What is the primary requirement for managed clusters to connect to Mission Control?

The primary requirement for managed clusters to connect to Mission Control is that they must connect periodically unless using offline mode. This means that while a continuous connection is ideal for optimal monitoring and management, it is not strictly necessary. Instead, as long as the managed cluster establishes a connection at regular intervals, it can still receive updates, alerts, and other critical information from Mission Control.

In offline mode, connections can be temporarily interrupted, but the ability to connect periodically ensures that the clusters remain synchronized with Mission Control's guidance and data, thus maintaining operational effectiveness. This periodic connection allows for flexibility in network conditions while still meeting the needs for cluster management and oversight.