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AppLogs Query Language

Collect, consolidate, index, and search logs to gain actionable insights using Site24x7 AppLogs. Add a log profile and log type to start managing your logs now. Run easy to understand language search to filter out invalid values and obtain actionable results quickly. Get to know more about query syntax, structure, and types from this doc.

Overview 

Here is a how-to video to search your logs using the query language in AppLogs:

Syntax 

Supported operators

Operator Description
logtype Search for logs of a particular framework type
monitor_name Search for logs from a particular monitor
monitor_group Search for logs from a particular monitor group
tags Search for logs from monitors that share a common tag
and Add a query constraint that includes the previous query
or Add a query constraint that excludes the previous query
ratio Find the ratio between the log message count that matches two different search criteria
groupby Find the count of repetitive values in the specified field
timeslice Display the time for a log based on a specified interval
is empty Designates that the associated field has a null value
is not empty Designates that the associated field does not have a null value
sum Returns the sum of the selected values in the field
min Returns the minimum value in the field
max Returns the maximum value in the field
avg Returns the average of the values in the field
sd Returns the standard deviation value
distinct Returns only the distinct (different) values
count_distinct Returns the count of the distinct values
count Returns the number of log messages that match the query
include Shows only the selected fields from the search output
exclude Excludes and shows values other than the given fields from the search output
before Returns the result of the query in the same time an hour, a day, or a week before
timeslice with before Compares the query at the same time an hour, a day, or a week before, sliced by time
count with before Compares the count of the results at the same time an hour, a day, or a week before
having Apply conditions over the groupby query and get the required output
sort Returns the sorted values based on some fields
STARTSWITH Gives the values that start with the given search criteria
LIKE Allows to use search criteria with asterisk in values
in Similar to using multiple 'or' with '='
notin Similar to using multiple 'and' with '!='
histo Gives a histogram for a numerical field
range Returns a custom range for a histogram
range interval Returns a constant interval output for a histogram
tophits Obtain the most recent value for the grouped elements.
percentage Displays the ratio in terms of 100.
percentile and percents The value below which a given percentage of data is present.

Numeric operators

If a field is a number field, you can include operators (>, <, =, !=, <=, or >=) to match it with its value. 

Operator Description
> Is greater than.
< Is less than.
= Is equal to.
>= Is greater than and equal to.
<= Is less than and equal to.

Note: 

Units of a field value can also be given in the query condition as converted units instead of raw units. 

For example, unit of timetaken field is milliseconds. So, instead of writing this query as,

logtype="Apache Access Logs" and timetaken>1000

It can also be written as,

logtype="Apache Access Logs" and timetaken>1s

 

String operators

If a field is a string field or any non-numeric field, it can have have the following operators: =, !=, and CONTAINS. 

Operator Description
= Is equal to.
!= Is not equal to.
Does not contain.
CONTAINS Returns values that contain the preferred value.
DOES NOT CONTAIN Returns values that do not contain the preferred value.

The "CONTAINS" query in the query language operates differently from a standard string "CONTAINS" query. It checks for matching tokens in the log, so a single word without spaces, special characters or changes in letter casing is indexed as a single token and will not be fetched by the "CONTAINS" query.

For instance, consider the sample strings and their corresponding tokens below:

Sample strings Token
User U, ser
UserName User -> U, ser, Name->N,ame
Status200 Status->S, tatus, 200

In the screenshot below (Fig 1), the first log line was excluded by the "CONTAINS" query (Fig 2) because the term "error" did not match the single token "errortest," which was treated as a single token by the "CONTAINS" query.

Fig 1

Fig 2

In such cases, you can use the "LIKE" query as shown in the screenshot below:

Query template 

The general format for how a query should look like is as follows:

logtype = "examplelogtype" and "exampleNumericField1" [>,<,=,<=,>=] "dummynumber" or "examplestringfield1" [CONTAINS,!=,=] "examplesubstring1" groupby "examplestringfield2" timeslice [h,d,m] 

Limitations to query constraints

  • The timeslice and count constraints cannot have any other constraint come after them.
  • groupby constraint can only be followed by a timeslice constraint.
  • Count and count distinct constraints cannot co-exist.
  • A Count constraint can be used only at the end of a query and the query should not contain groupby, timeslice, and aggregation constraints in it.

