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Establishing a foundation in observability

Travis Scotto, Emmanuel Apau, Sonny Sevin, and Nathan Anderson, MBA

Learn the skills to gain insights and visibility into system performance, errors, and user behavior with Udacity's Foundations in Observability Training Course.

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Bootcamp level quality

Complete hands-on projects and get personalized feedback with Udacity.

What's inside

Syllabus

This lesson will introduce you to the course, including what SRE is and why it matters.

In this lesson, we will learn how to distinguish unique SRE roles and responsibilities within an enterprise.

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Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Suitable for learners in fields or roles related to software engineering

Taught by notable instructors: Travis Scotto, Emmanuel Apau, Sonny Sevin, and Nathan Anderson, MBA

Follows industry standards and uses widely adopted tools and methods

Offers hands-on practice through projects and exercises

Requires learners to have a foundational understanding of software engineering

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Reviews summary

Foundational observability for sre and it professionals

According to students, 'Establishing a foundation in observability' is a highly recommended starting point for understanding core observability concepts and their application in IT and SRE roles. Learners frequently praise the course for its clear explanations, engaging lectures, and the emphasis on practical, hands-on labs that utilize popular tools like Prometheus and Grafana. While some find the content to be a solid introduction for beginners, a few more experienced professionals note it can be somewhat superficial for advanced topics. Recent reviews suggest that previous issues with lab environments have been updated, making the experience smoother and more current. The course is seen as essential for building a strong foundation and discussing observability effectively in a professional setting.

Recent updates have addressed previous issues with lab environments, improving the learning experience.

"I noticed some of the lab environments have been updated, making the setup much smoother than before."

"The initial setup for the labs was a bit tricky; I had to do some troubleshooting on my own."

"I found some labs full of errors, making it impossible to complete without significant external research."

"Recent updates have improved the practical examples, making them more relevant for understanding observable systems."

Concepts are clearly explained, and the course follows a logical, easy-to-follow structure.

"The concepts are explained with great clarity, helping me understand and implement basic monitoring solutions."

"The course content is well-structured, moving from theory to practice seamlessly."

"Complex ideas were simplified in an impressive way, making them digestible and easy to grasp."

"The lectures are clear, and the pace is perfect for foundational learning."

Offers practical experience with industry-standard tools and real-world applications.

"The hands-on labs using Prometheus and Grafana were incredibly valuable; I feel confident implementing basic monitoring now."

"Engaging lectures and practical examples; the final project helped me tie everything together."

"The practical exercises cemented my understanding. The emphasis on 'why' observability matters before 'how' was brilliant."

"The hands-on labs are good for initial exposure, though more advanced topics could be explored deeper."

Provides a strong starting point for those new to observability and SRE principles.

"This course is an excellent starting point for anyone looking to understand observability."

"As someone new to SRE, this course gave me a strong footing."

"The best course to start with observability. It gives you the language to discuss observability effectively."

"It lays a solid foundation for understanding the 'what' and 'why' of observability."

While foundational, the course may not provide sufficient depth for experienced professionals.

"I found this course quite superficial; it touches on many aspects but doesn't go deep enough into any of them."

"Good overview, but don't expect deep dives into advanced topics or specific vendor solutions beyond the basics."

"The course provides a decent conceptual understanding but falls short on practical, production-level implementation details."

"The hands-on exercises felt simplistic and didn't challenge me much as an experienced professional."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Establishing a foundation in observability with these activities:

Review "The Practice of System and Network Administration"

Show steps

Introduce key concepts and best practices in system and network administration that underpin the field of Observability

View The Practice of System and Network... on Amazon

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Read Chapters 1-3
Take notes on key terms and concepts

Configure Alertmanager and Prometheus

Show steps

Provide hands-on experience configuring essential tools for monitoring and alerting in an Observability pipeline

Browse courses on Observability

Show steps

Follow the Prometheus Alertmanager tutorial
Implement custom alerts for a sample application

Analyze Log Files for Errors and Patterns

Show steps

Develop critical skills in analyzing log files to identify errors, patterns, and potential root causes in distributed systems

Browse courses on Observability

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Use grep or awk to filter log files
Identify and analyze common error patterns
Generate reports on findings

Two other activities

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Show all five activities

Develop a Monitoring Dashboard for a Sample Application

Show steps

Apply principles of Observability to create a comprehensive dashboard that provides real-time insights into the health and performance of a sample application

Browse courses on Observability

Show steps

Define key metrics and indicators to monitor
Use Grafana or a similar tool to create visualizations
Set up alerts and notifications

Discuss Case Studies and Best Practices in Observability

Show steps

Foster collaboration and knowledge sharing by engaging in peer discussions on real-world Observability challenges and solutions

Browse courses on Observability

Show steps

Present a case study or best practice
Facilitate a group discussion
Summarize key learnings and insights

Career center

Learners who complete Establishing a foundation in observability will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Observability Engineer

Observability Engineers design and implement systems that monitor and analyze the performance of complex software systems. They use data from these systems to identify and resolve issues, and to improve the overall performance and reliability of the software. This course can help Observability Engineers build a foundation in the principles and practices of observability, and gain the skills they need to implement and manage these systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Observability Engineer

