netdata_netdata/docs/alerts-and-notifications/creating-alerts-with-netdata-alerts-configuration-manager.md

# Creating Alerts with Netdata Alerts Configuration Manager

The **Netdata Alerts Configuration Manager** lets you create and fine-tune alerts directly from the Netdata Cloud Dashboard.  
To use this feature, you’ll need an active Netdata subscription. → [View subscription plans](https://www.netdata.cloud/pricing/)

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## Creating Alerts: Quick Guide

1. Navigate to **Metrics** in your Netdata Cloud Dashboard and locate your target chart.
2. Click the **alert icon** (🔔) in the chart's right corner, then select **Add alert** from the popup menu.
3. Set your thresholds and watch the definition update in real-time.
4. When finished configuring your alert, click the **Submit to nodes** button.

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## Alert Detection Types

Netdata supports different ways of triggering alerts:

| Type                | Description                                             |
|---------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|
| **Standard**        | Fires when a metric crosses a set value                 |
| **Metric Variance** | Fires based on variation in values over time            |
| **Anomaly Rate**    | Fires when the anomaly rate exceeds a certain threshold |

Choose the type that best suits the behavior you want to monitor.

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## Metrics Lookup & Filters

Click **Show advanced** in the Alert Configuration Manager to access these options.

### Metrics Lookup

You can define how Netdata should query the data before triggering an alert:

| Parameter    | Description                                                        |
|--------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
| `method`     | How values are aggregated (`avg`, `min`, `max`, etc.)              |
| `duration`   | Time window used for the check                                     |
| `dimensions` | Which metric dimensions to include                                 |
| `options`    | Modify how values are interpreted (e.g., `percentage`, `absolute`) |

### Filtering Targets

Limit the alert to specific infrastructure components:

- Hosts
- Nodes
- Instances
- Operating systems
- Chart labels

### Formulas

Use a custom formula to manipulate values before comparing against thresholds.

Example:

```txt
(metric1 - metric2) / 100
```

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## Defining Alert Conditions

You can control how and when alerts are triggered, escalated, or resolved.

| Setting                     | Purpose                                                         |
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| **Thresholds**              | Define values for `warning` and `critical` states               |
| **Recovery thresholds**     | Set when the alert should downgrade or clear                    |
| **Check interval**          | How often the alert check runs (e.g., every 10 seconds)         |
| **Notification delay**      | Delay before sending notifications for state changes            |
| **Repeat notifications**    | How often to resend an alert if the issue persists (Agent only) |
| **Notification recipients** | Define who gets alerted (Agent only)                            |
| **Custom exec script**      | Run a custom shell script when an alert triggers                |

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## Naming and Documentation

| Field           | Description                                         |
|-----------------|-----------------------------------------------------|
| **Alert Name**  | A unique name for the alert                         |
| **Description** | What the alert does, in one or two sentences        |
| **Summary**     | Optional: a short summary for display in dashboards |

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## Final Notes

- You can apply alert definitions to **Parent Agents** or **Standalone Child Agents**
- If you need help writing custom alerts, check the [full alert reference](/src/health/REFERENCE.md)