Simple checks

The previously created items all required the Zabbix agent daemon to be installed, running, and able to make a connection in either direction. But what if you can't or don't want to install the agent on a remote host and only need to monitor simple things? This is where simple checks can help you. These checks do not require any specialized agent running on the remote end and only rely on basic network protocols such as Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) and TCP to query monitored hosts.

Note

Host-availability icons only cover the Zabbix agent, SNMP, JMX, and IPMI status, that is, things where we expect the response to arrive. Our expectations for simple checks could go both ways—an open port could be good or bad. There is no status icon for simple checks.

Let's create a very basic check now:

1. Go to Configuration | Hosts 
2. Click on Items next to Another host
3. Click on Create item

Use the following values:

• Name: Enter SMTP server status
• Type: Select Simple check
• Key: Click on the Select...