===== Agents & Clients =====

Agents are software packages that gather interesting values from or on the clients (systems to be monitored, sources). 
The agents are pieces of software that run on the client! 
**Not** on the ULS-server!
The gathered values are sent to the ULS-server for further processing.

:!: Remember: Any system that sends values to the ULS-server is an ULS-client! 
It might also be, and often is, a server (or generally: a computer).

The agents are sending values **to** the ULS-server. That is probably 
uncommon since most central systems management servers acquire 
the values **from** the clients. 

The advantage is apparent if e.g. you do have encapsulated 
network areas for each of your customers. You will have less problems 
in security audits when transfering data **from** inside the encapsulated 
network area **to** the central ULS-server.

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==== Generally ====

Agents (as the whole ULS) are not restricted to the field of computer technology. 
You may also write agents that get the weather forecast and send 
that to the ULS-server. 

Or you may send your running exercise results to the ULS-server, 
your colleagues perhaps, too, and then you may compare the results 
in a daily report.