What is a "Zabbix proxy"?

A Zabbix proxy serves as an intermediary that collects monitoring data from various devices before forwarding that information to the Zabbix server. This functionality is particularly valuable in scenarios where network limitations or security policies prevent direct communication between monitored hosts and the Zabbix server. By using a proxy, data can be aggregated and transmitted in a more efficient manner, reducing load on the server and improving overall performance.

Proxies can also be employed to monitor remote or distributed environments, making them essential for decentralized infrastructure management. They can store collected data temporarily in case of connectivity issues with the Zabbix server, ensuring that no data is lost during outages. This capability enhances the reliability and robustness of the monitoring system.

The other choices relate to different aspects of Zabbix functionalities but do not accurately define the role of a proxy in the monitoring architecture.