difference between "Item Prototype" in Discovery vs. Items

[gregtompkins]

Hello Zabbix Forumers!

What is the difference in setting up an Item in a template versus setting up a discovery within the template and configuring an item prototype? I've tried to find an explanation within the documentation and am not finding it.

Zabbix is an excellent product!

Thank You

[steveboyson]

(based on 2.0.6, newer versions may behave different)

Technically:
Regular templated items use fixed values as parameter, eventually defined per macro.

Item prototypes defined in a discovery rule within a template use dynamic parameters as these get discovered by the discovery rule (the {#XXXX} parameter). Macros can be used as well (as far as I know).

From administrator side:
Templated items can be "mass updated" and manually copied to templates/hosts. Their history can be deleted as well. Attached triggers are shown and can be edited somewhat directly.

All that is not available on item prototypes defined for discovery rules.

[gregtompkins]

So if I'm understanding correctly "discovery items" within a template is used to enumerate interfaces and then use those to create items automatically?

Does this process continuously go? And can I delink the "discovery items" later or does that delete the items also?

Thanks!

[steveboyson]

So if I'm understanding correctly "discovery items" within a template is used to enumerate interfaces and then use those to create items automatically?

Yes.

Does this process continuously go?

Yes, the discovery rules have an interval, too. Every $INTERVAL that discovery takes place.

And can I delink the "discovery items" later or does that delete the items also?

Thanks!

You could delete the host from the template which contains the discovery rule resulting the deletion of the autodiscovered items after a defined period of time (minimum 1 day).
You can also manually disable autodiscovered items in the host's config.

BTW, all is covered in the manual ;-)