Question 1

How do I configure Serilog with appsettings.json in ASP.NET Core?

Accepted Answer

Install the Serilog.Settings.Configuration package and use ReadFrom.Configuration() in your LoggerConfiguration to bind settings from appsettings.json. This allows external configuration without hardcoding, and you can define sinks and levels in the JSON file for flexibility.

Question 2

What are the best sinks for Serilog to use with Elasticsearch?

Accepted Answer

The Serilog.Sinks.Elasticsearch sink is commonly used; it supports bulk indexing and custom mappings for efficient log shipping. Ensure to configure it properly for your Elasticsearch version and consider performance tuning in high-throughput scenarios.

Question 3

How can I add custom properties to all log events in Serilog?

Accepted Answer

Use enrichment via Enrich.WithProperty() in the LoggerConfiguration for global properties. For scoped context, use LogContext.PushProperty() within using blocks, which is handy for adding request IDs or user sessions dynamically.

Question 4

Serilog vs NLog: which is better for structured logging?

Accepted Answer

Serilog is built from the ground up for structured logging with first-class support, making it superior for complex analysis. NLog offers structured logging too but with a more traditional approach; choose Serilog if structured data is a priority, else NLog for its maturity and broader feature set.

Question 5

How to handle async logging and ensure logs are flushed before app exit?

Accepted Answer

Call Log.CloseAndFlushAsync() in a finally block or during application shutdown. Serilog's sinks support async operations, but proper disposal is crucial to prevent log loss, especially in short-lived processes like console apps.

Question 6

What are common pitfalls when using Serilog in microservices?

Accepted Answer

Ensure consistent property naming across services for correlation and avoid log volume explosions by tuning levels. Use sinks that support batching for performance, and monitor storage costs when integrating with cloud log aggregators like Seq or Datadog.

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