Monitor types

View as Markdown

HostTracker checks different things in different ways, so each kind of check is its own monitor type. The type is chosen when you create a monitor and cannot be changed afterwards. Not sure which one you need? See Choosing a monitor type.

The catalogue

Type (app label)	API `type`	What it checks	Runs from	App default interval	Plan feature
Website / HTTPS (Fast Check Https)	`http`	Downloads the page like a visitor; status, keywords, assertions, TLS policy	Your locations (main fleet)	3 min	No separate gate
API (API monitoring/text analysis)	`api`	An HTTP request plus parsing of the JSON, XML or text response and a check on a selected value	Your locations (main fleet)	3 min	Yes
Ping (Ping check)	`ping`	ICMP reachability of a host or IP	Your locations (ICMP-capable checkpoints)	3 min	No separate gate
Port (TCP Port check)	`port`	A TCP connection to `host:port`, optionally TLS and a banner match	Your locations (main fleet)	3 min	No separate gate
Page speed (Page speed)	`waterfall` (alias `pageSpeed`)	Full page load in a real browser with budgets per resource type	Your locations (browser fleet)	15 min (min 10)	Yes
Transaction (Transaction check)	`tran`	A scripted multi-step browser scenario	Your locations (browser fleet)	10 min	Yes
Content check (Web content check)	`cntCheck`	Keywords in the rendered page, including JavaScript content	Your locations (browser fleet)	10 min	Yes
Database (Database check)	`database`	Connects to a database, optionally runs a query and compares the result	HostTracker’s internal network	10 min (min 10)	Yes
SNMP (SNMP check)	`snmp`	Reads an OID from network equipment	HostTracker’s internal network	5 min	Yes
Counter (Monitor CPU, RAM, HDD)	`counter`	A metric reported by a probe on your server	HostTracker’s internal network	3 min	Yes
SSL/TLS certificate expiry (Certificate expiration)	`sslExp`	The certificate served by an endpoint, before it expires	Main fleet, chosen automatically	Fixed 6 h	Yes
Domain expiry (Domain expiration)	`domainExp`	Domain registration expiry (whois/RDAP)	HostTracker’s internal network	Fixed 6 h	Yes
DNSBL / blacklist (DNSBL check)	`dnsbl`	Listing of a domain or IP on DNS blacklists	HostTracker’s internal network	Fixed 6 h	Yes
Web Risk (Web risk)	`webRisk`	Google’s lists of phishing, malware and deceptive sites	HostTracker’s internal network	Fixed 12 h	Yes
Site crawl (Site crawl)	`crawl` (alias `siteCrawl`)	Walks the whole site and reports what changed since the last run	One location you choose	Cron, weekly	Only on accounts where it is enabled

“Yes” in the last column means the type is a separately sold plan feature: a plan can leave it out, cap how many monitors of that type you may have, or set its own minimum interval for it. Creating a type your plan does not include is refused with 403 package_limit. The Russian BL check in the app is a Website/HTTPS monitor built from the preset bl:ru ("type": "http", "settings": { "preset": "bl:ru" }), not a separate type.

DNS lookup and Traceroute are instant check tools, not monitor types - see DNS and Traceroute.

Pick a type in the app

On Sites, click Add Monitor.
Pick the type card (each shows a one-line description).
The form for that type opens; enter the address and adjust the settings groups, then Save.

To change a monitor’s type later, create a new monitor of the other type (or copy settings you can reuse) and delete the old one.

Read the catalogue with the API or MCP

GET /monitor/type needs no token; with a token each row also carries your account’s limits:

curl https://api2.host-tracker.com/monitor/type -H "Authorization: Bearer $HT_TOKEN"

Field	Meaning
`type`, `label`	The API token and the app label
`minInterval`	The type’s own minimum interval, seconds
`fixedInterval`	Present for the fixed-cadence types (`sslExp`, `domainExp`, `dnsbl`: 21600; `webRisk`: 43200)
`requiresPool`	`true` when a create must include `locations.pools`
`entitlement`	The plan feature that gates the type, or `null`
`attachable`, `attachableTo`	Whether the type can ride on another monitor, and on which types
`presets`	Server-built settings presets (`http` and `api`: `["bl:ru"]`)
`accountLimits.minInterval`	With a token: your effective minimum for this type (type floor or plan floor, whichever is larger)
`accountLimits.available`	With a token: `false` when your plan does not include the type

GET /monitor/type/{type} returns one row plus the full JSON schema of its settings; GET /monitor/type/schema returns one combined schema for all types. Use them to build a valid create body.
MCP: list_monitor_types (label, minimum interval, whether your plan can create it); api_request for the per-type schema.

Limits and gotchas

type is fixed after creation: a PATCH that changes it answers 422 type_immutable.
The old rusRegBL type is discontinued; creating it answers 422 monitor_type_discontinued and names the replacement (http with preset bl:ru).
An unknown type token answers 422 unknown_enum_value with the list of valid tokens.