In the context of container monitoring, what does the term "agent monitoring" refer to?

Agent monitoring refers to the approach where specific software agents are installed within the application containers themselves to gather performance and health metrics. These agents typically operate within the same environment as the application they are monitoring, allowing for detailed insights into resource usage, performance statistics, and operational health. This kind of monitoring is beneficial because it can provide real-time data specific to the container's environment, facilitating immediate responses to issues and more in-depth analysis.

In contrast, the other concepts highlighted do not encapsulate the essence of agent monitoring. Monitoring without any software would imply no data collection is occurring, while using external tools does not necessarily involve embedding the monitoring tool within the container. Additionally, monitoring solely based on logs focuses on log file data rather than real-time metrics collected by an agent, which encompasses a broader range of performance indicators, making agent monitoring a more comprehensive choice for effective container management.