Full Observability Pipeline with Splunk OpenTelemetry (FOPSOT) – Outline

Detailed Course Outline

Module 1: Splunk Observability Cloud

  • Differentiate between monitoring and observability
  • Describe the telemetry data for observability
  • Describe Splunk Observability Cloud architecture
  • Navigate Splunk Observability cloud
  • Use built-in content to Interpret system health and activity

Module 2: Introduction to the OpenTelemetry Collector

  • Describe OpenTelemetry and available distributions
  • Describe OpenTelemetry Collector packaging options, deployment models and ingestion modes
  • Visualize the flow of telemetry data through the Collector pipeline, from ingestion to export
  • Deploy and configure the OpenTelemetry Collector using guided steps
  • Use best practices and advanced configuration techniques

Module 3 – Traces Pipeline

  • Use the `otlphttp` exporter to send traces to Splunk Observability Cloud
  • Compare auto and manual instrumentation approaches
  • Auto-instrument a Node.js Express application using the Splunk
  • OpenTelemetry JavaScript agent
  • Enrich traces with additional metadata using processors
  • Explore trace data and errors using the APM Service Map

Module 4 – Metrics Pipeline

  • Define processors to rename, aggregate, and scale metrics
  • Configure the signalfx exporter
  • Explain the importance of metric normalization
  • Apply best practices when editing the otelcol-config.yml file

Module 5 – Logs Pipeline

  • Describe log ingestion into Splunk via splunk_hec and how logs become viewable in Splunk Observability Cloud.
  • Use Log Observer to search and explore logs
  • Filter noisy logs with the filter processor to reduce telemetry volume and control data costs.
  • Redact, or modify log data to meet privacy and compliance needs

Module 6 – Putting it all Together

  • Create custom charts, dashboards, and alerts for telemetry data
  • Use telemetry signals and related content to find issues and troubleshoot root cause of problems