Fluent-bit Datadog Forwarder

How to Forward logs from Apica Ascent to Datadog using Fluent-bit

1. Introduction

This guide explains how to forward logs from Apica Ascent to Datadog using the HTTP input and Datadog output plugins with Fluent-bit, and how to view them.

2. Do any required port forwarding

The process may be different for each company, provider and OS.

If you manage your firewall at your provider level you will need to allow traffic on the desired port there and possibly on the server itself.

If you manage the firewall on the server level you should make the changes there, the methods will be different depending on your OS.

In our example we used port 4318.

Add a new inbound rule:

Type: TCP
Port Range: 4318
Source: 0.0.0.0/0

3. Set up an input and output

Update your Fluent-bit.conf with an input, filter (optional) and output.

In this example we use the HTTP input plugin, Modify filter and Datadog output.

[INPUT]
    Name    http
    Listen  0.0.0.0
    Port    4318
    Tag     ascent_logs

[FILTER]
    Name   modify
    Match  ascent_logs
    Add    namespace Fluent-bit
    Add    app_name HTTP

[OUTPUT]
    Name     datadog
    Match    ascent_logs
    Host     http-intake.logs.datadoghq.com
    TLS      on
    Apikey   <apiKey>
    Dd_tags  env:ascent-demo,log:fluent-bit
    Compress gzip

4. Set up a JavaScript code Forwarder

1. Log in to Apica Ascent

2. Navigate to Integrations → Forwarders → Forwarders

3. Click on Add Forwarder

4. Select the JavaScript code Forwarder

5. Edit the fields to your needs, in this example we use the following:

let cfg = {
    method: "POST",
    headers: {
        "Content-Type": "application/json"
    },
    body: JSON.stringify(Events),
};
 
let ret = fetchSync("http://<serverIP>:4318/", cfg);
console.log("Response from the endpoint:", ret);

5. Set up pipelines in Apica Ascent to your needs

1. Navigate to Explore → Pipelines → Pipelines

2. Create one or multiple pipelines (you should use the stream rule if you don’t want all logs in the namespace + application to be forwarded)

3. Apply the pipelines to the logs that you want to forward

6. Map the forwarder that you will use on your logs that you want to forward

This can be done in two ways:

1. This method requires pipelines. In the pipelines page hover over the three dots on the right on your pipeline and click on Map Forwarder. Select your forwarder (deselect the default forwarder if you only want your new forwarder) and click on OK

2. This method can be done with or without pipelines. Navigate to Explore → Logs & Insights Select the logs that you want to forward, hover over the three dots on the right at the top of the list and click on Map Forwarder. Select your forwarder (deselect the default forwarder if you only want your new forwarder) and click on OK

7. Verify that your logs arrive at the end destination

Navigate to your Datadog instance, hover over Logs on the left side and click on Live Trail.

If everything has been set up correctly you should see your logs in this view.

8. Troubleshooting

Fluent-bit Troubleshooting

If logs are not being sent verify that the port is open and that the server can receive data there.

Verify that the logs are in a format that the HTTP plugin can read such as json.

If logs are not arriving in Datadog verify that the region your account is in is correct in the URL and that the api key is correct.