NLog.RestTarget

What

Rest API logging with NLog made easy. Generates log entries as JSON. XML is not supported yet. These entries can be sent over to RestApis.

What problems does this solve?

Webservice Target of NLog does not support JSON Layout NLog/NLog#1905. It requires atleast one root parameter as below example

<target xsi:type="WebService">
<header name="Custom" layout="${mdlc:item=xxx}"/> <!-- Introduced in NLog 4.5 -->
<parameter name="root">
  <layout xsi:type="JsonLayout" includeAllProperties="true">
     <attribute name="Message" layout="${message}" />
  </layout>
</parameter>
</target>

NLog.RestTarget solves these problems. You don't require to add root parameter for JSON Layout.

How to use it

1. Install the NLog.RestTarget package from NuGet
2. Add NLog.RestTarget to NLog extensions

<nlog xmlns="http://www.nlog-project.org/schemas/NLog.xsd">
  <extensions>
    <add assembly="NLog.RestTarget" />
  </extensions>
-----
</nlog>

3. Add to NLog targets

<targets>
  <target name="wse" xsi:type="RestService" host="http://localhost:59802/api/hello/indexer">    
    <header name="Custom" layout="${mdlc:item=xxx}"/>
    <layout xsi:type="JsonLayout" includeAllProperties="true">
      <attribute name="Level" layout="${level}" />
      <attribute name="Timestamp" layout="${longdate}" />
      <attribute name="Message" layout="${message}" />
    </layout>
  </target>
</targets>

<parameter /> is not supported. NLog.RestTarget only solves the JSON Layout problem.

Known Issues

1. Supports only JSON body.
2. Supports only HTTP Post Verb.