diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index e7df5b3d48..f4e4984b24 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@ uwsgi: collectstatic
 	@if [ "$(VENV_BASE)" ]; then \
 		. $(VENV_BASE)/awx/bin/activate; \
 	fi; \
-    uwsgi -b 32768 --socket 127.0.0.1:8050 --module=awx.wsgi:application --home=/venv/awx --chdir=/awx_devel/ --vacuum --processes=5 --harakiri=120 --master --no-orphans --py-autoreload 1 --max-requests=1000 --stats /tmp/stats.socket --master-fifo=/awxfifo --lazy-apps --logformat "%(addr) %(method) %(uri) - %(proto) %(status)" --hook-accepting1-once="exec:/bin/sh -c '[ -f /tmp/celery_pid ] && kill -1 `cat /tmp/celery_pid` || true'"
+    uwsgi -b 32768 --socket 127.0.0.1:8050 --module=awx.wsgi:application --home=/venv/awx --chdir=/awx_devel/ --vacuum --processes=5 --harakiri=120 --master --no-orphans --py-autoreload 1 --max-requests=1000 --stats /tmp/stats.socket --lazy-apps --logformat "%(addr) %(method) %(uri) - %(proto) %(status)" --hook-accepting1-once="exec:/bin/sh -c '[ -f /tmp/celery_pid ] && kill -1 `cat /tmp/celery_pid` || true'"
 
 daphne:
 	@if [ "$(VENV_BASE)" ]; then \
diff --git a/awx/conf/apps.py b/awx/conf/apps.py
index a70d21326c..4f9a36395c 100644
--- a/awx/conf/apps.py
+++ b/awx/conf/apps.py
@@ -2,8 +2,6 @@
 from django.apps import AppConfig
 # from django.core import checks
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
-from awx.main.utils.handlers import configure_external_logger
-from django.conf import settings
 
 
 class ConfConfig(AppConfig):
@@ -15,4 +13,3 @@ class ConfConfig(AppConfig):
         self.module.autodiscover()
         from .settings import SettingsWrapper
         SettingsWrapper.initialize()
-        configure_external_logger(settings)
diff --git a/awx/conf/tests/functional/test_api.py b/awx/conf/tests/functional/test_api.py
index 0e845238f6..1be22ee2dc 100644
--- a/awx/conf/tests/functional/test_api.py
+++ b/awx/conf/tests/functional/test_api.py
@@ -338,13 +338,14 @@ def test_setting_singleton_delete_no_read_only_fields(api_request, dummy_setting
 
 @pytest.mark.django_db
 def test_setting_logging_test(api_request):
-    with mock.patch('awx.conf.views.BaseHTTPSHandler.perform_test') as mock_func:
+    with mock.patch('awx.conf.views.AWXProxyHandler.perform_test') as mock_func:
         api_request(
             'post',
             reverse('api:setting_logging_test'),
             data={'LOG_AGGREGATOR_HOST': 'http://foobar', 'LOG_AGGREGATOR_TYPE': 'logstash'}
         )
-        test_arguments = mock_func.call_args[0][0]
-        assert test_arguments.LOG_AGGREGATOR_HOST == 'http://foobar'
-        assert test_arguments.LOG_AGGREGATOR_TYPE == 'logstash'
-        assert test_arguments.LOG_AGGREGATOR_LEVEL == 'DEBUG'
+        call = mock_func.call_args_list[0]
+        args, kwargs = call
+        given_settings = kwargs['custom_settings']
+        assert given_settings.LOG_AGGREGATOR_HOST == 'http://foobar'
+        assert given_settings.LOG_AGGREGATOR_TYPE == 'logstash'
diff --git a/awx/conf/views.py b/awx/conf/views.py
index 60ea39d911..e10fe7ad32 100644
--- a/awx/conf/views.py
+++ b/awx/conf/views.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ from awx.api.generics import *  # noqa
 from awx.api.permissions import IsSuperUser
 from awx.api.versioning import reverse, get_request_version
 from awx.main.utils import *  # noqa
-from awx.main.utils.handlers import BaseHTTPSHandler, UDPHandler, LoggingConnectivityException
+from awx.main.utils.handlers import AWXProxyHandler, LoggingConnectivityException
 from awx.main.tasks import handle_setting_changes
 from awx.conf.license import get_licensed_features
 from awx.conf.models import Setting
@@ -198,12 +198,9 @@ class SettingLoggingTest(GenericAPIView):
             mock_settings = MockSettings()
             for k, v in serializer.validated_data.items():
                 setattr(mock_settings, k, v)
-            mock_settings.LOG_AGGREGATOR_LEVEL = 'DEBUG'
+            AWXProxyHandler().perform_test(custom_settings=mock_settings)
             if mock_settings.LOG_AGGREGATOR_PROTOCOL.upper() == 'UDP':
-                UDPHandler.perform_test(mock_settings)
                 return Response(status=status.HTTP_201_CREATED)
-            else:
-                BaseHTTPSHandler.perform_test(mock_settings)
         except LoggingConnectivityException as e:
             return Response({'error': str(e)}, status=status.HTTP_500_INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR)
         return Response(status=status.HTTP_200_OK)
diff --git a/awx/main/tasks.py b/awx/main/tasks.py
index cdf2a11354..22e6dff090 100644
--- a/awx/main/tasks.py
+++ b/awx/main/tasks.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ except Exception:
 
 # Celery
 from celery import Task, shared_task, Celery
-from celery.signals import celeryd_init, worker_process_init, worker_shutdown, worker_ready, celeryd_after_setup
+from celery.signals import celeryd_init, worker_shutdown, worker_ready, celeryd_after_setup
 
 # Django
 from django.conf import settings
@@ -59,10 +59,9 @@ from awx.main.utils import (get_ansible_version, get_ssh_version, decrypt_field,
                             wrap_args_with_proot, OutputEventFilter, OutputVerboseFilter, ignore_inventory_computed_fields,
                             ignore_inventory_group_removal, get_type_for_model, extract_ansible_vars)
 from awx.main.utils.safe_yaml import safe_dump, sanitize_jinja
-from awx.main.utils.reload import restart_local_services, stop_local_services
+from awx.main.utils.reload import stop_local_services
 from awx.main.utils.pglock import advisory_lock
 from awx.main.utils.ha import update_celery_worker_routes, register_celery_worker_queues
-from awx.main.utils.handlers import configure_external_logger
 from awx.main.consumers import emit_channel_notification
 from awx.conf import settings_registry
 
@@ -117,15 +116,6 @@ def celery_startup(conf=None, **kwargs):
             logger.exception(six.text_type("Failed to rebuild schedule {}.").format(sch))
 
 
-@worker_process_init.connect
-def task_set_logger_pre_run(*args, **kwargs):
-    try:
-        cache.close()
-        configure_external_logger(settings, is_startup=False)
-    except Exception:
-        logger.exception('Encountered error on initial log configuration.')
-
-
 @worker_shutdown.connect
 def inform_cluster_of_shutdown(*args, **kwargs):
     try:
@@ -200,10 +190,6 @@ def handle_setting_changes(self, setting_keys):
     cache_keys = set(setting_keys)
     logger.debug('cache delete_many(%r)', cache_keys)
     cache.delete_many(cache_keys)
-    for key in cache_keys:
-        if key.startswith('LOG_AGGREGATOR_'):
-            restart_local_services(['uwsgi', 'celery', 'beat', 'callback'])
-            break
 
