rcourtman
0fb5ccb62b
Two Proxmox connections can each have a node with the same name, which
is common for MSPs running one `px1` per site. With one host agent
linked to site A's `px1`, `getHostAgentTemperatureByID("siteB-px1",
"px1")` returned site A's temperature. The hostname fallback took the
first agent with that hostname, even one linked to another node, and
even when the name was ambiguous enough that the agent linker had
refused to link it. The cluster sensor cache leaked the same way: SSH
readings an agent collects for its cluster siblings were keyed by bare
node name. Site B's `px1` then showed, alerted on and recorded history
for another machine's sensors.
## Change
- The poller hands the lookup the polled node
(`getHostAgentTemperatureForNode`,
`carriedTemperatureOutlivesAgentLease`), and the lookup works on that
node's **slot**: its own source ID, plus, when the read state does not
hold that ID, the one same-named node proven to be the same machine.
- The state folds the views of one machine reached through two
connections (a cluster added twice, or a multi-homed host added by each
address) into a single node kept under one view's ID, and an automatic
agent link follows it. A narrowed fallback on its own would leave those
views without a temperature permanently; that was reproduced with real
`UpdateNodesForInstance` folds.
- Same-machine proof comes from the state's own evidence: new
`models.NodeObservationsSameMachine` and
`models.HostAgentBridgesNodeViews`
(`internal/models/node_machine_identity.go`). `UpdateNodesForInstance`'s
agent-corroboration check now shares its rule with them. Two or more
candidates are ambiguous and none is taken, as the state declines an
ambiguous alias.
- An agent linked to the slot is the node's agent. The hostname fallback
only takes an agent with no node, VM or container link, and only when no
node outside the slot and no second unlinked agent has the name.
- Cluster sensor cache entries record their reporting agent. A reading
serves a node only when that agent's linked node shares one of the
slot's connections, or belongs to a connection whose configured view of
the node has a matching TLS fingerprint (the other connection of a
cluster added twice).
`LinkedNodeID` holds the Proxmox source node ID for every link source
(automatic `findLinkedProxmoxEntityWithHints` → `NodeView.SourceID()`,
manual `LinkHostAgentToNode` validating against `models.Node.ID`,
reconciliation, continuity restore), so the link match needs no
namespace normalization. A manual link stays pinned to the ID the
operator chose (the state never transfers intent to a replacement
provider identity), so a node held under the other view's ID has no
linked agent. The physical-disk SMART merge already matches by
`node.LinkedAgentID` within one instance and is unchanged.
## Tests
- `TestNodeTemperatureStaysWithinSameNamedNodesSite` (registered
monitoring proof, `monitor_additional_test.go`), through
`collectNodeTemperatureData` against registry-backed and state-folded
read states: agent linked to the other site's node; ambiguous unlinked
agents; unambiguous unlinked agent (still served); cluster added through
two connections (alternating real state folds); multi-homed host via two
standalone connections; ambiguous address alias; a namesake agent with a
contradicting fingerprint; sibling readings across both connections of
one cluster; sibling reading from the other site. The leaking cases fail
on main, and each folded-view guard was checked with an overlay negative
control.
- `TestApplyHostReportScopesClusterSensorsToReportersConnection`
(`monitor_host_agents_test.go`): real `ApplyHostReport` ingest of
cluster sensors.
- `TestNodeObservationsSameMachineMatchesStateFold` and
`TestHostAgentBridgesNodeViewsMatchesStateFold` pin the predicates
against `UpdateNodesForInstance`'s actual fold.
- Full `internal/monitoring`, `internal/models` and
`internal/unifiedresources` pass on pulse-dev.
Pulse
Real-time Proxmox, Docker and Kubernetes monitoring that finds what needs attention.
Pulse is a self-hosted monitoring workspace for Proxmox, Docker, Kubernetes, TrueNAS, physical and virtual machines, and early-access VMware vSphere environments. It combines live infrastructure state, history, alerts, recovery visibility, and scheduled health checks without requiring a conventional enterprise monitoring stack.
Why Pulse
- It watches between visits. Alerts and Pulse Patrol find failed backups, capacity pressure, restart loops, unhealthy containers, clock drift, and other problems that dashboards cannot surface when nobody is looking.
- It keeps each platform familiar. Proxmox, Docker, Kubernetes, TrueNAS, vSphere, and machines have dedicated views, backed by one shared resource model for search, alerts, history, and investigation.
- It stays operator-controlled. Credentials are encrypted at rest, API tokens are scoped, agent commands are disabled by default, and governed fixes require the configured policy and approval path.
Platform coverage
| Platform | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Proxmox VE, PBS, and PMG | Nodes, guests, storage, backups, replication, Ceph, mail gateways, and alerts |
| Docker and Podman | Hosts, containers, Compose projects, Swarm services, health, images, and updates |
| Kubernetes | Clusters, nodes, workloads, pods, services, storage, and events through the unified agent |
| TrueNAS SCALE and CORE | Pools, datasets, disks, snapshots, replication tasks, apps, VMs, and alerts |
| Linux, Windows, and macOS machines | Host health, filesystems, networking, temperatures, RAID, and availability through the unified agent |
| VMware vSphere | Early-access inventory, hosts, clusters, VMs, datastores, networks, snapshots, and recovery context; validate against your own vCenter before production use |
Platform pages keep storage and recovery information beside the infrastructure it belongs to. Alerts, Actions, and Patrol remain cross-platform views.
