Overview
Sending data to Datadog using the Datadog Agent is a great option for existing Datadog users or teams requiring Agent-based features.
Key benefits:
The Datadog Agent provides two ways to ingest OpenTelemetry data:
Datadog Distribution of OpenTelemetry (DDOT) Collector
The DDOT Collector combines the Datadog Agent with a built-in OpenTelemetry Collector. This option is best suited for Kubernetes users who want to take full advantage of Collector capabilities, such as advanced data processing and exporting OTLP data to multiple destinations.
Use the DDOT Collector if:
- You want full control over OpenTelemetry pipelines, including processors and exporters
- You plan to forward OTLP data to multiple backends beyond Datadog
- You’re running in a Kubernetes Linux environment
OTLP Ingest in the Agent
OTLP Ingest in the Agent is a way to send telemetry data directly from applications instrumented with OpenTelemetry SDKs to the Datadog Agent.
Use OTLP Ingest in the Agent if:
- You plan to send all OTLP telemetry data directly to Datadog without needing custom processing or multiple destinations
- You prefer an approach with minimal configuration that doesn’t require managing OpenTelemetry pipelines
- You’re running on platforms other than Kubernetes Linux, such as Windows, bare-metal EC2, VM environments, or other supported platforms
Further reading
Additional helpful documentation, links, and articles:
