Checkmate
Uptime monitoring

Monitor intervals and timing

Configure how often to check your services.

Overview

The check interval determines how often Checkmate tests your monitors. Choosing the right interval balances quick detection with resource usage.

Available intervals

Available intervals vary by monitor type:

Uptime monitors

IntervalBest for
15 secondsUltra-critical services
30 secondsCritical production services
1-5 minutesStandard production monitoring
10-15 minutesLess critical services
30 minutesDevelopment/staging environments

PageSpeed monitors

PageSpeed checks use longer intervals (3 minutes to 1 week) since Lighthouse audits are resource-intensive.

Choosing an interval

Consider these factors when selecting an interval:

  • Service criticality: Mission-critical services need shorter intervals
  • Expected downtime impact: High-traffic sites benefit from faster detection
  • Resource usage: Shorter intervals use more system resources
  • False positive tolerance: Longer intervals reduce noise from brief glitches

Start with 3-minute intervals for most monitors. Decrease to 1 minute only for your most critical services.

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