How do I normalize the JSON response in the filebeat configuration

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Summary

The goal is to normalize the JSON response in the filebeat configuration, specifically the “message” field, to make it more readable and easier to parse. The current “message” field is a JSON string that needs to be parsed and transformed into a JSON object.

Root Cause

The root cause of this issue is that the “message” field is being sent as a JSON string instead of a JSON object. This is likely due to the way the logs are being generated and processed by filebeat.

Why This Happens in Real Systems

This issue can occur in real systems when:

  • Logs are being generated by different applications or services
  • Logs are being processed by different log collectors or parsers
  • JSON data is being serialized or deserialized incorrectly
    Some common causes include:
  • Inconsistent logging formats
  • Incorrect JSON serialization
  • Lack of standardization in log processing

Real-World Impact

The impact of this issue can be significant, including:

  • Difficulty in parsing and analyzing logs
  • Inability to extract relevant information from logs
  • Increased complexity in log processing and analysis
    Some potential consequences include:
  • Delayed troubleshooting and debugging
  • Inaccurate monitoring and alerting
  • Reduced visibility into system performance and security

Example or Code

{
  "message": {
    "Time": "2026-01-16 09:12:08,081",
    "Level": "INFO",
    "File": "webapi.py",
    "Line": "489",
    "EventName": "UploadFileBackend",
    "IP": "127.0.0.1",
    "UserID": "twowaysync.gmail.com",
    "DepartmentName": "iSyncInt",
    "RequestBody": {
      "Flag": 0,
      "GlobalSHAFlag": "None",
      "FolderDocId": "6968753e9eb1bb08b4510b86",
      "FileName": "send-ss-1.txt",
      "FileDescription": "desc1",
      "FileType": "txt",
      "ContentDisposition": "attachment;filename=send-ss-1.txt",
      "ContentType": "application/octet-stream"
    }
  }
}

How Senior Engineers Fix It

Senior engineers can fix this issue by:

  • Parsing the “message” field as JSON using a JSON parser
  • Transforming the parsed JSON into a standardized format
  • Configuring filebeat to output logs in a standardized format
    Some potential solutions include:
  • Using a JSON parsing library such as Jackson or JSON.NET
  • Implementing a custom log parser to handle non-standard log formats
  • Configuring filebeat to use a standardized logging format such as JSON or CSV

Why Juniors Miss It

Junior engineers may miss this issue due to:

  • Lack of experience with log processing and analysis
  • Limited knowledge of JSON parsing and serialization
  • Insufficient understanding of log formats and standards
    Some common mistakes include:
  • Assuming logs are always in a standard format
  • Not testing log parsing and analysis thoroughly
  • Not considering the impact of non-standard log formats on log analysis and troubleshooting