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Fluentd and Multiple Instances

In this lab, you will be provided with a single server with fluentd preinstalled for you. Your task is to create a configuration file that reads the `/var/log/messages` log and sends it to two Fluentd instances. You will set the targets to be a primary and a standby. You will then create two separate Fluentd instances that listen for the incoming log events that are being sent and display them to the stdout. It must be designed so that, when the primary target goes down, the traffic is sent to the standby instance.

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Path Info

Level
Clock icon Intermediate
Duration
Clock icon 45m
Last updated
Clock icon Jul 02, 2025

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Table of Contents

  1. Challenge

    Create source1.conf with Active and Standby Log Forwarding

    On the provided server, create a configuration called source1.conf. This configuration will send the /var/log/messages logs to two Fluentd instances on the same server using the forward plugin. The targets will use 127.0.0.1 and either port 24225 or port 24226 with an active and standby configuration.

  2. Challenge

    Configure a target1 and target2 Instance to Receive Logs from the source1 Instance

    Configure Fluentd target1 instance and a target2 instance so they will receive logs from the source1 instance. The configuration files should be called **target1.conf **and **target2.conf **and should use different ports on localhost. The target1 instance should use port 24225. The target2 instance should use port 24226

  3. Challenge

    Test Logs Are Received

    Test that the changes have worked and any new entries to the /var/log/messages on source1 are now being sent to the td-agent stdout on target1. If target1 instance is stopped, then logs should go to the target2 instance.

    The logger command can be used to send a message to /var/log/messages.

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Pluralsight Skills

Pluralsight Skills gives leaders confidence they have the skills needed to execute technology strategy. Technology teams can benchmark expertise across roles, speed up release cycles and build reliable, secure products. By leveraging our expert content, skill assessments and one-of-a-kind analytics, keep up with the pace of change, put the right people on the right projects and boost productivity. It's the most effective path to developing tech skills at scale.

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