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Install and Configure Monitoring Agent with Google Cloud Monitoring

This lab will guide you in the process of installing the optional Monitoring agent on a pre-created Apache web server. Installing and configuring the Monitoring agent allows us to collect more detailed metrics that would not normally be possible, such as memory utilization and application-specific metrics. In this case, we will collect metrics from our Apache web server application.

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Path Info

Level
Clock icon Intermediate
Duration
Clock icon 30m
Last updated
Clock icon Sep 01, 2025

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Table of Contents

  1. Challenge

    Initialize Monitoring Workspace

    1. Within your lab project, create a new Cloud Monitoring Workspace, which will monitor only your project.
    2. Once the Workspace is initialized, go to the Compute Engine interface.

  2. Challenge

    Install Monitoring Agent on Compute Engine Instance

    1. Connect to the instance via SSH in the web console. All the below commands will be run in the instance terminal.
    2. Add the agent's installation location as a repository, and then update your repositories.
    3. Install the latest version of the Monitoring agent.
    4. Verify the agent is working as expected. You should receive feedback that the agent is active and initialization succeeded.
    5. Download the Apache configuration file into the agent's directory.
    6. Restart the agent.
    7. Exit SSH.

  3. Challenge

    Open the Demonstration Web Page and Generate Some Traffic

    1. Open the web server's website by clicking on the IP address from the Compute Engine screen.
    2. Refresh your page a few times to generate traffic.

  4. Challenge

    Confirm Agent Installation and Apache Configuration Success in Monitoring Workspace

    1. Go back to your Monitoring Workspace, and open Dashboards.
    2. You should see a new dashboard titled Apache HTTP Server. If it does not appear, wait a few minutes and refresh your screen again.
    3. Enter the dashboard once it does appear.
    4. View the available charts for:
      • HOST (agent-less metrics)
      • AGENT (non-application-specific, agent-collected metrics)
      • APACHE (application-specific metrics)
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