We've reorganized our documentation navigation structure to align directly with your operational workflows. See the release notes and the walkthrough video for more information.

Collect VMware vCenter logs

Supported in:

Google secops SIEM

This document explains how to ingest VMware vCenter logs to Google Security Operations using the Bindplane agent.

VMware vCenter is a server management platform that generates JSON and syslog messages for virtual machine operations, host management, authentication, and configuration changes.

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 VMware vCenter server
If running behind a proxy, ensure firewall ports are open per the Bindplane agent requirements
Privileged access to the VMware vCenter Server Management web UI

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.

Note: This JSON file contains credentials for authenticating the Bindplane agent to Google SecOps.

Get Google SecOps customer ID

Sign in to the Google SecOps console.
Go to SIEM Settings > Profile.
Copy and save the Customer ID from the Organization Details section.

Note: The customer ID is required for configuring the Bindplane agent exporter.

Install the Bindplane agent

Install the Bindplane agent on your Windows or Linux operating system according to the following instructions.

Windows installation

Open Command Prompt or PowerShell as 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-collector
```
The 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-collector
```
The 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 syslog 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.yaml with the following configuration:

receivers:
    udplog:
        listen_address: "0.0.0.0:514"

exporters:
    chronicle/vmware_vcenter:
        compression: gzip
        creds_file_path: '/etc/bindplane-agent/ingestion-auth.json'
        customer_id: '<customer_id>'
        endpoint: malachiteingestion-pa.googleapis.com
        log_type: VMWARE_VCENTER
        raw_log_field: body

service:
    pipelines:
        logs/vmware_vcenter_to_chronicle:
            receivers:
                - udplog
            exporters:
                - chronicle/vmware_vcenter

Configuration parameters

Replace the following placeholders:

Receiver configuration:
- listen_address: IP address and port to listen on:
  - 0.0.0.0 to listen on all interfaces (recommended)
  - Port 514 is the standard syslog port (requires root on Linux; use 1514 for non-root)
Exporter configuration:
- 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
- customer_id: Customer ID copied from the Google SecOps console
- 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

Save the configuration file

After editing, save the file:
- Linux: Press Ctrl+O, then Enter, then Ctrl+X
- Windows: Click File > Save

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:
  1. Press Win+R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
  2. Locate observIQ OpenTelemetry Collector.
  3. Right-click and select Restart.
  4. Verify the service is running:
```
sc query observiq-otel-collector
```
  5. Check logs for errors:
```
type "C:\Program Files\observIQ OpenTelemetry Collector\log\collector.log"
```

Configure syslog in VMware vCenter

Sign in to the vCenter Server Management web UI.
Go to Syslog > Forwarding Configuration.
Click Configure to create a new forwarding configuration.
Provide the following configuration details:
- Server address: Enter the Bindplane agent IP address.
- Protocol: Select UDP.
- Port: Enter the Bindplane agent port number (for example, 514).
Click Save.
Click Send Test Message to verify the configuration.

UDM mapping table

The following table lists the log-to-UDM field mappings for VMware vCenter logs:

Log field	UDM mapping
`Access Mask`	`principal.process.access_mask`
`Account Domain`	`principal.administrative_domain`
`Account Name`	`target.user.userid`
`AccessControlRuleAction`	`security_result.action`
`AccessControlRuleName`	`security_result.rule_name`
`ACPolicy`	`security_result.rule_labels`
`admin`	`principal.resource.attribute.labels`
`agent.hostname`	`principal.hostname`, `principal.asset.hostname`
`agent.type`	`observer.application`
`agent.version`	`intermediary.platform_version`
`alarm_target`	`about.resource.name`
`api_call_method`	`metadata.product_event_type`
`app`	`principal.application`
`ApplicationProtocol`	`network.application_protocol`
`appname`	`principal.application`
`auth_date_time`	`metadata.collected_timestamp`
`auth_user`	`target.user.userid`
`Authentication Package`	`security_result.about.resource.name`
`basedn_group_iden`	`target.user.group_identifiers`
`bytes_received`	`network.received_bytes`
`bytes_sent`	`network.sent_bytes`
`Client`	`target.user.attribute.labels`
`Client Address`	`principal.ip`
`Client Port`	`principal.port`
`client_ip`	`principal.ip`, `principal.asset.ip`
`client_port`	`principal.port`
`ClientVersion`	`target.platform_version`
`cmd`	`target.process.command_line`
`ConnectionID`	`security_result.about.labels`
`cor_id`	`metadata.product_log_id`
`data_center`	`target.location.name`
`datacenter`	`target.location.name`
`desc`	`metadata.description`
`description_data`	`metadata.description`
`dest_ip`	`target.ip`, `target.asset.ip`
`dest_port`	`target.port`
`DeviceUUID`	`metadata.product_log_id`
`domain`	`principal.administrative_domain`
`dstip`	`target.ip`, `target.asset.ip`
`EgressZone`	`target.location.name`
`error_code`	`security_result.detection_fields`
`error_message`	`security_result.summary`
`event_name`	`metadata.product_event_type`
`eventid`	`metadata.product_event_type`
`EventPriority`	`security_result.severity`, `security_result.severity_details`
`@fields.company_name`	`principal.user.company_name`
`@fields.facility`	`principal.resource.resource_subtype`
`@fields.host`	`principal.hostname`, `principal.asset.hostname`
`@fields.privatecloud_id`	`principal.resource_ancestors.product_object_id`
`@fields.privatecloud_name`	`principal.resource_ancestors.name`
`@fields.procid`	`principal.process.pid`
`@fields.region_id`	`principal.location.country_or_region`
`file_path`	`target.process.file.full_path`
`file_type`	`network.http.response_headers`
`FirstPacketSecond`	`security_result.about.labels`
`f_path`	`target.file.full_path`
`function`	`security_result.detection_fields`
`hmethod`	`network.http.method`
`host.architecture`	`principal.asset.hardware`
`host.id`	`observer.asset_id`
`host.ip`	`principal.ip`, `principal.asset.ip`
`host.mac`	`principal.mac`
`host.os.kernel`	`principal.platform_patch_level`
`host.os.platform`	`target.platform`
`host.os.version`	`principal.platform_version`
`host_ip`	`principal.ip`, `principal.asset.ip`
`http_method`	`network.http.method`
`HTTPResponse`	`network.http.response_code`
`http_version`	`network.tls.version_protocol`
`i_ip`	`intermediary.ip`, `intermediary.asset.ip`
`i_port`	`intermediary.port`
`IngressZone`	`principal.location.name`
`InitiatorBytes`	`network.sent_bytes`
`InitiatorPackets`	`network.sent_packets`
`insertId`	`metadata.product_log_id`
`InstanceId`	`target.asset_id`
`inter_host_name`	`intermediary.hostname`
`inter_ip`	`intermediary.ip`
`inter_port`	`target.port`
`intermediary_ip`	`intermediary.ip`
`intermediary_port`	`intermediary.port`
`ip`	`target.ip`, `target.asset.ip`
`ips`	`principal.ip`, `principal.asset.ip`
`jsonPayload.appname`	`security_result.detection_fields`
`jsonPayload.facility`	`security_result.detection_fields`
`jsonPayload.hostname`	`principal.hostname`, `principal.asset.hostname`
`jsonPayload.message`	`security_result.detection_fields`
`jsonPayload.priority`	`security_result.detection_fields`
`jsonPayload.version`	`security_result.detection_fields`
`kv_msg1.cipher`	`network.tls.cipher`
`kv_msg1.ctladdr`	`intermediary.user.attribute.labels`
`kv_msg1.daemon`	`security_result.about.labels`
`kv_msg1.from`	`network.email.from`
`kv_msg1.get_error`	`intermediary.user.attribute.labels`
`kv_msg1.msgid`	`network.email.mail_id`
