What are host interfaces and how do they contribute in zabbix monitoring?

[amindri]

Hi all,

I'm working with the Zabbix api to programmatically register items, graphs and triggers for JMX resources. I'm a bit confused with the concept of host interfaces. I understood that there can be several interfaces configured to one host and always at least one interface should be configured to a host. What is the use of having a interface or multiple interfaces?

Also when I try to create an item through a api call it is necessary to specify a interface id as well. How does interfaces relate with items, graphs and triggers?

If there are any documentations and samples about interfaces please point them here..

Thanks in advance

[heaje]

How does interfaces relate with items, graphs and triggers?

Items are assigned to interfaces when they are created. If you look in the Zabbix GUI, in the "create item" window you'll notice a dropdown that allows you to select which interface to collect the data from.

Interfaces are not directly related with graphs or triggers. Graphs and triggers use items, not interfaces.

What is the use of having a interface or multiple interfaces?

A simplistic example:
It is possible to have a Zabbix agent interface on a host and also a JMX interface. That way, all Zabbix agent checks hit the Zabbix agent interface and all Java JMX checks hit the JMX interface

A more complex example:
It is possible to run the normal Zabbix agent on a server, but also have some custom daemon that responds in the same manner as a Zabbix agent and listens on a different port. That custom agent could send in any kind of data (application or otherwise). By assigning two Zabbix agent interfaces (one for the normal agent and the other for the custom), you could collect data that Zabbix normally supports from the standard Agent and then have items that collect data from the custom agent as well (by changing which interface the item gets data from as described in the first question I answered).

[amindri]

Hi Heaje,

Thank you very much for the descriptive answer