 
 @shared_task(bind=True, exchange='tower_broadcast_all')
diff --git a/awx/main/tests/functional/api/test_settings.py b/awx/main/tests/functional/api/test_settings.py
index 5974a1a935..97effe0fa3 100644
--- a/awx/main/tests/functional/api/test_settings.py
+++ b/awx/main/tests/functional/api/test_settings.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import mock
 # AWX
 from awx.api.versioning import reverse
 from awx.conf.models import Setting
-from awx.main.utils.handlers import BaseHTTPSHandler, LoggingConnectivityException
+from awx.main.utils.handlers import AWXProxyHandler, LoggingConnectivityException
 
 import six
 
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ def test_logging_aggregrator_connection_test_bad_request(get, post, admin, key):
 
 @pytest.mark.django_db
 def test_logging_aggregrator_connection_test_valid(mocker, get, post, admin):
-    with mock.patch.object(BaseHTTPSHandler, 'perform_test') as perform_test:
+    with mock.patch.object(AWXProxyHandler, 'perform_test') as perform_test:
         url = reverse('api:setting_logging_test')
         user_data = {
             'LOG_AGGREGATOR_TYPE': 'logstash',
@@ -227,7 +227,8 @@ def test_logging_aggregrator_connection_test_valid(mocker, get, post, admin):
             'LOG_AGGREGATOR_PASSWORD': 'mcstash'
         }
         post(url, user_data, user=admin, expect=200)
-        create_settings = perform_test.call_args[0][0]
+        args, kwargs = perform_test.call_args_list[0]
+        create_settings = kwargs['custom_settings']
         for k, v in user_data.items():
             assert hasattr(create_settings, k)
             assert getattr(create_settings, k) == v
@@ -238,7 +239,7 @@ def test_logging_aggregrator_connection_test_with_masked_password(mocker, patch,
     url = reverse('api:setting_singleton_detail', kwargs={'category_slug': 'logging'})
     patch(url, user=admin, data={'LOG_AGGREGATOR_PASSWORD': 'password123'}, expect=200)
 
-    with mock.patch.object(BaseHTTPSHandler, 'perform_test') as perform_test:
+    with mock.patch.object(AWXProxyHandler, 'perform_test') as perform_test:
         url = reverse('api:setting_logging_test')
         user_data = {
             'LOG_AGGREGATOR_TYPE': 'logstash',
@@ -248,13 +249,14 @@ def test_logging_aggregrator_connection_test_with_masked_password(mocker, patch,
             'LOG_AGGREGATOR_PASSWORD': '$encrypted$'
         }
         post(url, user_data, user=admin, expect=200)
-        create_settings = perform_test.call_args[0][0]
+        args, kwargs = perform_test.call_args_list[0]
+        create_settings = kwargs['custom_settings']
         assert getattr(create_settings, 'LOG_AGGREGATOR_PASSWORD') == 'password123'
 
 
 @pytest.mark.django_db
 def test_logging_aggregrator_connection_test_invalid(mocker, get, post, admin):
-    with mock.patch.object(BaseHTTPSHandler, 'perform_test') as perform_test:
+    with mock.patch.object(AWXProxyHandler, 'perform_test') as perform_test:
         perform_test.side_effect = LoggingConnectivityException('404: Not Found')
         url = reverse('api:setting_logging_test')
         resp = post(url, {
diff --git a/awx/main/tests/unit/conftest.py b/awx/main/tests/unit/conftest.py
index 7a5ae40f79..2307b3a47d 100644
--- a/awx/main/tests/unit/conftest.py
+++ b/awx/main/tests/unit/conftest.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import pytest
+import logging
 
 from mock import PropertyMock
 
@@ -7,3 +8,16 @@ from mock import PropertyMock
 def _disable_database_settings(mocker):
     m = mocker.patch('awx.conf.settings.SettingsWrapper.all_supported_settings', new_callable=PropertyMock)
     m.return_value = []
+
+
+@pytest.fixture()
+def dummy_log_record():
+    return logging.LogRecord(
+        'awx', # logger name
+        20, # loglevel INFO
+        './awx/some/module.py', # pathname
+        100, # lineno
+        'User joe logged in', # msg
+        tuple(), # args,
+        None # exc_info
+    )
diff --git a/awx/main/tests/unit/utils/test_filters.py b/awx/main/tests/unit/utils/test_filters.py
index c0b38d294c..a8127fdfb6 100644
--- a/awx/main/tests/unit/utils/test_filters.py
+++ b/awx/main/tests/unit/utils/test_filters.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import mock
 from collections import namedtuple
 
 # AWX
-from awx.main.utils.filters import SmartFilter
+from awx.main.utils.filters import SmartFilter, ExternalLoggerEnabled
 
 # Django
 from django.db.models import Q
@@ -13,6 +13,37 @@ from django.db.models import Q
 import six
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('params, logger_name, expected', [
+    # skip all records if enabled_flag = False
+    ({'enabled_flag': False}, 'awx.main', False),
+    # skip all records if the host is undefined
+    ({'enabled_flag': True}, 'awx.main', False),
+    # skip all records if underlying logger is used by handlers themselves
+    ({'enabled_flag': True}, 'awx.main.utils.handlers', False),
+    ({'enabled_flag': True, 'enabled_loggers': ['awx']}, 'awx.main', True),
+    ({'enabled_flag': True, 'enabled_loggers': ['abc']}, 'awx.analytics.xyz', False),
+    ({'enabled_flag': True, 'enabled_loggers': ['xyz']}, 'awx.analytics.xyz', True),
+])
+def test_base_logging_handler_skip_log(params, logger_name, expected, dummy_log_record):
+    filter = ExternalLoggerEnabled(**params)
+    dummy_log_record.name = logger_name
+    assert filter.filter(dummy_log_record) is expected, (params, logger_name)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('level, expect', [
+    (30, True),  # warning
+    (20, False)  # info
+])
+def test_log_configurable_severity(level, expect, dummy_log_record):
+    dummy_log_record.levelno = level
+    filter = ExternalLoggerEnabled(
+        enabled_flag=True,
+        enabled_loggers=['awx', 'activity_stream', 'job_events', 'system_tracking'],
+        lvl='WARNING'
+    )
+    assert filter.filter(dummy_log_record) is expect
+
+
 Field = namedtuple('Field', 'name')
 Meta = namedtuple('Meta', 'fields')
 
diff --git a/awx/main/tests/unit/utils/test_handlers.py b/awx/main/tests/unit/utils/test_handlers.py
index 693d024281..f57d86158d 100644
--- a/awx/main/tests/unit/utils/test_handlers.py
+++ b/awx/main/tests/unit/utils/test_handlers.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 import base64
 import cStringIO
-import json
 import logging
 import socket
 import datetime
@@ -10,7 +9,6 @@ from uuid import uuid4
 
 import mock
 
-from django.conf import settings
 from django.conf import LazySettings
 import pytest
 import requests
@@ -18,23 +16,11 @@ from requests_futures.sessions import FuturesSession
 
 from awx.main.utils.handlers import (BaseHandler, BaseHTTPSHandler as HTTPSHandler,
                                      TCPHandler, UDPHandler, _encode_payload_for_socket,
-                                     PARAM_NAMES, LoggingConnectivityException)
+                                     PARAM_NAMES, LoggingConnectivityException,
+                                     AWXProxyHandler)
 from awx.main.utils.formatters import LogstashFormatter
 
