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Sematext Agent Release Notes

Sematext Agent is a dynamic project with frequent releases. This Changelog contains only important changes, new features, and critical bug fixes. To install or upgrade the Sematext Agent, make sure to follow the Sematext Agent Installation instructions provided in Sematext Cloud and refer to our FAQ section for further assistance on agent updating.

Version 3.7.0

Date: September 23, 2024

New Features

  • Windows Events: Sematext Agent now supports collecting Windows Events. Stay tuned for the upcoming release of Windows Event Logs integration in Sematext Cloud.

Improvements

  • The agent owner reference has been added to the Log-shipper DaemonSet, ensuring automatic deletion of the Log-shipper DaemonSet when the Sematext Agent DaemonSet is deleted.
  • A new error message has been added to notify users when Java is not present. This is a case for using AppAgent without Java.

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed an issue that caused Kubernetes events to be duplicated by an edge-case.

Version 3.6.0

Date: July 30, 2024

New Features

  • Custom Logs Support: Sematext Agent now supports configuring log shipping through a YAML file, custom-logs.yml. This feature allows users to specify log file locations and custom parsing rules, which is useful for log files not discovered automatically or when custom log parsing rules are needed. This release only includes support for Linux (baremetal). Support for Windows, Kubernetes, and Docker is coming soon. For more information, please refer to Custom Logs Shipping docs.

Version 3.5.0

Date: July 9, 2024

New Features

  • Windows Services: We introduce metrics collection for Windows Services. The agent can now ship the status of your Windows Services. Stay tuned for the upcoming release of Windows Services monitoring integration in Sematext Cloud.

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed broken system-generators usage for Ubuntu-24.04 and Fedora-40.
  • Fixed a string escaping issue that may affect defining passwords for the MySQL integration.

Version 3.4.1

Date: May 15, 2024

New Features

  • Windows Support: We are excited to announce that Sematext Agent now supports monitoring Windows hosts. The Sematext Agent can collect a wide range of metrics about your Windows host, including CPU, memory, disk, network, and processes.

Improvements

  • Implemented a new billing system for CronJobs and Jobs that is more favorable to customers than existing container billing.
  • Enhanced the reliability of the Kubernetes initialization structure.
  • Corrected inaccurate information about agent_started events in Sematext Cloud that gave the impression the agent was frequently restarting.

Bug Fixes

  • Resolved a service discovery bug occurring with ElasticSearch version 8.
  • Fixed a bug that affected reading Nginx configuration files, to enable discovery of your server_status path.
  • Addressed specific scenario where pods were not being monitored when utilizing the Containerd runtime in Kubernetes.
  • Resolved an edge-case bug occurring during discovering services via eBPF, which led to incorrect service IP addresses.

Version 3.3.0

Date: March 5, 2024

Improvements

  • Updated the App-Agent command signature to prevent orphan processes after an Out-of-Memory (OOM) event occurs in the JVM.
  • Enhanced log-discovery to automatically identify files named *_log as log files, without the need for fallback timestamp checking.

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed a service discovery edge-case bug when a cold start happens for the ElasticSearch baremetal service.

Version 3.2.3

Date: January 31, 2024

Improvements

  • Started using "always-restart" feature in the log-shipping Systemd service to ensure its continuous operation, even in the event of an OOM-kill triggered by the kernel.
  • Added File-Descriptor based log-discovery as a fallback to eBPF based log-discovery.
  • Enhanced our capability to verify file modified-time values.

Bug Fixes

  • Added guessing mount_id offset value to fix broken eBPF based log-discovery for newer kernels.
  • Fix discarding gc.log files for the Elasticsearch service.

Version 3.2.2

Date: January 8, 2024

Improvements

  • Added safe-to-evict annotation to prevent downscaling issues for st-jmx Kubernetes pods.
  • Added org.elasticsearch.launcher.CliToolLauncher signature to the Elasticsearch autodiscovery signatures.

Bug Fixes

  • Addressed a bug that was preventing the Sematext Agent from spawning monitoring App Agent pods in Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) environments.

Version 3.2.1

Date: November 11, 2023

Improvements

  • Metrics added: system load percentage, swap total memory, OOM, process count, mem available, mem total.
  • Improved Kubernetes event fields to ensure unique identification.

Bug Fixes

  • Addressed a network detection problem specific to Docker Swarm.
  • Resolved a nil pointer issue associated with Kubernetes CronJob.
  • Implemented a fix to prevent the overwriting of empty Grok fields.

Version 3.2.0

Date: October 19, 2023

New Features

  • Kubernetes Jobs and CronJobs monitoring: We introduce metrics collection for Kubernetes Jobs and CronJobs. You can check all supported Job and CronJob metrics in this wiki.
  • Kubernetes Controller Manager monitoring: We now support the collection of metrics from kube-controller. You can check all supported kube-controller metrics in this wiki.
  • Kubernetes Pod labels: We have added support for collecting metrics related to Kubernetes Pod Labels, allowing for more in-depth monitoring of your pods.
  • MySQL General Logs support: In this update, we introduce support for parsing MySQL General Logs.

