This article covers how to create and manage your Synthetics tests on Kentik’s Tests page. For detailed information on specific test configurations, see Test Settings Reference.
IMPORTANT: Only Admin users of the Kentik portal can add or manage Synthetics tests.
Overview
The Tests page is your central hub for viewing and managing all Synthetics tests within your organization.
To access the Tests page:
Open the Kentik portal.
Navigate to Synthetics in the main navigation menu.
Select Tests.
From this page, you can view a list of all current tests, their status, and perform management actions such as adding, editing, pausing, or removing tests.
Add a New Test
Creating a new test involves selecting a test type and configuring its parameters.
On the Tests page, click the Add Test button.
From the Add Test Page, click a tile in the categorized list of test types (e.g., Agent-to-Agent, Page Load, BGP Monitor).
Navigate through the configuration tabs in the sidebar to specify your settings (see the Test Settings Reference for details on each tab).
Review the Credit Consumption Dialog to understand the billing impact of your new test.
Click Save or Add Test to finalize the configuration and begin testing.
Available Test Types
The Add Test page organizes tests into three main categories: Routing, Network, and Application.
Routing
Monitor BGP events involving one or more Autonomous System Numbers (ASNs) or IP prefixes.
BGP Route Viewer: Determine whether specified prefixes originate from allowed ASNs.
Network
Test connectivity between public or private Kentik agents, external servers, or dynamically defined targets.
Agent-to-Agent: Test connectivity between Kentik agents.
Agent-to-Agent: Measure ping, latency, and packet loss to a single target agent.
Network Mesh: Measure ping, latency, and packet loss for a grid of multiple agents.
Agent-to-Server: Test connectivity between Kentik agents and external servers.
Server IP Addresses: Measure agent connectivity to one or more target IP addresses.
Server Hostname: Measure agent connectivity to a single target hostname.
Network Grid: Measure agent connectivity to multiple target IP addresses.
Autonomous Tests: Dynamically define test targets based on NetFlow/sFlow/IPFIX telemetry to monitor high-usage targets.
ASN
CDN
Country
Region
City
Application
Test reachability and performance to DNS servers, URLs, and HTTP resources.
DNS:
DNS Server Monitor: Measure responses for a DNS server and specified hostname.
DNS Server Grid: Measure responses for multiple DNS servers for a hostname.
HTTP:
HTTP(S) or API: Measure a specific web server’s response to an HTTP request.
Page Load: Measure performance metrics for a full browser page load.
Transaction: Test a web page with a series of actions driven by a custom script.
Manage Existing Tests
You can modify existing tests directly from the Tests list view using the action icons associated with each test row.
Editing a Test
Locate the test you want to modify in the Tests list.
Click the Edit (pencil) icon on that test's row.
Update the necessary configurations across the sidebar tabs.
Click Save to apply your changes.
Copying a Test
Duplicating a test is a quick way to create a new test with similar parameters without starting from scratch.
Locate the test you wish to duplicate.
Click the Copy or Duplicate icon on that test's row.
A new configuration wizard will open with the existing settings pre-populated.
Note: You must provide a new, unique Name in the Test Information tab.
Make any other necessary adjustments and click Save.
Pausing or Removing a Test
If you need to temporarily stop data collection or permanently delete a test:
To Pause: Toggle the status switch on the test's row to pause it. Paused tests do not consume credits. You can toggle it back on to resume testing at any time.
To Remove: Click the Delete (trash can) icon on the test's row. You will be prompted to confirm the deletion.
Warning: Deleting a test is permanent and will remove its historical data over time.
Settings Status Indicators
As you configure a test, the sidebar tabs will display visual indicators to help you track your progress and identify missing information.
Checkmark: Indicates that all required fields within that tab have been successfully completed.
Warning / Error Icon: Indicates that a required field is missing or contains invalid data. You must resolve these errors before you can save the test.
Blank / No Icon: Indicates an optional settings tab that has not been modified or does not require input for the test to run.
Credit Consumption Dialog
Synthetics tests consume credits based on their frequency, the number of agents used, and the complexity of the test type.
Whenever you add a new test or modify an existing one (such as increasing the test frequency or adding more source agents), the Credit Consumption Dialog will automatically update to display the estimated credit cost.
Current Usage: Shows your organization's current credit burn rate.
Estimated Impact: Highlights the specific number of credits the current test configuration will consume.
Total Projected: Displays what your total credit usage will be if you save the test.
Tip: Always review this dialog before saving to ensure your test configurations align with your organization's Synthetics credit limits.