﻿---
title: Collecting monitoring data with Elastic Agent
description: You can use Elastic Agent to collect data about Elasticsearch and ship it to the monitoring cluster. (Optional) Create a monitoring cluster as described...
url: https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/2651/deploy-manage/monitor/stack-monitoring/collecting-monitoring-data-with-elastic-agent
products:
  - Elasticsearch
applies_to:
  - Self-managed Elastic deployments: Generally available
---

# Collecting monitoring data with Elastic Agent
You can use Elastic Agent to collect data about Elasticsearch and ship it to the monitoring cluster.

## Prerequisites

- (Optional) Create a monitoring cluster as described in [Enable stack monitoring for Elasticsearch on a self-managed cluster](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/2651/deploy-manage/monitor/stack-monitoring/elasticsearch-monitoring-self-managed).
- Create a user on the production cluster that has the `remote_monitoring_collector` [built-in role](https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/elastic/docs-builder/docs/2651/reference/elasticsearch/roles#built-in-roles-remote-monitoring-collector).


## Add Elasticsearch monitoring data

To collect Elasticsearch monitoring data, add an Elasticsearch integration to an Elastic Agent and deploy it to the host where Elasticsearch is running.
1. Go to the Kibana home page and click **Add integrations**.
2. In the query bar, search for and select the **Elasticsearch** integration for Elastic Agent.
3. Read the overview to make sure you understand integration requirements and other considerations.
4. Click **Add Elasticsearch**.
   <tip>
   If you’re installing an integration for the first time, you may be prompted to install Elastic Agent. Click **Add integration only (skip agent installation)**.
   </tip>
5. Configure the integration name and optionally add a description. Make sure you configure all required settings:
   1. Under **Logs**, modify the log paths to match your Elasticsearch environment.
2. Under **Metrics (Stack Monitoring)**, make sure the hosts setting points to your Elasticsearch host URLs. By default, the integration collects Elasticsearch monitoring metrics from `localhost:9200`. If that host and port number are not correct, update the `hosts` setting. If you configured Elasticsearch to use encrypted communications, you must access it via HTTPS. For example, use a `hosts` setting like `https://localhost:9200`.
3. Expand **Advanced options**. If the Elastic security features are enabled, enter the username and password of a user that has the `remote_monitoring_collector` role.
4. Specify the scope:
   - Specify `cluster` if each entry in the hosts list indicates a single endpoint for a distinct Elasticsearch cluster (for example, a load-balancing proxy fronting the cluster that directs requests to the master-ineligible nodes in the cluster).
- Otherwise, accept the default scope, `node`. If this scope is set, you will need to install Elastic Agent on each Elasticsearch node to collect all metrics. Elastic Agent will collect most of the metrics from the elected master of the cluster, so you must scale up all your master-eligible nodes to account for this extra load. Do not use this `node` if you have dedicated master nodes.
6. Choose where to add the integration policy. Click **New hosts** to add it to new agent policy or **Existing hosts** to add it to an existing agent policy.
7. Click **Save and continue**. This step takes a minute or two to complete. When it’s done, you’ll have an agent policy that contains an integration for collecting monitoring data from Elasticsearch.
8. If an Elastic Agent is already assigned to the policy and deployed to the host where Elasticsearch is running, you’re done. Otherwise, you need to deploy an Elastic Agent. To deploy an Elastic Agent:
   1. Go to **Fleet > Agents**, then click **Add agent**.
2. Follow the steps in the **Add agent** flyout to download, install, and enroll the Elastic Agent. Make sure you choose the agent policy you created earlier.
9. Wait a minute or two until incoming data is confirmed.
10. [View the monitoring data in Kibana](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/2651/deploy-manage/monitor/stack-monitoring/kibana-monitoring-data).