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

# Node health, diagnostics, and deletion

> Read node diagnostics correctly and understand when deletion is safe or blocked.

<Tip>
  **Live.** This area is documented as current, user-reliable behavior.
</Tip>

## Goal

Avoid deleting or trusting a node without checking the operational details that matter.

## Prerequisites

* A connected node

## Workflow

<Steps>
  <Step>
    Use CPU, memory, disk, Docker, and Caddy readiness as runtime diagnostics.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Review workload attachment and maintenance state before deletion.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Treat agent-unknown or stale-heartbeat nodes as operationally different from healthy nodes.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Deletion expectations

* Node deletion is guarded by confirmation rather than being a one-click destructive action.
* A node with attached workloads or unresolved maintenance concerns should be reviewed before deletion.
* Diagnostics and workload context matter more than a single status badge when deciding whether a node is safe to remove.

## Expected result

<Check>
  Node cleanup and diagnostics become deliberate, not reactive.
</Check>