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.

```bash
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")
```