---
title: Manage Telegraf agents
description: Use Telegraf Controller to monitor the Telegraf agents that report through the heartbeat output plugin, view their details, and manage reporting rules.
url: https://docs.influxdata.com/telegraf/controller/agents/
estimated_tokens: 420
publisher: InfluxData
canonical: https://docs.influxdata.com/telegraf/controller/agents/
date: '2026-08-25T08:20:28-06:00'
lastmod: '2026-08-25T08:20:28-06:00'
---

Telegraf Controller tracks agents that send heartbeats through the Telegraf
heartbeat output plugin.
Each heartbeat includes a unique `instance_id` (also called “agent ID”) so
Controller can distinguish one agent from another.

* Telegraf Controller automatically creates agents the first time a heartbeat
  arrives from a unique agent.
* Click the **More button ()** in the agent list and select **View Details** to see information and reporting history for an agent.
* Reporting rules define how long an agent can go without sending a heartbeat
  before Controller marks it as **Not Reporting**. They can
  also automatically delete agents that haven’t reported in a specified amount
  of time.
* You can assign a reporting rule from the agent list or an agent details page.
* Sort the agent list by **Agent Details**, **Status**, or **Last Reported** by
  clicking a column header. Click the header again to reverse the sort order.

## [Create agents](/telegraf/controller/agents/create/)

Learn how Telegraf Controller creates agents from heartbeat plugin reports and how to verify new agents in the UI.

## [Define agent reporting rules](/telegraf/controller/agents/reporting-rules/)

Define reporting rules that determine when Telegraf Controller marks agents as not reporting and optionally automatically delete not reporting agents.

## [Set agent statuses](/telegraf/controller/agents/status/)

Configure agent status evaluation using CEL expressions in the Telegraf heartbeat output plugin and view statuses in Telegraf Controller.

## [Delete agents](/telegraf/controller/agents/delete/)

Remove individual or multiple Telegraf agents from Telegraf Controller.