Hi,

it's about the documentation on this site: https://www.zabbix.com/documentation/2.4/manual/config/items/userparameters

I am using flexible userparameter. In bash, when you use duble quotes ("") then the dollar ($) signe is interpreted, but when you use single quotes ('') not.. I will work with examples, that's easyer:

/bin/sh:

1. this will print the variable $FIRST
   echo "$FIRST"
2. this will print $FIRST
   echo '$FIRST'

So this is logic. But when i use flexible userparameter in zabbix it's a little bit other..:

1. this don't work:
   UserParameter=info[*],awk "/$1/ {print $5}" /mypath/myfile
   # this don't work but it will be logic ( take duble dollar: https://www.zabbix.com/documentation/2.4/manual/config/items/userparameters):
   UserParameter=info[*],awk "/$1/{print $$5}" /mypath/myfile
   # this works (i think sh gets 'awk "/$1/{print $5}

   " /mypath/myfile' from zabbix_agent):
   UserParameter=info[*],awk "/$1/

   {print \$$5}" /mypath/myfile
   # this works to ($1 is between single quotes ('') and zabbix agent is interpreting it):
   UserParameter=info[*],awk '/$1/{print $$5}

   ' /mypath/myfile

2. this don't work:
   UserParameter=info[*],awk '/$1/ {print $5}' /mypath/myfile
   
   If I'm right this is happening:
   if the requested itemkey is: info[world]
   zabbix_agent interpret: awk "/$1/{print \$$5}" --> awk "/world/{print $5}

   " --> /bin/sh
   /bin/sh execute it like it's doing every time. So Zabbix_agent always replace $n with the parameter given in the itemkey (if it's between '' or not). Only when $$ is written then it only removes one $ and give the command to sh.

I didn't know this befor and in the documentation it's not very clear. So i ask for improving the documentation at this place. I'll be very happy, and I think others to.

Salutations
Tuor