# Statistics and metrics of AxoSyslog The AxoSyslog application collects various statistics and metrics about its performance and status for observability and monitoring. Which metrics and statistics are collected depends on the configuration of AxoSyslog and the value of the [`stats(level())` global option](../docs/axosyslog-core/chapter-global-options/reference-options/index.md#global-option-stats-level). ## Metrics and statistics * AxoSyslog provides detailed metrics about its performance and status for observability and monitoring. We recommend using Prometheus to scrape these metrics, see [Collect metrics with Prometheus](../docs/axosyslog-core/chapter-log-statistics/prometheus-exporter/index.md) for details. To display the current metrics locally in Prometheus-compatible format, run: ``` syslog-ng-ctl stats prometheus ``` Note that which metrics are shown depends on the current value of the [`stats(level())` global option](../docs/axosyslog-core/chapter-global-options/reference-options/index.md#global-option-stats-level) (you can list the available metrics by running `syslog-ng --metrics-registry`). For details on what the metrics mean, see [Metrics reference](../docs/axosyslog-core/chapter-log-statistics/metrics-reference/index.md). * Statistics are a legacy way to access the status of AxoSyslog. [Metrics](../docs/axosyslog-core/chapter-log-statistics/metrics-reference/index.md) are newer and in active development. Many metrics aren’t available as legacy statistics. You can access legacy statistics using the following methods. * The [`syslog-ng-ctl query`](../docs/axosyslog-core/app-man-syslog-ng/syslog-ng-ctl.1/index.md#syslog-ng-ctl-query) command gives structured access to the selected legacy statistics.. * The [`syslog-ng-ctl stats`](../docs/axosyslog-core/app-man-syslog-ng/syslog-ng-ctl.1/index.md#syslog-ng-ctl-stats) command lists all the available legacy statistics in bulk. * Using the [`internal()` source](../docs/axosyslog-core/chapter-log-statistics/log-statistics-internal-source/index.md). We recommend using either of the previous two methods instead. For details about the available counters and the output format, see [Statistics reference](../docs/axosyslog-core/chapter-log-statistics/log-statistics-description/index.md). * * * [Collect metrics with Prometheus](../docs/axosyslog-core/chapter-log-statistics/prometheus-exporter/index.md) [Metrics reference](../docs/axosyslog-core/chapter-log-statistics/metrics-reference/index.md) [Statistics reference](../docs/axosyslog-core/chapter-log-statistics/log-statistics-description/index.md) [Log statistics from the internal() source](../docs/axosyslog-core/chapter-log-statistics/log-statistics-internal-source/index.md) Last modified April 9, 2026: [Editorial changes (7764e826)]()