Linux OS Syslog - Cloud SIEM

This section has instructions for collecting Linux OS Syslog log messages and sending them to Sumo Logic to be ingested by CSE.

Current distributions of Linux write logs using Rsyslog and Systemd-journal. CSE currently supports Rsyslog and Systemd-journal logging in Linux.

Supported Linux distributions and processes

Currently, support for Linux OS is limited to the following distributions of Linux:

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu
• Amazon Linux

Currently, support is limited to security-relevant processes, including:

• cron
• dhclient
• gpasswd
• groupadd
• groupdel
• groupmod
• passwd
• sshd
• su
• sudo
• useradd
• userdel
• usermod
• systemd
• omiserver

Step 1: Configure collection

In this step, you configure a Syslog Source to collect Linux OS log messages. You can configure the source on an existing Installed Collector or create a new collector. If you’re going to use an existing collector, jump to Configure a Syslog Source below. Otherwise, create a new collector as described in Configure an Installed Collector below, and then create the Syslog Source on the collector.

Configure an Installed Collector

1. In the Sumo Logic platform, select Manage Data > Collection > Collection.
2. Click Add Collector.
3. Click Installed Collector.
4. The Add Installed Collector popup appears.
5. Download the appropriate collector for your operating system.
6. Install the collector. Instructions for your preferred operating system and method of installation are available on the Installed Collectors page.
7. Once the collector is installed, confirm it is available on the Collection page and select Edit.
8. The Edit Collector popup appears.
   
9. Name. Provide a Name for the Collector.
10. Description. (Optional)
11. Category. Enter a string to tag the output collected from the source. The string that you supply will be saved in a metadata field called _sourceCategory. 
12. Fields. 
    • If you are planning that all the sources you add to this collector will forward log messages to CSE, click the +Add Field link, and add a field whose name is _siemForward and value is true. This will cause the collector to forward all of the logs collected by all of the sources on the collector to CSE.
    • If you are planning that all sources you add to this collector will use the same log parser (if they are the same type of log), click the +Add Field link, and add a field whose name is _parser with the value /Parsers/System/Linux/Linux OS Syslog. This will cause all sources on the collector to use the specified parser. It’s also possible to configure individual sources to forward to CSE, as described in the following section
13. Click Save.

Configure a Syslog Source

1. In Sumo Logic, select Manage Data > Collection > Collection. 
2. Navigate to the Installed Collector where you want to create the source.
3. On the Collectors page, click Add Source next to an Installed Collector.
4. Select Syslog. 
5. The page refreshes.
   
6. Name. Enter a name for the source. 
7. Description. (Optional) 
8. Protocol. Select the protocol that your syslog-enabled devices are currently using to send syslog data, UDP or TCP. For more information, see Choosing TCP or UDP on the Syslog Source page.
9. Port. Enter the port number for the Source to listen to. If the collector runs as root (default), use 514. Otherwise, consider 1514 or 5140. Make sure the devices are sending to the same port.
10. Source Category. Enter a string to tag the output collected from the source. The string that you supply will be saved in a metadata field called _sourceCategory. Make a note of the source category. You’ll supply it in Step 2 below.
11. Fields. 
    • If you have not configured the Installed Collector to forward all sources in the collector to CSE, click the +Add Field link, and add a field whose name is _siemForward and value is true.
    • If you have not configured the Installed Collector to parse all sources in the collector with the same parser, click the +Add Field link, and add a field whose name is _parser with the value /Parsers/System/Linux/Linux OS Syslog. 
12. Click Save.

Step 2: Configure Linux OS

In this step, you configure forwarding to the the Syslog Source. Follow the instructions in the  Configure forwarding to Syslog Source section of the Syslog Source page. 

Step 3: Verify Ingestion

In this step, you verify that your logs are successfully making it into CSE. 

1. Click the gear icon at the top of the CSE UI, and select Log Mappings under Incoming Data.
   
2. On the Log Mappings page search for "Linux OS" and check under Record Volume. A list of mappers for Linux OS Syslog will appear and you can see if logs are coming in. 
   
3. For a more granular look at the incoming Records, you can also search the Sumo Logic platform for Linux OS security records.