The Logging Everyone Should Be Using in .NET

Summary

In this tutorial, Nick demonstrates how to integrate OpenTelemetry-based logging into .NET applications. He explains that OpenTelemetry is a cloud-native monitoring framework adopted by the .NET community. The video showcases adding logging using both the built-in logger and Serilog, and how to export logs to a monitoring service for visualization. Nick also covers pushing logs to a service like Elastic Stack using OpenTelemetry's exporters, and enhancing logs with additional context for better observability.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Open Telemetry is a widely adopted standard for observability, including metrics, traces, and logging, with .NET being an early adopter.
• 📈 The video demonstrates adding Open Telemetry-based logging to .NET applications, showcasing both the built-in logging and Serilog.
• 🔧 The presenter modifies a simple web API to include Open Telemetry logging, enhancing it with structured logging for better querying and alerting.
• 📱 The video shows how to push logs to an external environment and visualize them, using a console exporter initially for demonstration.
• 🛠️ To integrate Open Telemetry, additional packages are required, and the video guides through clearing existing logging providers and adding Open Telemetry with a console exporter.
• 🔄 The video explains how to configure Open Telemetry exporters to send logs to specific endpoints, using HTTP Protobuf for transport.
• 🔑 Authentication for log ingestion is covered, including creating an API key for services like Splunk for secure log pushing.
• 📊 The use of Splunk for log visualization is demonstrated, showing real-time log data and the ability to filter and query based on log attributes.
• 📝 The video covers advanced Open Telemetry features like setting resources and including more context in logs, enhancing observability.
• 💬 The presenter also discusses using Serilog with Open Telemetry, showing how to redirect logs and configure Serilog to work with Open Telemetry exporters.

Q & A

What is OpenTelemetry and why is it important for .NET applications?

OpenTelemetry is an open-source project that provides a set of APIs, libraries, agents, and instrumentation to capture distributed traces and metrics from applications. It is important for .NET applications because it standardizes the way metrics, traces, and logs are collected and managed, allowing for better observability and compatibility with various backend systems.

How does OpenTelemetry relate to .NET's built-in logging?

OpenTelemetry complements .NET's built-in logging by providing a way to transform the logs into a format that adheres to the OpenTelemetry standard. This allows for more detailed and structured logging that can be easily integrated with various monitoring and observability tools.

What is the role of exporters in OpenTelemetry?

Exporters in OpenTelemetry are responsible for sending the collected telemetry data to the desired backend systems. They define the mechanism by which telemetry data is exported, such as to a console, a file, or a remote monitoring service.

How can you visualize logs with OpenTelemetry in .NET applications?

You can visualize logs with OpenTelemetry by using exporters that send the logs to a monitoring service like Splunk, Elastic Stack, or any other service that supports OpenTelemetry. These services can then process and visualize the logs in a user-friendly dashboard.

What is the difference between using the built-in logger and Serilog with OpenTelemetry?

The built-in logger in .NET is a simple logging mechanism provided by the framework, while Serilog is a more advanced logging library that offers structured logging, filtering, and enrichment of log events. With OpenTelemetry, both can be used to capture logs, but Serilog provides more flexibility and control over the logging process.

How do you add OpenTelemetry to a .NET application?

To add OpenTelemetry to a .NET application, you need to install the necessary NuGet packages, configure the logging to use OpenTelemetry, and set up an exporter to send the telemetry data to a monitoring service. The video script demonstrates how to do this step by step.

What is the purpose of the 'AddOpenTelemetryExporter' method in the video script?

The 'AddOpenTelemetryExporter' method is used to configure the .NET application to export logs in the OpenTelemetry format. It specifies the exporter type, such as console or HTTP, and the necessary configuration details like the endpoint and authentication headers.

Why is it recommended to use structured logging with OpenTelemetry?

Structured logging with OpenTelemetry is recommended because it allows for better querying, alerting, and analysis of log data. It captures logs in a consistent format with key-value pairs, making it easier to process and understand the data.

How can you push logs to a monitoring service using OpenTelemetry?

To push logs to a monitoring service using OpenTelemetry, you configure an exporter that is compatible with the service's API. You then specify the endpoint, authentication details, and any other required configurations to ensure the logs are sent and received correctly.

What additional information can be included in OpenTelemetry logs using resources?

Using resources in OpenTelemetry, you can include additional contextual information in the logs, such as the service name, deployment environment, service instance, and other attributes. This enriches the log data and aids in better analysis and correlation of events.