Which status does the datadog.agent.check_status check return if an Agent is unable to send metrics to Datadog?

The datadog.agent.check_status check is designed to provide insights into the health and status of the Datadog Agent. When the Agent is unable to send metrics to Datadog, it indicates a serious issue that impacts the Agent's ability to perform its primary function of data collection and transmission.

In this context, the check status returning 'CRITICAL' is appropriate because it signifies a failure that requires immediate attention and action. This level of status alerts users to the fact that operational metrics are not being reported to Datadog, which could lead to a lack of visibility into application performance and infrastructure health. A 'CRITICAL' status serves as a strong indicator that the issue is affecting core monitoring capabilities and should be addressed promptly to ensure continued monitoring and observability.

On the other hand, if the status were 'WARNING', it would suggest a less severe issue, potentially indicating that while there are problems, they do not completely prevent metric sending. 'INFO' and 'OK' would typically indicate normal operation, which is not the case when the Agent cannot send metrics. Therefore, the categorization of the scenario as 'CRITICAL' underscores its urgency and importance in maintaining effective monitoring practices.