Monitoring multiple Zabbix servers

[karlism]

Hello!

I'm having problems with monitoring multiple Zabbix servers from one Zabbix server host. Configuration is following:
ZBX01 - first zabbix server
ZBX02 - second zabbix server

ZBX01 is monitoring both ZBX01 and ZBX02. But the problem is that "Zabbix server" item data reported is identical for both servers, even though their configuration and workload is very different. Every other item group is monitored correctly on both servers, the only problem is with "Zabbix server" items.

Both servers have "Template OS Linux" and "Template App Zabbix Server" linked to them.

I've tried debugging the issue, but I can't see any relevant information in Zabbix server logs. I've also tried to get values from both servers by zabbix_get command, but it reports the following error:
$ zabbix_get -s XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX -k "zabbix[history]"
ZBX_NOTSUPPORTED: Unsupported item key.

Zabbix server and agent version is 2.4.6.

Has anyone else experienced issue like this?
Thanks!

[IanHavelock]

Please post Server and ServerActive details from both zabbix_agentd.conf files from the servers, along with Hostnames of each Server? It is possible that your configuration is confused between what needs to go in the Server conf and what needs to go in the agent conf - I've seen it a few times

[karlism]

[username@zbx01 ~]$ cat /etc/zabbix/zabbix_agentd.conf| grep -e Server -e Hostname
Server=zbx01
ServerActive=zbx01
Hostname=zbx01

[username@zbx02 ~]# cat /etc/zabbix/zabbix_agentd.conf| grep -e Server -e Hostname
Server=zbx01
ServerActive=zbx01
Hostname=zbx02

I've also verified that all hostnames resolve correctly from both sides and that agent interface IPs are correct for both hosts in Zabbix server host configuration.

One thing I noticed though is that Template App Zabbix Server items miss host interface settings. Is it supposed to be so?

[IanHavelock]

The Template App Zabbix Server items are configured with the type "Zabbix internal", that is, no host interface is involved, it will just monitor its own internal processes.

If you want to monitor another Zabbix Server, I think you'll have to clone the template (call it "Remote Zabbix Server" or similar) and configure each of the monitored items to be of type "Zabbix Agent" instead of "Zabbix internal" - that way the host interface is then specified.

[ingus.vilnis]

Hi,

Monitoring a Zabbix server from another Zabbix server is not a good idea.

In the original post you did try zabbix_get. It works only for items having type Zabbix agent . You will never get data for internal items with it.

Modifying or cloning "Template App Zabbix Server" and setting all items to have type "Zabbix agent" will only result in not supported items.

And even if you link the default template to another Zabbix server, the data will be always displayed for current Zabbix server no matter where it is linked. I think you even can link it to any random host and it will still report stats from current Zabbix server. That is why they are called "internal items".

Also if you are monitoring proxy internal stats, never do it from server directly. Proxies should be monitored by themselves at all times.

So the bottom line is - monitoring of multiple Zabbix servers with one server with standard methods is not really doable. Also why would you really need this?

Best Regards,
Ingus

[WagnerEits]

Similar problem

Is there a way to monitor multiple hosts with only one instance of the zabbix agent running?

I have four host to monitor:

But since monitoring is (active cheks) I need to set the host name in zabbix_agentd.conf:

Hostname= host1

How can I monitor multiple hosts without rolling multiple instances?

For example, in zabbix_agentd.conf:

Hostname: host1, host2, host3

[allexpetrov]

Is there a way to monitor multiple hosts with only one instance of the zabbix agent running?

I have four host to monitor:

But since monitoring is (active cheks) I need to set the host name in zabbix_agentd.conf:

Hostname= host1

How can I monitor multiple hosts without rolling multiple instances?

For example, in zabbix_agentd.conf:

Hostname: host1, host2, host3

Hi WagnerEits,
You actually can't. You need to have separate client for every machine, or you can use SNMP/Simple Checks for monitoring them in Agent-less mode.

Regards,
Alexey!

[WagnerEits]

And how do I run multiple instances of the agent on the same machine, with multiple configuration files. In linux

[allexpetrov]

And how do I run multiple instances of the agent on the same machine, with multiple configuration files. In linux

Why do you need to run the multiple instances on one linux machine?

If you went through the manual, then I assume that you have setup like:

Zabbix "Server" (Actually there is 3 componenets, which can be installed on separate machine - Frontend, Server App, SQL DB) as well as you have installed the Zabbix Agent. Those components are installed on top of the CentOS. Lets name this server ZBX1. In this setup your CentOS server is monitored by Zabbix Agent and "sends" data to your Zabbix Server. This is internal process only for ZBX1.

You want to monitor 4 linux hosts, SRV1,2,3,4. So you need to install on every server Zabbix Agent, edit the config file and add them to the ZBX1 Frontend. here the Zabbix Agent will monitor SRV and will send data to the Zabbix Server on ZBX1.

Regards,
Alex

[WagnerEits]

I have several log files generated by nfDump. And I need the best solution to monitor them, and generate graphs with the data, what would be the most effective method to do this collection? Are many data generated. I have four hosts, each one generates a large amount of data in a log file. I am currently using zabbix agent active checks, but I can monitor only one host because I have to put its name in the agent configuration file. Is there a better way to do this collection?


hostname in zabbix_agentd.conf


list of hosts to be monitored