Chapter 2. Logs Abstraction into DLF

Native log files for different applications are converted into the appropriate DLF file through log format specific converter (called DLF converters). Figure 2.1 shows a simple picture of the convertion process. On this diagram, you'll see that the sendmail2dlf DLF converter is used to transform a Sendmail's log file into a DLF file using the email DLF schema. Similarly, the convertion processes for the nms and w3c_extended services are depicted.

Figure 2.1. DLF Converter Process

A DLF converter is simply a filter that reads on input the service's native log file and outputs a DLF file in the appropriate superservice's DLF schema. That filter uses the Lire DLF Converter API to generate the DLF file correctly.

Information about writing new DLF converter can be found in Chapter 8.