How to load SAP SuccessFactors LMS data into Elasticsearch via Logstash

Elasticsearch is a popular distributed full-text search engine. By centrally storing data, you can perform ultra-fast searches, fine-tuning relevance, and powerful analytics with ease. Elasticsearch has a pipeline tool for loading data called "Logstash". You can use CData JDBC Drivers to easily import data from any data source into Elasticsearch for search and analysis.

This article explains how to use the CData JDBC Driver for SAP SuccessFactors LMS to load data from SAP SuccessFactors LMS into Elasticsearch via Logstash.

Using CData JDBC Driver for SAP SuccessFactors LMS with Elasticsearch Logstash

• Install the CData JDBC Driver for SAP SuccessFactors LMS on the machine where Logstash is running.
• The JDBC Driver will be installed at the following path (the year part, e.g. 20XX, will vary depending on the product version you are using). You will use this path later. Place this .jar file (and the .lic file if it's a licensed version) in Logstash.
  C:\Program Files\CData\CData JDBC Driver for SAPSuccessFactorsLMS 20XX\lib\cdata.jdbc.sapsuccessfactorslms.jar
  
• Next, install the JDBC Input Plugin, which connects Logstash to the CData JDBC driver. The JDBC Plugin comes by default with the latest version of Logstash, but depending on the version, you may need to add it.
  https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/logstash/5.4/plugins-inputs-jdbc.html
• Move the CData JDBC Driver’s .jar file and .lic file to Logstash's "/logstash-core/lib/jars/".

Sending SAP SuccessFactors LMS data to Elasticsearch with Logstash

Now, let's create a configuration file for Logstash to transfer SAP SuccessFactors LMS data to Elasticsearch.

• Write the process to retrieve SAP SuccessFactors LMS data in the logstash.conf file, which defines data processing in Logstash. The input will be JDBC, and the output will be Elasticsearch. The data loading job is set to run at 30-second intervals.
• Set the CData JDBC Driver's .jar file as the JDBC driver library, configure the class name, and set the connection properties to SAP SuccessFactors LMS in the form of a JDBC URL. The JDBC URL allows detailed configuration, so please refer to the product documentation for more specifics.

SAP SuccessFactors LMS uses OAuth authentication. Before connecting, you must configure an OAuth application tied to your SAP SuccessFactors LMS account.

To establish a connection, set the following properties:

• User: Your SAP SuccessFactors LMS username.
• CompanyId: Your SAP SuccessFactors company identifier.
• Url: The SAP SuccessFactors API URL (e.g., https://api4.successfactors.com).
• OAuthClientId: The client Id assigned when you registered your custom OAuth application.
• OAuthClientSecret: The client secret assigned when you registered your custom OAuth application.

See the Getting Started chapter of the help documentation for a guide to creating a custom OAuth app and using OAuth.

Executing data movement with Logstash

Now let's run Logstash using the created "logstash.conf" file.

    logstash-7.8.0\bin\logstash -f logstash.conf

A log indicating success will appear. This means the SAP SuccessFactors LMS data has been loaded into Elasticsearch.

For example, let's view the data transferred to Elasticsearch in Kibana.

    GET sapsuccessfactorslms_table/_search
    {
        "query": {
            "match_all": {}
        }
    }

We have confirmed that the data is stored in Elasticsearch.

By using the CData JDBC Driver for SAP SuccessFactors LMS with Logstash, it functions as a SAP SuccessFactors LMS connector, making it easy to load data into Elasticsearch. Please try the 30-day free trial.