implementing-syslog-centralization-with-rsyslog

name	implementing-syslog-centralization-with-rsyslog
description	Configure rsyslog for centralized log collection with TLS encryption, custom templates, and log rotation, generating server and client configuration files with GnuTLS stream drivers, x509 certificate authentication, per-host log segregation, and reliable queue settings. Use when building a centralized, encrypted syslog pipeline, hardening rsyslog client/server configs for high-availability log infrastructure, or troubleshooting TLS-based syslog forwarding.
domain	cybersecurity
subdomain	security-operations
tags	["syslog","rsyslog","log-centralization","tls-encryption","log-management","security-operations"]
version	1.0
author	mahipal
license	Apache-2.0
nist_csf	["DE.CM-01","RS.MA-01","GV.OV-01","DE.AE-02"]
mitre_attack	["T1078","T1190","T1059","T1573","T1486"]

Implementing Syslog Centralization with Rsyslog

When to Use

• When deploying or configuring implementing syslog centralization with rsyslog capabilities in your environment
• When establishing security controls aligned to compliance requirements
• When building or improving security architecture for this domain
• When conducting security assessments that require this implementation

Prerequisites

• Familiarity with security operations concepts and tools
• Access to a test or lab environment for safe execution
• Python 3.8+ with required dependencies installed
• Appropriate authorization for any testing activities

Instructions

1. Install dependencies: pip install jinja2 paramiko
2. Generate TLS certificates for rsyslog server and clients using OpenSSL.
3. Run the agent to generate rsyslog server and client configurations:
   • Server: TLS listener on port 6514, per-host directory output, JSON-format templates
   • Client: TLS forwarding with disk-assisted queues for reliability
4. Deploy configurations to servers via SSH (paramiko).
5. Validate TLS connectivity and log delivery.

python scripts/agent.py --server-ip 10.0.0.1 --clients 10.0.0.10,10.0.0.11 --ca-cert ca.pem --output syslog_report.json

Examples

Server Configuration (TLS)

module(load="imtcp" StreamDriver.Name="gtls" StreamDriver.Mode="1"
       StreamDriver.Authmode="x509/name")
input(type="imtcp" port="6514")
template(name="PerHostLog" type="string" string="/var/log/remote/%HOSTNAME%/%PROGRAMNAME%.log")
*.* ?PerHostLog

Client Configuration (Reliable Forwarding)

action(type="omfwd" target="10.0.0.1" port="6514" protocol="tcp"
       StreamDriver="gtls" StreamDriverMode="1"
       StreamDriverAuthMode="x509/name"
       queue.type="LinkedList" queue.filename="fwdRule1"
       queue.maxdiskspace="1g" queue.saveonshutdown="on"
       action.resumeRetryCount="-1")