How does the zabbix agent knows what information to query?

[MaximVeksler]

Hi,

I'm curies to understand how to zabbix client - {server/proxy} protocol works? I mean the configuration for the client what information to collect on the machine, does the client always queries all the information and then sends it to the server or does the client downloads periodically from the server a configuration set for the information that the client should poll.

Also - does the client sends information to the server or does the server collects this information from the client (does zabbix works in a pull or push model?).

I'm talking about what zabbix refers to as an "active client" meaning that the zabbix client software is installed on the monitored machine.


Thank you,
Maxim.

[ghoz]

http://www.zabbix.com/wiki/doc/tech/...senderprotocol

in a nutshell : json formated query/answer,

* zabbix agent passive : zabbix server asks for items one by one to the agent

* zabbix agent active : the agent polls for config change every X minutes, and sends items depending on configuration

* zabbix trapper : an independant script uses zabbix_sender to send values to the server...

I'm generaly using a fake item check (passive) that will run a script
and send the values in one shot => less ressources on the server and on the client ... and i'm sure the values returned are instantaneous...

Others will use a simple cron job ...