How to: Forward PAM's syslog to Splunk for data analytics

Products

• CA Privileged Access Manager - Cloakware Password Authority (PA)
• CA Privileged Access Manager (PAM)

Issue/Introduction

How do I forward PAM's syslog messages to Splunk?

IT Department has a business requirement to forward its syslog to Splunk to do data analytics.  

Environment

PAM 3.x, 4.x

Resolution

Here are the complete steps for both Splunk and PAM:

1. Splunk Server:

Run the following command:

/opt/splunk/bin/splunk add udp 516 -sourcetype syslog 

Note: you will be prompted for you admin credentials 

2. PAM Server: 

PAM UI -> Please go into "Configuration" >> Logs >> Syslog 

Here configure the "Hostname or IP Address" and the port as 516 (or the port# you configured above).

Then click update. 

3. Force some logging updates to be forwarded:

 Example: Please log out and log back in. 
 

To verify that the messages were forwarded -> In Splunk Home Page >> Click "Search & Reporting" >> "Data Summary" >> Here you should see the PAM hostname listed here and messages coming from PAM.