What is the first criterion for selecting the canonical hostname in Datadog?

The first criterion for selecting the canonical hostname in Datadog is the hostname explicitly set in the Agent configuration file. This approach prioritizes the user-defined configuration, ensuring that the hostname reflects the specific naming conventions or organizational standards that the user wants to enforce. By allowing administrators to set the hostname directly, Datadog ensures that they can manage and identify their hosts accurately according to their operational needs, improving clarity in monitoring and reporting.

This prioritization is particularly important in environments where accurate identification of hosts is critical for troubleshooting, performance monitoring, and organizational compliance. Other criteria, such as DNS hostnames or EC2 instance IDs, are considered only after checking the explicit configuration, ensuring that the user's directives are honored first.