How to monitor docker using Zabbix?

Step 1 – Install Docker

Step 2 – Install Zabbix Agent 2

Step 3 – Configure Zabbix Agent 2

Step 4 – Fix the permission

Zabbix Agent(/usr/sbin/zabbix_agentd) and Zabbix Server(/usr/sbin/zabbix_server) run with a user called “zabbix”. Docker monitoring commands can be run only by the user if root or a user which is part of linux group called “docker”. thus, For the Zabbix agent to keep an eye on Docker containers, you need to add the Zabbix user, which is installed by default, to the docker group.

$ sudo usermod -aG docker zabbix

Step 5 – ReStart a Zabbix Agent

$ sudo systemctl restart zabbix-agent2
$ sudo systemctl enable zabbix-agent2
$ sudo systemctl status zabbix-agent2

Step 6 – Add the Docker Host to Zabbix Server for Monitoring

Step 7 – Add the Docker Host with zabbix template “Docker by Zabbix agent”

Step 8 – Create a few Dummy containers in Docker host

$ docker run -itd ubuntu
$ docker run -itd ubuntu
$ docker run -itd ubuntu

Step 9 – Validate Docker metrices at Zabbix front end Latest data.

Now head back to the Zabbix server dashboard. Click on ‘Monitoring’ then ‘Hosts’. Click on the name of your Docker server and in the menu option that appears, select ‘Latest data’.

Rajesh Kumar

I’m Rajesh Kumar, a DevOps, SRE, DevSecOps, Cloud, and Platform Engineering expert passionate about sharing practical knowledge, real-world experiences, and industry best practices. I have worked at Cotocus and regularly write about technology, travel, investing, health, product reviews, and digital marketing through my various platforms.

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