Status
Stability	alpha: traces
	development: metrics, logs
Issues
Code Owners	@mx-psi, @codeboten

This utility simulates a client generating traces, metrics, and logs. It is useful for testing and demonstration purposes.

To install the latest version run the following command:

go install github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-contrib/cmd/telemetrygen@latest

Check the go install reference to install specific versions.

You can build locally the Docker image with:

make docker-telemetrygen

Using github actions, we also push a docker image on commit to main or on release to this Github docker registry.

First, you'll need an OpenTelemetry Collector to receive the telemetry data. Follow the project's instructions for a detailed setting up guide. The following configuration file should be sufficient:

config.yaml:

receivers:
  otlp:
    protocols:
      grpc:
        endpoint: 0.0.0.0:4317

processors:
  batch:

exporters:
  debug:
    verbosity: detailed

service:
  pipelines:
    logs:
      receivers: [otlp]
      processors: [batch]
      exporters: [debug]
    metrics:
      receivers: [otlp]
      processors: [batch]
      exporters: [debug]
    traces:
      receivers: [otlp]
      processors: [batch]
      exporters: [debug]

Starting OpenTelemetry collector via docker:

docker run -p 4317:4317 -v $(pwd)/config.yaml:/etc/otelcol-contrib/config.yaml ghcr.io/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-releases/opentelemetry-collector-contrib:0.86.0

Other options for running the collector are documented here https://opentelemetry.io/docs/collector/getting-started/

Once the OpenTelemetry Collector instance is up and running, run telemetrygen for your desired telemetry:

telemetrygen traces --otlp-insecure --duration 5s

Or, to generate a specific number of traces:

telemetrygen traces --otlp-insecure --traces 1

To send traces in secure connection, see examples/secure-tracing

Check telemetrygen traces --help for all the options.

telemetrygen logs --duration 5s --otlp-insecure

telemetrygen metrics --duration 5s --otlp-insecure