--- title: Network Path Monitor description: >- Monitor network traffic flow to a destination and alert on round trip time, packet loss, and jitter using Network Path data. breadcrumbs: Docs > Monitors > Monitor Types > Network Path Monitor --- # Network Path Monitor {% callout %} ##### Join the Preview! The Network Path monitor is in Preview. To request access, contact your Datadog account team or reach out to [Datadog Support.](https://docs.datadoghq.com/help/) {% /callout %} ## Overview{% #overview %} [Network Path](https://docs.datadoghq.com/network_monitoring/network_path/) provides a visual representation of network traffic flow from its origin to its destination. After you enable Network Path for your organization, you can create a Network Path monitor to alert you when a Network Path metric crosses a set threshold. For example, you can monitor packet loss percentage between a specific source and destination and be alerted when this percentage breaches a configured threshold. ## Monitor creation{% #monitor-creation %} To create a Network Path monitor in Datadog, use the main navigation: [**Monitors** > **New Monitor** > **Network Path**](https://app.datadoghq.com/monitors/create/network-path) ### Define search query{% #define-search-query %} 1. Construct a search query using the same logic as Network Path timeseries widgets in your dashboards. 1. Select which data type to monitor on: **Test Runs** or **Hops**. - **Test Runs** represent end-to-end traceroute results, including path-level metadata (such as source and destination) and summarized hop information. This dataset is sufficient for most monitoring use cases. - **Hops** represent detailed, hop-level data, such as latency between consecutive hops and additional hop-specific attributes. This dataset is intended for deeper, hop-by-hop analysis and should be used less frequently. 1. Choose to monitor over event count, facet, or measure. - **Monitor over a Network Path event count:** Use the search bar (optional) and do not select a facet or measure. Datadog evaluates the number of Network Path events over a selected time frame for the selected data type, then compares it to the threshold conditions. {% image source="https://datadog-docs.imgix.net/images/monitors/monitor_types/network_path/event_count_network_path_query.a8cdd7a0698c1de6211ad7785a695501.png?auto=format" alt="Example configuration for monitoring over a Network Path event count" /%} - **Monitor over a facet:** If you select a facet, the monitor alerts over the `Unique value count` of the facet. {% image source="https://datadog-docs.imgix.net/images/monitors/monitor_types/network_path/facet_network_path_query.5d2b974d927fa62a20b7987c13c7ae43.png?auto=format" alt="Example configuration for monitoring over a facet" /%} - **Monitor over measure:** If you select a measure, the monitor alerts over the numerical value of the Network Path facet (similar to a metric monitor). Select an aggregation type (`min`, `avg`, `sum`, `median`, `pc75`, `pc90`, `pc95`, `pc98`, `pc99`, or `max`). {% image source="https://datadog-docs.imgix.net/images/monitors/monitor_types/network_path/measure_network_path_query.3d9fd5c4fb547ea9e331934346ecae20.png?auto=format" alt="Example configuration for monitoring over a measure" /%} 1. (Optional) Group Network Path events by multiple dimensions: All Network Path events matching the query are aggregated into groups based on the value of up to four facets. 1. (Optional) Add multiple queries and apply formulas and functions: - **Multiple queries**: Click **Add Query** to analyze multiple different sets of Network Path data in relation to each other. - **Formulas and functions**: After adding your desired queries, click the **Add Function** icon to add a mathematical computation. ### Metric Definitions{% #metric-definitions %} The following table lists the different Network Path metrics that you can create monitors on. | Metric | Metric Name | Definition | | ------------------------------- | ---------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | E2E Probe RTT Latency (Average) | `e2e_probe.rtt.avg` | End-to-end round-trip time (RTT) measured for the probe, representing the average time elapsed to receive a response from the destination across all probe packets. | | E2E Probe Packets Sent | `e2e_probe.packets_sent` | Number of packets sent. | | E2E Probe Packets Received | `e2e_probe.packets_received` | Number of packets for which a response was received. | | E2E Probe Packet Loss | `e2e_probe.packet_loss_percentage` | Ratio of packets sent that did not receive a response. | | E2E Probe Jitter | `e2e_probe.jitter` | Variation in round-trip time (RTT) between consecutive packets. | ## Set alert conditions{% #set-alert-conditions %} Configure monitors to trigger if the query value crosses a threshold, and customize advanced alert options for recovery thresholds and evaluation delays. For more information, see [Configure Monitors](https://docs.datadoghq.com/monitors/configuration/). ## Notifications{% #notifications %} For detailed instructions on the **Configure notifications and automations** section, see the [Notifications](https://docs.datadoghq.com/monitors/notify/) page. ## Common monitors{% #common-monitors %} You can create monitors on Network Path with the following common monitors. These provide a good starting point to be alerted if your network traffic is experiencing issues or irregular behavior. ### Round-trip time (RTT){% #round-trip-time-rtt %} The RTT monitor alerts you if the average round-trip time of a network path from a source to a destination breaches a threshold. Monitoring this can help proactively address performance problems and bottlenecks within your network before they escalate to a more severe state. {% image source="https://datadog-docs.imgix.net/images/monitors/monitor_types/network_path/common_monitors_round_trip_time_rtt.1ee9d42ef634cab8cc4588deaa0e20c3.png?auto=format" alt="Network Path monitor query configured to show the average of E2E Probe RTT in Test Runs, grouped by Source Display Name and Destination Hostname" /%} ### Packet loss{% #packet-loss %} The packet loss monitor alerts you if there is an increase in the number of packets that aren't reaching their destination from a source. Monitoring packet loss helps ensure reliable connectivity and detect issues that may impact availability or application performance. {% image source="https://datadog-docs.imgix.net/images/monitors/monitor_types/network_path/common_monitors_packet_loss.246017f7329238c770946bb799bba69f.png?auto=format" alt="Network Path monitor query configured to show the average of E2E Probe Packets Loss in Test Runs, grouped by Source Display Name and Destination Hostname" /%} ### Jitter{% #jitter %} The jitter monitor alerts you if there is a change in RTT variance for your network paths. Use this monitor to ensure network consistency and help track issues such as network congestion, bandwidth limitations, or faulty equipment. {% image source="https://datadog-docs.imgix.net/images/monitors/monitor_types/network_path/common_monitors_jitter.aa03ea45a0b1a80568b592337f4fc15d.png?auto=format" alt="Network Path monitor query configured to show the average of E2E Probe Jitter in Test Runs, grouped by Source Display Name and Destination Hostname" /%} ## Further reading{% #further-reading %} - [Configure your monitor notifications](https://docs.datadoghq.com/monitors/notify/) - [Schedule a downtime to mute a monitor](https://docs.datadoghq.com/monitors/downtimes/) - [Check your monitor status](https://docs.datadoghq.com/monitors/status/) - [Network Path Overview](https://docs.datadoghq.com/network_monitoring/network_path/)