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Troubleshooting Playbook Template

Troubleshooting playbooks map symptoms to diagnostics and fixes. Keep them fast to scan, script-friendly, and closed with prevention tips plus next steps.

❌ DO NOT COPY — Guidance & Constraints

  • Frontmatter must include title, description, icon. Lead with one sentence about the system or workflow this playbook covers.
  • Add an <Info> block (“Use this when…”) and a quick index table (Symptom, Likely cause, Fix link). Surface critical safety warnings in <Warning>.
  • Each symptom section needs: diagnostic command/snippet, <Info icon="check"> expected output, <Warning> for the observed failure, numbered fix steps, and optional <Tip> for prevention.
  • If you’re migrating an existing playbook, carry forward the known failure modes and scripts—reformat them into this structure unless the troubleshooting path changed.
  • Group unrelated issues with horizontal rules and provide escalation guidance when self-service stops.
  • Conclude with prevention checklist, related docs, and the standard two-card CTA (concept/reference left, applied workflow right).

✅ COPY THIS — Content Skeleton

---
title: [Playbook name]
description: Diagnose and resolve [system/component] issues.
icon: "stethoscope"
---

# [Playbook headline]

[One sentence describing the scope of this playbook.]

<Info>
  **Use this when…**
  - [Trigger symptom]
  - [Trigger symptom]
  - [Trigger symptom]
</Info>

## Quick index

| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Error code/message] | [Cause] | [Link to section] |
| [Error code/message] | [Cause] | [Link to section] |

<Warning>
  [Optional safety note (data loss, downtime risk). Remove if unnecessary.]
</Warning>

## Symptom: [Name]

Run this check:

```bash
[diagnostic command]
```

<Info icon="check">
  Expected: `[describe success signal]`.
</Info>

<Warning>
  Actual: `[describe failure output]`.
</Warning>

**Fix**
1. [Step]
2. [Step]
3. [Step]

<Tip>
  [Preventative measure or best practice.]
</Tip>

---

## Symptom: [Next issue]

[Repeat pattern above.]

## Escalate when

- [Status/case when self-service ends]
- Contact `[support channel]` with `[logs]`

## Prevention checklist

- [Habit/monitoring item]
- [Habit/monitoring item]

## Related docs

- [Feature or integration doc]
- [Runbook or SLO doc]

{/* DEBUG: verify CTA targets */}

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card
    title="[Concept or feature doc]"
    description="[Why understanding it prevents this issue]"
    icon="shield"
    href="/[concept-link]"
  />
  <Card
    title="[Cookbook or integration]"
    description="[Where readers can see the healthy flow]"
    icon="rocket"
    href="/[cookbook-link]"
  />
</CardGroup>

✅ Publish Checklist

  • Quick index table includes every symptom covered below.
  • Each symptom section documents diagnostics, expected vs actual output, and actionable fix steps.
  • Preventative tips and escalation guidance are present where relevant.
  • Prevention checklist and related docs point to current resources.
  • CTA pair links to concept/reference (left) and applied workflow (right).

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