 
-@pytest.fixture()
-def dummy_log_record():
-    return logging.LogRecord(
-        'awx', # logger name
-        20, # loglevel INFO
-        './awx/some/module.py', # pathname
-        100, # lineno
-        'User joe logged in', # msg
-        tuple(), # args,
-        None # exc_info
-    )
-
-
 @pytest.fixture()
 def http_adapter():
     class FakeHTTPAdapter(requests.adapters.HTTPAdapter):
@@ -80,105 +66,91 @@ def test_https_logging_handler_requests_async_implementation():
 
 
 def test_https_logging_handler_has_default_http_timeout():
-    handler = HTTPSHandler.from_django_settings(settings)
+    handler = TCPHandler()
     assert handler.tcp_timeout == 5
 
 
-@pytest.mark.parametrize('param', PARAM_NAMES.keys())
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('param', ['host', 'port', 'indv_facts'])
 def test_base_logging_handler_defaults(param):
     handler = BaseHandler()
     assert hasattr(handler, param) and getattr(handler, param) is None
 
 
-@pytest.mark.parametrize('param', PARAM_NAMES.keys())
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('param', ['host', 'port', 'indv_facts'])
 def test_base_logging_handler_kwargs(param):
     handler = BaseHandler(**{param: 'EXAMPLE'})
     assert hasattr(handler, param) and getattr(handler, param) == 'EXAMPLE'
 
 
-@pytest.mark.parametrize('param, django_settings_name', PARAM_NAMES.items())
-def test_base_logging_handler_from_django_settings(param, django_settings_name):
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('params', [
+    {
+        'LOG_AGGREGATOR_HOST': 'https://server.invalid',
+        'LOG_AGGREGATOR_PORT': 22222,
+        'LOG_AGGREGATOR_TYPE': 'loggly',
+        'LOG_AGGREGATOR_USERNAME': 'foo',
+        'LOG_AGGREGATOR_PASSWORD': 'bar',
+        'LOG_AGGREGATOR_INDIVIDUAL_FACTS': True,
+        'LOG_AGGREGATOR_TCP_TIMEOUT': 96,
+        'LOG_AGGREGATOR_VERIFY_CERT': False,
+        'LOG_AGGREGATOR_PROTOCOL': 'https'
+    },
+    {
+        'LOG_AGGREGATOR_HOST': 'https://server.invalid',
+        'LOG_AGGREGATOR_PORT': 22222,
+        'LOG_AGGREGATOR_PROTOCOL': 'udp'
+    }
+])
+def test_real_handler_from_django_settings(params):
+    settings = LazySettings()
+    settings.configure(**params)
+    handler = AWXProxyHandler().get_handler(custom_settings=settings)
+    # need the _reverse_ dictionary from PARAM_NAMES
+    attr_lookup = {}
+    for attr_name, setting_name in PARAM_NAMES.items():
+        attr_lookup[setting_name] = attr_name
+    for setting_name, val in params.items():
+        attr_name = attr_lookup[setting_name]
+        if attr_name == 'protocol':
+            continue
+        assert hasattr(handler, attr_name)
+
+
+def test_invalid_kwarg_to_real_handler():
     settings = LazySettings()
     settings.configure(**{
-        django_settings_name: 'EXAMPLE'
+        'LOG_AGGREGATOR_HOST': 'https://server.invalid',
+        'LOG_AGGREGATOR_PORT': 22222,
+        'LOG_AGGREGATOR_PROTOCOL': 'udp',
+        'LOG_AGGREGATOR_VERIFY_CERT': False  # setting not valid for UDP handler
     })
-    handler = BaseHandler.from_django_settings(settings)
-    assert hasattr(handler, param) and getattr(handler, param) == 'EXAMPLE'
+    handler = AWXProxyHandler().get_handler(custom_settings=settings)
+    assert not hasattr(handler, 'verify_cert')
 
 
-@pytest.mark.parametrize('params, logger_name, expected', [
-    # skip all records if enabled_flag = False
-    ({'enabled_flag': False}, 'awx.main', True),
-    # skip all records if the host is undefined
-    ({'host': '', 'enabled_flag': True}, 'awx.main', True),
-    # skip all records if underlying logger is used by handlers themselves
-    ({'host': '127.0.0.1', 'enabled_flag': True}, 'awx.main.utils.handlers', True),
-    ({'host': '127.0.0.1', 'enabled_flag': True}, 'awx.main', False),
-    ({'host': '127.0.0.1', 'enabled_flag': True, 'enabled_loggers': ['abc']}, 'awx.analytics.xyz', True),
-    ({'host': '127.0.0.1', 'enabled_flag': True, 'enabled_loggers': ['xyz']}, 'awx.analytics.xyz', False),
-])
-def test_base_logging_handler_skip_log(params, logger_name, expected):
-    handler = BaseHandler(**params)
-    assert handler._skip_log(logger_name) is expected
-
-
-def test_base_logging_handler_emit(dummy_log_record):
-    handler = BaseHandler(host='127.0.0.1', enabled_flag=True,
-                          message_type='logstash', lvl='INFO',
-                          enabled_loggers=['awx', 'activity_stream', 'job_events', 'system_tracking'])
+def test_base_logging_handler_emit_system_tracking(dummy_log_record):
+    handler = BaseHandler(host='127.0.0.1', indv_facts=True)
     handler.setFormatter(LogstashFormatter())
-    sent_payloads = handler.emit(dummy_log_record)
-
-    assert len(sent_payloads) == 1
-    body = json.loads(sent_payloads[0])
-
-    assert body['level'] == 'INFO'
-    assert body['logger_name'] == 'awx'
-    assert body['message'] == 'User joe logged in'
-
-
-def test_base_logging_handler_ignore_low_severity_msg(dummy_log_record):
-    handler = BaseHandler(host='127.0.0.1', enabled_flag=True,
-                          message_type='logstash', lvl='WARNING',
-                          enabled_loggers=['awx', 'activity_stream', 'job_events', 'system_tracking'])
-    handler.setFormatter(LogstashFormatter())
-    sent_payloads = handler.emit(dummy_log_record)
-    assert len(sent_payloads) == 0
-
-
-def test_base_logging_handler_emit_system_tracking():
-    handler = BaseHandler(host='127.0.0.1', enabled_flag=True,
-                          message_type='logstash', indv_facts=True, lvl='INFO',
-                          enabled_loggers=['awx', 'activity_stream', 'job_events', 'system_tracking'])
-    handler.setFormatter(LogstashFormatter())
-    record = logging.LogRecord(
-        'awx.analytics.system_tracking', # logger name
-        20, # loglevel INFO
-        './awx/some/module.py', # pathname
-        100, # lineno
-        None, # msg
-        tuple(), # args,
-        None # exc_info
-    )
-    record.inventory_id = 11
-    record.host_name = 'my_lucky_host'
-    record.job_id = 777
-    record.ansible_facts = {
+    dummy_log_record.name = 'awx.analytics.system_tracking'
+    dummy_log_record.msg = None
+    dummy_log_record.inventory_id = 11
+    dummy_log_record.host_name = 'my_lucky_host'
+    dummy_log_record.job_id = 777
+    dummy_log_record.ansible_facts = {
         "ansible_kernel": "4.4.66-boot2docker",
         "ansible_machine": "x86_64",
         "ansible_swapfree_mb": 4663,
     }
-    record.ansible_facts_modified = datetime.datetime.now(tzutc()).isoformat()
-    sent_payloads = handler.emit(record)
+    dummy_log_record.ansible_facts_modified = datetime.datetime.now(tzutc()).isoformat()
+    sent_payloads = handler.emit(dummy_log_record)
 
