| 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
- Install dependencies:
pip install jinja2 paramiko
- Generate TLS certificates for rsyslog server and clients using OpenSSL.
- 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
- Deploy configurations to servers via SSH (paramiko).
- 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")
