It is possible quite easily to install distributed collectors with zenoss core. This document is mostly based on an old forum thread.http://forums.zenoss.com/viewtopic.php?t=7907

This example will use the main server as zenoss.paris.fr and a distributed collector as zenoss.noida.in.

1. On the main server zenoss.paris.fr, activate zenrender

1.1 Edit file /usr/local/zenoss/zenoss/bin/zenoss

     if [ ! -f $ZENHOME/etc/DAEMONS_TXT_ONLY ] ; then
        C="$C zeoctl"
        C="$C zopectl"
        C="$C zenhub"
        C="$C zenping"
        C="$C zensyslog"
        C="$C zenstatus"
        C="$C zenactions"
        C="$C zentrap"
        C="$C zenmodeler"

        C="$C zenrender"

        C="$C zenperfsnmp"
        C="$C zencommand"
        C="$C zenprocess"
        #C="$C zenmail"

1.2 Launche "zenrender start" as zenoss user 'su - zenoss'

2. Install zenoss core on the remote server zenoss.noid.in, but do not launch it.

2.1 Get ride of mysql, because we're going to use the central server mysql

If you are using the stack edition, modify /usr/local/zenoss/ctlscript.sh
elif [ "x$1" = "xstart" ]; then

    if [ "x$2" = "xmysql" ]; then
        if test -x $MYSQL_SCRIPT; then
###            $MYSQL_SCRIPT start
            MYSQL_ERROR=$?
        fi 
elif [ "x$1" = "xstop" ]; then

    if [ "x$2" = "xmysql" ]; then
        if test -x $MYSQL_SCRIPT; then
###            $MYSQL_SCRIPT stop
            MYSQL_ERROR=$?
            sleep 2

2.2 Change zenoss start to remove zenhub and add zenrender

zenping
zensyslog
zenstatus 
zenactions
zentrap
zenmodeler
zenrender
zenperfsnmp
zencommand
zenprocess
zenwin
zeneventlog

2.3 allow the main server to snmp in file /etc/snmpd.conf

rocommunity public zenoss.paris.fr

2.4 Edit the conf files to use the main server zenhub but the local monitors

/usr/local/zenoss/zenoss/etc/zenactions.conf, zencommand.conf, zendisc.conf, zeneventlog.conf, zenmodeler.conf, zenperfsnmp.conf, zenping.conf, zenprocess.conf, zenrender.conf, zenstatus.conf, zensyslog.conf
zentrap.conf, zenwin.conf, zenwinmodeler.conf

monitor         zenoss.noida.in
hubhost         zenoss.paris.fr

2.5 Use the remote zope engine to use the main server engine

/usr/local/zenoss/zenoss/etc/zope.conf
<zodb_db main>
  mount-point /
  # ZODB cache, in number of objects
  cache-size 5000
  <zeoclient>
    server zenoss.paris.fr:8100
    ...
  </zeoclient>
</zodb_db_main>

2.7 Install all needed zenpacks and plugins

This is most important if you are using nagios plugins or winexe template. Don't forget to copy all this binaries to the remote server, as it is this server that will run them against the devices.

2.8 fire up zenoss

3. On the main server zenoss.paris.fr, Add the remote zenoss as a new device

3.1 Management / Add Device : zenoss.noida.in, use the main server as collector

4. Configure the remote collector on the main server

4.1 Management / Collector / Add Collector : use the DNS name zenoss.noida.in as ID

4.2 Edit the newly created collector and change the "render URL" to use the zenders XML-RPC

Render URL : http://zenoss.paris.fr:8090/zenoss.noida.in

5. Transfert existing devices to the remote distributor

5.2 don't forget to add the remote collector in devices /etc/snmpd.conf

rocommunity public zenoss.noida.in

5.3 Move the devices to the remote collector

Management / Collectors / zenoss.paris.fr
Select the devices and use "Set collector"