#Netdata Agent Configuration
:::info
You can configure Netdata Agents on the fly using Netdata Cloud. Check the Dynamic Configuration Manager documentation for details.
:::
You configure your Netdata Agent using the main configuration file netdata.conf. This guide shows you how to locate, edit, and manage this configuration file.
#Locate Your Config Directory
First, you need to find where your configuration files are stored. On most Linux systems, you'll find your Netdata config directory at /etc/netdata/. This directory contains:
- Several configuration files with the
.conf extension
- A few directories for specific configurations
- A shell script named
edit-config for safely editing files
:::tip
Some operating systems use /opt/netdata/etc/netdata/ as the config directory.
If you're not sure where yours is located, navigate to http://NODE:19999/netdata.conf in your browser (replace NODE with your node's IP address or hostname) and find the # config directory = setting. The value listed shows your system's config directory.
:::
:::note
All of Netdata's documentation assumes your config directory is at /etc/netdata, and that you run any scripts from inside that directory.
:::
#Edit Configuration Files
Method 1: Using `edit-config` (Recommended)
You should use the `edit-config` script for making configuration changes. This script lives inside your config directory and helps you manage and safely edit configuration files.
To edit `netdata.conf`:
1. Navigate to your config directory and run the edit script:
```bash
cd /etc/netdata 2>/dev/null || cd /opt/netdata/etc/netdata
sudo ./edit-config netdata.conf
```
2. Your default editor will open with the configuration file
3. Make your changes and save the file
Method 2: Download Current Configuration
If you want to work with the exact configuration currently running on your Agent, you can download it directly.
You can download the running version of `netdata.conf` from your running Netdata Agent at this URL:
```url
http://agent-ip:19999/netdata.conf
```
To download and replace your current configuration file:
```bash
cd /etc/netdata 2>/dev/null || cd /opt/netdata/etc/netdata
curl -ksSLo /tmp/netdata.conf.new http://localhost:19999/netdata.conf && sudo mv -i /tmp/netdata.conf.new netdata.conf
```
This method is useful when you want to:
- Backup your current running configuration
- Start with the default settings that are currently active
- Replicate configuration across multiple agents