False positive alerts occur when NerdTools reports downtime that isn't actually happening. Here's how to minimize them.
Increase fault tolerance
The fault tolerance setting controls how many confirmation checks are performed before an alert is sent. A higher fault tolerance means more retries before alerting, which filters out transient issues but delays real alerts. Try switching from Low to Medium or High if you're experiencing frequent false positives.
Increase check interval
A longer check interval gives your server more time between checks. If your site occasionally has brief hiccups, spreading checks further apart can reduce the chance of catching those moments.
Use "Any location" checking
Rather than a single location, let NerdTools check from any available location.
Check your server
Sometimes false positives indicate real issues:
- Intermittent connectivity problems
- Server rate limiting or blocking monitoring IPs
- Firewall rules blocking certain regions
- DNS resolution issues
Review your recent checks to see if failures cluster around specific locations or times.