Dynatrace Managed runs in online mode or offline mode. Offline mode is designed for air-gapped environments, so a Managed Cluster in offline mode can run in an isolated environment without internet connectivity. Online mode relies on Mission Control for license verification, updates, and certificates, while offline mode replaces those interactions with manual tasks. The mode determines which tasks you perform yourself.
In offline mode, you install with a license file instead of a license key. The installation skips the Mission Control connection check and the OneAgent self-monitoring download and installation. You report license usage manually through Export license data instead of through license verification with Mission Control.
After installation, you download updates manually from the update email instead of receiving them automatically from Mission Control, and you update the license manually in the Cluster Management Console. The Managed Cluster provides only self-signed certificates by default. Health-check statistics are not available, and Mission Control does not designate one part of a Premium High Availability deployment as primary.
The required ports are the same as for online mode, except for the Mission Control connection and hosted self-monitoring. The Dynatrace support policy is the same in both modes.
| Installation step | Online mode | Offline mode |
|---|---|---|
Installation - license1 | license key | license file |
Installation - Mission Control connection checking | Yes (required) | No (skipped) |
Installation - License verification with Mission Control2 | Yes (required) | Report license usage manually through Export license data |
Installation - OneAgent self-monitoring download and installation | Yes (optional) | No (skipped) |
Server - updates download (including OneAgent, RUM JavaScript, ActiveGate, NGINX offsets)3 | Automatic from Mission Control | Manual from update email |
Server - certificates handling | Automatic from Mission Control | Only self-signed provided by default |
Network - ports that are required | Same as for online except for Mission Control connection and hosted self-monitoring | |
Mission Control - updates | Published updates are automatically synchronized with the Managed Cluster | Published update URLs are sent via email to license contacts |
Mission Control - health check statistics | Health-check is updated every 5 minutes | No health-check statistics available |
Mission Control - license updates | License updates are synchronized every 5 minutes with the Managed Cluster | Update the license manually in the Cluster Management Console |
Mission Control - designates one part of the Premium High Availability deployment as primary (surviving) | Automatic from Mission Control | Not supported |
Dynatrace support policy | 3 months + 1 month with Enterprise Success and Support | 3 months + 1 month with Enterprise Success and Support |
To install in offline mode, pass the license file using the --license-file <license-filename> parameter. The activation email includes the full installation command with this parameter and the offline license file attached. The installation log confirms offline mode with offline mode is active entries.
The server verifies the license after startup (not during installation) through a signature (hash) included in the license file. The installer copies the license file to the server's config directory. The license.file entry in the server's config.properties file contains the path to this file.
The Managed Cluster does not include installation packages for OneAgent or ActiveGate. In online mode, Mission Control downloads them automatically. In offline mode, you must add them manually. Download links are in the activation email.