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+<!--
+title: "Configure the Netdata Agent"
+description: "Netdata is zero-configuration for most users, but complex infrastructures may require you to tweak some of the Agent's granular settings."
+custom_edit_url: https://github.com/netdata/netdata/edit/master/docs/configure/nodes.md
+-->
+
+# Configure the Netdata Agent
+
+Netdata's zero-configuration collection, storage, and visualization features work for many users, infrastructures, and
+use cases, but there are some situations where you might want to configure the Netdata Agent running on your node(s),
+which can be a physical or virtual machine (VM), container, cloud deployment, or edge/IoT device.
+
+For example, you might want to increase metrics retention, configure a collector based on your infrastructure's unique
+setup, or secure the local dashboard by restricting it to only connections from `localhost`.
+
+Whatever the reason, Netdata users should know how to configure individual nodes to act decisively if an incident,
+anomaly, or change in infrastructure affects how their Agents should perform.
+
+## The Netdata config directory
+
+On most Linux systems, using our [recommended one-line installation](/docs/get/README.md#install-the-netdata-agent), the
+**Netdata config directory** is `/etc/netdata/`. The config directory contains several configuration files with the
+`.conf` extension, a few directories, and a shell script named `edit-config`.
+
+> Some operating systems will use `/opt/netdata/etc/netdata/` as the config directory. If you're not sure where yours
+> is, navigate to `http://NODE:19999/netdata.conf` in your browser, replacing `NODE` with the IP address or hostname of
+> your node, and find the `# config directory = ` setting. The value listed is the config directory for your system.
+
+All of Netdata's documentation assumes that your config directory is at `/etc/netdata`, and that you're running any
+scripts from inside that directory.
+
+## Netdata's configuration files
+
+Upon installation, the Netdata config directory contains a few files and directories. It's okay if you don't see all
+these files in your own Netdata config directory, as the next section describes how to edit any that might not already
+exist.
+
+- `netdata.conf` is the main configuration file. This is where you'll find most configuration options. Read descriptions
+ for each in the [daemon config](/daemon/config/README.md) doc.
+- `edit-config` is a shell script used for [editing configuration files](#use-edit-config-to-edit-configuration-files).
+- Various configuration files ending in `.conf` for [configuring plugins or
+ collectors](/docs/collect/enable-configure.md#enable-a-collector-or-its-orchestrator) behave. Examples: `go.d.conf`,
+ `python.d.conf`, and `ebpf.conf`.
+- Various directories ending in `.d`, which contain other configuration files, each ending in `.conf`, for [configuring
+ specific collectors](/docs/collect/enable-configure.md#configure-a-collector).
+- `apps_groups.conf` is a configuration file for changing how applications/processes are grouped when viewing the
+ **Application** charts from [`apps.plugin`](/collectors/apps.plugin/README.md) or
+ [`ebpf.plugin`](/collectors/ebpf.plugin/README.md).
+- `health.d/` is a directory that contains [health configuration files](/docs/monitor/configure-alarms.md).
+- `health_alarm_notify.conf` enables and configures [alarm notifications](/docs/monitor/enable-notifications.md).
+- `statsd.d/` is a directory for configuring Netdata's [statsd collector](/collectors/statsd.plugin/README.md).
+- `stream.conf` configures [parent-child streaming](/streaming/README.md) between separate nodes running the Agent.
+- `.environment` is a hidden file that describes the environment in which the Netdata Agent is installed, including the
+ `PATH` and any installation options. Useful for [reinstalling](/packaging/installer/REINSTALL.md) or
+ [uninstalling](/packaging/installer/UNINSTALL.md) the Agent.
+
+The Netdata config directory also contains one symlink:
+
+- `orig` is a symbolic link to the directory `/usr/lib/netdata/conf.d`, which contains stock configuration files. Stock
+ versions are copied into the config directory when opened with `edit-config`. _Do not edit the files in
+ `/usr/lib/netdata/conf.d`, as they are overwritten by updates to the Netdata Agent._
+
+## Use `edit-config` to edit configuration files
+
+The **recommended way to easily and safely edit Netdata's configuration** is with the `edit-config` script. This script
+opens existing Netdata configuration files using your system's `$EDITOR`. If the file doesn't yet exist in your config
+directory, the script copies the stock version from `/usr/lib/netdata/conf.d` and opens it for editing.
