Runbook basics

Topic: Monitoring basics

Write runbooks for alerts and common operations. Include steps, commands, and escalation. Keep them updated. Use when you need consistent response to incidents.

Intent: How-to

Quick answer

  • One runbook per alert or procedure. Sections: symptom, impact, steps to diagnose and fix, escalation, owner.
  • Use exact commands and links. Test steps periodically. Link runbook from alert and dashboard.
  • Review after each incident. Update when topology or procedure changes. Keep in version control.

Prerequisites

Steps

  1. Structure

    Symptom and impact. Prerequisites. Step-by-step diagnosis and fix. Escalation. Owner and last updated.

  2. Commands and links

    Add exact commands to run. Links to dashboard, logs, playbooks. Copy-paste friendly.

  3. Maintain

    Review after incidents. Update when things change. Version control and peer review.

Summary

Document alert or procedure with steps, commands, escalation. Link from alerts. Keep updated.

Prerequisites

Steps

Step 1: Structure

Symptom, impact, steps, escalation, owner.

Exact commands; links to dashboard and logs.

Step 3: Maintain

Review after incidents; update and version.

Verification

  • Runbook linked from alert; steps tested; team can follow.

Troubleshooting

Outdated — Review and update. Missing steps — Add from post-incident notes.

Next steps

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