Overview

With the release of IBM QRadar 7.5.0 Update 15, a useful enhancement has been introduced to simplify log source management , Multiple Log Source Identifiers.

In real environments, managing log sources can become complicated when identifiers change or appear in different formats. This new feature helps solve that problem by making QRadar more flexible and easier to manage.

How Log Sources Worked Before?

Earlier, each log source in QRadar could have only one identifier, such as a hostname or an IP address.
QRadar uses this identifier to decide where incoming logs should go. As long as logs always use the same identifier, everything works fine. But this depends on one important condition, the identifier must not change.

The Real Challenge

In real-world environments, identifiers often change. A device may send logs using different formats at different times. For example, sometimes it may use a short hostname, sometimes a fully qualified domain name, or sometimes just an IP address. In some cases, logs may also come through an intermediate server.
Because QRadar treats each identifier separately, it may think these logs are coming from different systems. This leads to multiple log sources being created for the same device.
Over time, this creates confusion, increases maintenance effort, and can even impact how logs are parsed and analyzed.

What’s New in Update 15

To solve this problem, QRadar now allows multiple identifiers for a single log source.
This means you can define all possible identifiers for a device in one place. Whether logs come with a hostname, FQDN, or IP address, QRadar will map them to the same log source.
This small change makes a big difference in how easily you can manage your environment.

Supported Protocols

This feature is available for commonly used syslog-based log sources, including Syslog, TLS Syslog, TCP Multiline Syslog, UDP Multiline Syslog, and Syslog Redirect.

Since most environments use these protocols, the feature works in a wide range of deployments.

User Interface Experience

From a user perspective, the change is simple and clean. The same log source configuration screen is used, but now the identifier field allows you to add multiple values instead of just one.
You can include hostnames, domain names, IP addresses, or even names of intermediate systems, all in a single configuration. This removes the need to create duplicate log sources.

For demonstration purposes, we have configured a Linux OS log source that receives events from a single Linux server using different identifiers, one with FQDN, one with IP address, and one with hostname.

Below is the screenshot of the log source configuration where all three log source identifiers have been added.

In the screenshot below, you can observe that logs with three different types of identifiers are being received under the same log source.

Parsing Order Control

Another useful improvement is better control over parsing order. If there are situations where multiple log sources might match the same identifier, you can define which one should process the logs first.
This helps ensure that logs are parsed correctly and reduces the chances of incorrect event interpretation. This setting is available to users with administrative permissions.

Benefits

For organizations using IBM QRadar, Multiple Log Source Identifiers deliver immediate, high-impact value by transforming how log sources are managed.

• Eliminate duplication, simplify operations
  Minor identifier changes often lead to duplicate log sources, increasing clutter and operational effort. This feature consolidates multiple variations of the same device into a single log source, creating a cleaner architecture and significantly reducing administrative overhead.
  
• Stronger visibility, better decisions
  When logs are scattered across multiple sources, critical context is lost. By unifying identifiers, all related events stay together—providing a complete, accurate view of activity that enhances monitoring, reporting, and faster, more confident decision-making.
  
  
• Smarter parsing, higher data quality
  Inconsistent identifiers can lead to misclassification and parsing errors. With built-in flexibility, QRadar accurately maps logs even when identifiers vary, ensuring reliable data, fewer errors, and less time spent troubleshooting.
  
• Lower maintenance, higher efficiency
  In fast-changing environments, constantly creating and updating log sources is time-consuming. This feature replaces that effort with a simple approach: add new identifiers to existing configurations and move on. Less maintenance, more productivity.
  
  
• Built for scale and stability
  As environments grow more complex, managing log sources shouldn’t become a bottleneck. Multiple Log Source Identifiers provide the flexibility needed to scale seamlessly, keeping deployments stable, efficient, and future-ready.
  

Important Notes

This feature does not impact existing log sources, so there is no risk after upgrading. Everything continues to work as before.

·    Log sources that are automatically discovered will still use a single identifier by default, but additional identifiers can be added manually if needed.

Conclusion

The introduction of Multiple Log Source Identifiers in IBM QRadar 7.5.0 Update 15 is a practical step toward solving a long-standing operational challenge. In environments where log identifiers are rarely consistent, this feature brings much-needed flexibility without adding complexity.

What makes this enhancement truly valuable is its simplicity. A small change in configuration delivers a significant improvement in how logs are organized, parsed, and analyzed. By eliminating duplicate log sources and unifying related events, it creates a cleaner, more reliable foundation for security monitoring.

More importantly, it shifts the focus back where it belongs. Instead of spending time managing configurations and fixing inconsistencies, teams can concentrate on what matters most, detecting threats, analyzing activity, and responding faster.