What is the key difference between history and trends in Zabbix data collection?

The key difference between history and trends in Zabbix data collection lies in how the data is stored and aggregated over time. History retains each value recorded along with its corresponding UNIX timestamp. This means that for every data point collected, the exact value and the exact time it was recorded are maintained, allowing for detailed analysis and monitoring of changes in real-time.

On the other hand, trends store aggregated data on an hourly basis, summarizing the historical data into less granular information. This aggregation can help reduce the amount of stored information while still providing a necessary overview of performance over time. Because trends are based on this summarization, they do not provide the same level of detail as history.

This distinction is crucial for users who might need to analyze performance data closely or track specific events compared to those who just need a high-level overview of system performance trends over extended periods. Understanding this difference allows for better data management strategy decisions based on required detail and data retention needs.