     assert len(sent_payloads) == 1
-    assert sent_payloads[0]['ansible_facts'] == record.ansible_facts
-    assert sent_payloads[0]['ansible_facts_modified'] == record.ansible_facts_modified
+    assert sent_payloads[0]['ansible_facts'] == dummy_log_record.ansible_facts
+    assert sent_payloads[0]['ansible_facts_modified'] == dummy_log_record.ansible_facts_modified
     assert sent_payloads[0]['level'] == 'INFO'
     assert sent_payloads[0]['logger_name'] == 'awx.analytics.system_tracking'
-    assert sent_payloads[0]['job_id'] == record.job_id
-    assert sent_payloads[0]['inventory_id'] == record.inventory_id
-    assert sent_payloads[0]['host_name'] == record.host_name
+    assert sent_payloads[0]['job_id'] == dummy_log_record.job_id
+    assert sent_payloads[0]['inventory_id'] == dummy_log_record.inventory_id
+    assert sent_payloads[0]['host_name'] == dummy_log_record.host_name
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize('host, port, normalized, hostname_only', [
@@ -236,16 +208,18 @@ def test_https_logging_handler_connectivity_test(http_adapter, status, reason, e
         def emit(self, record):
             return super(FakeHTTPSHandler, self).emit(record)
 
-    if exc:
-        with pytest.raises(exc) as e:
-            FakeHTTPSHandler.perform_test(settings)
-        assert str(e).endswith('%s: %s' % (status, reason))
-    else:
-        assert FakeHTTPSHandler.perform_test(settings) is None
+    with mock.patch.object(AWXProxyHandler, 'get_handler_class') as mock_get_class:
+        mock_get_class.return_value = FakeHTTPSHandler
+        if exc:
+            with pytest.raises(exc) as e:
+                AWXProxyHandler().perform_test(settings)
+            assert str(e).endswith('%s: %s' % (status, reason))
+        else:
+            assert AWXProxyHandler().perform_test(settings) is None
 
 
 def test_https_logging_handler_logstash_auth_info():
-    handler = HTTPSHandler(message_type='logstash', username='bob', password='ansible', lvl='INFO')
+    handler = HTTPSHandler(message_type='logstash', username='bob', password='ansible')
     handler._add_auth_information()
     assert isinstance(handler.session.auth, requests.auth.HTTPBasicAuth)
     assert handler.session.auth.username == 'bob'
@@ -261,9 +235,7 @@ def test_https_logging_handler_splunk_auth_info():
 
 def test_https_logging_handler_connection_error(connection_error_adapter,
                                                 dummy_log_record):
-    handler = HTTPSHandler(host='127.0.0.1', enabled_flag=True,
-                           message_type='logstash', lvl='INFO',
-                           enabled_loggers=['awx', 'activity_stream', 'job_events', 'system_tracking'])
+    handler = HTTPSHandler(host='127.0.0.1', message_type='logstash')
     handler.setFormatter(LogstashFormatter())
     handler.session.mount('http://', connection_error_adapter)
 
@@ -289,9 +261,7 @@ def test_https_logging_handler_connection_error(connection_error_adapter,
 @pytest.mark.parametrize('message_type', ['logstash', 'splunk'])
 def test_https_logging_handler_emit_without_cred(http_adapter, dummy_log_record,
                                                  message_type):
-    handler = HTTPSHandler(host='127.0.0.1', enabled_flag=True,
-                           message_type=message_type, lvl='INFO',
-                           enabled_loggers=['awx', 'activity_stream', 'job_events', 'system_tracking'])
+    handler = HTTPSHandler(host='127.0.0.1', message_type=message_type)
     handler.setFormatter(LogstashFormatter())
     handler.session.mount('http://', http_adapter)
     async_futures = handler.emit(dummy_log_record)
@@ -312,10 +282,9 @@ def test_https_logging_handler_emit_without_cred(http_adapter, dummy_log_record,
 
 def test_https_logging_handler_emit_logstash_with_creds(http_adapter,
                                                         dummy_log_record):
-    handler = HTTPSHandler(host='127.0.0.1', enabled_flag=True,
+    handler = HTTPSHandler(host='127.0.0.1',
                            username='user', password='pass',
-                           message_type='logstash', lvl='INFO',
-                           enabled_loggers=['awx', 'activity_stream', 'job_events', 'system_tracking'])
+                           message_type='logstash')
     handler.setFormatter(LogstashFormatter())
     handler.session.mount('http://', http_adapter)
     async_futures = handler.emit(dummy_log_record)
@@ -328,9 +297,8 @@ def test_https_logging_handler_emit_logstash_with_creds(http_adapter,
 
 def test_https_logging_handler_emit_splunk_with_creds(http_adapter,
                                                       dummy_log_record):
-    handler = HTTPSHandler(host='127.0.0.1', enabled_flag=True,
-                           password='pass', message_type='splunk', lvl='INFO',
-                           enabled_loggers=['awx', 'activity_stream', 'job_events', 'system_tracking'])
+    handler = HTTPSHandler(host='127.0.0.1',
+                           password='pass', message_type='splunk')
     handler.setFormatter(LogstashFormatter())
     handler.session.mount('http://', http_adapter)
     async_futures = handler.emit(dummy_log_record)
@@ -351,9 +319,7 @@ def test_encode_payload_for_socket(payload, encoded_payload):
 
 
 def test_udp_handler_create_socket_at_init():
-    handler = UDPHandler(host='127.0.0.1', port=4399,
-                         enabled_flag=True, message_type='splunk', lvl='INFO',
-                         enabled_loggers=['awx', 'activity_stream', 'job_events', 'system_tracking'])
+    handler = UDPHandler(host='127.0.0.1', port=4399)
     assert hasattr(handler, 'socket')
     assert isinstance(handler.socket, socket.socket)
     assert handler.socket.family == socket.AF_INET
@@ -361,9 +327,7 @@ def test_udp_handler_create_socket_at_init():
 
 
 def test_udp_handler_send(dummy_log_record):
-    handler = UDPHandler(host='127.0.0.1', port=4399,
-                         enabled_flag=True, message_type='splunk', lvl='INFO',
-                         enabled_loggers=['awx', 'activity_stream', 'job_events', 'system_tracking'])
+    handler = UDPHandler(host='127.0.0.1', port=4399)
     handler.setFormatter(LogstashFormatter())
     with mock.patch('awx.main.utils.handlers._encode_payload_for_socket', return_value="des") as encode_mock,\
             mock.patch.object(handler, 'socket') as socket_mock:
@@ -373,9 +337,7 @@ def test_udp_handler_send(dummy_log_record):
 
 
 def test_tcp_handler_send(fake_socket, dummy_log_record):
-    handler = TCPHandler(host='127.0.0.1', port=4399, tcp_timeout=5,
-                         enabled_flag=True, message_type='splunk', lvl='INFO',
-                         enabled_loggers=['awx', 'activity_stream', 'job_events', 'system_tracking'])
+    handler = TCPHandler(host='127.0.0.1', port=4399, tcp_timeout=5)
     handler.setFormatter(LogstashFormatter())
     with mock.patch('socket.socket', return_value=fake_socket) as sok_init_mock,\
             mock.patch('select.select', return_value=([], [fake_socket], [])):
@@ -388,9 +350,7 @@ def test_tcp_handler_send(fake_socket, dummy_log_record):
 
