Apm-server set-up for version 9.1.2

Elastic Observability APM
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1

Hi Team,

Our team for a brief time had elasticsearch , kibana and standalone apm-server all having version 8.6 for observability and visualizing traces in kibana.

Recently we migrated to the latest version i.e. 9.1.2 version of elasticsearch, kibana and standalone apm-server , But unable to view the elastic java agent services under Observability> APM> Services section in kibana. We haven’t installed fleet-server as in our previous set-up with version 8.6 did not require fleet-server for tracing /Observability.

I am in the assumption that due to the missing fleet-server set-up we are unable to capture traces.

Is Fleet server a mandatory component for the latest versions? I also read in the documentation regarding elastic agent set-up along with fleet server. So is elastic agent also a component that needs to be integrated along with fleet-server ?

Lastly , I wanted to confirm that in order to achieve Observability I will need to have below components

1.elasticsearch

2. kibana

3. standalone apm-server

4.fleet-server

5.elastic agent integration with fleet-server

6. elastic java agent jar for instrumenting the target application

Does Upgrading to 9.1.2 version will still require standalone apm-server? Please let me know if I have correctly understood the components required.

Thanks & Regards,

Namita Jaokar

2

Hi @Namita_Jaokar ,

you can either use the standalone apm-server or the Fleet managed Elastic Agent with the apm integration. In both cases an apm-server will be running, but it will be managed differently. See Set up APM Server | Elastic Docs for more information on the options and how to set things up. Hope this helps.

3

Hi @simitt ,

Thankyou for your quick response. In both cases fleet-server is required ? Will also check the documentation link provided

Best Regards,

Namita

4

Stand-alone does not specifically require a fleet server per here

Screenshot 2025-08-29 at 8.23.53 AM
Screenshot 2025-08-29 at 8.23.53 AM1798×594 75.2 KB

5

Hi @stephenb ,

Just wanted to clear my understanding . In the above shared reference doc the APM Agents refers to the elastic APM agent that can be integrated with or without fleet or is it the elastic APM Agent jar ?

I was able visualize traces under kibana’s observability in my windows system after installing the standalone elastic apm agent binary (.exe) in addition to standalone apm-server, kibana, elasticsearch and elastic java agent jar instrumented with the target application.

Best Regards,

Namita

6

Yeah unfortunately Agent is a term that's definitely overloaded these days.

In the diagram above the APM Agent is referring to

If you are referring to Java APM Agent, it's specifically this

2 Likes
7

Thanks @stephenb for the clarity.

Will move forward with containerized environment set-up along with these components.

Thanks & Regards,

Namita