diff --git a/CHANGES b/CHANGES
index e39b7d253f..8a1d8f483e 100644
--- a/CHANGES
+++ b/CHANGES
@@ -1,4 +1,15 @@
 
+2.2-235 | 2014-03-13 16:21:19 -0700
+
+  * The Ascii writer has a new option LogAscii::use_json for writing
+	out logs as JSON. (Seth Hall)
+
+  * Ascii input reader now supports all config options as per-input
+    stream "config" values. (Seth Hall)
+
+  * Refactored formatters and updated the the writers a bit. (Seth
+	Hall)
+
 2.2-229 | 2014-03-13 14:58:30 -0700
 
   * Refactoring analyzer manager code to reuse
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 9e47c5d61f..71fffc0abf 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2.2-229
+2.2-235
diff --git a/scripts/base/frameworks/logging/writers/ascii.bro b/scripts/base/frameworks/logging/writers/ascii.bro
index e510874951..50ce450bce 100644
--- a/scripts/base/frameworks/logging/writers/ascii.bro
+++ b/scripts/base/frameworks/logging/writers/ascii.bro
@@ -5,11 +5,11 @@
 ##! ``config``: setting ``tsv`` to the string ``T`` turns the output into
 ##! "tab-separated-value" mode where only a single header row with the column
 ##! names is printed out as meta information, with no "# fields" prepended; no
-##! other meta data gets included in that mode.   
-##! 
+##! other meta data gets included in that mode.
+##!
 ##! Example filter using this::
-##! 
-##!    local my_filter: Log::Filter = [$name = "my-filter", $writer = Log::WRITER_ASCII, $config = table(["tsv"] = "T")]; 
+##!
+##!    local my_filter: Log::Filter = [$name = "my-filter", $writer = Log::WRITER_ASCII, $config = table(["tsv"] = "T")];
 ##!
 
 module LogAscii;
@@ -17,27 +17,51 @@ module LogAscii;
 export {
 	## If true, output everything to stdout rather than
 	## into files. This is primarily for debugging purposes.
+	##
+	## This option is also available as a per-filter ``$config`` option.
 	const output_to_stdout = F &redef;
 
+	## If true, the default will be to write logs in a JSON format.
+	##
+	## This option is also available as a per-filter ``$config`` option.
+	const use_json = F &redef;
+
+	## Format of timestamps when writing out JSON. By default, the JSON formatter will
+	## use double values for timestamps which represent the number of seconds from the
+	## UNIX epoch.
+	const json_timestamps: JSON::TimestampFormat = JSON::TS_EPOCH &redef;
+
 	## If true, include lines with log meta information such as column names
 	## with types, the values of ASCII logging options that are in use, and
 	## the time when the file was opened and closed (the latter at the end).
+        ##
+	## If writing in JSON format, this is implicitly disabled.
 	const include_meta = T &redef;
 
 	## Prefix for lines with meta information.
+        ##
+	## This option is also available as a per-filter ``$config`` option.
 	const meta_prefix = "#" &redef;
 
 	## Separator between fields.
+	##
+	## This option is also available as a per-filter ``$config`` option.
 	const separator = Log::separator &redef;
 
 	## Separator between set elements.
+	##
+	## This option is also available as a per-filter ``$config`` option.
 	const set_separator = Log::set_separator &redef;
 
 	## String to use for empty fields. This should be different from
-        ## *unset_field* to make the output unambiguous. 
+	## *unset_field* to make the output unambiguous.
+	##
+	## This option is also available as a per-filter ``$config`` option.
 	const empty_field = Log::empty_field &redef;
 
 	## String to use for an unset &optional field.
+	##
+	## This option is also available as a per-filter ``$config`` option.
 	const unset_field = Log::unset_field &redef;
 }
 
diff --git a/scripts/base/init-bare.bro b/scripts/base/init-bare.bro
index afb89ba1c7..87a7e6fe49 100644
--- a/scripts/base/init-bare.bro
+++ b/scripts/base/init-bare.bro
@@ -3057,6 +3057,24 @@ const record_all_packets = F &redef;
 ## .. bro:see:: conn_stats
 const ignore_keep_alive_rexmit = F &redef;
 
+module JSON;
+export {
+	type TimestampFormat: enum {
+		## Timestamps will be formatted as UNIX epoch doubles.  This is
+		## the format that Bro typically writes out timestamps.
+		TS_EPOCH,
+		## Timestamps will be formatted as unsigned integers that
+		## represent the number of milliseconds since the UNIX
+		## epoch.
+		TS_MILLIS,
+		## Timestamps will be formatted in the ISO8601 DateTime format.
+		## Subseconds are also included which isn't actually part of the
+		## standard but most consumers that parse ISO8601 seem to be able
+		## to cope with that.
+		TS_ISO8601,
+	};
+}
+
 module Tunnel;
 export {
 	## The maximum depth of a tunnel to decapsulate until giving up.
diff --git a/scripts/policy/tuning/json-logs.bro b/scripts/policy/tuning/json-logs.bro
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e7daf35063
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/policy/tuning/json-logs.bro
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+##! Loading this script will cause all logs to be written
+##! out as JSON by default.
+
+redef LogAscii::use_json=T;
diff --git a/scripts/test-all-policy.bro b/scripts/test-all-policy.bro
index 3a0bd17614..254ad69533 100644
--- a/scripts/test-all-policy.bro
+++ b/scripts/test-all-policy.bro
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@
 @load tuning/defaults/extracted_file_limits.bro
 @load tuning/defaults/packet-fragments.bro
 @load tuning/defaults/warnings.bro
+@load tuning/json-logs.bro
 @load tuning/logs-to-elasticsearch.bro
 @load tuning/track-all-assets.bro
 
diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
index ecf8683ddd..0e990dd37b 100644
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -335,11 +335,13 @@ set(bro_SRCS
     strsep.c
     modp_numtoa.c
 
-    threading/AsciiFormatter.cc
     threading/BasicThread.cc
+    threading/Formatter.cc
     threading/Manager.cc
     threading/MsgThread.cc
     threading/SerialTypes.cc
+    threading/formatters/Ascii.cc
+    threading/formatters/JSON.cc
 
     logging/Manager.cc
     logging/WriterBackend.cc
diff --git a/src/input/readers/Ascii.cc b/src/input/readers/Ascii.cc
index 3fc74480fc..9bef57c264 100644
--- a/src/input/readers/Ascii.cc
+++ b/src/input/readers/Ascii.cc
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #include <errno.h>
 
 using namespace input::reader;
+using namespace threading;
 using threading::Value;
 using threading::Field;
 
@@ -50,32 +51,12 @@ Ascii::Ascii(ReaderFrontend *frontend) : ReaderBackend(frontend)
 	{
 	file = 0;
 	mtime = 0;
-
-	separator.assign( (const char*) BifConst::InputAscii::separator->Bytes(),
-			  BifConst::InputAscii::separator->Len());
-
-	if ( separator.size() != 1 )
-		Error("separator length has to be 1. Separator will be truncated.");
-
-	set_separator.assign( (const char*) BifConst::InputAscii::set_separator->Bytes(),
-		              BifConst::InputAscii::set_separator->Len());
-
-	if ( set_separator.size() != 1 )
-		Error("set_separator length has to be 1. Separator will be truncated.");
-
-	empty_field.assign( (const char*) BifConst::InputAscii::empty_field->Bytes(),
-			    BifConst::InputAscii::empty_field->Len());
-
-	unset_field.assign( (const char*) BifConst::InputAscii::unset_field->Bytes(),
-			    BifConst::InputAscii::unset_field->Len());
-
-	ascii = new AsciiFormatter(this, AsciiFormatter::SeparatorInfo(set_separator, unset_field, empty_field));
-}
+	}
 
 Ascii::~Ascii()
 	{
 	DoClose();
-	delete ascii;
+	delete formatter;
 	}
 
 void Ascii::DoClose()
@@ -90,7 +71,42 @@ void Ascii::DoClose()
 
 bool Ascii::DoInit(const ReaderInfo& info, int num_fields, const Field* const* fields)
 	{
-	mtime = 0;
+	separator.assign( (const char*) BifConst::InputAscii::separator->Bytes(),
+	                 BifConst::InputAscii::separator->Len());
+
+	set_separator.assign( (const char*) BifConst::InputAscii::set_separator->Bytes(),
+	                     BifConst::InputAscii::set_separator->Len());
+
+	empty_field.assign( (const char*) BifConst::InputAscii::empty_field->Bytes(),
+	                   BifConst::InputAscii::empty_field->Len());
+
+	unset_field.assign( (const char*) BifConst::InputAscii::unset_field->Bytes(),
+	                   BifConst::InputAscii::unset_field->Len());
+
+	// Set per-filter configuration options.
+	for ( ReaderInfo::config_map::const_iterator i = info.config.begin(); i != info.config.end(); i++ )
+		{
+		if ( strcmp(i->first, "separator") == 0 )
+			separator.assign(i->second);
+
+		else if ( strcmp(i->first, "set_separator") == 0 )
+			set_separator.assign(i->second);
+
+		else if ( strcmp(i->first, "empty_field") == 0 )
+			empty_field.assign(i->second);
+
+		else if ( strcmp(i->first, "unset_field") == 0 )
+			unset_field.assign(i->second);
+		}
+
+	if ( separator.size() != 1 )
+		Error("separator length has to be 1. Separator will be truncated.");
+
+	if ( set_separator.size() != 1 )
+		Error("set_separator length has to be 1. Separator will be truncated.");
+
+	formatter::Ascii::SeparatorInfo sep_info(separator, set_separator, unset_field, empty_field);
+	formatter = new formatter::Ascii(this, sep_info);
 
 	file = new ifstream(info.source);
 	if ( ! file->is_open() )
@@ -173,7 +189,6 @@ bool Ascii::ReadHeader(bool useCached)
 			return false;
 			}
 
