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Consul's health check capabilities are described in the health checks overview. The /agent/check endpoints interact with health checks managed by the local agent in Consul. These should not be confused with checks in the catalog.

List Checks

This endpoint returns all checks that are registered with the local agent. These checks were either provided through configuration files or added dynamically using the HTTP API.

It is important to note that the checks known by the agent may be different from those reported by the catalog. This is usually due to changes being made while there is no leader elected. The agent performs active anti-entropy, so in most situations everything will be in sync within a few seconds.

The HTTP response includes the X-Consul-Results-Filtered-By-ACLs: true header if the response array excludes results due to ACL policy configuration. Refer to the HTTP API documentation for more information.

MethodPathProduces
GET/agent/checksapplication/json

The table below shows this endpoint's support for blocking queries, consistency modes, agent caching, and required ACLs.

Blocking QueriesConsistency ModesAgent CachingACL Required
NOnonenonenode:read,service:read

Query Parameters

Sample Request

$ curl \
    http://127.0.0.1:8500/v1/agent/checks

$ curl \
    http://127.0.0.1:8500/v1/agent/checks

Sample Response

{
  "service:redis": {
    "Node": "foobar",
    "CheckID": "service:redis",
    "Name": "Service 'redis' check",
    "Status": "passing",
    "Notes": "",
    "Output": "",
    "ServiceID": "redis",
    "ServiceName": "redis",
    "ServiceTags": ["primary"],
    "Interval": "10s",
    "Timeout": "1s"
    "Type": "tcp",
    "ExposedPort": 0,
    "Definition": {},
    "Namespace": "default",
    "CreateIndex": 0,
    "ModifyIndex": 0
  }
}

{
  "service:redis": {
    "Node": "foobar",
    "CheckID": "service:redis",
    "Name": "Service 'redis' check",
    "Status": "passing",
    "Notes": "",
    "Output": "",
    "ServiceID": "redis",
    "ServiceName": "redis",
    "ServiceTags": ["primary"],
    "Interval": "10s",
    "Timeout": "1s"
    "Type": "tcp",
    "ExposedPort": 0,
    "Definition": {},
    "Namespace": "default",
    "CreateIndex": 0,
    "ModifyIndex": 0
  }
}

Filtering

The filter will be executed against each health check value in the results map with the following selectors and filter operations being supported:

SelectorSupported Operations
CheckIDEqual, Not Equal, In, Not In, Matches, Not Matches
NameEqual, Not Equal, In, Not In, Matches, Not Matches
NodeEqual, Not Equal, In, Not In, Matches, Not Matches
NotesEqual, Not Equal, In, Not In, Matches, Not Matches
OutputEqual, Not Equal, In, Not In, Matches, Not Matches
ServiceIDEqual, Not Equal, In, Not In, Matches, Not Matches
ServiceNameEqual, Not Equal, In, Not In, Matches, Not Matches
ServiceTagsIn, Not In, Is Empty, Is Not Empty
StatusEqual, Not Equal, In, Not In, Matches, Not Matches

Register Check

This endpoint adds a new check to the local agent. Checks may be of script, HTTP, TCP, UDP, or TTL type. The agent is responsible for managing the status of the check and keeping the Catalog in sync.

MethodPathProduces
PUT/agent/check/registerapplication/json

The table below shows this endpoint's support for blocking queries, consistency modes, agent caching, and required ACLs.

Blocking QueriesConsistency ModesAgent CachingACL Required
NOnonenonenode:write,service:write

Query Parameters

JSON Request Body Schema

  • Name (string: <required>) - Specifies the name of the check.

  • ID (string: "") - Specifies a unique ID for this check on the node. This defaults to the "Name" parameter, but it may be necessary to provide an ID for uniqueness. This value will return in the response as "CheckId".

  • Namespace (string: "")

    Enterprise
    - Specifies the namespace of the check you register. This field takes precedence over the ns query parameter, one of several other methods to specify the namespace.

  • Interval (string: "") - Specifies the frequency at which to run this check. This is required for HTTP, TCP, and UDP checks.

  • Notes (string: "") - Specifies arbitrary information for humans. This is not used by Consul internally.