Query language

To search using query language, follow this format: 

logtype="(name of log type)" and (other conditions)

In this format:

  • (name of log type) should be the display name of any previously added log type.
  • (other conditions) could be any conditions. You can use the following operators for each condition: and, or, or !.

Sample query:

   logtype="SysLogs" and application CONTAINS "systemd"

In this example:

  • (name of the log type) is SysLogs. 
  • (other conditions) is application CONTAINS "systemd".

Query language

Result: This query fetches the log entries with the log type "SysLogs" and the application field containing "systemd". 

Combining queries

You can also group together multiple conditions like in the examples below.

  • Simple queries with monitor name

logtype="SysLogs" and monitor_name CONTAINS "Zylker-server" and application CONTAINS "kernel"

In this query, both the monitor name and the application field value will be used to search for logs. Values with the monitor name "Zylker-server" and applications containing "kernel" will be displayed as a result. 

logtype="SysLogs" and (application CONTAINS "kernel" or application CONTAINS "systemd") and message CONTAINS "pcieport"

In this query, the conditions inside the bracket are grouped together. Any log entry with application field containing "kernel" or "systemd" will be displayed as a result.

  • Timeslice

Adding timeslice (time period) at the end of a query generates a table of the selected total time period for the query, divided by slices of time specified in query versus count of log entries. Possible timeslice values use the units d (day), h (hour), or m (minute).

logtype="SysLogs" timeslice 2h
In this query, a search of the last 24 hours provides 12 entries (i.e. 24 hours with a time slice of two hours gives 12 total entries).

Timeslice query

  • Or

Returns a value that matches either of the conditions provided.

logtype="IIS Access Logs" and (method="GET" or method="POST" or method="PUT")

This query fetches all GET, POST, and PUT method requests.

Or query

  • is empty

Returns results when the associated field doesn't contain any value.

logtype="Windows Event Logs" and IsEmpty(user)

  • is not empty

Returns results when the associated field contains any value.

logtype="Windows Event Logs" and IsNotEmpty(source)

  • Ratio

Using this operator, you can find the ratio between two query outputs. You can use the or query to compare the two criteria and append them with the ratio to fetch the result in the search query. Use timeslice to filter out the ratio at a specific time interval.

logtype="Apache Access Logs" and (status=200 or status>200) ratio
logtype="Apache Access Logs" and (status=200 or status>200) timeslice 1h ratio

  • Groupby

Groupby (field name) shows the number of entries with the same value for the provided field.

logtype="SysLogs" groupby application

In this query, the number of entries with the same value for the field "application" are displayed.

Groupby Query

  • SUM(), MIN(), MAX(), AVG()

Using this, you can find the minimum, maximum, average, and sum of the number fields in your logs.

For example, you can use this for numerical values in your logs wherein you wish to obtain the aggregate data.

logtype="IIS Access Logs" AVG(timetaken) MIN(timetaken) MAX(timetaken) SUM(timetaken)

This query fetches the aggregate time taken values.

Aggregate query

  • Standard Deviation

Using this, you can find sd values for a set of data. This helps you determine the amount of variablity in the given data set. You can use sd to find variations of metrics like responsesize and timetaken, from their average value.

For example, the following query,

logtype="Apache Access Logs" sd(responsesize)

Returns the sd value for response size across the logs.

SD value of an applog query

  • Distinct

By using distinct in the query, you can fetch a table that contains only distinct values.

For example, you can use distinct when there are multiple repeated values but you wish to obtain only distinct values in a table as your search result.

logtype="Windows Event Logs" distinct(source)

As a result distinct sources and their counts are displayed. 

Distinct query

  • Count distinct

Count distinct in a query fetches only the count of the distinct values.

