Summary
This article explains why a Dynatrace ActiveGate may show an Incompatible status after an automatic update attempt.
This behavior occurs when auto‑update is enabled, but the target ActiveGate version no longer supports the operating system running on the ActiveGate host. In such cases, Dynatrace intentionally blocks the update to prevent installing an unsupported binary.
Problem
A Synthetic-enabled ActiveGate with auto‑update enabled attempts to update to a newer version. After the update check, the Deployment status → ActiveGates in the Dynatrace UI shows the following for the affected ActiveGate:
- Remains on the previous version
- Shows the status Incompatible
This typically occurs when the ActiveGate host operating system is no longer supported by the ActiveGate version it is attempting to update to. This behavior is expected and is designed to prevent installing an ActiveGate version that cannot run on the host OS.
The list of supported operating systems for ActiveGate can be found here.
Troubleshooting steps
Use the following steps to confirm the issue matches this article:
-
Confirm auto‑update is enabled
- Go to Deployment status → ActiveGates
- Select the affected ActiveGate
- Verify that automatic updates are enabled
-
Check the ActiveGate host operating system
- Identify the OS and version installed on the ActiveGate host
-
Compare against supported operating systems
- Review the supported OS list in the Dynatrace documentation
- Check whether the host OS is supported by the ActiveGate version it is attempting to update to
If the OS is not listed as supported, the Incompatible status is expected.
Resolution
There is no remediation required within Dynatrace itself if the OS is unsupported.
To resolve the situation, choose one of the following options:
-
Upgrade the operating system
Update the ActiveGate host to an operating system version that is supported by the current ActiveGate release. -
Install a new ActiveGate on a supported OS
Deploy a new ActiveGate on a supported operating system and migrate usage as needed. -
Keep the existing ActiveGate version
If upgrading the OS is not currently possible, the ActiveGate can remain on its existing version. Note that unsupported OS versions may prevent future updates.
The Incompatible status is a safeguard and does not indicate a failure or corruption.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Incompatible mean the ActiveGate is broken?
No. The ActiveGate continues running on its existing version. The status only reflects update eligibility.
Will monitoring or Synthetic traffic stop working?
No. Existing functionality is unaffected.
Can I force the update anyway?
No. Dynatrace blocks updates to unsupported operating systems by design.
What’s next
If this article did not help,
Open a support ticket
If you believe the ActiveGate OS should be supported, open a support ticket and include:
- A link to this article
- A screenshot of the ActiveGate showing Incompatible status
- The ActiveGate version
- The host operating system and version
Related reading
📖 Synthetic-enabled ActiveGate Operating System Requirements
📖 Synthetic Troubleshooting Map
