Monitoring custom embedded devices - Qns about Agent and Proxy

[sradhakrishna]

Hi,

We need to monitor our embedded devices for some key parameters - these devices run embedded linux on them, but the indicators are not typical OS parameters - they are more indicators of performance of the device itself.

The devices may be deployed behind firewalls and we are fairly sure that the customers may not be willing to let us install another piece of software/ hardware for running the Zabbix proxy.

Am evaluating two possible approaches:

1. Enable SNMP on the device and run the zabbix proxy also on the device.
2. Run a Zabbix agent and Zabbix proxy on the device

It is in this regard that I seek opinions/ clarifications.

1. Have there been scenarios where proxy was run on an embedded device? If so, any best practices?
2. If I choose to run a zabbix agent on my device, would I still need a proxy to be run? Can the agent don the hat of a proxy as well?

Any suggestions on this matter will be extremely appreciated. Please let me know.

Regards,
Radha.

[eskytthe]

Just to clarify (you may know this) - you can monitor you devices in several ways depending on your needs:
- agent on device
- snmp poll against device
- ssh/telnet poll
- etc. ..

A proxy can serve as a central collection point (eg at customer site), and make firewall setup more simpel etc. but is not mandatory.

(Overview: http://repos.competa.com/Download/zabbix_talk.pdf)
Br
Erik

[angelhc]

Hi,
You've another possibility, make your own scripts according to that specific hardware and OS and put into zabbix_agentd.conf like UserParameter.
Install the zabbix agentd, open ports on the FW and no need to use proxy... am I wrong?

Cheers.