For example, when you want to know the total number of the specified distinct value in your logs, count distinct can be used. 

logtype="Windows Event Logs" COUNT_DISTINCT(source)

The result displays the count of the distinct values.

Count and Count distinct cannot co-exist.

Count distinct query

  • Count

Using Count at the end of a query will give you the total number of log messages that match the constraints in the query.

logtype="Windows Event Logs" and source CONTAINS "Microsoft-Windows-Security-Auditing" count

The result fetches the number of log messages that match the above conditions.

Count query

  • Combining groupby and aggregation together

The search below generates a groupby table, with additional columns for aggregation values.  

For example, when you want aggregate results for the values grouped in a groupby table, this combination can be helpful.

logtype="IIS Access Logs" AVG(timetaken) MIN(timetaken) MAX(timetaken) groupby stemuri

In this query, MinMaxAvg, and Count of unique stemuri are displayed.

Aggregate grouoby query

  •  Combining timeslice and aggregation together

The search below generates a timeslice table, with additional columns for aggregation values.  

For example, when you want aggregate results on a timely basis, you can use this combination.

logtype="IIS Access Logs" AVG(timetaken) MIN(timetaken) MAX(timetaken) timeslice 1h

In this query, MinMaxAvg, and Count timesliced by one hour is displayed.

Aggregate timeslice query

  • Combining groupby and timeslice together

The search below generates a timeslice table, with an additional column for groupby values. Going from left to right, the columns read: timeslicecount, and value(s).

For example, when you want your results timesliced, and at the same time grouped based on the given constraint, you can use both groupby and timeslice together in a query.

logtype="SysLogs" groupby application timeslice 1d

In this query, the number of log entries that are timesliced by a day and have the same values for the field "application" are displayed.

Groupby timeslice query

  • Multiple groupby

The search below generates a table with multiple groupby options.

For example, when you have multiple options for groupby, you can use groupby separated by commas so that you can consolidate and view multilevel groupbys in a single table.

logtype="ServerLogs" groupby sourcefilename,loglevel,threadname

In this query, multiple groupby conditions are grouped together.

Multiple groupby query

  • Include

Using Include in a search query fetches results with the specified fields diaplayed.

logtype="SysLogs" | include(application,message)

In this query, the search output will be displayed along with application, message.
Include query

  • Exclude

Using Exclude in a search query fetches results with the specified fields omitted.

logtype="SysLogs" | exclude(pid)

In this query, the search output will be displayed without the message pid.
Exclude query

  • Before

Using this operator you can view the result of the query in the same time, an hour, a day or a week ago.

For example, when you want the result for the given query that was available before some time, use before.

logtype="Apache Access Logs" avg(responsesize) | before 7d

This query will fetch the avg(responsesize) that was at the same time a week ago.
Before query

  • Timeslice with before

Using this in the query, you can compare the result of the query in the same time, an hour, a day or a week ago, at frequent intervals.

For example, when you want to compare the trend of the status code for the same day last week at a specified frequency, you can use timeslice with before.

logtype="IIS Access Logs" and statuscode>400 timeslice 1h | before 7d

This query will fetch the statuscodes > 400 that was at the same time a week ago, at one hour intervals.
Timeslice with before in query

  • Count with before

Using this in the query, you can compare the count of the result of the query in the same time, an hour, a day or a week ago.

For example, when you want to compare the number of failure status codes for the same day last week, you can use count with before.

logtype="IIS Access Logs" and statuscode>200 count | before 7d

This query will fetch the failure statuscodes that was at the same time a week ago.
Count with before in query

  • Having

Using this operator you can apply some condition over the groupby query and get the required output.

logtype="Apache Access Logs" groupby requesturi having avg(responsesize)>10240

This query fetches the output for requesturi which has avg(responsesize)>10240.
Having query

  • Sort

This sorts the requests based on some fields.

For example, when you want to organize or categorize your results based on some values, you can use sort.