Improvements

  • Kubernetes API Server: We now monitor the API server even if the nodes are unreachable.
  • Ship heartbeat failures from Etcd: We added a metric from Etcd that represents the heartbeat failures for that component.

Bug Fixes

  • Resolved log spam issue: In version 3.1.0, we identified a log spamming issue, and we are pleased to announce that this issue has been resolved. No more unnecessary log spam.
  • Kafka signature issue: We've covered a new signature for Kafka that may affect auto-discovery.
  • Set OpenSearch processes to opensearch group: We have updated the categorisation of OpenSearch processes to opensearch group instead of jvm.

Action Required Changes

The new Kubernetes CronJobs monitoring requires additional cluster roles for proper functioning. If you are using Kubernetes, follow the installation method specific steps below:

kubectl Installation

Please re-apply sematext-clusterroles.yaml to your cluster.

kubectl apply -f https://sematext-installer.s3.amazonaws.com/sematext-clusterroles.yaml

After applying the new cluster roles, follow the agent upgrade steps from Sematext Cloud.

Helm Installation

Please update your sematext Helm repository.

helm repo add sematext https://cdn.sematext.com/helm-charts
helm repo update

Ensure that you have at least 1.3.0 version for the sematext-agent Helm package. 

> helm search repo sematext
NAME                    CHART VERSION   APP VERSION DESCRIPTION                                       
sematext/sematext-agent 1.3.0           1.0         Helm chart for deploying Sematext Agent and Log...

After updating the Helm chart, follow the agent upgrade steps from Sematext Cloud.

Version 3.1.0

Date: August 24, 2023

New Features

  • Varnish Cache monitoring support: With this update, Sematext Agent can now discover and collect metrics from your Varnish Cache service. Stay tuned for the upcoming release of Varnish Cache monitoring integration in Sematext Cloud.
  • Support has been added for kube-proxy and API server monitoring in Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) as part of our Kubernetes monitoring integration.

Improvements

  • We've fine-tuned data collection in the Kubernetes monitoring integration, resulting in improved performance and efficiency.
  • Improved discovery for ElasticSearch integration: We have enhanced the ElasticSearch integration by excluding the unsupported .log files. Now, Sematext Agent will only discover and support .json files for ElasticSearch integration.
  • Enriched Vector diagnostics information for baremetal, Kubernetes, and Docker setups.
  • Introducing unified runtime metrics to provide a comprehensive view of system performance in the Kubernetes monitoring integration. You can check all supported runtime metrics in this wiki.

Bug Fixes

  • Corrected inaccurate expected and live instance metrics within the Kubernetes monitoring integration.
  • Added /etc/machine-id as a new option to obtain system UUID.
  • Addressed MariaDB monitoring issue by adding mariadbd signature to the MySQL integration.

Version 3.0.0

Date: July 25, 2023

New Features

  • Kubernetes Components monitoring integration: We are excited to announce that Sematext Agent now supports monitoring of critical Kubernetes components, including API Server, CoreDNS, kube-proxy, kubelet, Scheduler, and Etcd. Gain deeper insights into your Kubernetes cluster's performance with this powerful integration. Check out Kubernetes Monitoring Integration for details.
  • Varnish Cache logs parsing support: With this update, Sematext Agent can now parse fields from your Varnish Cache log messages. Stay tuned for the upcoming release of Varnish Cache logs integration in Sematext Cloud, enhancing your logging experience further.

Improvements

  • Improved discovery for OpenSearch integration: We have enhanced the OpenSearch integration by excluding the unsupported .json files. Now, Sematext Agent will only discover and support .log files for OpenSearch integration, ensuring a smoother experience.

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed incorrect Not Configured status for the log shipper: We have resolved the issue that was causing the log shipper to display an incorrect status message.

Action Required Changes

The new Kubernetes Components monitoring integration introduces additional cluster roles for proper functioning. If you are using Kubernetes, follow the installation method specific steps below:

kubectl Installation

Please re-apply sematext-clusterroles.yaml to your cluster.

kubectl apply -f https://sematext-installer.s3.amazonaws.com/sematext-clusterroles.yaml

After applying the new cluster roles, follow the agent upgrade steps from Sematext Cloud.

Helm Installation

Please update your sematext Helm repository.

helm repo add sematext https://cdn.sematext.com/helm-charts
helm repo update

Ensure that you have at least 1.2.1 version for the sematext-agent Helm package. 

> helm search repo sematext
NAME                    CHART VERSION   APP VERSION DESCRIPTION                                       
sematext/sematext-agent 1.2.1           1.0         Helm chart for deploying Sematext Agent and Log...

