Author: James Fleming

Saturday, November 4, 2023

Azure Tips x26 Tricks Get Started with Application Insights Snapshot Debugger

Azure Application Insights Snapshot Debugger is a powerful tool that allows developers to identify and troubleshoot issues in their .NET applications. With Snapshot Debugger, developers can automatically collect a debug snapshot when an exception occurs in their live .NET application. This debug snapshot shows the state of source code and variables at the moment the exception was thrown, making it easier to identify the root cause of the issue.

To get started with Snapshot Debugger, developers need to enable it for their .NET application in Azure. This can be done by adding the Application Insights Snapshot Debugger role to the application's Azure role assignments. Once enabled, Snapshot Debugger will automatically collect snapshots when an exception occurs in the application. These snapshots can be viewed in the Azure portal, allowing developers to quickly identify and troubleshoot issues in their application.

Overall, Azure Application Insights Snapshot Debugger is an essential tool for any .NET developer looking to troubleshoot issues in their application. By automatically collecting debug snapshots when exceptions occur, Snapshot Debugger makes it easier to identify and fix issues in a timely manner.

Understanding the Basics of Azure Application Insights Snapshot Debugger

As a developer, I know that debugging can be a challenging task. However, Azure Application Insights Snapshot Debugger can make the process much easier. In this section, I will explain the basics of Snapshot Debugger and its role in debugging. I will also discuss the connection between Application Insights and Snapshot Debugger.

Snapshot Debugger and Its Role in Debugging

Snapshot Debugger is a tool that allows developers to debug their .NET applications in real-time. It automatically collects a debug snapshot when an exception occurs in a live .NET application. This snapshot includes the call stack and local variables, which can help developers quickly identify the root cause of the exception.

Snapshot Debugger is available for both Azure App Service and applications using the Application Insights SDK. To enable Snapshot Debugger for an app, you need to turn it on in the Azure portal. Once enabled, you can view the debug snapshot in the Exception Details blade by clicking the "Open debug snapshot" button.

Application Insights and Its Connection to Snapshot Debugger

Application Insights is a service that helps developers monitor the performance and usage of their applications. It collects telemetry data, including requests, traces, and exceptions. When an exception occurs, Application Insights automatically captures the exception details and sends them to the Azure portal.

Snapshot Debugger is tightly integrated with Application Insights. When an exception occurs, Snapshot Debugger uses the exception details captured by Application Insights to collect the debug snapshot. This integration makes it easy for developers to troubleshoot exceptions and identify the root cause of the issue.

In conclusion, Azure Application Insights Snapshot Debugger is a powerful tool that can help developers quickly identify and troubleshoot exceptions in their .NET applications. By understanding the basics of Snapshot Debugger and its connection to Application Insights, developers can improve their debugging process and save time.

Implementing Snapshot Debugger in .NET Applications

As a developer, I have found the Azure Application Insights Snapshot Debugger to be a useful tool for debugging .NET applications. In this section, I will provide an overview of how to implement Snapshot Debugger in .NET applications.

Snapshot Debugger Setup and Configuration

The first step in implementing Snapshot Debugger is to install the Microsoft.ApplicationInsights.SnapshotCollector NuGet package. This package provides the Snapshot Collector, which is responsible for collecting snapshots of your application when an exception occurs.

Once the package is installed, you need to configure your application to use the Snapshot Collector. This is done by adding the following code to your applicationinsights.config file:

The ThresholdForSnapshotting property determines how many times an exception must occur before a snapshot is collected. In this example, a snapshot will be collected on the first occurrence of an exception.

Integrating Snapshot Debugger with .NET and ASP.NET Core

To integrate Snapshot Debugger with your .NET or ASP.NET Core application, you need to add the following code to your Startup.cs file:

public void Configure(IApplicationBuilder app, IWebHostEnvironment env)
{
    // ...

    app.UseExceptionHandler(errorApp =>
    {
        errorApp.Run(async context =>
        {
            var exception = context.Features.Get().Error;
            var telemetryClient = new TelemetryClient();
            telemetryClient.TrackException(exception);

            if (context.Request.Path.StartsWithSegments("/api"))
            {
                context.Response.ContentType = "application/json";
                await context.Response.WriteAsync(JsonConvert.SerializeObject(new { error = exception.Message }));
            }
            else
            {
                context.Response.Redirect("/Error");
            }

            if (SnapshotCollector.IsConfigured)
            {
                await SnapshotCollector.CollectAsync(exception);
            }
        });
    });

    // ...
}

This code adds an exception handler to your application that logs exceptions to Application Insights and collects a snapshot using the Snapshot Collector.

You can also configure Snapshot Debugger using the appsettings.json file. For example, you can configure the Snapshot Collector to collect local variables by adding the following code to your appsettings.json file:

{
  "ApplicationInsights": {
    "SnapshotCollector": {
      "CollectLocalVariables": true
    }
  }
}

In addition to collecting snapshots, Snapshot Debugger can also be used to collect counters and symbol files. To enable these features, you need to configure Snapshot Debugger using the instrumentation key ingestion API.