  • DeregisterCriticalServiceAfter (string: "") - Specifies that checks associated with a service should deregister after this time. This is specified as a time duration with suffix like "10m". If a check is in the critical state for more than this configured value, then its associated service (and all of its associated checks) will automatically be deregistered. The minimum timeout is 1 minute, and the process that reaps critical services runs every 30 seconds, so it may take slightly longer than the configured timeout to trigger the deregistration. This should generally be configured with a timeout that's much, much longer than any expected recoverable outage for the given service.

  • Args (array<string>) - Specifies command arguments to run to update the status of the check. Prior to Consul 1.0, checks used a single Script field to define the command to run, and would always run in a shell. In Consul 1.0, the Args array was added so that checks can be run without a shell. The Script field is deprecated, and you should include the shell in the Args to run under a shell, eg. "args": ["sh", "-c", "..."].

    Note: Consul 1.0 shipped with an issue where Args was erroneously named ScriptArgs in this API. Please use ScriptArgs with Consul 1.0 (that will continue to be accepted in future versions of Consul), and Args in Consul 1.0.1 and later.

  • AliasNode (string: "") - Specifies the ID of the node for an alias check. If no service is specified, the check will alias the health of the node. If a service is specified, the check will alias the specified service on this particular node.

  • AliasService (string: "") - Specifies the ID of a service for an alias check. If the service is not registered with the same agent, AliasNode must also be specified. Note this is the service ID and not the service name (though they are very often the same).

  • DockerContainerID (string: "") - Specifies that the check is a Docker check, and Consul will evaluate the script every Interval in the given container using the specified Shell. Note that Shell is currently only supported for Docker checks.

  • GRPC (string: "") - Specifies a gRPC check's endpoint that supports the standard gRPC health checking protocol. The state of the check will be updated at the given Interval by probing the configured endpoint. Add the service identifier after the gRPC check's endpoint in the following format to check for a specific service instead of the whole gRPC server /:service_identifier.

  • GRPCUseTLS (bool: false) - Specifies whether to use TLS for this gRPC health check. If TLS is enabled, then by default, a valid TLS certificate is expected. Certificate verification can be turned off by setting TLSSkipVerify to true.

  • H2PING (string "") - Specifies an address that uses http2 to run a ping check on. At the specified Interval, a connection is made to the address, and a ping is sent. If the ping is successful, the check will be classified as passing, otherwise it will be marked as critical. TLS is used by default. To disable TLS and use h2c, set H2PingUseTLS to false. If TLS is enabled, a valid SSL certificate is required by default, but verification can be removed with TLSSkipVerify.

  • H2PingUseTLS (bool: true) - Specifies if TLS should be used for H2PING check. If TLS is enabled, a valid SSL certificate is required by default, but verification can be removed with TLSSkipVerify.

  • HTTP (string: "") - Specifies an HTTP check to perform a GET request against the value of HTTP (expected to be a URL) every Interval. If the response is any 2xx code, the check is passing. If the response is 429 Too Many Requests, the check is warning. Otherwise, the check is critical. HTTP checks also support SSL. By default, a valid SSL certificate is expected. Certificate verification can be controlled using the TLSSkipVerify.

  • Method (string: "") - Specifies a different HTTP method to be used for an HTTP check. When no value is specified, GET is used.

  • Body (string: "") - Specifies a body that should be sent with HTTP checks.

  • DisableRedirects (bool: false) - Specifies whether to disable following HTTP redirects when performing an HTTP check.

  • Header (map[string][]string: {}) - Specifies a set of headers that should be set for HTTP checks. Each header can have multiple values.

  • Timeout (duration: 10s) - Specifies a timeout for outgoing connections in the case of a Script, HTTP, TCP, UDP, or gRPC check. Can be specified in the form of "10s" or "5m" (i.e., 10 seconds or 5 minutes, respectively).

  • OutputMaxSize (positive int: 4096) - Allow to put a maximum size of text for the given check. This value must be greater than 0, by default, the value is 4k. The value can be further limited for all checks of a given agent using the check_output_max_size flag in the agent.

  • TLSServerName (string: "") - Specifies an optional string used to set the SNI host when connecting via TLS. For an HTTP check, this value is set automatically if the URL uses a hostname (not an IP address).

  • TLSSkipVerify (bool: false) - Specifies if the certificate for an HTTPS check should not be verified.

  • TCP (string: "") - Specifies a TCP to connect against the value of TCP (expected to be an IP or hostname plus port combination) every Interval. If the connection attempt is successful, the check is passing. If the connection attempt is unsuccessful, the check is critical. In the case of a hostname that resolves to both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, an attempt will be made to both addresses, and the first successful connection attempt will result in a successful check.