After updating the Helm chart, follow the agent upgrade steps from Sematext Cloud.

hostNetwork Setting Usage

In Kubernetes, the hostNetwork is a configuration option that allows a container to share the network namespace of its host node. Sematext Agent requires hostNetwork: true setting to monitor the control plane components. By default, the hostNetwork setting is set to true starting from version 3.0.0 of Sematext Agent.

If you want to turn off hostNetwork access, check our docs about hostNetwork.

Troubleshooting

For any errors, check our Sematext Monitoring FAQ.

Version 2.3.0

Date: June 6, 2023

New Features

  • MySQL logs parsing support: We have enhanced the log parsing capabilities of Sematext Agent with this update. Your log messages can now be parsed more effectively, leading to improved visibility and analysis.

Improvements

  • Improved container fields: Sematext Agent now provides more comprehensive fields for containers in Kubernetes. We have introduced the missing container.type field, allowing for better categorization of containers. Additionally, we have added the new container.image.tag field, providing valuable information about container images for improved management and identification. For details, check our docs about tags.

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed an edge case for tracer to check network packets via eBPF: We have addressed the issue that previously prevented the tracer from effectively checking network packets via eBPF. This fix improves the functionality and reliability of the tracer, ensuring accurate monitoring of network traffic.
  • Fixed nil pointer issue for MySQL and resolved broken portmatcher for MySQL: We have resolved a nil pointer issue that affected MySQL, eliminating potential errors and ensuring smooth operation. Additionally, we fixed a broken portmatcher specifically for MySQL, allowing for accurate monitoring and analysis of MySQL environments.
  • Fixed connection issue to MongoDB: We have resolved the issue caused by an outdated data collector.

Packaging and Installation

  • Introduced Beta version for Sematext Agent: This release includes the ability to install the Beta version of the Sematext Agent (currently available for Debian and Ubuntu distributions only). To opt for the Beta version, install the sematext-agent-beta package instead of the standard sematext-agent. When you install sematext-agent-beta you will receive regular updates like 2.4.0, 2.4.1, 2.5.0, as well as release candidates like 2.4.0-rc.1, for example.

Version 2.2.0

Date: May 10, 2023

New Features

  • Introducing a new command to gather information about Kubernetes Cluster Roles: This new feature enables our agent to collect Cluster Roles and provide more useful information in Sematext Cloud.
  • HTTPS support for OpenSearch and ElasticSearch: Sematext-Agent now supports both HTTP and HTTPS. The agent automatically detects whether HTTPS is available and uses it accordingly.

Improvements

  • Rewritten agent app logs to be under st-agent: The Sematext Agent logs are now displayed under st-agent, resulting in cleaner and more organized dashboards.
  • Removed unnecessary errors from Fleet/Agent Errors page: We've cleaned up some noise from the Fleet/Agent Errors page to improve your monitoring experience.

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed ClickHouse discovery service signature: We have addressed the issue that caused some log files to not be selected.
  • Fixed empty data for Infra info page: This fix resolves the issue with delayed data on the Infra info page.
  • Fixed non-displayed HTTP request codes for Apache Logs: We have corrected our log field generator for this case, ensuring that all HTTP request codes are properly displayed.

Version 2.1.0

Date: April 6, 2023

New Features

  • OpenSearch logs parsing support: With this update, we now parse fields of your log messages. We will also be releasing OpenSearch logs integration soon to enhance your logging experience.

Improvements

  • Additional Kubelet metrics: You can now collect a wider range of metrics from your Kubelet nodes, providing you with greater visibility into the health and performance of your Kubernetes cluster.
  • Logging process improvements: We have made several enhancements to our logging process to reduce noise and simplify logs shown in Fleet.

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed missing Docker container memory issue: We have resolved the issue where the Docker container memory was not being properly displayed.
  • Fixed missing []*types.ContainerInfo issue: We have addressed the issue where []*types.ContainerInfo was missing.
  • Fixed JVM garbage collection detection: We have corrected the issue where the JVM GC logs were being identified as logs of another type.
  • Fixed log shipping in Docker Swarm for some cases: We have resolved the issue where log shipping was not working properly for Docker Swarm.

Packaging and Installation

  • CentOS 9 package was released.

Version 2.0.0

Date: March 8, 2023

New Features

  • OpenSearch auto-discovery support. Now you can easily start to collect the metrics of your OpenSearch services. Check OpenSearch Monitoring Integration for more information.
  • StatefulSets and DaemonSets metrics collecting support.

Bug Fixes

  • Swarm housekeeping functionality.

Breaking Changes

We added StatefulSets and DaemonSets metrics collection support. This new feature requires some additional cluster roles. If you're using Kubernetes and you installed the agent with kubectl, please update the clusterroles before upgrading your agent by running the following command:

kubectl apply -f https://sematext-installer.s3.amazonaws.com/sematext-clusterroles.yaml