---
title: Send Fluent Bit Logs to Datadog
description: >-
  Configure Fluent Bit to collect, parse, and forward log data from several
  sources.
breadcrumbs: Docs > Log Management > Logs Guides > Send Fluent Bit Logs to Datadog
---

# Send Fluent Bit Logs to Datadog

## Overview{% #overview %}

Configure Fluent Bit to collect, parse, and forward log data from several different sources to Datadog for monitoring. Fluent Bit has a small memory footprint (~450 KB), so you can use it to collect logs in environments with limited resources, such as containerized services and embedded Linux systems. [Datadog's Fluent Bit output plugin](https://docs.fluentbit.io/manual/output/datadog) supports Fluent Bit v1.3.0+.

To configure the Fluent Bit Agent check, see [Fluent Bit (Agent)](https://docs.datadoghq.com/integrations/fluentbit/).

## Setup{% #setup %}

Find below instructions to configure Fluent Bit on a host, for Amazon ECS, see [ECS Fluent Bit and FireLens](https://docs.datadoghq.com/integrations/ecs_fargate/?tab=webui#fluent-bit-and-firelens).

### Log collection{% #log-collection %}

Before you begin, you need to have a [Datadog account](https://app.datadoghq.com/signup), a [Datadog API key](https://docs.datadoghq.com/account_management/api-app-keys/), and you need to [activate Datadog Logs Management](https://app.datadoghq.com/logs/activation).

1. [Install](https://docs.fluentbit.io/manual/installation/sources/build-and-install) and [configure](https://docs.fluentbit.io/manual/administration/configuring-fluent-bit) Fluent Bit by using their recommended method of a configuration file.
1. Update your [Fluent Bit configuration file](https://docs.fluentbit.io/manual/administration/configuring-fluent-bit/classic-mode/configuration-file) to add Datadog as an output plugin. For more information on the configuration parameters, see the Configuration parameters table. For an example `[OUTPUT]` configuration section, see the Configuration file example.
1. Once you start sending logs from Fluent Bit, verify the logs on the [Datadog Logs Explorer page](https://app.datadoghq.com/logs).

#### Configuration parameters{% #configuration-parameters %}

| Key            | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | Default |
| -------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- |
| Host           | *Required* - The Datadog server where you are sending your logs.                                                                                                                                                                               |         |
| TLS            | *Required* - End-to-end security communications security protocol. This setting must be set to `on`.                                                                                                                                           | `off`   |
| apikey         | *Required* - Your [Datadog API key](https://docs.datadoghq.com/account_management/api-app-keys/).                                                                                                                                              |
| compress       | *Recommended* - compresses the payload in GZIP format, Datadog supports and recommends setting this to `gzip`.                                                                                                                                 |
| dd_service     | *Recommended* - The human readable name for your service generating the logs - the name of your application or database.                                                                                                                       |
| dd_source      | *Recommended* - A human readable name for the underlying technology of your service. For example, `postgres` or `nginx`.                                                                                                                       |
| dd_message_key | *Recommended* - Set the attribute to use to store your log message.                                                                                                                                                                            |
| dd_tags        | *Optional* - The [tags](https://docs.datadoghq.com/getting_started/tagging/) you want to assign to your logs in Datadog.                                                                                                                       |
| dd_hostname    | *Optional* - The host that emitted logs should be associated with. If unset, Datadog expects the host to be set as one of [the standard host attributes](https://docs.datadoghq.com/logs/log_configuration/pipelines/?tab=host#preprocessing). |
| provider       | *Optional* - The provider to use. Set this to `ecs` if you want to send logs from your Fargate Tasks to Datadog.                                                                                                                               |

#### Configuration file example{% #configuration-file-example %}

```text
[OUTPUT]
    Name              datadog
    Match             *
    Host              http-intake.logs.datadoghq.com
    TLS               on
    compress          gzip
    apikey            <DATADOG_API_KEY>
    dd_service        <APPLICATION_SERVICE>
    dd_source         <SOURCE>
    dd_message_key    log
    dd_tags           env:dev,<TAG_KEY>:<TAG_VALUE>
```

## Troubleshooting{% #troubleshooting %}

Need help? Contact [Datadog support](https://docs.datadoghq.com/help/).

## Further Reading{% #further-reading %}

- [Centralize your logs with Datadog and Fluent Bit](https://www.datadoghq.com/blog/fluentbit-integration-announcement/)