 
 def test_tcp_handler_return_if_socket_unavailable(fake_socket, dummy_log_record):
-    handler = TCPHandler(host='127.0.0.1', port=4399, tcp_timeout=5,
-                         enabled_flag=True, message_type='splunk', lvl='INFO',
-                         enabled_loggers=['awx', 'activity_stream', 'job_events', 'system_tracking'])
+    handler = TCPHandler(host='127.0.0.1', port=4399, tcp_timeout=5)
     handler.setFormatter(LogstashFormatter())
     with mock.patch('socket.socket', return_value=fake_socket) as sok_init_mock,\
             mock.patch('select.select', return_value=([], [], [])):
@@ -403,9 +363,7 @@ def test_tcp_handler_return_if_socket_unavailable(fake_socket, dummy_log_record)
 
 
 def test_tcp_handler_log_exception(fake_socket, dummy_log_record):
-    handler = TCPHandler(host='127.0.0.1', port=4399, tcp_timeout=5,
-                         enabled_flag=True, message_type='splunk', lvl='INFO',
-                         enabled_loggers=['awx', 'activity_stream', 'job_events', 'system_tracking'])
+    handler = TCPHandler(host='127.0.0.1', port=4399, tcp_timeout=5)
     handler.setFormatter(LogstashFormatter())
     with mock.patch('socket.socket', return_value=fake_socket) as sok_init_mock,\
             mock.patch('select.select', return_value=([], [], [])),\
diff --git a/awx/main/tests/unit/utils/test_reload.py b/awx/main/tests/unit/utils/test_reload.py
index 6d09d6105b..1820f2724a 100644
--- a/awx/main/tests/unit/utils/test_reload.py
+++ b/awx/main/tests/unit/utils/test_reload.py
@@ -13,31 +13,3 @@ def test_produce_supervisor_command(mocker):
             ['supervisorctl', 'restart', 'tower-processes:receiver',],
             stderr=-1, stdin=-1, stdout=-1)
 
-
-def test_routing_of_service_restarts_works(mocker):
-    '''
-    This tests that the parent restart method will call the appropriate
-    service restart methods, depending on which services are given in args
-    '''
-    with mocker.patch.object(reload, '_uwsgi_fifo_command'),\
-            mocker.patch.object(reload, '_reset_celery_thread_pool'),\
-            mocker.patch.object(reload, '_supervisor_service_command'):
-        reload.restart_local_services(['uwsgi', 'celery', 'flower', 'daphne'])
-        reload._uwsgi_fifo_command.assert_called_once_with(uwsgi_command="c")
-        reload._reset_celery_thread_pool.assert_called_once_with()
-        reload._supervisor_service_command.assert_called_once_with(['flower', 'daphne'], command="restart")
-
-
-
-def test_routing_of_service_restarts_diables(mocker):
-    '''
-    Test that methods are not called if not in the args
-    '''
-    with mocker.patch.object(reload, '_uwsgi_fifo_command'),\
-            mocker.patch.object(reload, '_reset_celery_thread_pool'),\
-            mocker.patch.object(reload, '_supervisor_service_command'):
-        reload.restart_local_services(['flower'])
-        reload._uwsgi_fifo_command.assert_not_called()
-        reload._reset_celery_thread_pool.assert_not_called()
-        reload._supervisor_service_command.assert_called_once_with(['flower'], command="restart")
-
diff --git a/awx/main/utils/filters.py b/awx/main/utils/filters.py
index 81f91a0b0a..9563eb6c34 100644
--- a/awx/main/utils/filters.py
+++ b/awx/main/utils/filters.py
@@ -8,14 +8,106 @@ from pyparsing import (
     CharsNotIn,
     ParseException,
 )
+from logging import Filter, _levelNames
 
 import six
 
-import django
+from django.apps import apps
+from django.db import models
+from django.conf import settings
 
 from awx.main.utils.common import get_search_fields
 
-__all__ = ['SmartFilter']
+__all__ = ['SmartFilter', 'ExternalLoggerEnabled']
+
+
+class FieldFromSettings(object):
+    """
+    Field interface - defaults to getting value from setting
+    if otherwise set, provided value will take precedence
+        over value in settings
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, setting_name):
+        self.setting_name = setting_name
+
+    def __get__(self, instance, type=None):
+        if self.setting_name in getattr(instance, 'settings_override', {}):
+            return instance.settings_override[self.setting_name]
+        return getattr(settings, self.setting_name, None)
+
+    def __set__(self, instance, value):
+        if value is None:
+            if hasattr(instance, 'settings_override'):
+                instance.settings_override.pop('instance', None)
+        else:
+            if not hasattr(instance, 'settings_override'):
+                instance.settings_override = {}
+            instance.settings_override[self.setting_name] = value
+
+
+class ExternalLoggerEnabled(Filter):
+
+    # Prevents recursive logging loops from swamping the server
+    LOGGER_BLACKLIST = (
+        # loggers that may be called in process of emitting a log
+        'awx.main.utils.handlers',
+        'awx.main.utils.formatters',
+        'awx.main.utils.filters',
+        'awx.main.utils.encryption',
+        'awx.main.utils.log',
+        # loggers that may be called getting logging settings
+        'awx.conf'
+    )
+
+    lvl = FieldFromSettings('LOG_AGGREGATOR_LEVEL')
+    enabled_loggers = FieldFromSettings('LOG_AGGREGATOR_LOGGERS')
+    enabled_flag = FieldFromSettings('LOG_AGGREGATOR_ENABLED')
+
+    def __init__(self, **kwargs):
+        super(ExternalLoggerEnabled, self).__init__()
+        for field_name, field_value in kwargs.items():
+            if not isinstance(ExternalLoggerEnabled.__dict__.get(field_name, None), FieldFromSettings):
+                raise Exception('%s is not a valid kwarg' % field_name)
+            if field_value is None:
+                continue
+            setattr(self, field_name, field_value)
+
+    def filter(self, record):
+        """
+        Uses the database settings to determine if the current
+        external log configuration says that this particular record
+        should be sent to the external log aggregator
+
+        False - should not be logged
+        True - should be logged
+        """
+        # Logger exceptions
+        for logger_name in self.LOGGER_BLACKLIST:
+            if record.name.startswith(logger_name):
+                return False
+        # General enablement
+        if not self.enabled_flag:
+            return False
+
+        # Level enablement
+        if record.levelno < _levelNames[self.lvl]:
+            # logging._levelNames -> logging._nameToLevel in python 3
+            return False
+
+        # Logger type enablement
+        loggers = self.enabled_loggers
+        if not loggers:
+            return False
+        if record.name.startswith('awx.analytics'):
+            base_path, headline_name = record.name.rsplit('.', 1)
+            return bool(headline_name in loggers)
+        else:
+            if '.' in record.name:
+                base_name, trailing_path = record.name.split('.', 1)
+            else:
+                base_name = record.name
+            return bool(base_name in loggers)
 
 
 def string_to_type(t):
@@ -36,7 +128,7 @@ def string_to_type(t):
 
 
 def get_model(name):
-    return django.apps.apps.get_model('main', name)
+    return apps.get_model('main', name)
 
 
 class SmartFilter(object):
@@ -52,7 +144,7 @@ class SmartFilter(object):
             search_kwargs = self._expand_search(k, v)
             if search_kwargs:
                 kwargs.update(search_kwargs)
-                q = reduce(lambda x, y: x | y, [django.db.models.Q(**{u'%s__contains' % _k:_v}) for _k, _v in kwargs.items()])
+                q = reduce(lambda x, y: x | y, [models.Q(**{u'%s__contains' % _k:_v}) for _k, _v in kwargs.items()])
                 self.result = Host.objects.filter(q)
             else:
                 kwargs[k] = v
diff --git a/awx/main/utils/formatters.py b/awx/main/utils/formatters.py
index c867912be4..f83dc3887c 100644
--- a/awx/main/utils/formatters.py
+++ b/awx/main/utils/formatters.py
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ import logging
 
