> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://otel.fyi/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Vcr

> OpenTelemetry receiver for Vcr

# Vcr Receiver

![Status](https://img.shields.io/badge/status-development-orange)

**Maintainers:** [@atoulme](https://github.com/atoulme), [@robertgustafsonsplunk](https://github.com/robertgustafsonsplunk), [@garrett-splunk](https://github.com/garrett-splunk)

**Source:** [opentelemetry-collector-contrib](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-contrib/tree/main/receiver/vcrreceiver)

## Supported Telemetry

![Logs](https://img.shields.io/badge/logs-development-blue) ![Metrics](https://img.shields.io/badge/metrics-development-green) ![Traces](https://img.shields.io/badge/traces-development-orange)

## Overview

## Overview

The receiver reads telemetry from JSON files stored in a **"TAPE" (Telemetry Archive for Playback & Emulation)**. Each tape contains OpenTelemetry data encoded using **Protobuf JSON** and follows the OpenTelemetry Protocol (OTLP).

### 1. Raw Input Files

The receiver watches a directory for files named: raw\_(metrics|traces|logs|profiles)\_#.json. They contain contain OTLP data serialized using the OpenTelemetry [File Exporter](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-contrib/tree/main/exporter/fileexporter).

### 2. Tape Creation

Raw files are converted into **tapes**, named: tape\_(metrics|traces|logs|profiles)\_`<earliest_event_ts>`-`<latest_event_ts>`.json. Tapes are organized by **event time**, not by file creation time or capture time.

### 3. Replay Engine

* Tapes are read in **chronological order** based on original event timestamps.
* Telemetry is replayed according to the **original timing between events**, accurately reproducing real-world telemetry flow.
* Once the end of the final tape is reached, the receiver loops back and begins replaying from the first event.

## Key Features

* **True Time-Based Replay**\
  Honors original event timestamps and relative timing between events.

* **Deterministic Telemetry Playback**\
  Ideal for testing pipelines, demos, load simulations, and debugging without live data.

* **Continuous Looping**\
  Automatically restarts playback after reaching the end of the tape set.

* **OTLP-Compatible**\
  Works with telemetry serialized via the OpenTelemetry File Exporter.

## Quick Start

The following settings are required:

* `include_raw`: set a directory where to look for raw files to include in data collection
* `include_tape`: set a directory where to look for and place processed raw files

Example:

```yaml theme={null}
receivers:
  vcr:
    include_raw:
      - "/var/log/raw/*.log"
    exclude_raw:
      - "/var/log/raw/example.log"
    include_tape:
      - "/var/log/tape/"
```

***

*Last generated: 2026-07-06*