# Create custom CloudWatch dashboards using CloudFormation templates Create custom CloudWatch dashboards AWS provides CloudFormation templates that you can use to create custom CloudWatch dashboards for WorkSpaces. Choose from the following CloudFormation template options to create custom dashboards for your WorkSpaces in the CloudFormation console. ## Considerations before getting started Consider the following before you get started with custom CloudWatch dashboards: + Create your dashboards in the same AWS Region as the deployed WorkSpaces you want to monitor. + You can also create custom dashboards using the CloudWatch console. + A cost might be associated with custom CloudWatch dashboards. For information about pricing, see [Amazon CloudWatch Pricing](https://aws.amazon.com/cloudwatch/pricing) ## Help Desk dashboard The Help Desk dashboard displays the following metrics for a specific WorkSpace: + CPU usage + Memory usage + In-session latency + Root volume + User volume + Packet loss + Disk usage Following is an example of the Help Desk dashboard. ![\[The sample help desk dashboard for CloudWatch.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/workspaces/latest/adminguide/images/help-desk.png) Complete the following procedure to create a custom dashboard in CloudWatch using CloudFormation. 1. [Open the Create Stack page in the CloudFormation console](https://console.aws.amazon.com/cloudformation/home#/stacks/new?stackName=YourStackName&templateURL=https://cfn-templates-global-prod-iad.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/cfn-templates/workspaces_helpdesk_dashboard.yaml). This link opens the page with the Amazon S3 bucket location of the Help Desk custom CloudWatch dashboard template pre-populated. 1. Review the default selections on the **Create Stack** page. Note that the **Amazon S3 URL** field is pre-populated with the Amazon S3 bucket location of the CloudFormation template. 1. Choose **Next**. 1. In the **Stack name** text box, enter the name of the stack. The stack name is an identifier that helps you find a particular stack from a list of stacks. A stack name can contain only alphanumeric characters (case-sensitive) and hyphens. It must start with an alphabetic character and can't be longer than 128 characters. 1. In the **DashboardName** text box, enter the name you want to give your dashboard. The dashboard name can contain only alphanumerics, dash (`–`), and underscore (`_`). 1. Choose **Next**. 1. Review the default selections on the **Configure stack options** page, and choose **Next**. 1. Scroll down to **Transforms might require access capabilities** and check the boxes for acknowledgement. Then choose **Submit** to create the stack and the custom CloudWatch dashboard. **Important** A cost might be associated with custom CloudWatch dashboards. For information about pricing, see [Amazon CloudWatch Pricing](https://aws.amazon.com/cloudwatch/pricing) 1. Open the CloudWatch console at [https://console.aws.amazon.com/cloudwatch/](https://console.aws.amazon.com/cloudwatch/). 1. In the left navigation bar, choose **Dashboards**. 1. Under **Custom Dashboards**, choose the dashboard with the dashboard name you entered earlier in this procedure. 1. Using the Help Desk sample template, enter the UserName of the WorkSpace to monitor its data. ## Connection Insights dashboard The Connection Insights dashboard displays the client versions, platforms, and IP addresses that are connected to your WorkSpaces. This dashboard allows you to better understand how your users are connecting so that you can proactively notify your users using an outdated client. The dynamic variables allows you to monitor the details of IP addresses or specific directories. Following is an example of the Connection Insights dashboard. ![\[The sample connection insights dashboard for CloudWatch.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/workspaces/latest/adminguide/images/connection-insights.png) Complete the following procedure to create a custom dashboard in CloudWatch using CloudFormation. 1. [Open the Create Stack page in the CloudFormation console](https://console.aws.amazon.com/cloudformation/home#/stacks/new?stackName=YourStackName&templateURL=https://cfn-templates-global-prod-iad.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/cfn-templates/workspaces_connection_insights_dashboard.yaml). This link opens the page with the Amazon S3 bucket location of the Connection Insights custom CloudWatch dashboard template pre-populated. 1. Review the default selections on the **Create Stack** page. Note that the **Amazon S3 URL** field is pre-populated with the Amazon S3 bucket location of the CloudFormation template. 1. Choose **Next**. 1. In the **Stack name** text box, enter the name of the stack. The stack name is an identifier that helps you find a particular stack from a list of stacks. A stack name can contain only alphanumeric characters (case-sensitive) and hyphens. It must start with an alphabetic character and can't be longer than 128 characters. 