Installing the Instana agent on Docker

Install the host agent on Docker. See the following sections to learn about the steps involved in the agent installation and configuration on Docker:

Prerequisites

Before you install the Instana agent on Kubernetes, make sure to meet the conditions that are explained in Checking the prerequisites.

Installing the agent

After you check the prerequisites, you can start installing the agent on Docker.

Installation of the agent on docker involves the following steps:

  1. Pulling the Instana agent container image
  2. Running the Instana agent container image
  3. Upgrading the Instana agent container image

For more information, see Installing the agent on Docker.

What to do next

  1. Check whether the agent works as described in Checking the status of the agent. If the agent is not started, start the agent as described in Starting the agent.

    When you install the agent, it is configured to start automatically at system boot. To turn off this behavior, set the environment variable INSTANA_AGENT_AUTOSTART=false when you install the agent.

  2. After you install the agent, configure Instana agent sensors to monitor specific technologies. For the list of supported sensors, see Agent sensors.

    Most Instana agent sensors are automatically installed, and some sensors are also automatically configured after the agent is installed. But for the other sensors, you need to configure them first to make them operational.

  3. If you have problems when you install the agent, see Potential problems during installation.

  4. You can do installation-related activities on the agent such as to customize the agent configuration or update the agent. For more information, see Administering the agent on Docker.

  5. You can uninstall the agent if it's not needed. For more information, see Uninstalling the agent on Docker.