How to monitor API uptime step by step
This guide walks through configuring API uptime monitoring in SitePuls — from picking an endpoint to connecting alerts and reviewing history. It is an instructional setup playbook, not a commercial checker landing. Follow the steps below, then create a monitor when you are ready to run continuous checks.
Step 1: Choose which endpoint to monitor
Prefer a path that reflects real client traffic — health, auth, or a core read that breaks product flows when it fails. Avoid monitoring only a marketing homepage if customers depend on an API route.
Step 2: Pick HTTP or REST monitor type
Use a single-step HTTP monitor for a straightforward URL and status expectation. Choose a multi-step REST monitor when login, tokens, or chained calls matter and you need JSON path assertions.
Step 3: Set method, status and response expectations
Configure the method and expected HTTP status so “up” means the response clients need. For REST, add JSON assertions so a 200 with the wrong payload still fails. Response duration is recorded on each run for later review.
Step 4: Choose a check interval
Balance freshness against API rate limits and your plan. Critical integrations usually need a tighter interval; low-risk health paths can run less often.
Step 5: Connect alert contacts
Attach email, Telegram, or webhook contacts so downtime and recovery notify people who can act — not only a shared inbox nobody opens overnight.
Step 6: Verify the configuration
After saving, confirm the first scheduled runs succeed with your expectations. Adjust timeouts or assertions if early failures are false positives rather than real outages.
Step 7: Watch incidents and history
When a check fails, review the incident timeline and response history to see when availability dropped and when it recovered. Use that signal after deploys and dependency changes.
Next: create a continuous uptime check
When the steps are clear, open the API uptime checker landing to create a scheduled monitor, or return to the API monitoring hub for the broader product overview and related guides.
What you can verify with SitePuls here
- Status-code checks prove whether endpoints return success responses clients expect.
- Latency from synthetic runs highlights slowdowns before hard failures.
- Attach alert contacts so API failures reach the fastest channel your team uses.
Where incident alerts can go
- Email addresses saved as alert contacts receive messages when incidents open or resolve (according to your notification settings).
- Telegram notifications via the SitePuls bot after you link a chat to an alert contact (including the bot /start flow for pending contacts).
- HTTPS webhooks that receive JSON with event type, monitor identifiers, status, timestamp, optional incident id, and a short message for generic integrations.
- Slack-compatible incoming-webhook formatting: alert contacts can use a dedicated mode so payloads match Slack-style incoming webhook expectations.
Frequently asked questions
Which endpoint should be monitored first?
Start with a route that blocks core product flows when it fails — often health, auth, or a high-traffic read used by clients.
How should the expected status be selected?
Match the status real clients require for success. If a soft-error body can return 200, add REST JSON assertions so the monitor fails on wrong payloads.
How often should the API be checked?
Choose an interval based on criticality, traffic, rate limits, and plan capacity. More important APIs usually need more frequent checks.
How are alert contacts connected?
Create alert contacts for email, Telegram, or webhook, then attach them to the monitor so downtime and recovery reach the right people.
How should the monitor be tested after setup?
Let the first scheduled runs complete, confirm success against your expectations, and tighten assertions or timeouts if you see noise.
What should be reviewed after setup?
Review incident timelines and check history after releases or dependency changes to confirm alerts and recovery behave as expected.
When should I use REST instead of HTTP?
Use REST when you need chained steps, token reuse, or JSON path assertions. Use HTTP for a single URL with status-focused expectations.
Where do I go after finishing this guide?
Create a continuous API uptime monitor from the checker landing, or open the API monitoring hub for the broader product overview.