+
+Run `edit-config` without any options to see details on its usage and a list of all the configuration files you can
+edit.
+
+```bash
+./edit-config
+USAGE:
+ ./edit-config FILENAME
+
+ Copy and edit the stock config file named: FILENAME
+ if FILENAME is already copied, it will be edited as-is.
+
+ The EDITOR shell variable is used to define the editor to be used.
+
+ Stock config files at: '/usr/lib/netdata/conf.d'
+ User config files at: '/etc/netdata'
+
+ Available files in '/usr/lib/netdata/conf.d' to copy and edit:
+
+./apps_groups.conf ./health.d/phpfpm.conf
+./aws_kinesis.conf ./health.d/pihole.conf
+./charts.d/ap.conf ./health.d/portcheck.conf
+./charts.d/apcupsd.conf ./health.d/postgres.conf
+...
+```
+
+To edit `netdata.conf`, run `./edit-config netdata.conf`. You may need to elevate your privileges with `sudo` or another
+method for `edit-config` to write into the config directory. Use your `$EDITOR`, make your changes, and save the file.
+
+> `edit-config` uses the `EDITOR` environment variable on your system to edit the file. On many systems, that is
+> defaulted to `vim` or `nano`. Use `export EDITOR=` to change this temporarily, or edit your shell configuration file
+> to change to permanently.
+
+After you make your changes, you need to [restart the Agent](/docs/configure/start-stop-restart.md) with `sudo systemctl
+restart netdata` or the appropriate method for your system.
+
+Here's an example of editing the node's hostname, which appears in both the local dashboard and in Netdata Cloud.
+
+![Animated GIF of editing the hostname option in
+netdata.conf](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/1153921/80994808-1c065300-8df2-11ea-81af-d28dc3ba27c8.gif)
+
+### Other configuration files
+
+You can edit any Netdata configuration file using `edit-config`. A few examples:
+
+```bash
+./edit-config apps_groups.conf
+./edit-config ebpf.conf
+./edit-config health.d/load.conf
+./edit-config go.d/prometheus.conf
+```
+
+The documentation for each of Netdata's components explains which file(s) to edit to achieve the desired behavior.
+
+## See an Agent's running configuration
+
+On start, the Netdata Agent daemon attempts to load `netdata.conf`. If that file is missing, incomplete, or contains
+invalid settings, the daemon attempts to run sane defaults instead. In other words, the state of `netdata.conf` on your
+filesystem may be different from the state of the Netdata Agent itself.
+
+To see the _running configuration_, navigate to `http://NODE:19999/netdata.conf` in your browser, replacing `NODE` with
+the IP address or hostname of your node. The file displayed here is exactly the settings running live in the Netdata
+Agent.
+
+If you're having issues with configuring the Agent, apply the running configuration to `netdata.conf` by downloading the
+file to the Netdata config directory. Use `sudo` to elevate privileges.
+
+```bash
+wget -O /etc/netdata/netdata.conf http://localhost:19999/netdata.conf
+# or
+curl -o /etc/netdata/netdata.conf http://NODE:19999/netdata.conf
+```
+
+## What's next?
+
+Learn more about [starting, stopping, or restarting](/docs/configure/start-stop-restart.md) the Netdata daemon to apply
+configuration changes.
+
+Apply some [common configuration changes](/docs/configure/common-changes.md) to quickly tweak the Agent's behavior.
+
+[Add security to your node](/docs/configure/secure-nodes.md) with what you've learned about the Netdata config directory
+and `edit-config`. We put together a few security best practices based on how you use the Netdata.
+
+You can also take what you've learned about node configuration to enable or enhance features:
+
+- [Enable new collectors](/docs/collect/enable-configure.md) or tweak their behavior.
+- [Configure existing health alarms](/docs/monitor/configure-alarms.md) or create new ones.
+- [Enable notifications](/docs/monitor/enable-notifications.md) to receive updates about the health of your
+ infrastructure.
+- Change [the long-term metrics retention period](/docs/store/change-metrics-storage.md) using the database engine.
+
+### Related reference documentation
+
+- [Netdata Agent · Daemon](docs/agent/daemon)
+- [Netdata Agent · Health monitoring](/health/README.md)
+- [Netdata Agent · Notifications](/health/notifications/README.md)
+
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