Collecting logs from Yokogawa FAST/TOOLS and sending them to Graylog could be a complex task due to this rather unique combination of log sources and SIEM solution. In this post we will take a look at how you can forward log data from Yokogawa FAST/TOOLS to Graylog using NXLog.
Yokogawa FAST/TOOLS
FAST/TOOLS is Yokogawa’s SCADA software platform. Its client-server architecture comprises three main functional components: a SCADA server, a Web HMI client, and a Web HMI server. The SCADA server is responsible for collecting, processing, and managing the logs it receives from the Web HMI clients. The Web HMI server displays events and other operational data from Web HMI clients while also serving as the human-machine interface for displaying the logs that the SCADA server has processed.
FAST/TOOLS comprises several function-specific modules that include OPC server and client functionality and a history scheduler. The FAST/TOOLS software platform integrates with cloud computing and virtualization infrastructures. It is widely deployed in the oil and gas industry and large manufacturing plants worldwide.
Collecting Yokogawa FAST/TOOLS logs
FAST/TOOLS produces a wide variety of logs about its operations.
These logs are available in flat files and stored in the C:\Users\Public\Yokogawa\tls\log\ system directory.
There is no room for error or trade-offs because Yokogawa FAST/TOOLS monitors and controls the type of operations Its steady, uninterrupted operation is essential to maintaining plant safety. However, due to excessive log noise, valuable information can sometimes remain hidden in the logs it collects. Another challenge is the lack of consistent log formats. The ability to parse data from various log formats is an absolute necessity.
NXLog Enterprise Edition is a lightweight, modular log collection tool capable of tackling the most challenging cases log collection may pose. Its rich features allow it to read almost any log format and parse fields to produce structured data for further processing. It is the perfect tool for monitoring and collecting FAST/TOOLS logs.
- RDBMS data collection
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FAST/TOOLS provides an ODBC (open database connectivity) interface that collects data from the FAST/TOOLS data set services layer and sends it directly to an external ODBC compliant database. With FAST/TOOLS, you can view table components and perform faster queries, obtaining much quicker insight into your plant operations. FAST/TOOLS includes an embedded relational database management system (RDBMS) that allows you to execute more complex queries and cross-reference FAST/TOOLS data with your own RDBMS environment.
- Collecting FAST/TOOLS logs from file
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FAST/TOOLS' file-based logs include start logs, diagnostics logs, system monitor logs, and systems error logs. The processes that detect system errors send messages to the FAST/TOOLS unsolicited message handler (UMH), which manages all the necessary information present in these logs. This information includes the name of the process that detected the error, a timestamp, and an error code. You can view these application error logs in the
messages.umhfile of the FAST/TOOLS data directory. NXLog is capable of parsing these complex logs by using regular expressions. - FAST/TOOLS passive network monitoring
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FAST/TOOLS supports open platform communications (OPC) functionality and includes an embedded OPC Unified Architecture (UA) environment. It also supports classic OPC for distributed communication (DCOM) links across your network. NXLog can passively monitor your network traffic and generate logs for most network protocols.
NXLog’s data normalization and log aggregation capabilities can extend the functionality of Yokogawa FAST/TOOLS. Because NXLog can collect logs from literally any file in any format, it is ideally suited for integrating with FAST/TOOLS' wide variety of log types and file formats.
For more information on integrating NXLog with this SCADA software environment, visit our detailed Yokogawa FAST/TOOLS integration guide.
The above mentioned log sources, and the features NXLog provides, all play an important role when normalizing logs to meet Graylog’s requirements.
Sending logs to Graylog
Graylog is a popular open source log collection tool that supports centralized log collection, data visualization, searching, and analysis. With its wide range of features, Graylog allows your security team to more effectively monitor the security of your IT infrastructure and to swiftly identify and act on security incidents.
To enable logs to be accepted by Graylog, from NXLog, you must first set up your appliance with the appropriate input source, in the Graylog web interface. This is done simply by navigating to system and then inputs. Here, you can establish if the input source is via UDP or TCP. However, if choosing to send logs over TLS (Transport Layer Security), you must configure your TLS certification file as well as your TLS private key file.
- Log sources
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Setting up a generic log source in Graylog is important if you wish to send logs from a source that is not among Graylog’s list of predefined log sources. This can be achieved by sending logs to Graylog using GELF (Graylog Extended Log Format).
Forwarding logs to Graylog with NXlog is straightforward and can be accomplished by following simple configuration steps.
