Installing and Configuring Zabbix on Ubuntu 22.04

Zabbix is a popular open-source tool designed for monitoring servers, networks, services, cloud resources, and business metrics. It consists of several components, including:

• Zabbix Server: The core component responsible for data storage and network service management.

• Zabbix Agent: A background utility (daemon) that monitors and collects statistics on resources like RAM, CPU, and application metrics. It supports both active (agent requests data) and passive (agent waits for server requests) modes.

• Zabbix Proxy: An optional component that distributes the load on the Zabbix server.

• Web Interface: A web panel for tracking system metrics and configuring both Zabbix and monitored components.

In this tutorial, we'll install Zabbix 6 on Ubuntu 22.04 and connect and configure one agent.

Prerequisites

Copy link

You will need:

• Two cloud servers or virtual machines running Ubuntu 22.04: one for the Zabbix server and one for the Zabbix agent.

• A pre-installed MySQL/MariaDB or PostgreSQL database on the host for the Zabbix server. This tutorial uses PostgreSQL.

Installing the Zabbix Server

Copy link

All steps should be performed as root or a sudo user.

Add the official Zabbix repository:

wget https://repo.zabbix.com/zabbix/6.0/ubuntu/pool/main/z/zabbix-release/zabbix-release_6.0-4+ubuntu22.04_all.deb

Install the downloaded package:

dpkg -i zabbix-release_6.0-4+ubuntu22.04_all.deb

Install Zabbix server and dependencies:

apt update && apt -y install zabbix-server-pgsql zabbix-frontend-php php8.1-pgsql zabbix-nginx-conf zabbix-sql-scripts zabbix-agent

Create a PostgreSQL user and database for Zabbix:

sudo -u postgres createuser --pwprompt zabbix
sudo -u postgres createdb -O zabbix zabbix

Import the Zabbix database schema:

zcat /usr/share/zabbix-sql-scripts/postgresql/server.sql.gz | sudo -u zabbix psql zabbix

Edit the Zabbix server configuration:

nano /etc/zabbix/zabbix_server.conf

Find the DBPassword parameter and set the database password.

Edit the Nginx configuration for Zabbix:

nano /etc/zabbix/nginx.conf

Uncomment and set the listen and server_name parameters.

Restart and enable services:

systemctl restart zabbix-server zabbix-agent nginx php8.1-fpm
systemctl enable zabbix-server zabbix-agent nginx php8.1-fpm

Verify the Zabbix server status:

systemctl status zabbix-server

Configuring the Zabbix Server

Copy link

Further configuration is done via the web interface. Navigate to the domain name and port specified in nginx.conf.

1. Select the language.

2. Verify system requirements.

3. Configure database connection: Enter the database name zabbix, user zabbix, and the password.

4. Set Zabbix server name, time zone, and theme.

5. Review and confirm settings.

After successful configuration, log in with the default credentials: Admin and zabbix.

Installing the Zabbix Agent

Copy link

Switch to the second server for the Zabbix agent installation.

Download the Zabbix repository:

wget https://repo.zabbix.com/zabbix/6.0/ubuntu/pool/main/z/zabbix-release/zabbix-release_latest+ubuntu22.04_all.deb

Install the downloaded package:

dpkg -i zabbix-release_latest+ubuntu22.04_all.deb

Install the Zabbix agent:

apt update && apt -y install zabbix-agent

Edit the Zabbix agent configuration:

nano /etc/zabbix/zabbix_agentd.conf

Set the parameters: 

• Server: enter the domain name or IP address of the Zabbix server.
• ServerActive: enter the same value as above; this parameter is responsible for the active mode, when Zabbix independently requests the necessary data.
• Hostname: enter the agent hostname exactly as it is specified in the system. You can use the hostname command to check. If the hostname is incorrect, the agent will not be able to connect to the Zabbix server.

Restart and enable the Zabbix agent:

systemctl restart zabbix-agent
systemctl enable zabbix-agent

Verify the agent status:

systemctl status zabbix-agent

Adding the Zabbix Agent in the Zabbix Server Web Interface

Copy link

1. Navigate to Configuration > Hosts.

2. Click on Create host.

3. Fill in the host details:

• Host name: set any convenient name for the Zabbix agent to display in the Zabbix server web interface.

• Groups: create a new group or select an existing one. Groups are used for organizational purposes and to assign access rights to data.

• Templates: select a template that is used exactly like the agent installed on the server.

• Interfaces: Add the IP address or domain name of the Zabbix agent host.

If using an IP address, you must enter it in the IP address field and select IP in the Connect to section.

If using a domain name, you must enter the name in the DNS name section and select DNS in in the Connect to section.

4. Update and verify: The agent will appear in the list and metrics will be available under Monitoring > Hosts > Graphs.

Conclusion

Copy link

Zabbix provides comprehensive monitoring for hardware, networks, and services, making it suitable for both corporate environments and personal use. With this guide, you have set up a Zabbix virtual server and agent on Ubuntu, and you are now ready to monitor various metrics and ensure the health of your infrastructure.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Copy link

What is the difference between Zabbix Server and Agent?

Copy link

• Zabbix Server: The central component that gathers data, calculates triggers, and sends notifications. It also houses the web interface.

• Zabbix Agent: A lightweight daemon installed on the client (the machine you want to monitor). It collects local metrics (CPU, disk, RAM) and sends them back to the Server.

How to install and configure Zabbix Agent on Ubuntu?

Copy link

1. Install: Run sudo apt install zabbix-agent.

2. Configure: Edit the config file (sudo nano /etc/zabbix/zabbix_agentd.conf) and update the Server= and ServerActive= lines to point to your Zabbix Server's IP address.

3. Start: Run sudo systemctl restart zabbix-agent and sudo systemctl enable zabbix-agent.

Where is the Zabbix config file in Ubuntu? 

Copy link

There are two main configuration files depending on what you have installed:

• Server Config: /etc/zabbix/zabbix_server.conf (Configure DB passwords, caches, etc.)

• Agent Config: /etc/zabbix/zabbix_agentd.conf (Configure which server to send data to).

What is a Zabbix Agent? 

Copy link

It is a small piece of software that runs on the target device. It gathers information directly from the hardware and OS (like "how much drive space is left?") and reports it to the central Zabbix Server. Without the agent, you are limited to "agentless" checks like Ping or SNMP.

How much RAM does Zabbix need?

Copy link

• For the Agent: Negligible (usually < 64MB).

• For the Server: It depends on the number of hosts. A small home lab (10-20 hosts) runs fine on 2GB-4GB RAM. A production environment monitoring hundreds of devices should start with 8GB-16GB to accommodate the database (MySQL/PostgreSQL) and caching requirements.

How do I check if the Zabbix Agent is communicating with the Server? 

Copy link

On the Zabbix Server, you can use the zabbix_get utility to test the connection manually: zabbix_get -s [Client_IP] -k agent.ping If it returns 1, the connection is successful.