`kv_msg1.proto`	`security_result.about.labels`
`kv_msg1.size`	`network.sent_bytes`
`kv_msg1.stat`	`security_result.summary`
`kv_msg1.to`	`network.email.to`
`kv_msg1.verify`	`security_result.description`, `security_result.action`
`kv_msg1.version`	`network.tls.version`
`labels.log_type`	`metadata.product_event_type`
`labels.net.host.ip`	`principal.ip`, `principal.asset.ip`
`labels.net.host.port`	`principal.port`
`labels.net.peer.ip`	`intermediary.ip`, `intermediary.asset.ip`, `target.ip`, `target.asset.ip`
`labels.net.peer.port`	`intermediary.port`, `target.port`
`labels.net.transport`	`network.ip_protocol`
`level`	`security_result.severity`, `security_result.severity_details`
`level_name`	`security_result.severity`, `security_result.severity_details`
`local_address_1`	`observer.ip`
`local_address_2`	`observer.ip`
`local_port_1`	`observer.port`
`log.file.path`	`target.process.file.full_path`
`log.source.address`	`intermediary.ip`, `intermediary.port`
`log.syslog.severity.name`	`security_result.severity_details`
`log_id`	`metadata.product_log_id`
`log_level`	`security_result.severity`, `security_result.severity_details`
`logName`	`security_result.category_details`
`Logon Account`	`principal.user.userid`
`logstash.irm_site`	`target.location.name`
`logstash.process.host`	`additional.fields`
`mail_from`	`network.email.from`
`mail_to`	`network.email.to`
`msg`	`metadata.description`
`name`	`about.group.group_display_name`
`namespace`	`principal.namespace`
`NAPPolicy`	`security_result.rule_labels`
`o_ip`	`observer.ip`, `observer.asset.ip`
`o_port`	`observer.port`
`obj_h`	`additional.fields`
`obj_p`	`additional.fields`
`p_ip`	`principal.ip`, `principal.asset.ip`
`p_log_id`	`metadata.product_log_id`
`p_port`	`principal.port`
`p_user_id`	`principal.user.userid`
`p_vm_name`	`target.resource.name`
`parsable_message`	`metadata.description`
`pid`	`target.process.pid`
`port`	`intermediary.port`
`ppid`	`principal.process.pid`
`prin_app`	`principal.application`
`prin_domain`	`principal.administrative_domain`
`prin_name`	`principal.resource.attribute.labels`
`prin_pid`	`principal.process.pid`
`principal_email`	`principal.user.email_addresses`
`principal_ip1`	`principal.ip`, `principal.asset.ip`
`principal_ip2`	`principal.ip`, `principal.asset.ip`
`principal_port`	`principal.port`
`priority`	`security_result.severity`, `security_result.severity_details`
`process`	`principal.application`
`process_id`	`principal.process.pid`
`product_event_type`	`metadata.product_event_type`
`program`	`principal.application`
`Protocol`	`network.ip_protocol`
`providername`	`principal.application`
`r_bytes`	`network.received_bytes`
`r_name`	`principal.resource.name`
`ReferencedHost`	`target.hostname`, `target.asset.hostname`
`Relative Target Name`	`target.file.full_path`
`relay`	`intermediary.hostname`, `intermediary.ip`
`request_path`	`target.url`
`resource.labels.project_id`	`src.resource_ancestors.product_object_id`
`resource.type`	`src.user.attribute.labels`
`resource_name`	`target.resource.name`
`ResponderBytes`	`network.received_bytes`
`ResponderPackets`	`network.received_packets`
`response_code`	`network.http.response_code`
`response_details`	`target.resource.attribute.labels`
`role`	`target.user.attribute.roles`
`s_bytes`	`network.sent_bytes`
`sec_desc`	`security_result.description`
`Security ID`	`target.user.windows_sid`
`security_result_action_detail`	`security_result.action_details`
`server_name`	`target.hostname`, `target.asset.hostname`
`session_id`	`network.session_id`
`severity`	`security_result.severity`, `security_result.severity_details`
`severity_data`	`security_result.severity`, `security_result.severity_details`
`Share Name`	`target.resource.name`
`sid`	`about.group.windows_sid`
`Source Network Address`	`principal.ip`
`Source Port`	`principal.port`
`source_port`	`principal.port`
`src_ip`	`principal.ip`
`srcip`	`principal.ip`, `principal.asset.ip`
`ssh_proto`	`network.application_protocol`
`summary`	`security_result.summary`
`syslog_host`	`target.hostname`, `target.asset.hostname`
`t_ip`	`target.ip`, `target.asset.ip`
`t_port`	`target.port`
`t_url`	`target.url`
`tags`	`additional.fields`
`principal_app`	`principal.application`
`target_domain`	`target.administrative_domain`
