diff --git a/plugins/inputs/syslog/README.md b/plugins/inputs/syslog/README.md
index 04ea409f2e8ce..ad9b9b57258ca 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/syslog/README.md
+++ b/plugins/inputs/syslog/README.md
@@ -75,6 +75,18 @@ $ActionQueueSaveOnShutdown on # save in-memory data if rsyslog shuts down
 
 # forward over tcp with octet framing according to RFC 5425
 *.* @@(o)127.0.0.1:6514;RSYSLOG_SyslogProtocol23Format
+
+# uncomment to use udp according to RFC 5424
+#*.* @127.0.0.1:6514;RSYSLOG_SyslogProtocol23Format
+```
+
+You can alternately use `advanced` format (aka RainerScript):
+```
+# forward over tcp with octet framing according to RFC 5425
+action(type="omfwd" Protocol="tcp" TCP_Framing="octet-counted" Target="127.0.0.1" Port="6514" Template="RSYSLOG_SyslogProtocol23Format")
+
+# uncomment to use udp according to RFC 5424
+#action(type="omfwd" Protocol="udp" Target="127.0.0.1" Port="6514" Template="RSYSLOG_SyslogProtocol23Format")
 ```
 
 To complete TLS setup please refer to [rsyslog docs](https://www.rsyslog.com/doc/v8-stable/tutorials/tls.html).
@@ -91,18 +103,40 @@ To complete TLS setup please refer to [rsyslog docs](https://www.rsyslog.com/doc
     - version (integer)
     - severity_code (integer)
     - facility_code (integer)
-    - timestamp (integer)
+    - timestamp (integer): the time recorded in the syslog message
     - procid (string)
     - msgid (string)
     - sdid (bool)
     - *Structured Data* (string)
+  - timestamp: the time the messages was received
 
+#### Structured Data
+
+Structured data produces field keys by combining the `SD_ID` with the `PARAM_NAME` combined using the `sdparam_separator` as in the following example:
+```
+170 <165>1 2018-10-01:14:15.000Z mymachine.example.com evntslog - ID47 [exampleSDID@32473 iut="3" eventSource="Application" eventID="1011"] An application event log entry...
+```
+```
+syslog,appname=evntslog,facility=local4,hostname=mymachine.example.com,severity=notice exampleSDID@32473_eventID="1011",exampleSDID@32473_eventSource="Application",exampleSDID@32473_iut="3",facility_code=20i,message="An application event log entry...",msgid="ID47",severity_code=5i,timestamp=1065910455003000000i,version=1i 1538421339749472344
+```
 
 ### Troubleshooting
 
-The syslog plugin does not yet support RFC3164 format data.  You may see the following error when this syslog format is received:
-``
+You can send debugging messages directly to the input plugin using netcat:
+
+```sh
+# TCP with octet framing
+echo "57 <13>1 2018-10-01T12:00:00.0Z example.org root - - - test" | nc 127.0.0.1 6514
+
+# UDP
+echo "<13>1 2018-10-01T12:00:00.0Z example.org root - - - test" | nc -u 127.0.0.1 6514
+```
+
+#### RFC3164
+
+RFC3164 encoded messages are not currently supported.  You may see the following error if a message encoded in this format:
+```
 E! Error in plugin [inputs.syslog]: expecting a version value in the range 1-999 [col 5]
 ```
 
-You can use rsyslog to translate RFC3164 syslog messages to RFC5424 or RFC5425 format.
+You can use rsyslog to translate RFC3164 syslog messages into RFC5424 format.