> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.keephq.dev/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Linked providers

> Understanding linked vs connected providers in Keep

# Linked providers

In Keep, providers can be either "connected" or "linked." Understanding the difference is important for proper alert routing and management.

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  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/keep-docs/S6DFtL8OlXzhsodk/images/linked-providers.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=S6DFtL8OlXzhsodk&q=85&s=2e479e0949fcb2da574be1b98305ec51" width="1308" height="560" data-path="images/linked-providers.png" />
</Frame>

## Connected vs linked providers

* **Connected Providers**: These are providers that have been explicitly configured in Keep through the UI or API. They have full provider configuration and authentication details.

* **Linked Providers**: These are providers that send alerts to Keep without being explicitly connected. They appear automatically when Keep receives alerts from them through webhooks or push mechanisms.

## How linking works

When Keep receives alerts from an unconnected provider (like Prometheus pushing alerts), it automatically creates a "linked" provider entry. This allows you to:

* Track which systems are sending alerts
* See when Keep last received an alert
* Apply deduplication rules specific to that provider

## Attaching alerts to connected providers

If you have a connected provider and want to associate incoming alerts with it instead of creating a linked provider, add the `provider_id` query parameter to the webhook URL.

For example, with Prometheus AlertManager:

```yaml theme={null}
alertmanager:
  config:
    receivers:
      - name: "keep"
        webhook_configs:
          - url: "https://api.keephq.dev/alerts/event/prometheus?provider_id=your_provider_id"
```

Or with other webhook-based integrations:

```bash theme={null}
# Grafana webhook
https://api.keephq.dev/alerts/event/grafana?provider_id=grafana-prod

# Datadog webhook  
https://api.keephq.dev/alerts/event/datadog?provider_id=datadog-main

# Generic webhook
https://api.keephq.dev/alerts/event/webhook?provider_id=custom-webhook
```

## Best practices

1. **For Production Systems**: It's recommended to use connected providers when possible, as they provide:

   * Better authentication and security
   * Access to provider-specific features
   * Clearer audit trail

2. **For Testing/Development**: Linked providers can be useful for:

   * Quick prototyping
   * Testing alert flows
   * Temporary integrations

3. **Converting Linked to Connected**: If you regularly receive alerts from a linked provider, consider:
   * Setting up a proper provider connection
   * Using the `provider_id` parameter to attach alerts to the connected provider

## Limitations

Linked providers:

* Can't be used to pull alerts or data
* Don't have authentication details
* Can't be used for provider-specific actions
* May have limited deduplication capabilities

For full capabilities, consider converting linked providers to connected providers when they become part of your permanent alerting infrastructure.