Apache Common

The Apache Common source collects logs from Apache HTTP Server access log files written in the Common Log Format (CLF). The collector tails the configured log file paths and optionally parses each entry into structured fields.

Supported Telemetry Types

Platform	Metrics	Logs	Traces
Linux		✓
Windows		✓
macOS		✓

Prerequisites

• Apache HTTP Server must be writing access logs in the Common Log Format. The default common format is defined with the directive LogFormat "%h %l %u %t \"%r\" %>s %b" common and enabled with CustomLog. See the Apache HTTP Server log files documentation and the mod_log_config reference for configuring the log format.
• You must know the path(s) to the access log file(s). The default on Debian and Ubuntu systems is /var/log/apache2/access.log. On Red Hat based systems it is typically /var/log/httpd/access_log.
• The collector must run on a host that can read those log files, or the files must be shipped to a host the collector can read. The collector process needs filesystem read permission on the configured paths.

Configuration

Logs

Parameter	Type	Required	Default	Description
Access Log File Path(s)	Strings	No	["/var/log/apache2/access.log"]	Path to Apache common formatted log file.

Advanced

Parameter	Type	Required	Default	Description
Start At	Enum: beginning, end	No	end	Start reading logs from beginning or end.
Parse	Boolean	No	true	Parses the log fields into structured data.

Examples

Collect access logs from two virtual hosts

This source tails two Apache access log files and parses each entry into structured fields, reading only newly appended lines.

apiVersion: bindplane.observiq.com/v1
kind: Source
metadata:
  name: apache-common
spec:
  type: apache_common
  parameters:
    - name: file_path
      value:
        - /var/log/apache2/access.log
        - /var/log/apache2/other-vhost-access.log
    - name: start_at
      value: end
    - name: parse
      value: true

Configuration Tips

• Set Start At to beginning for a one-time backfill of existing log content. Leave it at end for steady-state collection so the collector only reads newly written lines.
• Confirm your Apache CustomLog directive uses the common format. If your access logs use the Combined Log Format instead, use the Apache Combined source.
• Provide one entry per access log path. Each virtual host that writes to its own log file should be listed individually.

Troubleshooting

Symptom: No logs appear in Bindplane. Solution: Verify the configured file path(s) match the actual access log location and that the collector process has read permission on those files. On Red Hat based systems the path is usually /var/log/httpd/access_log, not the Debian default.

Symptom: Log entries arrive but fields are not parsed into structured data. Solution: Confirm Apache is writing the Common Log Format. Parsing assumes the CLF layout %h %l %u %t "%r" %>s %b. A custom or Combined format will not parse cleanly. Set Parse to false to ship raw log lines if the format cannot be changed.

Symptom: Only old log content is collected, or only new lines appear. Solution: This is controlled by Start At. Use beginning to read the existing file from the top, or end to read only lines written after the collector starts.

Standalone Source

apiVersion: bindplane.observiq.com/v1
kind: Source
metadata:
  name: apache-common
spec:
  type: apache_common
  parameters:
    - name: file_path
      value:
        - /var/log/apache2/access.log
    - name: start_at
      value: end
    - name: parse
      value: true

Related Resources

• Apache HTTP Server Log Files documentation
• Apache mod_log_config reference
• OpenTelemetry filelogreceiver