Current detection and notification of problems in the DPAS system is handled by code within the applications and users that may report problems they encounter.  We propose to augment these methods by adding an automated process that will routinely check the health of the applications in the DPAS system.

 

Create a health monitor that will regularly check the health of DPAS applications.  A UI will also be made available in non-production environments to allow DPAS developers to view the health of monitored applications and details of health checks.

Health monitoring is generally accepted best practice for web applications.  According to Microsoft: "If services cannot send some sort of "I'm alive" signal, either on demand or on a schedule, your application might face risks when you deploy updates, or it might just detect failures too late and not be able to stop cascading failures that can end up in major outages."  See full article: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/architecture/microservices/implement-resilient-applications/monitor-app-health

 

Improved reliability.  The monitor will not be user facing, but it affects the DPAS modules the use by reducing the effects of slow-downs and service interruption.

 

Frequency: Hourly

 

The frequency of system health checks will be based upon the experience identified in its use. DPAS anticipates that if there if value that each service and web site may be checked every minute or couple of minutes depending on the check's efficiency and system performance. This tool is not a DPAS User Interface object.  It's intended user base are DPAS Support personnel.