How frequently does the Zabbix Housekeeper remove expired data by default?

The Zabbix Housekeeper is responsible for maintaining the database by removing outdated data to ensure optimal performance and efficient use of storage resources. By default, the Housekeeper is configured to run every hour. This frequent execution allows Zabbix to proactively manage the data storage and prevent unnecessary buildup of expired items, triggers, events, and other entities that would otherwise consume system resources.

While it's essential to manage retention effectively, the hourly cleaning schedule strikes a balance between maintaining an effective database size and allowing for enough data retention, especially in cases of troubleshooting or analysis of system performance over short periods. This frequency minimizes the performance impact, ensuring that the system can leverage data without overwhelming the database.

In contrast, less frequent options can lead to significant data accumulation, impacting system performance and making it harder to manage large volumes of data effectively. Therefore, running the Housekeeper hourly is a best practice in the Zabbix environment.