Collect Citrix Receiver logs
This document explains how to ingest Citrix Receiver logs to Google Security Operations using the Bindplane agent.
Citrix Receiver (now Citrix Workspace app) is a client-side application that provides access to virtual desktops, applications, and data from Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops environments. The logs capture session events, authentication, and client-side activity.
Before you begin
Make sure you have the following prerequisites:
- A Google SecOps instance
- Windows Server 2016 or later, or Linux host with
systemd - Network connectivity between the Bindplane agent and the Citrix Receiver host
- If running behind a proxy, ensure firewall ports are open per the Bindplane agent requirements
- Privileged access to the Citrix environment with administrator permissions
- Access to Citrix Receiver log files on the server or client file system
Get Google SecOps ingestion authentication file
- Sign in to the Google SecOps console.
- Go to SIEM Settings > Collection Agents.
- Download the Ingestion Authentication File.
-
Save the file securely on the system where Bindplane will be installed.
Get Google SecOps customer ID
- Sign in to the Google SecOps console.
- Go to SIEM Settings > Profile.
-
Copy and save the Customer IDfrom the Organization Detailssection.
Install the Bindplane agent
Install the Bindplane agent on your Windows or Linux operating system according to the following instructions.
Windows installation
- Open Command Promptor PowerShellas an administrator.
-
Run the following command:
msiexec / i "https://github.com/observIQ/bindplane-agent/releases/latest/download/observiq-otel-collector.msi" / quiet -
Wait for the installation to complete.
-
Verify the installation by running:
sc query observiq-otel-collectorThe service should show as RUNNING.
Linux installation
- Open a terminal with root or sudo privileges.
-
Run the following command:
sudo sh -c " $( curl -fsSlL https://github.com/observiq/bindplane-agent/releases/latest/download/install_unix.sh ) " install_unix.sh -
Wait for the installation to complete.
-
Verify the installation by running:
sudo systemctl status observiq-otel-collectorThe service should show as active (running).
Additional installation resources
For additional installation options and troubleshooting, see the Bindplane agent installation guide .
Configure the Bindplane agent to ingest logs and send to Google SecOps
Locate the configuration file
-
Linux:
sudo nano /opt/observiq-otel-collector/config.yaml -
Windows:
notepad "C:\Program Files\observIQ OpenTelemetry Collector\config.yaml"
Edit the configuration file
-
Replace the entire contents of
config.yamlwith the following configuration:receivers : filelog : include : - 'C:\Users\*\AppData\Local\Citrix\Receiver\*.log' start_at : beginning poll_interval : 5s exporters : chronicle/citrix_rx : compression : gzip creds_file_path : 'C:\Program Files\observIQ OpenTelemetry Collector\ingestion-auth.json' customer_id : '<customer_id>' endpoint : malachiteingestion-pa.googleapis.com log_type : CSG_CITRIX_RX raw_log_field : body ingestion_labels : env : production service : pipelines : logs/citrix_rx_to_chronicle : receivers : - filelog exporters : - chronicle/citrix_rx
Configuration parameters
Replace the following placeholders:
-
Receiver configuration:
-
include: Paths to Citrix Receiver log files:- Windows:
C:\Users\*\AppData\Local\Citrix\Receiver\*.log - Centralized collection: Adjust the path if logs are collected to a central share
- Windows:
-
start_at: Set tobeginningto read existing logs, orendto read only new entries -
poll_interval: How often to check for new log data (default:5s)
-
-
Exporter configuration:
-
citrix_rx: Descriptive name for the exporter -
creds_file_path: Full path to ingestion authentication file:- Linux:
/etc/bindplane-agent/ingestion-auth.json - Windows:
C:\Program Files\observIQ OpenTelemetry Collector\ingestion-auth.json
- Linux:
-
<customer_id>: Customer ID from the previous step -
endpoint: Regional endpoint URL:- US:
malachiteingestion-pa.googleapis.com - Europe:
europe-malachiteingestion-pa.googleapis.com - Asia:
asia-southeast1-malachiteingestion-pa.googleapis.com - See Regional Endpoints for complete list
- US:
-
CSG_CITRIX_RX: Log type exactly as it appears in Chronicle -
ingestion_labels: Optional labels in YAML format (for example,env: production)
-
-
Pipeline configuration:
-
citrix_rx_to_chronicle: Descriptive name for the pipeline
-
Save the configuration file
- After editing, save the file:
- Linux: Press
Ctrl+O, thenEnter, thenCtrl+X - Windows: Click File > Save
- Linux: Press
Restart the Bindplane agent to apply the changes
-
To restart the Bindplane agent in Linux, run the following command:
sudo systemctl restart observiq-otel-collector-
Verify the service is running:
sudo systemctl status observiq-otel-collector -
Check logs for errors:
sudo journalctl -u observiq-otel-collector -f
-
-
To restart the Bindplane agent in Windows, choose one of the following options:
-
Command Prompt or PowerShell as administrator:
net stop observiq-otel-collector && net start observiq-otel-collector -
Services console:
- Press
Win+R, typeservices.msc, and press Enter. - Locate observIQ OpenTelemetry Collector.
- Right-click and select Restart.
-
Verify the service is running:
sc query observiq-otel-collector -
Check logs for errors:
type "C:\Program Files\observIQ OpenTelemetry Collector\log\collector.log"
- Press
-
Enable Citrix Receiver logging and configure log collection
Logging is disabled by default in Citrix Receiver. You must enable it using registry entries before log files are generated.
Enable logging on Windows
- Open Registry Editor(
regedit) as an administrator on the Citrix Receiver client machine. - Navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Citrix\Receiver. - Create a new String Valuenamed
EnableTracingand set it totrue. -
Create a new String Valuenamed
TracePathto specify the log output path. For example:-
C:\CitrixLogs\ - Alternatively, use the default path:
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Citrix\Receiver\
-
-
Restart the Citrix Receiver application for the changes to take effect.
Verify log file generation
- After enabling logging, open the Citrix Receiver and connect to a published resource.
- Navigate to the log directory:
- Default path:
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Citrix\Receiver\ - Custom path: The path specified in the
TracePathregistry value.
- Default path:
- Verify that
.logfiles are being created and contain session event data. -
Ensure the Bindplane agent has read permissions on the log directory and files.
UDM mapping table
| Log Field | UDM Mapping | Logic |
|---|---|---|
creationTime
|
metadata.event_timestamp
|
Parsed as dd/M/yyyy HH:mm:ss
|
timestamp
|
metadata.event_timestamp
|
Parsed as MMM d HH:mm:ss
|
has_principal
|
metadata.event_type
|
Mapped: true
→ NETWORK_CONNECTION
|
has_user
|
metadata.event_type
|
Mapped: true
→ USER_UNCATEGORIZED
|
logId
|
metadata.product_log_id
|
Directly mapped |
srcip
|
principal.asset.ip
|
Merged |
srcip
|
principal.ip
|
Merged |
userId
|
principal.user.userid
|
Directly mapped |
application
|
target.application
|
Directly mapped |
targetip
|
target.asset.ip
|
Merged |
targetip
|
target.ip
|
Merged |
resourcename
|
target.resource.name
|
Directly mapped |
|
N/A
|
metadata.event_type
|
Constant: NETWORK_CONNECTION
|
|
N/A
|
metadata.product_name
|
Constant: CSG Citrix RX
|
|
N/A
|
metadata.vendor_name
|
Constant: CSG Citrix RX
|
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