What is an alternative to using an additional appender in log4j for sending logs externally?

Using a custom aggregator application serves as an alternative to utilizing an additional appender in log4j for sending logs externally. This approach allows for a tailored solution where logs can be collected from various sources, processed, and then forwarded to the desired logging or monitoring system.

This custom application can aggregate logs based on specific criteria, ensuring that only relevant data is sent out, which improves performance and reduces bandwidth. Additionally, it can implement error handling, retries, and other features that ensure log data integrity and delivery, which a simple appender might not provide.

In contrast, options like CloudHub API, lambda processing, and direct API calls do not specifically focus on the aggregation and forwarding of logs in a customized manner that a dedicated aggregator would offer. Furthermore, while they may enable log data to be sent externally, they lack the specialized functions and flexibility that a custom aggregator application can provide.