---
title: "otelcol.connector.host_info | Grafana Agent documentation"
description: "Learn about otelcol.connector.host_info"
---

# otelcol.connector.host\_info

> **EXPERIMENTAL**: This is an [experimental](/docs/agent/v0.43/stability/#experimental) component. Experimental components are subject to frequent breaking changes, and may be removed with no equivalent replacement.

`otel.connector.host_info` accepts span data from other `otelcol` components and generates usage metrics.

## Usage

Alloy ![Copy code to clipboard](/media/images/icons/icon-copy-small-2.svg) Copy

```alloy
otelcol.connector.host_info "LABEL" {
  output {
    metrics = [...]
  }
}
```

## Arguments

`otelcol.connector.host_info` supports the following arguments:

Expand table

| Name                     | Type           | Description                                                        | Default       | Required |
|--------------------------|----------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------|----------|
| `host_identifiers`       | `list(string)` | Ordered list of resource attributes used to identify unique hosts. | `["host.id"]` | no       |
| `metrics_flush_interval` | `duration`     | How often to flush generated metrics.                              | `"60s"`       | no       |

## Blocks

The following blocks are supported inside the definition of `otelcol.connector.host_info`:

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| Hierarchy | Block                   | Description                                       | Required |
|-----------|-------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|----------|
| output    | [output](#output-block) | Configures where to send received telemetry data. | yes      |

### output block

The `output` block configures a set of components to forward resulting telemetry data to.

The following arguments are supported:

Expand table

| Name      | Type                     | Description                           | Default | Required |
|-----------|--------------------------|---------------------------------------|---------|----------|
| `metrics` | `list(otelcol.Consumer)` | List of consumers to send metrics to. | `[]`    | no       |

You must specify the `output` block, but all its arguments are optional. By default, telemetry data is dropped. Configure the `metrics` argument accordingly to send telemetry data to other components.

## Exported fields

The following fields are exported and can be referenced by other components:

Expand table

| Name    | Type               | Description                                                      |
|---------|--------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|
| `input` | `otelcol.Consumer` | A value that other components can use to send telemetry data to. |

`input` accepts `otelcol.Consumer` traces telemetry data. It does not accept metrics and logs.

## Example

The example below accepts traces, adds the `host.id` resource attribute via the `otelcol.processor.resourcedetection` component, creates usage metrics from these traces, and writes the metrics to Mimir.

Alloy ![Copy code to clipboard](/media/images/icons/icon-copy-small-2.svg) Copy

```alloy
otelcol.receiver.otlp "otlp" {
  http {}
  grpc {}

  output {
    traces = [otelcol.processor.resourcedetection.otlp_resources.input]
  }
}

otelcol.processor.resourcedetection "otlp_resources" {
  detectors = ["system"]
  system {
    hostname_sources = [ "os" ]
    resource_attributes {
      host.id {
        enabled = true
      }
    }
  }
  output {
    traces = [otelcol.connector.host_info.default.input]
  }
}

otelcol.connector.host_info "default" {
  output {
    metrics = [otelcol.exporter.prometheus.otlp_metrics.input]
  }
}

otelcol.exporter.prometheus "otlp_metrics" {
  forward_to = [prometheus.remote_write.default.receiver]
}

prometheus.remote_write "default" {
  endpoint {
    url = "https://prometheus-xxx.grafana.net/api/prom/push"
    basic_auth {
      username = env("PROMETHEUS_USERNAME")
      password = env("GRAFANA_CLOUD_API_KEY")
    }
  }
}
```

## Compatible components

`otelcol.connector.host_info` can accept arguments from the following components:

- Components that export [OpenTelemetry `otelcol.Consumer`](../../compatibility/#opentelemetry-otelcolconsumer-exporters)

`otelcol.connector.host_info` has exports that can be consumed by the following components:

- Components that consume [OpenTelemetry `otelcol.Consumer`](../../compatibility/#opentelemetry-otelcolconsumer-consumers)

> Note
> 
> Connecting some components may not be sensible or components may require further configuration to make the connection work correctly. Refer to the linked documentation for more details.