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Migrate availability tests

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In this article, we guide you through the process of migrating from classic URL ping tests to the modern and efficient standard tests.

We simplify this process by providing clear step-by-step instructions to ensure a seamless transition and equip your applications with the most up-to-date monitoring capabilities.

Migrate classic URL ping tests to standard tests

The following steps walk you through the process of creating standard tests that replicate the functionality of your URL ping tests. It allows you to more easily start using the advanced features of standard tests using your previously created URL ping tests.

Important

On September 30th, 2026, URL ping tests will be retired. Transition to standard tests before then.

Prerequisites

Steps

  1. Connect to your subscription with Azure PowerShell (Connect-AzAccount + Set-AzContext).

  2. List all URL ping tests in the current subscription:

    Get-AzApplicationInsightsWebTest | `
Where-Object { $_.WebTestKind -eq "ping" } | `
Format-Table -Property ResourceGroupName,Name,WebTestKind,Enabled;

  3. Find the URL Ping Test you want to migrate and record its resource group and name.

  4. The following commands create a standard test with the same logic as the URL ping test:

    $resourceGroup = "pingTestResourceGroup";
$appInsightsComponent = "componentName";
$pingTestName = "pingTestName";
$newStandardTestName = "newStandardTestName";

$componentId = (Get-AzApplicationInsights -ResourceGroupName $resourceGroup -Name $appInsightsComponent).Id;
$pingTest = Get-AzApplicationInsightsWebTest -ResourceGroupName $resourceGroup -Name $pingTestName;
$pingTestRequest = ([xml]$pingTest.ConfigurationWebTest).WebTest.Items.Request;
$pingTestValidationRule = ([xml]$pingTest.ConfigurationWebTest).WebTest.ValidationRules.ValidationRule;

$dynamicParameters = @{};

if ($pingTestRequest.IgnoreHttpStatusCode -eq [bool]::FalseString) {
$dynamicParameters["RuleExpectedHttpStatusCode"] = [convert]::ToInt32($pingTestRequest.ExpectedHttpStatusCode, 10);
}

if ($pingTestValidationRule -and $pingTestValidationRule.DisplayName -eq "Find Text" `
-and $pingTestValidationRule.RuleParameters.RuleParameter[0].Name -eq "FindText" `
-and $pingTestValidationRule.RuleParameters.RuleParameter[0].Value) {
$dynamicParameters["ContentMatch"] = $pingTestValidationRule.RuleParameters.RuleParameter[0].Value;
$dynamicParameters["ContentPassIfTextFound"] = $true;
}

New-AzApplicationInsightsWebTest @dynamicParameters -ResourceGroupName $resourceGroup -Name $newStandardTestName `
-Location $pingTest.Location -Kind 'standard' -Tag @{ "hidden-link:$componentId" = "Resource" } -TestName $newStandardTestName `
-RequestUrl $pingTestRequest.Url -RequestHttpVerb "GET" -GeoLocation $pingTest.PropertiesLocations -Frequency $pingTest.Frequency `
-Timeout $pingTest.Timeout -RetryEnabled:$pingTest.RetryEnabled -Enabled:$pingTest.Enabled `
-RequestParseDependent:($pingTestRequest.ParseDependentRequests -eq [bool]::TrueString);

  5. The new standard test doesn't have alert rules by default, so it doesn't create noisy alerts. No changes are made to your URL ping test so you can continue to rely on it for alerts.

  6. Once you have validated the functionality of the new standard test, update your alert rules that reference the URL ping test to reference the standard test instead. Then you disable or delete the URL ping test.

  7. To delete a URL ping test with Azure PowerShell, you can use this command:

    Remove-AzApplicationInsightsWebTest -ResourceGroupName $resourceGroup -Name $pingTestName;

FAQ

When should I use these commands?

Migrate URL ping tests to standard tests now to take advantage of new capabilities.

Do these steps work for both HTTP and HTTPS endpoints?

Yes, these commands work for both HTTP and HTTPS endpoints, which are used in your URL ping Tests.

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