 import six
 
+from django.conf import settings
+
 
 class TimeFormatter(logging.Formatter):
     '''
@@ -20,15 +22,6 @@ class TimeFormatter(logging.Formatter):
 
 
 class LogstashFormatter(LogstashFormatterVersion1):
-    def __init__(self, **kwargs):
-        settings_module = kwargs.pop('settings_module', None)
-        ret = super(LogstashFormatter, self).__init__(**kwargs)
-        if settings_module:
-            self.host_id = getattr(settings_module, 'CLUSTER_HOST_ID', None)
-            if hasattr(settings_module, 'LOG_AGGREGATOR_TOWER_UUID'):
-                self.tower_uuid = settings_module.LOG_AGGREGATOR_TOWER_UUID
-            self.message_type = getattr(settings_module, 'LOG_AGGREGATOR_TYPE', 'other')
-        return ret
 
     def reformat_data_for_log(self, raw_data, kind=None):
         '''
@@ -147,6 +140,15 @@ class LogstashFormatter(LogstashFormatterVersion1):
         if record.name.startswith('awx.analytics'):
             log_kind = record.name[len('awx.analytics.'):]
             fields = self.reformat_data_for_log(fields, kind=log_kind)
+        # General AWX metadata
+        for log_name, setting_name in [
+                ('type', 'LOG_AGGREGATOR_TYPE'),
+                ('cluster_host_id', 'CLUSTER_HOST_ID'),
+                ('tower_uuid', 'LOG_AGGREGATOR_TOWER_UUID')]:
+            if hasattr(settings, setting_name):
+                fields[log_name] = getattr(settings, setting_name, None)
+            elif log_name == 'type':
+                fields[log_name] = 'other'
         return fields
 
     def format(self, record):
@@ -158,18 +160,12 @@ class LogstashFormatter(LogstashFormatterVersion1):
             '@timestamp': self.format_timestamp(record.created),
             'message': record.getMessage(),
             'host': self.host,
-            'type': self.message_type,
 
             # Extra Fields
             'level': record.levelname,
             'logger_name': record.name,
         }
 
-        if getattr(self, 'tower_uuid', None):
-            message['tower_uuid'] = self.tower_uuid
-        if getattr(self, 'host_id', None):
-            message['cluster_host_id'] = self.host_id
-
         # Add extra fields
         message.update(self.get_extra_fields(record))
 
diff --git a/awx/main/utils/handlers.py b/awx/main/utils/handlers.py
index 8ed1127292..214c40ff11 100644
--- a/awx/main/utils/handlers.py
+++ b/awx/main/utils/handlers.py
@@ -13,40 +13,35 @@ import six
 from concurrent.futures import ThreadPoolExecutor
 from requests.exceptions import RequestException
 
-# loggly
-import traceback
-
+# Django
 from django.conf import settings
+
+# requests futures, a dependency used by these handlers
 from requests_futures.sessions import FuturesSession
 
 # AWX
 from awx.main.utils.formatters import LogstashFormatter
 
 
-__all__ = ['HTTPSNullHandler', 'BaseHTTPSHandler', 'TCPHandler', 'UDPHandler',
-           'configure_external_logger']
+__all__ = ['BaseHTTPSHandler', 'TCPHandler', 'UDPHandler',
+           'AWXProxyHandler']
 
 
 logger = logging.getLogger('awx.main.utils.handlers')
 
-# AWX external logging handler, generally designed to be used
-# with the accompanying LogstashHandler, derives from python-logstash library
-# Non-blocking request accomplished by FuturesSession, similar
-# to the loggly-python-handler library (not used)
 
 # Translation of parameter names to names in Django settings
+# logging settings category, only those related to handler / log emission
 PARAM_NAMES = {
     'host': 'LOG_AGGREGATOR_HOST',
     'port': 'LOG_AGGREGATOR_PORT',
     'message_type': 'LOG_AGGREGATOR_TYPE',
     'username': 'LOG_AGGREGATOR_USERNAME',
     'password': 'LOG_AGGREGATOR_PASSWORD',
-    'enabled_loggers': 'LOG_AGGREGATOR_LOGGERS',
     'indv_facts': 'LOG_AGGREGATOR_INDIVIDUAL_FACTS',
-    'enabled_flag': 'LOG_AGGREGATOR_ENABLED',
     'tcp_timeout': 'LOG_AGGREGATOR_TCP_TIMEOUT',
     'verify_cert': 'LOG_AGGREGATOR_VERIFY_CERT',
-    'lvl': 'LOG_AGGREGATOR_LEVEL',
+    'protocol': 'LOG_AGGREGATOR_PROTOCOL'
 }
 
 
@@ -58,13 +53,6 @@ class LoggingConnectivityException(Exception):
     pass
 
 
-class HTTPSNullHandler(logging.NullHandler):
-    "Placeholder null handler to allow loading without database access"
-
-    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return super(HTTPSNullHandler, self).__init__()
-
-
 class VerboseThreadPoolExecutor(ThreadPoolExecutor):
 
     last_log_emit = 0
@@ -91,32 +79,25 @@ class VerboseThreadPoolExecutor(ThreadPoolExecutor):
                                                              **kwargs)
 
 
-LEVEL_MAPPING = {
-    'DEBUG': logging.DEBUG,
-    'INFO': logging.INFO,
-    'WARNING': logging.WARNING,
-    'ERROR': logging.ERROR,
-    'CRITICAL': logging.CRITICAL,
-}
+class SocketResult:
+    '''
+    A class to be the return type of methods that send data over a socket
+    allows object to be used in the same way as a request futures object
+    '''
+    def __init__(self, ok, reason=None):
+        self.ok = ok
+        self.reason = reason
+
+    def result(self):
+        return self
 
 
 class BaseHandler(logging.Handler):
-    def __init__(self, **kwargs):
+    def __init__(self, host=None, port=None, indv_facts=None, **kwargs):
         super(BaseHandler, self).__init__()
-        for fd in PARAM_NAMES:
-            setattr(self, fd, kwargs.get(fd, None))
-
-    @classmethod
-    def from_django_settings(cls, settings, *args, **kwargs):
-        for param, django_setting_name in PARAM_NAMES.items():
-            kwargs[param] = getattr(settings, django_setting_name, None)
-        return cls(*args, **kwargs)
-
-    def get_full_message(self, record):
-        if record.exc_info:
-            return '\n'.join(traceback.format_exception(*record.exc_info))
-        else:
-            return record.getMessage()
+        self.host = host
+        self.port = port
+        self.indv_facts = indv_facts
 
     def _send(self, payload):
         """Actually send message to log aggregator.
@@ -128,26 +109,11 @@ class BaseHandler(logging.Handler):
             return [self._send(json.loads(self.format(record)))]
         return [self._send(self.format(record))]
 
