> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mezmo.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Syslog

> Route Syslog log ingestion to Mezmo through an OpenTelemetry Collector, which parses Syslog with RFC 5424 and RFC 3164 support and forwards it to the Mezmo OTEL Source.

Mezmo ingests Syslog data by placing an OpenTelemetry (OTel) Collector between your Syslog senders and Mezmo. The Collector receives Syslog over TCP or UDP with its `syslog` receiver, then forwards the parsed logs to Mezmo's [OpenTelemetry Source](/telemetry-pipelines/open-telemetry-source) using the `otlphttp` exporter.

```
Syslog sender  -->  OpenTelemetry Collector (syslog receiver)  -->  Mezmo OTEL Source (otlphttp exporter)
```

## Set Up Syslog Log Ingestion

1. Log in to the [Mezmo Web App](https://app.mezmo.com), create (or open) a Pipeline, and add an [OpenTelemetry Source](/telemetry-pipelines/open-telemetry-source). Note the ingestion key — you'll use it as `apikey`.
2. Download the `otelcol-contrib` distribution, which includes the `syslog` receiver, from [the OpenTelemetry website](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-releases).
3. Create a configuration file `config.yaml`:

```yaml theme={null}
receivers:
  syslog:
    protocol: rfc5424
    tcp:
      listen_address: "0.0.0.0:514"

exporters:
  otlphttp/mezmo:
    endpoint: "https://logs.mezmo.com/otel"
    compression: gzip
    headers:
      apikey: "<YOUR_INGESTION_KEY>"

service:
  pipelines:
    logs:
      receivers: [syslog]
      exporters: [otlphttp/mezmo]
```

Set `protocol` to `rfc5424` or `rfc3164` depending on the format your Syslog sender uses, and swap the `tcp` block for a `udp` block if you're sending over UDP instead. Consult your local Syslog man page and the [Collector `syslog` receiver documentation](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-contrib/tree/main/receiver/syslogreceiver) for full configuration details.

4. Point your Syslog senders at the host and port where the Collector's `syslog` receiver is listening.
5. Start the Collector:

```bash theme={null}
./otelcol-contrib --config /path/to/config.yaml
```

Logs will begin appearing in the Mezmo Log Viewer once the Collector starts forwarding data.