How to use Lambda extensions with Sumo Logic to reduce operational overhead and improve performance

Today, we are excited to announce that you can get real-time logs from AWS Lambda functions directly into Sumo Logic using the new Sumo Logic extension. Through this new integration, Sumo Logic and AWS make it possible to reduce operational overhead and improve performance.

AWS Lambda Extensions enable Sumo Logic to more easily integrate into the AWS Lambda execution environment to control and participate in the AWS Lambda lifecycle. Now, via the new AWS Lambda Runtime Logs API we can also collect function, platform, and extension logs and send them directly to Sumo Logic.

Reduce operational and cost overhead through a simplified workflow

With the addition of AWS Lambda Logs API, you no longer need to maintain and pay for an additional AWS Lambda function for sending Lambda logs collected via CloudWatch to Sumo Logic. AWS’s new Lambda Logs API allows extensions to subscribe to function logs generated by Lambda functions allowing Sumo Logic to create an extension which uses this new API. This new integration can also help you forgo paying for CloudWatch storage.  

[Learn More: AWS Monitoring]

Speeding up log ingestion and automatic failover

In addition to greatly simplifying operation overhead, integration with the Lambda Logs API enables you to get your mission-critical AWS Lambda logs faster. By avoiding the batching of logs performed by an intermediary such as CloudWatch, you can now get instant visibility into the health and performance of your Lambda function with logs sent directly to Sumo Logic. Furthermore, this extension has automatic failover capabilities with logs being saved in an Amazon S3 bucket in case logs aren’t sent to Sumo Logic. 

Open Source code

The Sumo Logic AWS Lambda extension is also completely open source and available in our Github repository, so you can review the code before deploying it to ensure that the extension is not doing anything you wouldn’t expect. Furthermore, we welcome you to contribute to this project and add functionality you think would be most useful. 

How does it work 

The new Sumo Logic extension supports all existing AWS Lambda runtimes that support Lambda Extensions and shares the same CPU and memory resources with your AWS Lambda function. To get started, you first need to identify an existing Sumo Logic HTTPS source within a hosted collector. Next, add the Sumo Logic Lambda extension to your existing AWS Lambda functions as an AWS Lambda layer by specifying its Amazon Resource Name (ARN). You will then configure the environment variables for the extension that include the URL of the HTTPS source, the log types you want to collect and details of an Amazon S3 bucket for failover. Once done, all AWS Lambda logs will automatically be sent to the HTTPS source, which you can then analyze in Sumo Logic via our search and dashboard functionality. 

Health and performance data at your fingertips with AWS and Sumo Logic 

With streamlined workflow and reduced complexity, the Lambda Logs API integration makes getting data to your teams easier than ever. For more information on the integration with Sumo Logic, please check out our technical documentation, and for more information about sending Lambda logs to custom destinations like Sumo Logic, check out the announcement post from AWS.