Welcome to the syslog-ng Open Source Edition 3.33 Administration Guide.
This document describes how to configure and manage syslog-ng Open Source Edition (syslog-ng OSE). Background information for the technology and concepts used by the product is also discussed.
Introduction to syslog-ng describes the main functionality and purpose of syslog-ng OSE.
The concepts of syslog-ng discusses the technical concepts and philosophies behind syslog-ng OSE.
Installing syslog-ng describes how to install syslog-ng OSE on various UNIX-based platforms using the precompiled binaries.
The syslog-ng OSE quick-start guide provides a briefly explains how to perform the most common log collecting tasks with syslog-ng OSE.
The syslog-ng OSE configuration file discusses the configuration file format and syntax in detail, and explains how to manage large-scale configurations using included files and reusable configuration snippets.
source: Read, receive, and collect log messages explains how to collect and receive log messages from various sources.
destination: Forward, send, and store log messages describes the different methods to store and forward log messages.
log: Filter and route log messages using log paths, flags, and filters explains how to route and sort log messages, and how to use filters to select specific messages.
Global options of syslog-ng OSE lists the global options of syslog-ng OSE and explains how to use them.
TLS-encrypted message transfer shows how to secure and authenticate log transport using TLS encryption.
template and rewrite: Format, modify, and manipulate log messages describes how to customize message format using templates and macros, how to rewrite and modify messages, and how to use regular expressions.
parser: Parse and segment structured messages describes how to segment and process structured messages like comma-separated values.
db-parser: Process message content with a pattern database (patterndb) explains how to identify and process log messages using a pattern database.
Correlating log messages explains how to correlate log messages that match a set of filters or that are identified using a pattern database.
Enriching log messages with external data explains how to import data from external sources to include in the log messages, thus extending, enriching, and complementing the data found in the log message.
Statistics of syslog-ng details the available statistics that syslog-ng OSE collects about the processed log messages.
Multithreading and scaling in syslog-ng OSE describes how to configure syslog-ng OSE to use multiple processors, and how to optimize its performance.
Troubleshooting syslog-ng offers tips to solving problems.
Best practices and examples gives recommendations to configure special features of syslog-ng OSE.
The syslog-ng manual pages contains the manual pages of the syslog-ng OSE application.
Third-party contributions includes the text of the licenses applicable to syslog-ng Open Source Edition.
Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives (by-nc-nd) License includes the text of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives (by-nc-nd) License applicable to The syslog-ng Open Source Edition 3.33 Administrator Guide.
This guide is intended for system administrators and consultants responsible for designing and maintaining logging solutions and log centers. It is also useful for IT decision makers looking for a tool to implement centralized logging in heterogeneous environments.
The following skills and knowledge are necessary for a successful syslog-ng administrator:
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At least basic system administration knowledge.
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An understanding of networks, TCP/IP protocols, and general network terminology.
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Working knowledge of the UNIX or Linux operating system.
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In-depth knowledge of the logging process of various platforms and applications.
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An understanding of the legacy syslog (BSD-syslog) protocol and the new syslog (IETF-syslog) protocol standard.
This section lists the most recent changes of syslog-ng Open Source Edition (syslog-ng OSE).
Version 3.29 - 3.30
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New template function: filter()
From version 3.30, the syslog-ng OSE application supports using the filter() template function, which runs the filter expression on each element of a given list, and returns only those list elements that meet the requirements of the filter expression.
For more information, see the description of the filter() template function.
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New option for systemd-journal() source: namespace()
From version 3.30, the syslog-ng OSE application supports using the namespace() option for the systemd-journal() source, which works exactly the same way as the respective option of the Journalctl command line tool.
For more information, see the description of the namespace() option.
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Local timezone STD format supported for %z format element in date-parser()
From version 3.30, the syslog-ng OSE application supports using the local timezone STD format for the %z format element of date-parser().
For more information, see Options of date-parser() parsers.
Version 3.28 - 3.29
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New parser: panos-parser()
From version 3.29, the syslog-ng OSE application supports the panos-parser() parser as SCL.
For more information, see panos-parser(): parsing PAN-OS log messages.
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New PCRE flag: dupnames
From version 3.29, the syslog-ng OSE application supports using the dupnames flag to be used in PCRE expressions, allowing duplicate names for named subpatterns.
For more information, see the description of the dupnames PCRE flag.
Version 3.26-3.27
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New destinations: sumologic-http() and sumologic-syslog()
From version 3.27, the syslog-ng OSE application can send logs to Sumo Logic through the sumologic-http() and sumologic-syslog() destinations.
For more information about the sumologic-http() and sumologic-syslog() destinations, see Sumo Logic destinations: sumologic-http() and sumologic-syslog().
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New rewrite function: set-facility()
From version 3.27, the syslog-ng OSE application supports using the set-facility() rewrite function to change the syslog facility associated with the message.
For more information, see Setting the facility field with the set-facility() rewrite function.
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New parameter: ca-dir()
From syslog-ng OSE version 3.27, you can use the ca-dir() parameter for the tls() option for the network() source to set a bundled CA-file for peer-verification.
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New macros
From syslog-ng OSE version 3.27, three new macros are available:
For more information, see Macros of syslog-ng OSE and Example use case: using the $DESTIP, the $DESTPORT, and the $PROTO macros.
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Arrow syntax support (Java and Python options)
From version 3.27, syslog-ng OSE supports the "arrow" syntax for declaring custom Python and Java options in your configuration.