grafana cloud push spans

Hello!
To send traces to grafana cloud, you must have a grafana agent installed somewhere (https://github.com/grafana/agent/blob/main/production/README.md which will serve as “relay”.

The synopsis is:

DecaLog => grafana agent => GC Tempo

You can install this grafana agent where you want if you use the docker version (even on your desktop, if you want). I installed mine on my personal nas, for example.

In the DecaLog config, you will set your agent url (with port number) and in the agent you will set the url displayed in the Grafana Cloud Tempo page (no port number, just the url). That’s it.

PS: I know it’s not as simple as with others but, for now, Grafana Cloud doesn’t allow to directly send traces. As soon as they allow it, I will adapt DecaLog, of course ??

Hi Pierre,
thank you !
is it the same with datadog traces? or can i ship traces directly?

Yes, it is the same thing for DataDog traces… (for the same reason, they doesn’t allow direct traces push).

Got it.. So if I dont have root ssh access to my hosted server (because its managed one) how or where would you suggest to install the datadog agent just to ship the traces from decalog?
Does it have to be the same host from which the events are shipped?
Thanks ??

It’s like Grafana agent: you can install it everywhere (accessible from your web server). So, obviously, if you do not have access to your web server’s system, you MUST install it elsewhere.

Note: if you don’t have access to your web server’s system, the best approach is to host Loki + Tempo + InfluxDB + Grafana (the 4 are FOSS) on your own infrastructures (so, not relying on Grafana Cloud offer). By doing that, DecaLog can push directly events, traces and metrics, without the need of agents, and you will have a full state-of-the-art observability stack ??

Sounds interesting indeed, I might try it! Although the setup is probably not easy for a noob like myself.
Thing is, thanks to decalog, I was able to try all the log collection services that I always wanted to try with 1 click integration and thats amazing. And I like datadog the most. Very simple and convenient for my use and level of understanding those logs.
So basicly, I can purchase some cheap hosting plan somewhere, install the datadog agent in there, without the apm and other stuff, and use it just to ship traces from my wordpress? The logs will be shipped directly from decalog, and traces will be shipped via the agent. By this method everything can be in context in the datadog dashboard?

I might try it! Although the setup is probably not easy for a noob like myself.

Currently, all softwares I cited are available as docker containers, so basically, if you know how to launch a container, you’re ready to go ??

So basicaly, I can purchase some cheap hosting plan somewhere, install the datadog agent in there, without the apm and other stuff, and use it just to ship traces from my wordpress?

Right!

In all cases, take a test drive with the 2 methods and make your own convictions. That’s always the better way ??