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OpenTelemetry Collector

The OpenTelemetry Collector offers a vendor-agnostic implementation on how to receive, process and export telemetry data. In addition, it removes the need to run, operate and maintain multiple agents/collectors in order to support open-source telemetry data formats (e.g. Jaeger, Prometheus, etc.) to multiple open-source or commercial back-ends.

Objectives:

• Usable: Reasonable default configuration, supports popular protocols, runs and collects out of the box.
• Performant: Highly stable and performant under varying loads and configurations.
• Observable: An exemplar of an observable service.
• Extensible: Customizable without touching the core code.
• Unified: Single codebase, deployable as an agent or collector with support for traces, metrics and logs.

Community

The OpenTelemetry Collector SIG is present at the #otel-collector channel on the CNCF Slack and meets once a week via video calls. If you are new to the CNCF Slack community, you can create an account. Everyone is invited to join those calls, which typically serves the following purposes:

• meet the humans behind the project
• get an opinion about specific proposals
• look for a sponsor for a proposed component after trying already via GitHub and Slack
• get attention to a specific pull-request that got stuck and is difficult to discuss asynchronously

We rotate our video calls between three time slots, in order to allow everyone to join at least once every three meetings. The rotation order is as follows:

Tuesday:

• 17:00 PT

Wednesday:

• 09:00 PT
• 05:00 PT

Contributors to the project are also welcome to have ad-hoc meetings for synchronous discussions about specific points. Post a note in #otel-collector-dev on Slack inviting others, specifying the topic to be discussed. Unless there are strong reasons to keep the meeting private, please make it an open invitation for other contributors to join. Try also to identify who would be the other contributors interested on that topic and in which timezones they are.

Remember that our source of truth is GitHub: every decision made via Slack or video calls has to be recorded in the relevant GitHub issue. Ideally, the agenda items from the meeting notes would include a link to the issue or pull request where a discussion is happening already. We acknowledge that not everyone can join Slack or the synchronous calls and don't want them to feel excluded.

Supported OTLP version

This code base is currently built against using OTLP protocol v1.10.0, considered Stable. See the OpenTelemetry Protocol Stability definition here.

Stability levels

See Stability Levels and versioning for more details.

Compatibility

When used as a library, the OpenTelemetry Collector attempts to track the currently supported versions of Go, as defined by the Go team. Removing support for an unsupported Go version is not considered a breaking change.

Support for Go versions on the OpenTelemetry Collector is updated as follows:

1. The first release after the release of a new Go minor version N will add build and tests steps for the new Go minor version.
2. The first release after the release of a new Go minor version N will remove support for Go version N-2.

Official OpenTelemetry Collector distro binaries will be built with a release in the latest Go minor version series.

Verifying the images signatures

[!NOTE] To verify a signed artifact or blob, first install Cosign, then follow the instructions below.

We are signing the images otel/opentelemetry-collector and otel/opentelemetry-collector-contrib using sigstore cosign tool and to verify the signatures you can run the following command:

$ cosign verify \
  --certificate-identity=https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-releases/.github/workflows/base-release.yaml@refs/tags/<RELEASE_TAG> \
  --certificate-oidc-issuer=https://token.actions.githubusercontent.com \
  <OTEL_COLLECTOR_IMAGE>

where:

• <RELEASE_TAG>: is the release that you want to validate
• <OTEL_COLLECTOR_IMAGE>: is the image that you want to check

Example:

```console $ cosign verify --certificate-identity=https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-releases/.github/workflows/base-release.yaml@refs/tags/v0.98.0 --certificate-oidc-issuer=https://token.actions.githubusercontent.com ghcr.io/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-releases/opentelemetry-collector-contrib:0.98.0

Verification for ghcr.io/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-releases/opentelemetry-collector-contrib:0.98.0 -- The following checks were performed on each of these signatures: - The cosign claims were validated - Existence of the claims in the transparency log was verified offline - The code-signing certificate was verified using trusted certificate authority certificates

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Contrib","1.3.6.1.4.1.57264.1.5":"open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-releases","1.3.6.1.4.1.57264.1.6":"refs/tags/v0.98.0","Bundle":{"SignedEntryTimestamp":"MEUCIQDdlmNeKXQrHnonwWiHLhLLwFDVDNoOBCn2sv85J9P8mgIgDQFssWJImo1hn38VlojvSCL7Qq5FMmtnGu0oLsNdOm8=","Payload":{"body":"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