When in an error condition, sites generate large numbers of error messages. These messages can cause further performance deterioration, which results in more error conditions. In a few seconds the chain reaction can bring the entire site down. The solution is to move the reporting off the operations infrastructure.
aiCache offers an easy way to accomplish the functionality, without requiring custom code to be written or executed by the web, application or database servers. It is aiCache that receives, logs and alerts on error condition, without ever forwarding the traffic to the rest of your infrastructure.
To accomplish this a “dummy” error website is configured in aiCache. Client side code is set to execute a simple HTTP GET against this website. To report a problem with your API, you embed the error messages in the request, for example you might request http;//error.acme.com/
When an error condition is detected, a request is made to the specified URL. aiCache receives the request and logs it. When the number of requests exceeds the configurable threshold, an alert is sent out. You can apply this to any logic with error-reporting including client or server-side code and custom scripts.
aiCache provides a self-refreshing web monitor screen as well as CLI and SNMP feeds that allow access and customization for reporting.
Without writing server side logic and without placing extra load on your infrastructure, aiCache can receive, log and alert on error conditions, removing cascading site failures.
