Enable VCL variables logging

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Varnish Cache offers several ways to log and most of the documentation is related to varnishlog which includes several information related to request, response and backend response. Now what’s happen if we need to log our own variables or message to a file?

The key function is std.syslog enabled via std (standard) Varnish module, which is the only built-in “vmod” and is thus natively available and doesn’t have to be compiled.

 import std; 

then you can easily add into your VCL the following line:


std.syslog(180, "log description");

The first parameter, 180, is the priority value. If you want to add some variables to your log message:


std.syslog(180, "log description" + beresp.ttl);

This will logo the message to general system log, which is often, in a Linux system, is located in /var/log/messages.

Monitoring heart beat in Varnish Cache

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In order to know Varnish Cache if is running and able to handle HTTP requests properly, without having the backends as part the equation please add the following VCL snippet makes sure that the URL /heart-beat always returns 200:

Varnish 4 equivalent:


sub vcl_recv {
if (req.method == "GET" && req.url == “/heart-beat") {
   return(synth(200, "OK"));
   }
}

Varnish 3 equivalent:


sub vcl_recv {
if (req.request == "GET" && req.url == "/heart-beat") {
    error 200 "OK";
   }
}

You may want to protect the URL by using ACLs if you don’t want to expose /heart-beat to the public.

Please see original page: https://www.varnish-software.com/blog/blog-sysadmin-monitoring-health-varnish-cache

vclFiddle for Varnish Cache

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vclFiddle, is a free online tool for experimenting with the Varnish Cache HTTP reverse-proxy in a sandboxed environment where you can reproduce a website caching scenario for testing, collaborative debugging, or just trying new ideas, with the least friction possible.

You can use it now at http://www.vclfiddle.net and it is open-sourced on GitHub too.

vcl-fiddle
vcl-fiddle

Easy reloading of Varnish VCL

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#!/bin/bash
# Reload a varnish config

FILE="/opt/varnish/etc/config/default.vcl"

# Hostname and management port
# (defined in /etc/default/varnish or on startup)
HOSTPORT="localhost:2000"
NOW=`date +'%d/%m/%Y_%H:%M:%S:%N'`

error() {
   echo 1>&2 "Failed to reload $FILE."
   exit 1
}

varnishadm -T $HOSTPORT -S /opt/varnish/etc/secret vcl.load reload_$NOW $FILE || error
varnishadm -T $HOSTPORT -S /opt/varnish/etc/secret vcl.use reload_$NOW || error
echo Current configs:
varnishadm -T $HOSTPORT -S /opt/varnish/etc/secret vcl.list

Varnish 4: only the most “wow” features and “must-know” differences from Varnish 3

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This is not a full Varnish 4 presentation .Only the most “wow” features and “must-know” differences from Varnish 3 and some random cool stuff.

Varnish 4 vs Varnish 3 presentation

by Emanuelis, 2014-09-30