Patrol: monitoring that does rounds
Pulse Patrol runs scheduled checks across the current state and recent history of your infrastructure. Community installations can use a local model or their own AI provider for watch-only analysis. Pulse Pro adds investigation and policy-bound fixes with approval, verification, and an audit trail.
Pulse also includes an interactive Assistant and an MCP adapter for external clients such as Claude Code and OpenCode. Both sit on top of the same scoped inventory, metrics, alert, storage, and governed-action contracts.
Quick start
Choose an exact version from the latest release and keep that version pinned during installation.
Docker
docker run -d \
--name pulse \
-p 7655:7655 \
-v pulse_data:/data \
-e PULSE_DEPLOYMENT_METHOD=docker_run \
--restart unless-stopped \
rcourtman/pulse:vX.Y.Z
Open http://<your-ip>:7655 and follow the bootstrap-token setup. Docker host
monitoring is provided by the unified agent; the Pulse server container does
not need the Docker socket.
Proxmox LXC, Linux, and Kubernetes
The installer is signed. Verify install.sh against the pinned
pulse-installer key before running it:
export PULSE_VERSION=vX.Y.Z
curl -fsSLO "https://github.com/rcourtman/Pulse/releases/download/${PULSE_VERSION}/install.sh" &&
curl -fsSLO "https://github.com/rcourtman/Pulse/releases/download/${PULSE_VERSION}/install.sh.sshsig" &&
ssh-keygen -Y verify \
-f <(printf '%s\n' 'pulse-installer namespaces="pulse-install" ssh-ed25519 AAAAC3NzaC1lZDI1NTE5AAAAIMZd/DaH+BldzOkq1A8KVTcFk73nAyrE8aJOyf7i00jm pulse-installer') \
-I pulse-installer \
-n pulse-install \
-s install.sh.sshsig < install.sh &&
bash install.sh --version "${PULSE_VERSION}"
Paste the whole block: installation stops if either download or signature verification fails. Do not run the final command separately to bypass a failure.
The GitHub installer installs the Pulse server. Install and upgrade agents (including v5-to-v6 agent upgrades) with the per-host command generated under Settings → Infrastructure → Install on a host.
Do you need an agent?
Often not. Proxmox VE, PBS, and PMG are monitored through the Proxmox API with a read-only token, so nothing runs on the host and the generated setup script creates a privilege-separated monitoring user. Install the unified agent only where you want data the platform API cannot provide, such as host SMART health, temperatures, Docker hosts, or standalone machines.
The agent is operator-controlled by design. Command execution is off by
default, the local listener binds to localhost, and generated systemd units
ship hardened. On Linux, the installer's --least-privilege profile runs the
service as a dedicated non-root user, with optional scoped sudo grants for
the few collectors that need elevation. The
agent security model documents exactly what the
agent can and cannot do at each privilege level.
Important
GitHub release assets and
rcourtman/pulseimages are Community builds. Relay, Pro, and eligible legacy customers should use the private image or Linux archive provided by the Pulse download portal. Replacing a private Pro runtime with a public Community build removes its private runtime hooks.
Editions
- Community — self-hosted monitoring, seven days of metric history, core SSO, update alerts, and Patrol with your own provider or local model.
- Pro — Community plus Patrol investigation, governed fixes, ninety days of history, centralized agent profiles, RBAC, audit logging, and reporting.
- MSP — for managed service providers: one Pulse Account running many client workspaces, each with an isolated Pulse runtime — separate dashboards, alerts, users, audit history, and reports. Free sixty-day two-client evaluation at Pulse for MSPs.
Relay is no longer sold. Existing Relay subscribers receive Pro features at their current price for as long as their subscription continues. Existing paired phones keep working until 31 March 2027. Relay connects the app, not the web UI. Use your own VPN or tunnel for remote web access. For phone alerts, add an ntfy, Gotify or Pushover destination and open Pulse in your phone's browser.
Core self-hosted monitoring is not gated by monitored-system or child-resource volume. See the runtime-aligned capability reference and current plans for details.
Documentation
- Install and deployment
- Production deployment and security
- Upgrade from Pulse v5
- Releases and update channels
- Configuration
- Platform and agent guides
- Pulse Intelligence
- Security and privacy
- Code signing policy
- Troubleshooting
- API reference and architecture
Localized getting started guides: Deutsch · Español
Development
Pulse uses Go 1.26 and a SolidJS/TypeScript frontend. The managed development
runtime starts the frontend at http://127.0.0.1:5173 and proxies API and
WebSocket traffic to the backend on port 7655.
npm ci
npm --prefix frontend-modern ci
npm run dev
Useful checks:
go test ./...
npm --prefix frontend-modern test
npm --prefix frontend-modern run type-check
python3 scripts/check_public_docs.py
See CONTRIBUTING.md before investing in a code change. Pulse uses an issue-first contribution process and does not normally accept unsolicited pull requests.
Community and support
- Ask questions in GitHub Discussions.
- Report reproducible bugs through GitHub Issues.
- Home Assistant users can use the community-maintained Pulse add-ons.
- If Pulse is useful to you, support its development through GitHub Sponsors or Ko-fi.
License
Everything in this repository is licensed under the MIT License. There is no dual licensing and no commercial or source-available code here.
Pulse Pro is a separate commercial product, built from private sources and distributed through pulserelay.pro. Its use is governed by the Terms of Service, which apply to that product only, not to anything in this repository.