What indicates that an agent check is functioning properly in Datadog?

The proper functioning of an agent check in Datadog is indicated by its ability to successfully send metrics. When an agent check operates correctly, it collects data from the monitored service or system and transmits this data as metrics to the Datadog platform. Successful metric submission is a clear sign that the agent is functioning as intended and is able to communicate effectively with the Datadog backend.

When an agent can consistently send metrics, it demonstrates that it is actively monitoring the relevant systems and that the data flow between the agent and the Datadog service is intact. This allows for real-time visibility into performance and health metrics, enabling users to monitor application and infrastructure performance effectively.

While submitting logs to the server is part of the functionality of Datadog, it is not an indicator specific to the functioning of agent checks; it relates more to log management. Returning a critical status would typically signify an issue rather than proper functionality, and operating in passive mode means that a check isn't actively sending data but rather waiting for requests, which does not reflect the agent's functioning capability. Therefore, the successful transmission of metrics serves as the primary indicator of an agent check’s proper operation within the Datadog environment.