`target_host`	`target.hostname`, `target.asset.hostname`
`target_ip1`	`target.ip`, `target.asset.ip`
`target_ip2`	`target.ip`, `target.asset.ip`
`target_port`	`target.port`
`target_userid`	`target.user.userid`
`temp_host`	`intermediary.hostname`
`tgt_domain`	`target.administrative_domain`
`tgt_user`	`target.user.userid`
`thread_id`	`principal.resource.attribute.labels`
`tls_cipher`	`network.tls.cipher`
`type`	`metadata.product_event_type`
`upn_name`	`intermediary.url`
`upstream_ip`	`target.ip`, `target.asset.ip`
`upstream_port`	`target.port`
`URL`	`target.url`
`User`	`security_result.summary`
`user`	`target.user.userid`, `principal.user.userid`
`User ID`	`target.user.userid`
`user_id`	`principal.user.userid`
`UserAgent`	`network.http.user_agent`, `network.http.parsed_user_agent`
`username`	`principal.user.userid`
`usrName`	`target.user.userid`
`vc_event_obj_id`	`target.asset.asset_id`
`vc_event_severity`	`security_result.severity`, `security_result.severity_details`
`vc_username`	`target.user.userid`
`ver_proto`	`network.tls.version`
`version`	`metadata.product_version`
`@version`	`principal.platform_version`
`vpxd_some_id`	`additional.fields`
`LEEF_version`	`additional.fields`
`ICMPType`	`additional.fields`
`ICMPCode`	`additional.fields`
`IngressInterface`	`additional.fields`
`EgressInterface`	`additional.fields`
`WebApplication`	`additional.fields`
`DNSQuery`	`additional.fields`
`DNSRecordType`	`additional.fields`
`DNSResponseType`	`additional.fields`
`DNS_TTL`	`additional.fields`
`ApplicationProtocol`	`additional.fields`
`service.type`	`additional.fields`
`log.syslog.facility.code`	`additional.fields`
`log.syslog.facility.name`	`additional.fields`
`log.syslog.severity.code`	`additional.fields`
`log.syslog.priority`	`additional.fields`
`host.os.name`	`additional.fields`
`host.os.build`	`additional.fields`
`labels.plugin_id`	`additional.fields`
`opID`	`additional.fields`
`sub`	`additional.fields`
`api_invocations`	`additional.fields`
`vc_event_cat_0`	`additional.fields`
`vc_event_cat_1`	`additional.fields`
`vc_event_chain_id`	`additional.fields`
`vc_event_obj_name`	`additional.fields`
`vc_event_obj_type`	`additional.fields`
`p_log_id_repeat`	`additional.fields`
`sys_priority`	`additional.fields`
`facility`	`additional.fields`
`originator`	`additional.fields`
`originator_id`	`additional.fields`
`subsystem`	`additional.fields`
`request_timestamp`	`additional.fields`
`response_flags`	`additional.fields`
`duration_total_ms`	`additional.fields`
`duration_upstream_connect_ms`	`additional.fields`
`duration_response_tx_ms`	`additional.fields`
`local_port_2`	`additional.fields`
`proc_id`	`additional.fields`
`eventid_label`	`additional.fields`
`Logger_Name`	`additional.fields`
`subcomponent`	`additional.fields`
`op_id`	`additional.fields`
`vcenter_uuid_1`	`additional.fields`
`vcenter_uuid_2`	`additional.fields`
`object_lookup_method`	`additional.fields`
`conn_id`	`additional.fields`
`performed_action`	`additional.fields`
`login_time`	`additional.fields`
`open_connections`	`additional.fields`
`total_connections`	`additional.fields`
`channel_id`	`additional.fields`
`line_number`	`additional.fields`
`vc_event_desc`	`additional.fields`
`uid`	`additional.fields`
`euid`	`additional.fields`
`ruser`	`additional.fields`
`tty`	`additional.fields`
`tenant`	`additional.fields`
`duration_ms`	`additional.fields`
`provider`	`additional.fields`
`provider_type`	`additional.fields`
`response_flag`	`additional.fields`
`http_path`	`additional.fields`
`unknown_metric_1`	`additional.fields`
`unknown_metric_2`	`additional.fields`
`sequence_id`	`additional.fields`
`syslog_facility_code`	`additional.fields`
`syslog_severity_code`	`additional.fields`
`syslog_severity`	`additional.fields`
`syslog_pri`	`additional.fields`
`syslog_facility`	`additional.fields`
`logstash.collect.timestamp`	`additional.fields`
`logstash.ingest.timestamp`	`additional.fields`
`logstash.process.timestamp`	`additional.fields`
`logstash.irm_site`	`additional.fields`
`logstash.irm_environment`	`additional.fields`
`logstash.irm_region`	`additional.fields`
`agent.id`	`additional.fields`
`agent.ephemeral_id`	`additional.fields`
`ecs.version`	`additional.fields`
`input.type`	`additional.fields`

