---
title: "Install an Agent"
description: "Get an overview of Middleware Agent installation with setup steps, supported environments, and requirements for smooth monitoring."
section: "Agent Installation"
breadcrumb: "Agent Installation"
canonical: "https://docs.middleware.io/get-started/agent"
---
# Install an Agent

The Infrastructure Agent is lightweight software that runs on your hosts and sends events and metrics to Middleware. It collects system- and process-level data in real time, giving you detailed insight into host performance and behaviour — and it is what every other part of Middleware builds on.

**New to the agent? Start with these three.** About 5 minutes per host.

1. **Pick your platform** — Linux, Windows, macOS, Kubernetes, Docker, ECS or Heroku
2. **Run the install command** — Copy the command for your platform with your API key filled in
3. **Confirm the host reports** — Your host appears under Infrastructure once data arrives

## Choose your platform

The same Infra Agent, packaged for each place it runs. Pick the one that matches where your services live.

### Hosts

Install directly on a server, VM or workstation.

- [Linux](/get-started/agent/linux) — Runs as a system service on DEB- and RPM-based distributions.
- [Windows](/get-started/agent/windows) — Runs as a Windows service, collecting host metrics and event logs.
- [macOS](/get-started/agent/macos) — Collects host and process metrics from macOS machines.

### Containers & orchestration

Run the agent alongside the workloads it monitors.

- [Kubernetes](/get-started/agent/kubernetes) — Deploys as a DaemonSet so every node in the cluster reports.
- [Docker](/get-started/agent/docker) — Runs as a container next to your workloads and reads the Docker socket.
- [Amazon ECS](/get-started/agent/amazon-ecs) — Collects metrics from your ECS clusters, services and tasks.

### Platform as a service

For managed runtimes where you do not control the host.

- [Heroku](/get-started/agent/heroku) — Runs inside your dynos to report host and application metrics.

### Why a host agent

Agents are the most secure and complete way to collect data from your infrastructure.

- **Secure and lightweight** — Operates inside the trusted boundary of the host, with minimal impact on system resources.
- **Flexible collection** — Configure, customise and extend it to collect from every supported integration — including tools without a usable API.

## Frequently asked questions

Asked before installing the agent on any platform.

#### Is the Infra Agent required?

The Infra Agent needs to be installed to send data from any of the infrastructure or application monitoring systems. Data can be forwarded to Middleware through the [Data Ingestion APIs](/get-started/ingestion-api/data-ingestion), however, we strongly recommend installing the Infra Agent to get the most value from Middleware.

Need assistance or want to learn more about Middleware? Get in touch with us via our Contact Us page or join our Slack channel.