# Possible values for "fields type" variable in a logstash forwarder config?

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/possible-values-for-fields-type-variable-in-a-logstash-forwarder-config/32503>\
**Category:** Logstash\
**Created:** [October 19, 2015, 4:02pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/possible-values-for-fields-type-variable-in-a-logstash-forwarder-config/32503 "2015-10-19T16:02:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![xtingray](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/xtingray/32/5350_2.png) [@xtingray](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/xtingray)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 4:02pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/possible-values-for-fields-type-variable-in-a-logstash-forwarder-config/32503/1 "2015-10-19T16:02:00Z")

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Hi,  
I am configuring a logstash forwarder where there is a log created by my own application. This log has no relation to any syntax I have seen in several examples (syslog, apache, etc). So, when one is working with a very customized log file, which value should be used for the the "fields type" value? In fact, where I can find the list of all the possible values for the fields type variable?

This is my config file:

```
/etc/logstash-forwarder   
{
   "network": {
    "servers": ["192.168.0.1:5000"],
    "timeout": 15,
    "ssl ca": "/etc/pki/tls/certs/logstash-forwarder.crt"
},
   "files": [
        {
          "paths": [
          "/var/log/my_own_log.log"
          ],
          "fields": { "type": "VALUE???" }
        }
    ]
}

```

Thank you for any hint!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![magnusbaeck](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/magnusbaeck/32/44943_2.png) [@magnusbaeck](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/magnusbaeck)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 4:06pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/possible-values-for-fields-type-variable-in-a-logstash-forwarder-config/32503/2 "2015-10-19T16:06:06Z")

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There is no fixed namespace for the `type` field. You can pick (almost) any string you want. Choose something descriptive for the kinds of log messages you're going to slap that type onto. If you're introducing a new kind of log with a different set of fields that the existing types it's probably wise to pick a new type name.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 5:26am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/possible-values-for-fields-type-variable-in-a-logstash-forwarder-config/32503/3 "2017-07-06T05:26:10Z")

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Closed on July 6, 2017, 5:26am UTC