CloudWatch-agent operator

You don't necessarily have to upgrade to the CloudWatch agent operator if you simply want to update the image version of the CloudWatch agent. There are alternative methods to update the agent without switching to the operator-based approach.

If you're using Amazon EKS, you can update the CloudWatch agent container image directly without adopting the operator. To do this, you would apply the latest cwagent-version.yaml file using kubectl. This method allows you to update the agent while maintaining your current system environment.

For other environments like Amazon ECS or EC2, you can update the CloudWatch agent by creating a new task definition revision (for ECS) or downloading and installing the latest agent package (for EC2 or on-premises servers). These methods don't require switching to the operator-based approach.

It's important to note that Amazon recommends keeping the CloudWatch agent up to date to ensure compatibility with the latest features and improvements. However, if you prefer not to make significant changes to your system environment, you can stick with your current deployment method and simply update the agent version.

Remember to check the release notes and version information before updating to ensure compatibility with your current setup and to be aware of any new features or changes that might affect your monitoring configuration.
Sources
Updating the CloudWatch agent container image - Amazon CloudWatch
Installing the CloudWatch agent - Amazon CloudWatch
Troubleshooting the CloudWatch agent - Amazon CloudWatch