Note: This can be used only with group queries.

logtype="Apache Access Logs" groupby requesturi sort avg(responsesize)

This query fetches the output for requesturi sorted by the avg(responsesize) value.
Sort query

  • STARTSWITH

Gives the values that start with the given search criteria. This fetches results similar to using LIKE with a * at the end. i.e., searching STARTSWITH "Log" will be similar to searching LIKE "Log*"

logtype="Windows Event Logs" and source STARTSWITH "Micro"

This fetches results for all the sources that start with Micro.

Startswith query

  • LIKE

This is case sensitive and allows to use search criteria with asterisk in values.
For example, LIKE "Log*n" will match both Logon and Login.

logtype="Windows Event Logs" and source LIKE "Microsoft*Auditing"

This fetches results for any source with Microsoft Security Auditing, Microsoft Windows Auditing, etcLike query

  • in

Similar to using multiple 'or' with '='. All values in a set will be compared.
For example, Status in("200","404","500") will be the same as (status="200" or status="404" or status="500").

logtype="Apache Access Logs" and referer in("Refer 2, "Refer 1")

This fetches results similar to (referer="Refer 2" or referer="Refer 1")

In query

  • notin

Similar to using multiple 'and' with '!='. All values in a set will be compared.
For example, status notin("200","404","500") will be the same as (status!="200" and status!="404" and status!="500").

logtype="Apache Access Logs" and referer notin("Refer 2, "Refer 1")

This fetches results similar to (referer!="Refer 2" or referer!="Refer 1")

Notin query

  • histo

Gives histogram for a numerical field. This is similar to groupby, but instead of a common value, a range of values is returned.

logtype="Apache Access Logs" histo responsesize 

This fetches a histogram based on the response size.
Histo query

 

Note:

You can also use histogram along with groupby to further partition and analyze the log data.

For example,

logtype="Apache Access Logs" histo responsesize groupby requesturi
         
This query groups the requesturi by their count and histo categorizes based on their response size.

Histogram groupby
 
Another example:
 
logtype="Apache Access Logs" groupby requesturi histo responsesize
 
This query groups the request by histo of response size and groups the url based on their count. 

Groupby Histogram
  • range

This is used to fetch a custom range from a histogram. Range should be used only after histo.

For example, status notin("200","404","500") will be the same as (status!="200" and status!="404" and status!="500").

logtype="Apache Access Logs" histo responsesize range(3800 to 4000,4200 to 4400)

This fetches a histogram for the custom range values mentioned.

Range query

  • range interval

This is used to fetch results with custom time intreval from a histogram. Range interval should be used only after histo.

For example, when a range interval is specified after a histogram field, it fetches the histogram for the custom time interval.

logtype="Apache Access Logs" histo timetaken 1s

This fetches a histogram for the custom time interval of 1s.

Histo range interval query

  • tophits

Use tophits with groupby query to extract the most recent value from the grouped elements. Using the tophits query, you may retrieve important metrics from logs.

logtype="Kafka-Topic-Status" tophits(topicname,offset,lag) groupby topicname

You can get the most current values on various topic statuses in the above query, such as topic offset and lag count.

Tophits

  • percentage

Using percentage, derive general statistical information from logs. You may find the percentage of failed requests with the query below.

logtype="IIS Access Logs" and statuscode>=400 percentage

  • percentile and percents

Use percentile and percent to interpret performance data more accurately.

logtype="IIS Access Logs" percentile(TimeTaken) percents(95)

You may find the 95th percentile of a request's processing time with the query above.

Recent searches:

You can reuse the recent search from our Recent Search History instead of typing it every time. You can view them by following the steps below:

    1. Click the Saved and recent search icon icon in the search box.
    2. You can view your recent search queries below the saved searches. You can also save your search queries for future use.

      Saved search
 
You can always contact support@site24x7.com if you want to build specific queries for analyzing logs. There's no charge for executing queries or scanning indexed logs.

Related articles:

Further reading

Blog: 10 filter patterns that are helpful for managing your logs

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