# APM architecture and usage

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/apm-architecture-and-usage/272591>\
**Category:** APM\
**Tags:** docker, server\
**Created:** [May 10, 2021, 2:19pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/apm-architecture-and-usage/272591 "2021-05-10T14:19:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Waxman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c2a13f/32.png) [@Waxman](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Waxman)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 2:19pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/apm-architecture-and-usage/272591/1 "2021-05-10T14:19:57Z")

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Hi there,

I wonder how apm's works, AFAIK it's client-server architecture. The question is:  
a) what is the recomendation for APM server (cpu,memory,storage)  
b) can i install APM server for example with elastic -node  
c) can I make my custom apm agent  
d) how it works, what are benefits to use it

Best regards,  
W.

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**Author:** ![simitt](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/simitt/32/106406_2.png) [@simitt](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/simitt)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 2:51pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/apm-architecture-and-usage/272591/2 "2021-05-10T14:51:16Z")

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Hi @Waxman ,  
the [apm overview](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/apm/get-started/current/overview.html) is hopefully a good starting point to familiarize yourself with Elastic APM. Further resources that should address your questions are the [Installing APM Server guide](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/apm/server/7.12/installing.html) and the overview about [APM Server processing performance](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/apm/server/7.12/processing-performance.html). If you are interested in developing a custom apm agent, take a look at the [APM Server API](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/apm/server/7.12/intake-api.html).  
Hope that helps to get started.

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\
**Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 10:51am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/apm-architecture-and-usage/272591/3 "2021-05-31T10:51:29Z")

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