UDM mapping delta reference

On September 15, 2026, Google SecOps released a new version of the VMware vCenter parser, which includes changes to the mapping of VMware vCenter log fields to UDM fields.

Log-field mapping delta

The following table lists the mapping delta for VMware vCenter log-to-UDM fields exposed prior to September 15, 2026 and subsequently (listed in the Old mapping and Current mapping columns respectively):

Log field	Old mapping	Current mapping	Reason for change
`appname`	`target.application`	`principal.application`	This is considered the tool initiating the action by the user, making it the principal application originating the event rather than the destination being acted upon.
`auth_user`	`principal.user.userid`	`target.user.userid`	This is a user login event for which the user is being acted upon.
`logstash.process.host`	`target.hostname`	`additional.fields`	This field is added by the Logstash pipeline. It indicates the hostname of the server where the Logstash process is running, which is part of the log collection infrastructure. This host is not the source of the event itself, but rather an intermediary processing the log.
`username`	`target.user.userid`	`principal.user.userid`	This userid belongs to the src of event and not the target.
`domain`	`target.administrative_domain`	`principal.administrative_domain`	This domain belongs to the src of event and not the target.
`resource.labels.project_id`	`src.cloud.project.id`	`src.resource_ancestors.product_object_id`	Previous field deprecated.
`target_app`	`target.application`	`principal.application`	The log specifically describes an internal Single Sign-On.
`process`	`additional.fields`	`principal.application`	Better suited.
`app`	`target.application`	`principal.application`	The log specifically describes an internal Single Sign-On.
`@fields.privatecloud_id`	`principal.cloud.project.id`	`principal.resource_ancestors.product_object_id`	Previous field deprecated.
`@fields.privatecloud_name`	`principal.cloud.project.name`	`principal.resource_ancestors.name`	Previous field deprecated.
`@fields.facility`	`principal.resource.type`	`principal.resource.resource_subtype`	Previous field deprecated.
`Client`	`target.labels`	`target.user.attribute.labels`	Previous field deprecated.
`kv_msg1.ctladdr`	`intermediary.labels`	`intermediary.user.attribute.labels`	Previous field deprecated.
`kv_msg1.get_error`	`intermediary.labels`	`intermediary.user.attribute.labels`	Previous field deprecated.
`resource.type`	`src.labels`	`src.user.attribute.labels`	Previous field deprecated.
`admin`	`principal.user.attribute.labels`	`principal.resource.attribute.labels`	Previous field deprecated.
`role`	`target.user.role_name`	`target.user.attribute.roles`	Previous field deprecated.
`syslog_host`	Unmapped	`target.hostname`	Newly added field mapping.
`log.source.address`	Unmapped	`intermediary.ip`, `intermediary.port`	Newly added field mapping.
`agent.type`	Unmapped	`observer.application`	Newly added field mapping.
`agent.version`	Unmapped	`intermediary.platform_version`	Newly added field mapping.
`pid`	Unmapped	`target.process.pid`	Newly added field mapping.
`temp_host`	Unmapped	`intermediary.hostname`	Newly added field mapping.
`port`	Unmapped	`intermediary.port`	Newly added field mapping.
`inter_hostname`	Unmapped	`intermediary.hostname`	Newly added field mapping.
`tgt_user`	Unmapped	`target.user.userid`	Newly added field mapping.
`tgt_domain`	Unmapped	`target.administrative_domain`	Newly added field mapping.
`alarm_target`	Unmapped	`about.resource.name`	Newly added field mapping.
`prin_app`	Unmapped	`principal.application`	Newly added field mapping.
`dest_ip`	Unmapped	`target.ip`	Newly added field mapping.
`dest_port`	Unmapped	`target.port`	Newly added field mapping.
`error_message`	Unmapped	`security_result.summary`	Newly added field mapping.
`error_code`	Unmapped	`security_result.detection_fields`	Newly added field mapping.
`function`	Unmapped	`security_result.detection_fields`	Newly added field mapping.
`thread_id`	Unmapped	`principal.resource.attribute.labels`	Newly added field mapping.
`obj_p`	Unmapped	`additional.fields`	Newly added field mapping.
`obj_h`	Unmapped	`additional.fields`	Newly added field mapping.

Change Log

View the Change Log for this parser

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