1. In the **DashboardName** text box, enter the name you want to give your dashboard. Enter other relevant CloudWatch access group setup information. The dashboard name can contain only alphanumerics, dash (`–`), and underscore (`_`). 1. Under **LogRetention**, enter the number of days you want to retain your LogGroup for. 1. Under **SetupEventBridge**, choose whether you want to deploy the EventBridge rule to get WorkSpaces access logs. 1. Under **WorkSpaceAccessLogsName**, enter the name of the CloudWatch LogGroup that has the WorkSpaces access logs. 1. Choose **Next**. 1. Review the default selections on the **Configure stack options** page, and choose **Next**. 1. Scroll down to **Transforms might require access capabilities** and check the boxes for acknowledgement. Then choose **Submit** to create the stack and the custom CloudWatch dashboard. **Important** A cost might be associated with custom CloudWatch dashboards. For information about pricing, see [Amazon CloudWatch Pricing](https://aws.amazon.com/cloudwatch/pricing) 1. Open the CloudWatch console at [https://console.aws.amazon.com/cloudwatch/](https://console.aws.amazon.com/cloudwatch/). 1. In the left navigation bar, choose **Dashboards**. 1. Under **Custom Dashboards**, choose the dashboard with the dashboard name you entered earlier in this procedure. 1. You can now monitor you WorkSpace's data using the Connection Insights dashboard. ## Internet Monitoring dashboard The Internet Monitoring dashboard displays details about the Internet Service Provider (ISP) that your users are using to join their WorkSpaces instances. It provides details on the city, state, ASN, network name, number of connected WorkSpaces, performance, and experience scores. You can also use specific IP addresses to get the details of your users connecting from a specific location. Deploy CloudWatch internet monitor to get ISP data information. For more information, see [ Using Amazon CloudWatch Internet Monitor](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonCloudWatch/latest/monitoring/CloudWatch-InternetMonitor.html). Following is an example of the Internet Monitoring dashboard. ![\[The sample Internet Monitoring dashboard for CloudWatch.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/workspaces/latest/adminguide/images/cw-internet-monitor.png) **To create a custom dashboard in CloudWatch using CloudFormation** **Note** Before creating a custom dashboard, make sure you create an Internet Monitor with CloudWatch Internet Monitor. For more information, see [ Creating a monitor in Amazon CloudWatch Internet Monitor using the console](https://docs.aws.amazon.com//AmazonCloudWatch/latest/monitoring/CloudWatch-IM-get-started.create.html) 1. [Open the Create Stack page in the CloudFormation console](https://console.aws.amazon.com/cloudformation/home#/stacks/new?stackName=YourStackName&templateURL=https://cfn-templates-global-prod-iad.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/cfn-templates/workspaces_cloudwatch_internet_monitor_dashboard.yaml). This link opens the page with the Amazon S3 bucket location of the Internet Monitoring custom CloudWatch dashboard template pre-populated. 1. Review the default selections on the **Create Stack** page. Note that the **Amazon S3 URL** field is pre-populated with the Amazon S3 bucket location of the CloudFormation template. 1. Choose **Next**. 1. In the **Stack name** text box, enter the name of the stack. The stack name is an identifier that helps you find a particular stack from a list of stacks. A stack name can contain only alphanumeric characters (case-sensitive) and hyphens. It must start with an alphabetic character and can't be longer than 128 characters. 1. In the **DashboardName** text box, enter the name you want to give your dashboard. Enter other relevant CloudWatch access group setup information. The dashboard name can contain only alphanumerics, dash (`–`), and underscore (`_`). 1. Under **ResourcesToMonitor**, enter the directory ID of the directory that you've enabled internet monitoring for. 1. Under **MonitorName**, enter the name of the internet monitor you want to use. 1. Choose **Next**. 1. Review the default selections on the **Configure stack options** page, and choose **Next**. 1. Scroll down to **Transforms might require access capabilities** and check the boxes for acknowledgement. Then choose **Submit** to create the stack and the custom CloudWatch dashboard. **Important** A cost might be associated with custom CloudWatch dashboards. For information about pricing, see [Amazon CloudWatch Pricing](https://aws.amazon.com/cloudwatch/pricing) 1. Open the CloudWatch console at [https://console.aws.amazon.com/cloudwatch/](https://console.aws.amazon.com/cloudwatch/). 1. In the left navigation bar, choose **Dashboards**. 1. Under **Custom Dashboards**, choose the dashboard with the dashboard name you entered earlier in this procedure. 1. You can now monitor you WorkSpace's data using the Internet Monitoring dashboard.