Choose a monitor type
HostTracker has 14 monitor types. Start from the question you want answered, then check the comparison table for interval and location limits.
Start from your question
Section titled “Start from your question”| You want to know… | Use | API type |
|---|---|---|
| Is my website up, returning a normal page, with the right text? | Website / HTTPS | http |
| Does my API return the right data, not just 200? | API | api |
| Is a server or device reachable on the network? | Ping | ping |
| Is a TCP service (mail, SSH, FTP, a database port) accepting connections? | Port | port |
| Does text that JavaScript renders appear on the page? | Content check | cntCheck |
| How does my page load in a real browser, and does anything on it break? | Page speed | waterfall |
| Does a user flow still work - login, search, checkout? | Transaction | tran |
| Is my database reachable, and is a query result in range? | Database | database |
| Is my server’s CPU, RAM or disk within limits? | Counter | counter |
| Is a router, switch or UPS answering SNMP? | SNMP | snmp |
| Is my TLS certificate about to expire? | Certificate expiry | sslExp |
| Is my domain registration about to expire? | Domain expiry | domainExp |
| Is my domain or IP on a DNS blacklist? | DNSBL | dnsbl |
| Has Google flagged my site as unsafe? | Web Risk | webRisk |
| What do DNS records look like right now, or where does the route break? | DNS lookup / Traceroute - one-off instant checks, not monitors | - |
Compare the types
Section titled “Compare the types”| Type (app name) | What it checks | Typical use | Shortest interval in the app | Runs from | Package feature needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
http (Fast Check Https) |
DNS, connection, TLS, status below 400, keywords or assertion rules | Websites, landing pages, health endpoints | 1 minute | Public checkpoint fleet, your locations | no |
api (API monitoring/text analysis) |
Everything http does, plus a parsed JSON/XML/text value |
REST APIs, third-party endpoints | 1 minute | Public checkpoint fleet, your locations | yes |
ping (Ping check) |
ICMP echo reply | Servers, routers, devices | 1 minute | Public checkpoints that can send ICMP, your locations | no |
port (TCP Port check) |
TCP connect, optional TLS | Mail, SSH, FTP, database listeners | 1 minute | Public checkpoint fleet, your locations | no |
cntCheck (Web content check) |
Keywords in the browser-rendered page | Single-page apps, client-rendered content | 10 minutes | Browser checkpoints, your locations | yes |
waterfall (Page speed) |
Real-browser load time and failing resources, CPU, memory, console | Page performance, broken assets | 10 minutes | Browser checkpoints, your locations | yes |
tran (Transaction check) |
Up to 10 scripted browser steps | Login, checkout, forms | 10 minutes | Browser checkpoints, your locations | yes |
database (Database check) |
Connect, log in, optional query and threshold | SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Firebird | 10 minutes | HostTracker’s internal network | yes |
counter (Monitor CPU, RAM, HDD) |
One number from a script you host, against a threshold | CPU, RAM, disk, custom metrics | 1 minute | HostTracker’s internal network | yes |
snmp (SNMP check) |
One OID over SNMP v1/v2c/v3 | Network equipment | 1 minute | HostTracker’s internal network | yes |
sslExp (Certificate expiration) |
Certificate expiry date and a strictly valid TLS handshake | Certificates on any TLS port | every 6 hours, fixed | Checkpoints chosen by HostTracker | yes |
domainExp (Domain expiration) |
Registration expiry via RDAP/WHOIS | Domain renewals | every 6 hours, fixed | HostTracker’s internal network | yes |
dnsbl (DNSBL check) |
Listing on DNS blacklists | Mail and IP reputation | every 6 hours, fixed | HostTracker’s internal network | yes |
webRisk (Web risk) |
Google Web Risk verdict for a URL | Phishing and malware flags | every 12 hours, fixed | HostTracker’s internal network | yes |
Notes on the table:
- Shortest interval is what the editor offers. Your package can set a higher minimum; through the API the
interval must also be one of your account’s allowed values (
GET /account->limits.intervals), andGET /monitor/typeshows each type’s minimum and whether your package includes it (accountLimits). - Your locations means the editor has a Monitoring Locations group and the API needs
locations.pools. Types without it refuselocations.pools- omitlocationsfor them. - Every type except the four fixed-schedule ones can also run on a Cron schedule (a paid-plan feature).
Rules of thumb
Section titled “Rules of thumb”- Start with Website / HTTPS. It covers availability, status codes, response time and keywords in one check, runs every minute, and is the monitor the security checks attach to.
- Attach, do not duplicate. Certificate expiry, Domain expiry, DNSBL and Web Risk can ride on an existing Website monitor (DNSBL also on Ping and Port, the other three also on API) - see Attach sub-checks to a monitor. Create a standalone one only for an address with no other monitor, or when you need its extra options.
- Use API only when you must check the response data; Content check only when the text is rendered by JavaScript; Transaction only when one page load cannot prove the flow works. Browser checks are heavier and start at 10-minute intervals.
- Database, Counter and SNMP run from HostTracker’s internal network, one checkpoint, with no location picker and no multi-location recheck. Allow HostTracker’s source IPs (shown in the Database editor) in your firewall.