Introduction to Monitoring and Observability

Since the early days of computer networks, we have needed to detect failures on the different network components (e.g., hardware interface issues, cable cuts, or web service down) to determine outages that require corrective actions. This field has been known as network monitoring.

Interestingly, the last decade has witnessed numerous innovations in the field, especially related to new tools and practices around the DevOps culture. This culture emphasizes merging development and operations responsibilities requiring a better understanding of the operational state. Moreover, there has been a significant adoption of network automation. This advancement drives network operations, transforming monitoring from a passive component to an enabler of closed-loop processes. These changes have been the main drivers behind the evolution from network monitoring to network observability, and this book wants to help you understand and apply it to improve...