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To send system logs from Linux distributions using systemd
(including newer releases of CentOS and CoreOS), follow the steps shown below
to forward output from journalctl
to Papertrail.
For applications running in a Docker container, the options described on the Docker configuration page are recommended, but also see Docker and systemd below.
Create a new unit/service that pipes output from journalctl
into ncat
or socat
by following the steps below:
papertrail.service
under /etc/systemd/system
(root
permissions required).logsN
and XXXXX
with the values that
appear under log destinations.[Unit]
Description=Papertrail
After=systemd-journald.service
Requires=systemd-journald.service
[Service]
ExecStart=/bin/sh -c "journalctl -f | ncat --ssl logsN.papertrailapp.com XXXXX"
TimeoutStartSec=0
Restart=on-failure
RestartSec=5s
[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target
$ sudo systemctl enable /etc/systemd/system/papertrail.service
to enable the unit.$ sudo systemctl start papertrail.service
to start it.$ journalctl -f -u papertrail.service
to view the local logs and ensure the
new unit has started successfullysocat
If ncat
is not available, use socat
instead by:
/etc/papertrail-bundle.pem
ExecStart
to:ExecStart=/bin/sh -c "journalctl -f | socat - SSL:logsN.papertrailapp.com:XXXXX,cafile=/etc/papertrail-bundle.pem"
Again, replace logsN
and XXXXX
with the values that appear under log destinations.
When using systemd
to send logs from Docker containers, as on CoreOS, the solutions above will result in all Docker logs coming in under the program name docker
rather than the service name. If sending logs from containers via systemd is desirable, try the solution created by Papertrail customer C2FO:
journalctl -o json -f | jq -r --unbuffered '"\(.__REALTIME_TIMESTAMP | tonumber / 1000000) \(._HOSTNAME) \(._SYSTEMD_UNIT // .UNIT // .SYSLOG_IDENTIFIER): \(.msgtype = (.MESSAGE | type) | if .msgtype == "array" then (.MESSAGE | implode) else .MESSAGE end)"' | awk '{ $1=strftime("%b %d %T", $1); print $0; fflush(); }'
piped to ncat
or socat
. This is easiest to place in a separate script, but it can also be placed directly in an ExecStart
directive. It makes use of the JSON format for journalctl
logs, transformed to a syslog string using jq
and awk
. There’s also an option to set up coproc
to better detect sending failures.
The scripts are not supported under any SolarWinds support program or service. The scripts are provided AS IS without warranty of any kind. SolarWinds further disclaims all warranties including, without limitation, any implied warranties of merchantability or of fitness for a particular purpose. The risk arising out of the use or performance of the scripts and documentation stays with you. In no event shall SolarWinds or anyone else involved in the creation, production, or delivery of the scripts be liable for any damages whatsoever (including, without limitation, damages for loss of business profits, business interruption, loss of business information, or other pecuniary loss) arising out of the use of or inability to use the scripts or documentation.
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