  • UDP (string: "") - Specifies a UDP IP address/hostname and port. The check sends datagrams to the value specified at the interval specified in the Interval configuration. If the datagram is sent successfully or a timeout is returned, the check is set to the passing state. The check is logged as critical if the datagram is sent unsuccessfully.

  • OSService (string: "") - Specifies the identifier of an OS-level service to check. You can specify either Windows Services on Windows or SystemD services on Unix.

  • TTL (duration: 10s) - Specifies this is a TTL check, and the TTL endpoint must be used periodically to update the state of the check. If the check is not set to passing within the specified duration, then the check will be set to the failed state.

  • ServiceID (string: "") - Specifies the ID of a service to associate the registered check with an existing service provided by the agent.

  • Status (string: "") - Specifies the initial status of the health check.

  • SuccessBeforePassing (int: 0) - Specifies the number of consecutive successful results required before check status transitions to passing. Available for HTTP, TCP, gRPC, Docker & Monitor checks. Added in Consul 1.7.0.

  • FailuresBeforeWarning (int: 0) - Specifies the number of consecutive unsuccessful results required before check status transitions to warning. Defaults to the same value as FailuresBeforeCritical. Values higher than FailuresBeforeCritical are invalid. Available for HTTP, TCP, gRPC, Docker & Monitor checks. Added in Consul 1.11.0.

  • FailuresBeforeCritical (int: 0) - Specifies the number of consecutive unsuccessful results required before check status transitions to critical. Available for HTTP, TCP, gRPC, Docker & Monitor checks. Added in Consul 1.7.0.

Sample Payload

{
  "ID": "mem",
  "Name": "Memory utilization",
  "Namespace": "default",
  "Notes": "Ensure we don't oversubscribe memory",
  "DeregisterCriticalServiceAfter": "90m",
  "Args": ["/usr/local/bin/check_mem.py"],
  "DockerContainerID": "f972c95ebf0e",
  "Shell": "/bin/bash",
  "HTTP": "https://example.com",
  "Method": "POST",
  "Header": { "Content-Type": ["application/json"] },
  "Body": "{\"check\":\"mem\"}",
  "DisableRedirects": true,
  "TCP": "example.com:22",
  "Interval": "10s",
  "Timeout": "5s",
  "TLSSkipVerify": true
}

{
  "ID": "mem",
  "Name": "Memory utilization",
  "Namespace": "default",
  "Notes": "Ensure we don't oversubscribe memory",
  "DeregisterCriticalServiceAfter": "90m",
  "Args": ["/usr/local/bin/check_mem.py"],
  "DockerContainerID": "f972c95ebf0e",
  "Shell": "/bin/bash",
  "HTTP": "https://example.com",
  "Method": "POST",
  "Header": { "Content-Type": ["application/json"] },
  "Body": "{\"check\":\"mem\"}",
  "DisableRedirects": true,
  "TCP": "example.com:22",
  "Interval": "10s",
  "Timeout": "5s",
  "TLSSkipVerify": true
}

Sample Request

$ curl \
   --request PUT \
   --data @payload.json \
   http://127.0.0.1:8500/v1/agent/check/register

$ curl \
   --request PUT \
   --data @payload.json \
   http://127.0.0.1:8500/v1/agent/check/register

Deregister Check

This endpoint remove a check from the local agent. The agent will take care of deregistering the check from the catalog. If the check with the provided ID does not exist, no action is taken.

MethodPathProduces
PUT/agent/check/deregister/:check_idapplication/json

The table below shows this endpoint's support for blocking queries, consistency modes, agent caching, and required ACLs.

Blocking QueriesConsistency ModesAgent CachingACL Required
NOnonenonenode:write,service:write

Path Parameters

  • check_id (string: "") - Specifies the unique ID of the check to deregister.

Query Parameters

Sample Request

$ curl \
    --request PUT \
    http://127.0.0.1:8500/v1/agent/check/deregister/my-check-id

$ curl \
    --request PUT \
    http://127.0.0.1:8500/v1/agent/check/deregister/my-check-id

TTL Check Pass

This endpoint is used with a TTL type check to set the status of the check to passing and to reset the TTL clock.

