence network performance baselines?

AWS Direct Connect allows for a dedicated network connection from on-premises to AWS, which can offer more consistent network performance than internet-based connections. By including Direct Connect in your baseline measurements, you can account for the improved bandwidth and lower latency it provides when benchmarking network performance.

Why is it important to capture separate baselines for different types of traffic (like HTTP, database, and DNS traffic) in your AWS environment?

Different types of traffic have unique patterns and performance requirements. Separate baselines allow for more accurate monitoring, troubleshooting, and optimization because you can tailor your networking strategies to the specific needs of each traffic type and detect issues that may only affect one type of traffic.

How does capturing a baseline network performance influence security on the AWS network?

By capturing baseline network performance, you establish a profile of “normal” network behavior, which can be used to detect security threats such as DDOS attacks, unusual data exfiltration patterns, or unauthorized access, as they may cause deviations from the baseline.

How often should you update your network performance baseline on AWS, and what factors determine that frequency?

The frequency of updating a network performance baseline should be determined by how often significant changes occur in the network configuration, traffic patterns, or when new services are deployed. It is typically recommended to review and update the baseline annually or whenever there is a major change in the environment.

What role does Amazon Athena play in analyzing network performance data on AWS?

Amazon Athena can query logs stored in Amazon S3, such as VPC Flow Logs, ELB Logs, and CloudFront Logs, using standard SQL without the need for server infrastructure. This allows for complex analysis of network performance data to refine or troubleshoot the baseline as needed.