How can you solve Application problems if you cannot see them?

By Russ Elsner

Just as the term High Definition signaled a change for audio and video experience, it is signaling a similar change in Application Performance Management (APM). High Definition is about increasing the scope of the experience while improving the fidelity and richness of the detail.

In the world of APM, vendors tend to take two different approaches. One camp focuses on the big picture and stores data at such low granularity that it is useless for deep troubleshooting. The other camp focuses on deep troubleshooting while missing the big picture.



HiDef APM takes a new approach. Ideally you want both the big picture for broad visibility, but you also need deep forensic data for troubleshooting. Only by linking these elements of broad visibility and deep transaction tracing level data are you able to provide rapid drilldown.

In addition to monitoring application transactions for user experience and errors, you should also archive the raw packet traces. Few vendors do this, so why is it important? Because it is often necessary to get to this level of detail to solve the toughest problems. A client once used a phrase that has stuck with me: "Packets don't lie". There is a nearly unlimited range of things that can go wrong with modern applications. Traditional approaches are good at catching the 10 most typical problems (slow server, packet loss, etc.) but they don't persist enough data to solve the vast majority of all the remaining problems. HiDef APM provides the ability to identify and SOLVE the entire range of potential problems - both common and rare.