Collect F5 DNS logs
This document explains how to ingest F5 DNS logs to Google Security Operations using
Bindplane. The parser extracts fields from F5 DNS syslog messages using grok
patterns based on the application field, then maps them to the Unified Data Model
(UDM). It handles various F5 applications like gtmd 
, mcpd 
, big3d 
, and
others, parsing specific fields and setting the appropriate UDM event type,
severity, and descriptions based on the log level and application.
Before you begin
Make sure you have the following prerequisites:
- A Google SecOps instance
- A Windows 2016 or later, or a Linux host with systemd
- If running behind a proxy, firewall ports are open
- Privileged access to F5 BIG-IP
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 the 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
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
Additional installation resources
For additional installation options, consult the installation guide .
Configure the Bindplane agent to ingest Syslog and send to Google SecOps
- Access the configuration file: - Locate the config.yamlfile. Typically, it's in the/etc/bindplane-agent/directory on Linux or in the installation directory on Windows.
- Open the file using a text editor (for example, nano,vi, or Notepad).
 
- Locate the 
-  Edit the config.yamlfile as follows:receivers : udplog : # Replace the port and IP address as required listen_address : "0.0.0.0:514" exporters : chronicle/chronicle_w_labels : compression : gzip # Adjust the path to the credentials file you downloaded in Step 1 creds_file_path : '/path/to/ingestion-authentication-file.json' # Replace with your actual customer ID from Step 2 customer_id : < customer_id > endpoint : malachiteingestion-pa.googleapis.com # Add optional ingestion labels for better organization log_type : 'F5_DNS' raw_log_field : body ingestion_labels : service : pipelines : logs/source0__chronicle_w_labels-0 : receivers : - udplog exporters : - chronicle/chronicle_w_labels- Replace the port and IP address as required in your infrastructure.
- Replace <customer_id>with the actual customer ID.
- Update /path/to/ingestion-authentication-file.jsonto the path where the authentication file was saved in the Get Google SecOps ingestion authentication file section.
 
Restart the Bindplane agent to apply the changes
-  To restart the Bindplane agent in Linux, run the following command: sudo systemctl restart bindplane-agent
-  To restart the Bindplane agent in Windows, you can either use the Servicesconsole or enter the following command: net stop BindPlaneAgent && net start BindPlaneAgent
Configure a pool of remote logging servers
- Sign in to the F5 BIG-IPweb UI.
- On the Maintab, go to DNS > Delivery > Load Balancing > Pools or Local Traffic > Pools.
- Click Create.
- Provide the following configuration details: - Name: Enter a unique name for the pool.
- Using New Memberssetting: - Enter the Bindplane agent IP address in the Addressfield.
- Enter the Bindplane agent port number in the Service Portfield.
 
 
- Click Add > Finished.
Configure the remote log destination
- On the Maintab, go to System > Logs > Configuration > Log Destinations.
- Click Create.
- Provide the following configuration details: - Name: Enter a unique name for this destination.
- Type: Select Remote High-Speed Log.
- Pool Name: Select the pool of remote log servers to which you want the BIG-IP system to send log messages.
- Protocol: Select the protocol used.
 
- Click Finished.
Creating a formatted remote log destination
- On the Maintab, go to System > Logs > Configuration > Log Destinations.
- Click Create.
- Provide the following configuration details: - Name: Enter a unique name for this destination.
- Type: Select Remote Syslog.
- Format: Select the log format.
- Forward To: Select High-Speed Log Destination > the destination that points to the pool of remote Syslog servers.
 
- Click Finished.
Configure Log Publisher
- On the Maintab, go to System > Logs > Configuration > Log Publishers.
- Click Create.
- Provide the following configuration details: - Name: Enter a unique name for this publisher.
- Destinations: Select the newly-created destination for Remote Syslogfrom the Availablelist, and then click keyboard_double_arrow_left Moveto move the destination to the Selectedlist.
 
- Click Finished.
Configure a custom DNS logging profile
- On the Maintab, go to DNS > Delivery > Profiles > Other > DNS Logging or Local Traffic > Profiles > Other > DNS Logging.
- Click Create.
- Provide the following configuration details: - Name: Enter a unique name for this profile.
- Log Publisher: Select the newly-created destination to which the system sends DNS log entries.
- Log Queries: Select the Enabledcheckbox.
- Log Responses: Select the Enabledcheckbox.
- Include Query ID: Select the Enabledcheckbox.
 
- Click Finished.
Add the DNS profile to the DNS Listener
- On the Maintab, go to DNS > Delivery > Listeners > select DNS listener.
- From the DNS profilein the Servicesection, select the DNS profilethat you configured previously.
- Click Update.
UDM mapping table
| Log Field | UDM Mapping | Logic | 
|---|---|---|
| application | principal.application | Directly mapped from the applicationfield. | 
| cipher_name | network.tls.cipher | Directly mapped from the cipher_namefield. | 
| command_line | principal.process.command_line | Directly mapped from the command_linefield. | 
| desc | security_result.description | Directly mapped from the descfield. | 
| desc_icrd | security_result.description | Directly mapped from the desc_icrdfield. | 
| dest_ip | target.ip | Directly mapped from the dest_ipfield. | 
| dest_port | target.port | Directly mapped from the dest_portfield. | 
| file_path | principal.process.file.full_path | Directly mapped from the file_pathfield. Set totrueiflevelis "alert", otherwise not present. Set totrueiflevelis "alert", otherwise not present. | 
| msg3 | security_result.description | Directly mapped from the msg3field whenapplicationis "run-parts". | 
|  | metadata.event_type | Set to GENERIC_EVENTifevent_typeis empty, otherwise mapped fromevent_type. Hardcoded to "DNS". Hardcoded to "F5". | 
| principal_hostname | principal.hostname | Directly mapped from the principal_hostnamefield. | 
| proc_id | principal.process.pid | Directly mapped from the proc_idfield. | 
| received_bytes | network.received_bytes | Directly mapped from the received_bytesfield. | 
| resource_id | target.resource.id | Directly mapped from the resource_idfield. | 
| resource_parent | principal.resource.parent | Directly mapped from the resource_parentfield. | 
| response_code | network.http.response_code | Directly mapped from the response_codefield. Determined based on thelevelfield. | 
| src_ip | principal.ip | Directly mapped from the src_ipfield. | 
| src_port | principal.port | Directly mapped from the src_portfield. | 
| tls_version | network.tls.version | Directly mapped from the tls_versionfield. | 
| userName | principal.user.userid | Directly mapped from the userNamefield. | 
| when | event.timestamp | Calculated from datetime1andtimezoneordatetimeandtimezone. | 
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