Technology

OpenTelemetry en Google Cloud: Guía Definitiva (2026)

IG
InterGlobal Team
February 5, 2026 13 min read
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OpenTelemetry & Google Cloud Observability: A Unified Future (2026)

Are you struggling to understand your application's performance in Google Cloud? Tired of jumping between Logging, Trace, and Monitoring without a clear view? OpenTelemetry is here to change that.

Google Cloud Observability is embracing OpenTelemetry (OTel) to unify how you collect and analyze telemetry data. This means a simpler, more efficient, and more powerful experience for monitoring your applications. The unified endpoint (telemetry.googleapis.com) makes it even easier, but there are critical details, especially concerning the deadline of March 4, 2026.

This guide explains everything you need to know. From what OTLP is and how it affects your projects, to a plan of action to ensure you're maximizing this new era of observability.

Understanding OpenTelemetry (OTel) and OTLP

Imagine having multiple sources of information about your application's health: logs, traces, and metrics. Previously, each spoke a different language, requiring complex agents and configurations for Google Cloud to understand them.

OpenTelemetry is the emerging standard for instrumenting your code and collecting this telemetry data. It's a universal language that allows your applications to "speak" consistently, regardless of platform or provider.

OTLP (OpenTelemetry Protocol) is the standard protocol, the "standard pipe," through which logs, traces, and metrics flow. Instead of separate, proprietary pipes, OTLP provides a single communication channel, simplifying configuration and maintenance. Think of it as replacing multiple plumbers with their own tools and dialects with a single, universally understood pipeline.

90% of companies are investing in observability in 2025

OpenTelemetry's Role in Google Cloud Observability

OpenTelemetry becomes the foundational layer for collecting data that powers your Google Cloud observability tools. Here’s how:

Logging

OpenTelemetry captures logs and sends them to Cloud Logging via OTLP for centralized searching, filtering, and analysis.

Trace

OpenTelemetry instruments your code to track request flows, sending traces to Cloud Trace to identify bottlenecks and latencies.

Monitoring

OpenTelemetry collects performance metrics (CPU, memory, latency, errors) and sends them to Cloud Monitoring for dashboards and alerts.

You’re no longer tied to specific Google Cloud agents. Use OpenTelemetry SDKs and collectors to instrument your code once and send data to Google Cloud (or any OTLP-supporting provider) without drastic changes.

The Unified Endpoint (telemetry.googleapis.com)

The unified endpoint (telemetry.googleapis.com) is the centralized entry point for all your telemetry data in Google Cloud. Instead of separate endpoints for Logging, Trace, and Monitoring, you now have one.

This simplifies OpenTelemetry collector configuration. You only need to configure a single endpoint. Google Cloud automatically routes data to the correct services based on its type (logs, traces, or metrics).

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Simplified Configuration

Less configuration and complexity, means more time to focus on building your application, especially when using frameworks like Next.js where website performance is critical for conversions and lead generation.

Pro Tip: Ensure your OpenTelemetry collectors are configured to use the unified endpoint (telemetry.googleapis.com) before March 4, 2026.

Who Is Affected?

The migration to the unified endpoint affects all OpenTelemetry users with Google Cloud Observability. The impact depends on how your projects were created:

Projects via Google Cloud Console or gcloud

In most cases, no action is required. Google Cloud handles the migration automatically. Verify that your OpenTelemetry collectors are configured correctly and sending data to the unified endpoint.

Projects via Google Cloud API

Manual configuration may be required to ensure your OpenTelemetry collectors are sending data to the unified endpoint. Refer to the official Google Cloud documentation for detailed instructions.

Watch Out: Don’t assume everything is working just because Google Cloud says "no action required." Verify your dashboards, alerts, and logs to ensure you’re receiving the expected data. Ignoring this can lead to false positives or loss of critical application performance information.

March 4, 2026: The Deadline

On March 4, 2026, Google Cloud will disable the old OpenTelemetry endpoints. After this date, if you’re not using the unified endpoint (telemetry.googleapis.com), your telemetry data will stop flowing to Google Cloud Observability, severely impacting your monitoring and error tracking.

Prioritize migrating to the unified endpoint. Don't wait until the last minute. Start planning and executing the migration now.

Migration Checklist

Identify All Projects

Identify all Google Cloud projects using OpenTelemetry and create a complete inventory.

Verify Project Creation Method

Determine if your projects were created via the console/gcloud or API, as this impacts required configurations.

Review Collector Configuration

Ensure your OpenTelemetry collectors are configured to use the unified endpoint (telemetry.googleapis.com).

Update SDKs and Collectors

Update your OpenTelemetry SDKs and collectors to the latest versions for unified endpoint support.

Test in Staging

Test the migration in a staging environment before implementing it in production.

Monitor After Migration

Monitor dashboards, alerts, and logs post-migration to ensure data is flowing correctly.

Common Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

  • Not verifying OpenTelemetry collector configuration: Ensure collectors use the unified endpoint.
  • Not updating SDKs and collectors: Outdated versions may not support the unified endpoint.
  • Skipping staging environment testing: This can lead to unexpected production issues.
  • Not monitoring post-migration: This can delay detection of problems.
  • Assuming "no action required" means no effort needed: Verify everything is working correctly.

