# Optional fields in filebeat

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/optional-fields-in-filebeat/48048>\
**Category:** Beats\
**Tags:** filebeat\
**Created:** [April 21, 2016, 1:23pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/optional-fields-in-filebeat/48048 "2016-04-21T13:23:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![sunilmchaudhari](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/sunilmchaudhari/32/9475_2.png) [@sunilmchaudhari](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/sunilmchaudhari)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2016, 1:23pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/optional-fields-in-filebeat/48048/1 "2016-04-21T13:23:19Z")

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Hi,  
I was using LSF with below extra fields in LSF.conf  
type and Application as below.

> ```
> {
> "paths": [ 
> "C:/logs/user-mgmt/user-mgmt.log"
> ],
> "fields": { "type": "iam-logs","Application":"iam" }
> }
> 
> ```

And I was creating timebased index in logstash-indexer at server side in the name of {%Application%}-YYYY-MM-DD  
Now, in filebeat there is facility to define index name as well at client side only.

1. So can anybdoy confirm that I should go ahead with indexing form filebeat ?
2. If I am defining index in FB configuration only then, do I need to mention index parameter in elasticsearch output in logstash-indexer?

Please guide me which approach is better? indexing in FB or the old approach of timebased indexing from LS-indexer conf.?

br,  
Sunil

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**Author:** ![ruflin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/ruflin/32/3116_2.png) [@ruflin](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/ruflin)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2016, 4:04pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/optional-fields-in-filebeat/48048/2 "2016-04-21T16:04:16Z")

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Filebeat by default creates daily indices. No configuration needed.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![sunilmchaudhari](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/sunilmchaudhari/32/9475_2.png) [@sunilmchaudhari](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/sunilmchaudhari)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2016, 4:22pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/optional-fields-in-filebeat/48048/3 "2016-04-21T16:22:26Z")

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Hi,  
thanks Ruflin.  
So, if I understand correctly, after FB, logstash role is mainly for filtering,parsing.

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**Author:** ![ruflin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/ruflin/32/3116_2.png) [@ruflin](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/ruflin)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2016, 5:46am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/optional-fields-in-filebeat/48048/4 "2016-04-22T05:46:16Z")

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Exactly. Filtering, parsing / processing, enhancing and routing to different outputs.

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2017, 9:52pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/optional-fields-in-filebeat/48048/5 "2017-07-05T21:52:52Z")

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