-    def _skip_log(self, logger_name):
-        if self.host == '' or (not self.enabled_flag):
-            return True
-        # Don't send handler-related records.
-        if logger_name == logger.name:
-            return True
-        # AWX log emission is only turned off by enablement setting
-        if not logger_name.startswith('awx.analytics'):
-            return False
-        return self.enabled_loggers is None or logger_name[len('awx.analytics.'):] not in self.enabled_loggers
-
     def emit(self, record):
         """
             Emit a log record.  Returns a list of zero or more
             implementation-specific objects for tests.
         """
-        if not record.name.startswith('awx.analytics') and record.levelno < LEVEL_MAPPING[self.lvl]:
-            return []
-        if self._skip_log(record.name):
-            return []
         try:
             return self._format_and_send_record(record)
         except (KeyboardInterrupt, SystemExit):
@@ -181,6 +147,11 @@ class BaseHandler(logging.Handler):
 
 
 class BaseHTTPSHandler(BaseHandler):
+    '''
+    Originally derived from python-logstash library
+    Non-blocking request accomplished by FuturesSession, similar
+    to the loggly-python-handler library
+    '''
     def _add_auth_information(self):
         if self.message_type == 'logstash':
             if not self.username:
@@ -196,39 +167,20 @@ class BaseHTTPSHandler(BaseHandler):
             }
             self.session.headers.update(headers)
 
-    def __init__(self, fqdn=False, **kwargs):
+    def __init__(self, fqdn=False, message_type=None, username=None, password=None,
+                 tcp_timeout=5, verify_cert=True, **kwargs):
         self.fqdn = fqdn
+        self.message_type = message_type
+        self.username = username
+        self.password = password
+        self.tcp_timeout = tcp_timeout
+        self.verify_cert = verify_cert
         super(BaseHTTPSHandler, self).__init__(**kwargs)
         self.session = FuturesSession(executor=VerboseThreadPoolExecutor(
             max_workers=2  # this is the default used by requests_futures
         ))
         self._add_auth_information()
 
-    @classmethod
-    def perform_test(cls, settings):
-        """
-        Tests logging connectivity for the current logging settings.
-        @raises LoggingConnectivityException
-        """
-        handler = cls.from_django_settings(settings)
-        handler.enabled_flag = True
-        handler.setFormatter(LogstashFormatter(settings_module=settings))
-        logger = logging.getLogger(__file__)
-        fn, lno, func = logger.findCaller()
-        record = logger.makeRecord('awx', 10, fn, lno,
-                                   'AWX Connection Test', tuple(),
-                                   None, func)
-        futures = handler.emit(record)
-        for future in futures:
-            try:
-                resp = future.result()
-                if not resp.ok:
-                    raise LoggingConnectivityException(
-                        ': '.join([str(resp.status_code), resp.reason or ''])
-                    )
-            except RequestException as e:
-                raise LoggingConnectivityException(str(e))
-
     def _get_post_kwargs(self, payload_input):
         if self.message_type == 'splunk':
             # Splunk needs data nested under key "event"
@@ -265,6 +217,10 @@ def _encode_payload_for_socket(payload):
 
 
 class TCPHandler(BaseHandler):
+    def __init__(self, tcp_timeout=5, **kwargs):
+        self.tcp_timeout = tcp_timeout
+        super(TCPHandler, self).__init__(**kwargs)
+
     def _send(self, payload):
         payload = _encode_payload_for_socket(payload)
         sok = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
@@ -273,39 +229,32 @@ class TCPHandler(BaseHandler):
             sok.setblocking(0)
             _, ready_to_send, _ = select.select([], [sok], [], float(self.tcp_timeout))
             if len(ready_to_send) == 0:
-                logger.warning("Socket currently busy, failed to send message")
-                sok.close()
-                return
-            sok.send(payload)
+                ret = SocketResult(False, "Socket currently busy, failed to send message")
+                logger.warning(ret.reason)
+            else:
+                sok.send(payload)
+                ret = SocketResult(True)  # success!
         except Exception as e:
-            logger.exception("Error sending message from %s: %s" %
-                             (TCPHandler.__name__, e.message))
-        sok.close()
+            ret = SocketResult(False, "Error sending message from %s: %s" %
+                               (TCPHandler.__name__,
+                                ' '.join(six.text_type(arg) for arg in e.args)))
+            logger.exception(ret.reason)
+        finally:
+            sok.close()
+        return ret
 
 
 class UDPHandler(BaseHandler):
+    message = "Cannot determine if UDP messages are received."
+
     def __init__(self, **kwargs):
         super(UDPHandler, self).__init__(**kwargs)
         self.socket = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_DGRAM)
 
     def _send(self, payload):
         payload = _encode_payload_for_socket(payload)
-        return self.socket.sendto(payload, (self._get_host(hostname_only=True), self.port or 0))
-
-    @classmethod
-    def perform_test(cls, settings):
-        """
-        Tests logging connectivity for the current logging settings.
-        """
-        handler = cls.from_django_settings(settings)
-        handler.enabled_flag = True
-        handler.setFormatter(LogstashFormatter(settings_module=settings))
-        logger = logging.getLogger(__file__)
-        fn, lno, func = logger.findCaller()
-        record = logger.makeRecord('awx', 10, fn, lno,
-                                   'AWX Connection Test', tuple(),
-                                   None, func)
-        handler.emit(_encode_payload_for_socket(record))
+        self.socket.sendto(payload, (self._get_host(hostname_only=True), self.port or 0))
+        return SocketResult(True, reason=self.message)
 
 
 HANDLER_MAPPING = {
@@ -315,6 +264,88 @@ HANDLER_MAPPING = {
 }
 
 
+class AWXProxyHandler(logging.Handler):
+    '''
+    Handler specific to the AWX external logging feature
+
+    Will dynamically create a handler specific to the configured
+    protocol, and will create a new one automatically on setting change
+
+    Managing parameters:
+    All parameters will get their value from settings as a default
+    if the parameter was either provided on init, or set manually,
+    this value will take precedence.
+    Parameters match same parameters in the actualized handler classes.
+    '''
+
+    def __init__(self, **kwargs):
+        # TODO: process 'level' kwarg
+        super(AWXProxyHandler, self).__init__(**kwargs)
+        self._handler = None
+        self._old_kwargs = {}
+
+    def get_handler_class(self, protocol):
+        return HANDLER_MAPPING[protocol]
+
+    def get_handler(self, custom_settings=None, force_create=False):
+        new_kwargs = {}
+        use_settings = custom_settings or settings
+        for field_name, setting_name in PARAM_NAMES.items():
+            val = getattr(use_settings, setting_name, None)
+            if val is None:
+                continue
+            new_kwargs[field_name] = val
+        if new_kwargs == self._old_kwargs and self._handler and (not force_create):
+            # avoids re-creating session objects, and other such things
+            return self._handler
+        self._old_kwargs = new_kwargs.copy()
+        # TODO: remove any kwargs no applicable to that particular handler
+        protocol = new_kwargs.pop('protocol', None)
+        HandlerClass = self.get_handler_class(protocol)
+        # cleanup old handler and make new one
+        if self._handler:
+            self._handler.close()
+        logger.debug('Creating external log handler due to startup or settings change.')
+        self._handler = HandlerClass(**new_kwargs)
+        if self.formatter:
+            # self.format(record) is called inside of emit method
+            # so not safe to assume this can be handled within self
+            self._handler.setFormatter(self.formatter)
+        return self._handler
+
+    def emit(self, record):
+        actual_handler = self.get_handler()
+        return actual_handler.emit(record)
+
+    def perform_test(self, custom_settings):
+        """
+        Tests logging connectivity for given settings module.
+        @raises LoggingConnectivityException
+        """
+        handler = self.get_handler(custom_settings=custom_settings, force_create=True)
+        handler.setFormatter(LogstashFormatter())
+        logger = logging.getLogger(__file__)
+        fn, lno, func = logger.findCaller()
+        record = logger.makeRecord('awx', 10, fn, lno,
+                                   'AWX Connection Test', tuple(),
+                                   None, func)
+        futures = handler.emit(record)
+        for future in futures:
+            try:
+                resp = future.result()
+                if not resp.ok:
+                    if isinstance(resp, SocketResult):
+                        raise LoggingConnectivityException(
+                            'Socket error: {}'.format(resp.reason or '')
+                        )
+                    else:
+                        raise LoggingConnectivityException(
+                            ': '.join([str(resp.status_code), resp.reason or ''])
+                        )
+            except RequestException as e:
+                raise LoggingConnectivityException(str(e))
+
+
 ColorHandler = logging.StreamHandler
 