Site Reliability Engineer

Site Reliability Engineers are responsible for the reliability and performance of software systems. They work with development and operations teams to ensure that systems are designed, implemented, and operated in a way that meets the needs of users. This course can help Site Reliability Engineers build a foundation in the principles and practices of observability, and gain the skills they need to implement and manage these systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Site Reliability Engineer

Performance Engineer

Performance Engineers are responsible for the performance of software systems. They work with development and operations teams to identify and resolve performance bottlenecks, and to improve the overall performance of the system. This course can help Performance Engineers build a foundation in the principles and practices of observability, and gain the skills they need to implement and manage these systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Performance Engineer

DevOps Engineer

DevOps Engineers are responsible for the development and operation of software systems. They work with development and operations teams to ensure that systems are designed, implemented, and operated in a way that meets the needs of users. This course can help DevOps Engineers build a foundation in the principles and practices of observability, and gain the skills they need to implement and manage these systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for DevOps Engineer

Software Engineer

Software Engineers are responsible for the design, development, and maintenance of software systems. They work with other engineers and stakeholders to ensure that systems meet the needs of users. This course can help Software Engineers build a foundation in the principles and practices of observability, and gain the skills they need to implement and manage these systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Cloud Engineer

Cloud Engineers are responsible for the design, implementation, and operation of cloud-based systems. They work with development and operations teams to ensure that systems are designed, implemented, and operated in a way that meets the needs of users. This course can help Cloud Engineers build a foundation in the principles and practices of observability, and gain the skills they need to implement and manage these systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Engineer

Data Engineer

Data Engineers are responsible for the design, development, and maintenance of data systems. They work with other engineers and stakeholders to ensure that systems meet the needs of users. This course can help Data Engineers build a foundation in the principles and practices of observability, and gain the skills they need to implement and manage these systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Engineer

Data Scientist

Data Scientists are responsible for the analysis and interpretation of data. They work with other scientists and stakeholders to identify trends and patterns in data, and to develop models and algorithms to solve problems. This course can help Data Scientists build a foundation in the principles and practices of observability, and gain the skills they need to implement and manage these systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Machine Learning Engineer

Machine Learning Engineers are responsible for the design, development, and maintenance of machine learning systems. They work with other engineers and stakeholders to ensure that systems meet the needs of users. This course can help Machine Learning Engineers build a foundation in the principles and practices of observability, and gain the skills they need to implement and manage these systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Machine Learning Engineer

Business Analyst

Business Analysts are responsible for the analysis of business needs and requirements. They work with other stakeholders to identify and define the scope of projects, and to develop solutions that meet the needs of the business. This course can help Business Analysts build a foundation in the principles and practices of observability, and gain the skills they need to implement and manage these systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the development and management of products. They work with other stakeholders to identify and define the scope of products, and to develop strategies to bring products to market. This course can help Product Managers build a foundation in the principles and practices of observability, and gain the skills they need to implement and manage these systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for the planning and execution of projects. They work with other stakeholders to define the scope of projects, and to develop and manage plans to complete projects on time and within budget. This course can help Project Managers build a foundation in the principles and practices of observability, and gain the skills they need to implement and manage these systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Systems Analyst

Systems Analysts are responsible for the analysis and design of computer systems. They work with other stakeholders to identify and define the scope of systems, and to develop solutions that meet the needs of the business. This course can help Systems Analysts build a foundation in the principles and practices of observability, and gain the skills they need to implement and manage these systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Analyst

IT Manager

IT Managers are responsible for the planning and management of IT resources. They work with other stakeholders to identify and define the IT needs of the business, and to develop and implement strategies to meet those needs. This course can help IT Managers build a foundation in the principles and practices of observability, and gain the skills they need to implement and manage these systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Manager

IT Consultant

IT Consultants provide advice and guidance to organizations on the use of IT. They work with clients to identify and solve business problems, and to develop and implement IT solutions. This course can help IT Consultants build a foundation in the principles and practices of observability, and gain the skills they need to implement and manage these systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Consultant

Reading list

We've selected four books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Establishing a foundation in observability.

Observability Engineering

Save

Delves deep into the concepts and practices of observability engineering. It offers a solid theoretical grounding and practical guidance on implementing observability solutions.

Observability Engineering: Achieving Production...

Paperback

Observability Engineering

Kindle Edition

Site Reliability Engineering

Save

This widely acclaimed book provides a comprehensive overview of Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) principles and best practices. It covers topics such as service-level objectives (SLOs), error budgets, and incident management.

Site Reliability Engineering: How Google Runs...

Kindle Edition

The DevOps Handbook

Save

Classic in the field of DevOps. It provides a comprehensive overview of DevOps principles and best practices.

The DevOps Handbook: How to Create World-Class...

Paperback

The DevOps Handbook: How to Create World-Class...

Kindle Edition

Kubernetes: Up and Running

Save

Practical guide to using Kubernetes in production environments. It covers topics such as cluster management, application deployment, and troubleshooting.

Kubernetes: Up and Running: Dive into the Future of...

Paperback

Kubernetes: Up and Running

Kindle Edition

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