Snapshot Debugger Troubleshooting

If you are having issues with Snapshot Debugger, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take. First, make sure that the Snapshot Collector is properly configured and that the ThresholdForSnapshotting property is set to a value greater than zero.

You can also use the SnapshotDebugger.IsConfigured property to check if Snapshot Debugger is properly configured. If this property returns false, you may need to check your connection strings and ensure that the Snapshot Collector is properly installed.

If you are still having issues with Snapshot Debugger, you can try using the Application Insights Profiler to diagnose issues with your application. The profiler can be used to identify performance bottlenecks and other issues with your application.

Overall, Snapshot Debugger is a powerful tool for debugging .NET applications. By following the steps outlined in this section, you can easily integrate Snapshot Debugger into your application and start collecting snapshots of your code when exceptions occur.

Advanced Usage and Troubleshooting of Snapshot Debugger

As a developer, I've found that Snapshot Debugger is a powerful tool that can help to quickly diagnose and resolve issues in .NET applications. In this section, I will cover some advanced usage and troubleshooting techniques that can help you get the most out of Snapshot Debugger.

Snapshot Debugger in Azure Services

Snapshot Debugger is available for use in a variety of Azure services, including Azure App Service, Azure Functions, Azure Service Fabric, and Azure Virtual Machines. To enable Snapshot Debugger in these services, you will need to follow the appropriate configuration steps for each service.

For example, to enable Snapshot Debugger in Azure App Service, you can follow the steps outlined in the Enable Snapshot Debugger for .NET apps in Azure App Service article. Similarly, to enable Snapshot Debugger in Azure Service Fabric, you can follow the steps outlined in the Enable Snapshot Debugger for .NET apps in Azure Service Fabric, Cloud Services, and Virtual Machines article.

Troubleshooting and Debugging with Snapshot Debugger

If you encounter issues while using Snapshot Debugger, there are several troubleshooting techniques that you can use to resolve them.

One common issue is related to the collection of debug snapshots. If you find that debug snapshots are not being collected, you can use the Snapshot Health Check feature to diagnose the issue. This feature can help you identify issues related to configuration, permissions, and more.

Another common issue is related to the upload of debug snapshots. If you find that debug snapshots are not being uploaded, you can use the Uploader Logs feature to diagnose the issue. This feature can help you identify issues related to network connectivity, authentication, and more.

Finally, if you encounter issues related to the debugging experience itself, you can use the Debugging Experience feature to diagnose the issue. This feature can help you identify issues related to snappoints, end-to-end transactions, and more.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Snapshot Debugger is a powerful tool that can help you quickly diagnose and resolve issues in .NET applications. By following the appropriate configuration steps and using the available troubleshooting techniques, you can get the most out of Snapshot Debugger and ensure that your applications are running smoothly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to debug with Azure Application Insights?

The best way to debug with Azure Application Insights is to use the Snapshot Debugger. The Snapshot Debugger allows you to collect a debug snapshot when an exception occurs in your live .NET application. You can then view the snapshot in the Azure portal or Visual Studio to see the call stack and inspect variables at each call stack frame.

How do I create Application Insights in the Azure portal?

To create Application Insights in the Azure portal, follow these steps:

Log in to the Azure portal.
Navigate to the resource group where you want to create the Application Insights resource.
Click on the + Add button.
Search for "Application Insights" in the search bar and select the Application Insights option.
Fill in the required information, such as the name, subscription, and resource group.
Click on the Review + create button, and then click on the Create button to create the Application Insights resource.

What are the best practices for using Azure Application Insights?

Some best practices for using Azure Application Insights include:

Use the Snapshot Debugger to debug exceptions in your .NET application.
Use the Application Insights Profiler to identify performance issues in your application.
Use custom telemetry to track specific metrics and events in your application.
Use the Application Map to visualize the dependencies between different components of your application.

How do I disable the snapshot debugger in Azure?

To disable the snapshot debugger in Azure, follow these steps:

Log in to the Azure portal.
Navigate to the Application Insights resource where you want to disable the snapshot debugger.
Click on the Snapshot Debugger option in the left-hand menu.
Toggle the switch next to "Enable Snapshot Debugger" to the off position.

How do I debug a snapshot in Azure Application Insights?

To debug a snapshot in Azure Application Insights, follow these steps:

Log in to the Azure portal.
Navigate to the Application Insights resource where the snapshot was generated.
Click on the Exceptions option in the left-hand menu.
Select the exception that you want to debug.
Click on the Snapshot Debugger tab.
Click on the snapshot that you want to debug.
Use the call stack and variable inspection features to debug the snapshot.

How do I use the Application Insights Profiler in Azure?

To use the Application Insights Profiler in Azure, follow these steps:

Log in to the Azure portal.
Navigate to the Application Insights resource where you want to use the profiler.
Click on the Profiler option in the left-hand menu.
Click on the Start profiler button to start profiling your application.
Wait for the profiler to collect data on your application's performance.
Use the data collected by the profiler to identify performance bottlenecks in your application.

Creator Profile