 if settings.COLOR_LOGS is True:
@@ -340,41 +371,3 @@ if settings.COLOR_LOGS is True:
     except ImportError:
         # logutils is only used for colored logs in the dev environment
         pass
-
-
-def _add_or_remove_logger(address, instance):
-    specific_logger = logging.getLogger(address)
-    for i, handler in enumerate(specific_logger.handlers):
-        if isinstance(handler, (HTTPSNullHandler, BaseHTTPSHandler)):
-            specific_logger.handlers[i] = instance or HTTPSNullHandler()
-            break
-    else:
-        if instance is not None:
-            specific_logger.handlers.append(instance)
-
-
-def configure_external_logger(settings_module, is_startup=True):
-    is_enabled = settings_module.LOG_AGGREGATOR_ENABLED
-    if is_startup and (not is_enabled):
-        # Pass-through if external logging not being used
-        return
-
-    instance = None
-    if is_enabled:
-        handler_class = HANDLER_MAPPING[settings_module.LOG_AGGREGATOR_PROTOCOL]
-        instance = handler_class.from_django_settings(settings_module)
-
-        # Obtain the Formatter class from settings to maintain customizations
-        configurator = logging.config.DictConfigurator(settings_module.LOGGING)
-        formatter_config = settings_module.LOGGING['formatters']['json'].copy()
-        formatter_config['settings_module'] = settings_module
-        formatter = configurator.configure_custom(formatter_config)
-
-        instance.setFormatter(formatter)
-
-    awx_logger_instance = instance
-    if is_enabled and 'awx' not in settings_module.LOG_AGGREGATOR_LOGGERS:
-        awx_logger_instance = None
-
-    _add_or_remove_logger('awx.analytics', instance)
-    _add_or_remove_logger('awx', awx_logger_instance)
diff --git a/awx/main/utils/reload.py b/awx/main/utils/reload.py
index 6da8b0b4f7..8da1fb0096 100644
--- a/awx/main/utils/reload.py
+++ b/awx/main/utils/reload.py
@@ -8,29 +8,9 @@ import logging
 # Django
 from django.conf import settings
 
-# Celery
-from celery import Celery
-
 logger = logging.getLogger('awx.main.utils.reload')
 
 
-def _uwsgi_fifo_command(uwsgi_command):
-    # http://uwsgi-docs.readthedocs.io/en/latest/MasterFIFO.html#available-commands
-    logger.warn('Initiating uWSGI chain reload of server')
-    TRIGGER_COMMAND = uwsgi_command
-    with open(settings.UWSGI_FIFO_LOCATION, 'w') as awxfifo:
-        awxfifo.write(TRIGGER_COMMAND)
-
-
-def _reset_celery_thread_pool():
-    # Do not use current_app because of this outstanding issue:
-    # https://github.com/celery/celery/issues/4410
-    app = Celery('awx')
-    app.config_from_object('django.conf:settings')
-    app.control.broadcast('pool_restart', arguments={'reload': True},
-                          destination=['celery@{}'.format(settings.CLUSTER_HOST_ID)], reply=False)
-
-
 def _supervisor_service_command(service_internal_names, command, communicate=True):
     '''
     Service internal name options:
@@ -68,21 +48,6 @@ def _supervisor_service_command(service_internal_names, command, communicate=Tru
         logger.info('Submitted supervisorctl {} command, not waiting for result'.format(command))
 
 
-def restart_local_services(service_internal_names):
-    logger.warn('Restarting services {} on this node in response to user action'.format(service_internal_names))
-    if 'uwsgi' in service_internal_names:
-        _uwsgi_fifo_command(uwsgi_command='c')
-        service_internal_names.remove('uwsgi')
-    restart_celery = False
-    if 'celery' in service_internal_names:
-        restart_celery = True
-        service_internal_names.remove('celery')
-    _supervisor_service_command(service_internal_names, command='restart')
-    if restart_celery:
-        # Celery restarted last because this probably includes current process
-        _reset_celery_thread_pool()
-
-
 def stop_local_services(service_internal_names, communicate=True):
     logger.warn('Stopping services {} on this node in response to user action'.format(service_internal_names))
     _supervisor_service_command(service_internal_names, command='stop', communicate=communicate)
diff --git a/awx/settings/defaults.py b/awx/settings/defaults.py
index 20c8a82a1f..4a7fc96358 100644
--- a/awx/settings/defaults.py
+++ b/awx/settings/defaults.py
@@ -1001,6 +1001,9 @@ LOGGING = {
         'require_debug_true_or_test': {
             '()': 'awx.main.utils.RequireDebugTrueOrTest',
         },
+        'external_log_enabled': {
+            '()': 'awx.main.utils.filters.ExternalLoggerEnabled'
+        },
     },
     'formatters': {
         'simple': {
@@ -1034,11 +1037,10 @@ LOGGING = {
             'class': 'logging.NullHandler',
             'formatter': 'simple',
         },
-        'http_receiver': {
-            'class': 'awx.main.utils.handlers.HTTPSNullHandler',
-            'level': 'DEBUG',
+        'external_logger': {
+            'class': 'awx.main.utils.handlers.AWXProxyHandler',
             'formatter': 'json',
-            'host': '',
+            'filters': ['external_log_enabled'],
         },
         'mail_admins': {
             'level': 'ERROR',
@@ -1131,7 +1133,7 @@ LOGGING = {
             'handlers': ['console'],
         },
         'awx': {
-            'handlers': ['console', 'file', 'tower_warnings'],
+            'handlers': ['console', 'file', 'tower_warnings', 'external_logger'],
             'level': 'DEBUG',
         },
         'awx.conf': {
@@ -1179,7 +1181,7 @@ LOGGING = {
             'propagate': False,
         },
         'awx.analytics': {
-            'handlers': ['http_receiver'],
+            'handlers': ['external_logger'],
             'level': 'INFO',
             'propagate': False
         },
diff --git a/awx/settings/development.py b/awx/settings/development.py
index eec3689ee7..9f1d916bc0 100644
--- a/awx/settings/development.py
+++ b/awx/settings/development.py
@@ -149,8 +149,6 @@ SERVICE_NAME_DICT = {
     "uwsgi": "uwsgi",
     "daphne": "daphne",
     "nginx": "nginx"}
-# Used for sending commands in automatic restart
-UWSGI_FIFO_LOCATION = '/awxfifo'
 
 try:
     socket.gethostbyname('docker.for.mac.internal')
diff --git a/awx/settings/production.py b/awx/settings/production.py
index d1d5baa3ad..ff7d966138 100644
--- a/awx/settings/production.py
+++ b/awx/settings/production.py
@@ -68,8 +68,6 @@ SERVICE_NAME_DICT = {
     "channels": "awx-channels-worker",
     "uwsgi": "awx-uwsgi",
     "daphne": "awx-daphne"}
-# Used for sending commands in automatic restart
-UWSGI_FIFO_LOCATION = '/var/lib/awx/awxfifo'
 
 # Store a snapshot of default settings at this point before loading any
 # customizable config files.