content/telegraf/controller/agents/reporting-rules.md
Reporting rules define how long an agent can go without sending a heartbeat before {{% product-name %}} changes its status to Not Reporting. They can also automatically delete agents that haven't reported in a specified amount of time.
{{% product-name %}} requires a default reporting rule. Newly created agents are automatically assigned to the current default reporting rule.
Manage reporting rules in the Reporting Rules section of {{% product-name "short" %}}, then assign them to agents from either the agent list or an agent details page.
<!-- TOC -->[!Important]
You cannot delete the default reporting rule
To delete a reporting rule that is currently the default rule, first assign a new rule as the default reporting rule.
Agents assigned to a deleted reporting rule
When you delete a reporting rule, any agents assigned to the deleted rule automatically inherit the default reporting rule.