Action Plan: 30, 60, and 90 Days to Success

  • Day 30:
    • Inventory all Google Cloud projects using OpenTelemetry.
    • Verify project creation methods (console/gcloud vs API).
    • Review Google Cloud's official documentation on migrating to the unified endpoint.
  • Day 60:
    • Update SDKs and collectors to the latest versions in a staging environment.
    • Configure collectors to use the unified endpoint in staging.
    • Test the migration in staging and resolve any issues.
  • Day 90:
    • Implement the migration in production.
    • Monitor dashboards, alerts, and logs post-migration.
    • Document the migration process.
"Observability is not just about monitoring; it's about understanding the internal state of your system by examining its outputs."
— Charity Majors, Honeycomb

Key Takeaways

  • OpenTelemetry (OTel): The future of observability in Google Cloud.
  • Unified Endpoint (telemetry.googleapis.com): Simplifies configuration and maintenance.
  • Deadline: March 4, 2026.
  • Verify: Collector configuration and update SDKs.
  • "No Action Required" ≠ No Effort: Verify functionality.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I don't migrate to the unified endpoint before March 4, 2026?
Your telemetry data will stop flowing to Google Cloud Observability. This means you will lose visibility into your application's performance and may have difficulty detecting and troubleshooting issues.
How do I verify if my OpenTelemetry collectors are configured to use the unified endpoint?
Review the configuration of your OpenTelemetry collectors and ensure they are sending data to telemetry.googleapis.com. Consult the official Google Cloud documentation for detailed instructions.
Do I need to update my OpenTelemetry SDKs?
Yes, it is recommended to update your OpenTelemetry SDKs to the latest versions to ensure you are using the most recent versions and with support for the unified endpoint.
What is a staging environment and why is it important to test the migration there?
A staging environment is a replica of your production environment that is used to test changes before implementing them in production. It is important to test the migration in a staging environment to identify and resolve any issues without affecting your users.
Where can I find more information about migrating to the unified endpoint?
Consult the official Google Cloud Observability documentation and the OpenTelemetry documentation. You can also find helpful information in community blogs and forums.
Does the unified endpoint affect the cost of Google Cloud Observability?
Not necessarily. The cost of Google Cloud Observability depends on the volume of data you ingest and the use you make of the services. The unified endpoint simply simplifies the configuration and routing of the data.
What if I have a very complex OpenTelemetry configuration?
If you have a very complex configuration, I recommend that you plan the migration carefully and test the migration in a staging environment before implementing it in production. You may also consider hiring an expert to help you with the migration.
Can I use OpenTelemetry with other observability providers besides Google Cloud?
Yes, OpenTelemetry is an open standard and you can use it with other observability providers that support OTLP. This is one of the great advantages of OpenTelemetry: it allows you to avoid "vendor lock-in".
Which monitoring and error tracking tools integrate well with OpenTelemetry in Google Cloud?
Cloud Monitoring and Cloud Trace are the native Google Cloud tools that integrate perfectly with OpenTelemetry. However, you can also use other third-party tools that support OTLP, such as Prometheus, Grafana, Jaeger and Zipkin.
How does OpenTelemetry affect the performance of my application?
OpenTelemetry can have a slight impact on the performance of your application, as it requires instrumenting your code and collecting telemetry data. However, the impact is usually minimal and can be mitigated by optimizing the OpenTelemetry configuration and using sampling. In addition, the benefits of having better observability usually far outweigh the small impact on performance.
What is the difference between metrics, logs and traces?
Metrics are numerical data that measure the performance of your application (e.g. CPU, memory, latency). Logs are records of events that occur in your application. Traces track the flow of requests through your services. All three types of data are important for having a complete view of the health of your system.
How can I use OpenTelemetry to improve the website performance of my Next.js site?
You can use OpenTelemetry to instrument your Next.js site and collect telemetry data on page load time, API latency, and errors that occur on the client and server. This data will help you identify bottlenecks and optimize the performance of your site.
What are spans and how do they relate to OpenTelemetry?
A span represents an individual unit of work within a trace. For example, a span could represent a call to a database, a call to an API, or the execution of a function. Spans are used to build traces that track the flow of requests through your services.
How can I configure alerts based on OpenTelemetry data in Google Cloud?
You can configure alerts in Cloud Monitoring based on metrics collected by OpenTelemetry. This will allow you to receive notifications when the performance of your application degrades or when errors occur.
Is OpenTelemetry only for cloud applications?
No, OpenTelemetry can be used to instrument cloud applications, on-premise applications, and hybrid applications. The flexibility of OpenTelemetry makes it an excellent choice for any environment.

Need help migrating to OpenTelemetry and optimizing your observability and performance in Google Cloud? Contact InterGlobal for a free Observability + Performance Audit. We're in Dallas and ready to help!

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InterGlobal Team

We help startups and growing businesses build beautiful, high-performing digital products. Based in Dallas, serving clients nationwide.

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