Nagios Support Forum

Nagios XI installation also installs a Nagios NRPE agent on the same server, but Nagios Core installation does not install a Nagios NRPE agent on the same server. Should a Nagios NRPE agent be also installed on a system that is running a Nagios Core? What is the impact if a Nagios NRPE agent is or is not installed on a Nagios Core system? Thanks.

That is a very broad question, but here's the short answer:

NRPE agent is an agent that runs on server X that allows Nagios running on server Y to get information that is only available to processes running on server X. In other words, it's like the difference between looking at your neighbor's house versus being inside of it. You'll get more information about your neighbor by being inside the house.

NRPE is the same thing.

The question "should it be installed" is up to you. There is no reason to install NRPE client on the Nagios Core box because Nagios has access to its own server. However, if, for configuration reasons, it might be easier to treat the local machine as if it were remote, and use the NRPE agent to gather information, then yes, you should install NRPE on it.

Thanks eloyd - OP, let us know if you have any other questions.....