what is an sflow agent and an sflow collector?

[Hoygen]

I was reading the documentation about sflow here:

https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-a00040098en_us

I don't understand why the agent should have an ip? isnt the agent inside the switch? shouldn't have the ip of the switch?

What is the collector? I have a server with Manage Engine network analyzer, should I configure the ip of the collector as the ip of that server?

if I give:

sflow collector 1 datagram-size 3000
i get

Error: Collector address has not been configured!

what address should I insert?

I need some help.

[drk787 · Accepted solution]

Hi Hoygen,

Regarding sFlow Agent IP Address, its an optional command.  The device periodically checks the existence of the sFlow agent address. If the sFlow agent has no IP address configured, the device automatically selects an interface IP address for the sFlow agent but does not save the selected IP address.
NOTE: • HP recommends configuring an IP address manually for the sFlow agent.

And yes, you need to configure your Manage Engine network analyzers IP address as your collector on the switch.

Eg: sflow collector 2 ip 3.3.3.2 description netserver 

[Hoygen]

What address should I give to the sflow agent?

same address of the switch?

[drk787]

Yes, any IP address of the switch which can reach your Manage Engine (sflow collector). Eg: Your Management VLAN IP Address of the switch.