MethodPathProduces
PUT/agent/check/pass/:check_idapplication/json

The table below shows this endpoint's support for blocking queries, consistency modes, agent caching, and required ACLs.

Blocking QueriesConsistency ModesAgent CachingACL Required
NOnonenonenode:write,service:write

Path Parameters

  • check_id (string: "") - Specifies the unique ID of the check to use.

Query Parameters

  • note (string: "") - Specifies a human-readable message. This will be passed through to the check's Output field.

  • ns (string: "")

    Enterprise
    - Specifies the namespace of the check you update. You can also specify the namespace through other methods.

Sample Request

$ curl \
    --request PUT \
    http://127.0.0.1:8500/v1/agent/check/pass/my-check-id

$ curl \
    --request PUT \
    http://127.0.0.1:8500/v1/agent/check/pass/my-check-id

TTL Check Warn

This endpoint is used with a TTL type check to set the status of the check to warning and to reset the TTL clock.

MethodPathProduces
PUT/agent/check/warn/:check_idapplication/json

The table below shows this endpoint's support for blocking queries, consistency modes, agent caching, and required ACLs.

Blocking QueriesConsistency ModesAgent CachingACL Required
NOnonenonenode:write,service:write

Path Parameters

  • check_id (string: "") - Specifies the unique ID of the check to use.

Query Parameters

  • note (string: "") - Specifies a human-readable message. This will be passed through to the check's Output field.

  • ns (string: "")

    Enterprise
    - Specifies the namespace of the check you update. You can also specify the namespace through other methods.

Sample Request

$ curl \
    http://127.0.0.1:8500/v1/agent/check/warn/my-check-id

$ curl \
    http://127.0.0.1:8500/v1/agent/check/warn/my-check-id

TTL Check Fail

This endpoint is used with a TTL type check to set the status of the check to critical and to reset the TTL clock.

If you want to manually mark a service as unhealthy, use maintenance mode instead of defining a TTL health check and using this endpoint.

MethodPathProduces
PUT/agent/check/fail/:check_idapplication/json

The table below shows this endpoint's support for blocking queries, consistency modes, agent caching, and required ACLs.

Blocking QueriesConsistency ModesAgent CachingACL Required
NOnonenonenode:write,service:write

Path Parameters

  • check_id (string: "") - Specifies the unique ID of the check to use.

Query Parameters

  • note (string: "") - Specifies a human-readable message. This will be passed through to the check's Output field.

  • ns (string: "")

    Enterprise
    - Specifies the namespace of the check you update. You can also specify the namespace through other methods.

Sample Request

$ curl \
    http://127.0.0.1:8500/v1/agent/check/fail/my-check-id

$ curl \
    http://127.0.0.1:8500/v1/agent/check/fail/my-check-id

TTL Check Update

This endpoint is used with a TTL type check to set the status of the check and to reset the TTL clock.

If you want to manually mark a service as unhealthy, use maintenance mode instead of defining a TTL health check and using this endpoint.

MethodPathProduces
PUT/agent/check/update/:check_idapplication/json

The table below shows this endpoint's support for blocking queries, consistency modes, agent caching, and required ACLs.

Blocking QueriesConsistency ModesAgent CachingACL Required
NOnonenonenode:write,service:write

Path Parameters

  • check_id (string: "") - Specifies the unique ID of the check to use.

Query Parameters

JSON Request Body Schema

  • Status (string: "") - Specifies the status of the check. Valid values are "passing", "warning", and "critical".

  • Output (string: "") - Specifies a human-readable message. This will be passed through to the check's Output field.

Sample Payload

{
  "Status": "passing",
  "Output": "curl reported a failure:\n\n..."
}

{
  "Status": "passing",
  "Output": "curl reported a failure:\n\n..."
}

Sample Request

$ curl \
    --request PUT \
    --data @payload.json \
    http://127.0.0.1:8500/v1/agent/check/update/my-check-id

$ curl \
    --request PUT \
    --data @payload.json \
    http://127.0.0.1:8500/v1/agent/check/update/my-check-id

Methods to Specify Namespace
Enterprise

Local agent health check endpoints support several methods for specifying the namespace of the check resources with the following order of precedence:

  1. Namespace field of the JSON request body - only applies to the register endpoint
  2. ns query parameter
  3. X-Consul-Namespace request header
  4. Namespace is inherited from the namespace of the request's ACL token (if any)
  5. The default namespace
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