-
 		FieldMapping f(field->name, field->type, field->subtype, ifields[field->name]);
 
 		if ( field->secondary_name && strlen(field->secondary_name) != 0 )
@@ -200,7 +215,7 @@ bool Ascii::ReadHeader(bool useCached)
 bool Ascii::GetLine(string& str)
 	{
 	while ( getline(*file, str) )
-       		{
+		{
 		if ( str[0] != '#' )
 			return true;
 
@@ -282,7 +297,7 @@ bool Ascii::DoUpdate()
 
 	file->sync();
 
-	while ( GetLine(line ) )
+	while ( GetLine(line) )
 		{
 		// split on tabs
 		bool error = false;
@@ -332,7 +347,7 @@ bool Ascii::DoUpdate()
 				return false;
 				}
 
-			Value* val = ascii->ParseValue(stringfields[(*fit).position], (*fit).name, (*fit).type, (*fit).subtype);
+			Value* val = formatter->ParseValue(stringfields[(*fit).position], (*fit).name, (*fit).type, (*fit).subtype);
 
 			if ( val == 0 )
 				{
@@ -347,7 +362,7 @@ bool Ascii::DoUpdate()
 				assert(val->type == TYPE_PORT );
 				//	Error(Fmt("Got type %d != PORT with secondary position!", val->type));
 
-				val->val.port_val.proto = ascii->ParseProto(stringfields[(*fit).secondary_position]);
+				val->val.port_val.proto = formatter->ParseProto(stringfields[(*fit).secondary_position]);
 				}
 
 			fields[fpos] = val;
@@ -384,8 +399,9 @@ bool Ascii::DoUpdate()
 	}
 
 bool Ascii::DoHeartbeat(double network_time, double current_time)
-{
-	switch ( Info().mode  ) {
+	{
+	switch ( Info().mode )
+		{
 		case MODE_MANUAL:
 			// yay, we do nothing :)
 			break;
@@ -398,7 +414,7 @@ bool Ascii::DoHeartbeat(double network_time, double current_time)
 
 		default:
 			assert(false);
-	}
+		}
 
 	return true;
 	}
diff --git a/src/input/readers/Ascii.h b/src/input/readers/Ascii.h
index 934ea9a258..5d6bc71d54 100644
--- a/src/input/readers/Ascii.h
+++ b/src/input/readers/Ascii.h
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 #include <vector>
 
 #include "../ReaderBackend.h"
-#include "threading/AsciiFormatter.h"
+#include "threading/formatters/Ascii.h"
 
 namespace input { namespace reader {
 
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ private:
 	string empty_field;
 	string unset_field;
 
-	AsciiFormatter* ascii;
+	threading::formatter::Formatter* formatter;
 };
 
 
diff --git a/src/input/readers/Benchmark.cc b/src/input/readers/Benchmark.cc
index ec6b382ebb..de7eae8cc8 100644
--- a/src/input/readers/Benchmark.cc
+++ b/src/input/readers/Benchmark.cc
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ Benchmark::Benchmark(ReaderFrontend *frontend) : ReaderBackend(frontend)
 	heartbeatstarttime = 0;
 	heartbeat_interval = double(BifConst::Threading::heartbeat_interval);
 
-	ascii = new AsciiFormatter(this, AsciiFormatter::SeparatorInfo());
+	ascii = new threading::formatter::Ascii(this, threading::formatter::Ascii::SeparatorInfo());
 	}
 
 Benchmark::~Benchmark()
diff --git a/src/input/readers/Benchmark.h b/src/input/readers/Benchmark.h
index ad61b7d2a4..3296f3a85e 100644
--- a/src/input/readers/Benchmark.h
+++ b/src/input/readers/Benchmark.h
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 #define INPUT_READERS_BENCHMARK_H
 
 #include "../ReaderBackend.h"
-#include "threading/AsciiFormatter.h"
+#include "threading/formatters/Ascii.h"
 
 namespace input { namespace reader {
 
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ private:
 	double timedspread;
 	double heartbeat_interval;
 
-	AsciiFormatter* ascii;
+	threading::formatter::Ascii* ascii;
 };
 
 
diff --git a/src/input/readers/SQLite.cc b/src/input/readers/SQLite.cc
index 794b8059ba..d032f934a7 100644
--- a/src/input/readers/SQLite.cc
+++ b/src/input/readers/SQLite.cc
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ SQLite::SQLite(ReaderFrontend *frontend)
 			BifConst::InputSQLite::empty_field->Len()
 			);
 
-	io = new AsciiFormatter(this, AsciiFormatter::SeparatorInfo(set_separator, unset_field, empty_field));
+	io = new threading::formatter::Ascii(this, threading::formatter::Ascii::SeparatorInfo(string(), set_separator, unset_field, empty_field));
 	}
 
 SQLite::~SQLite()
diff --git a/src/input/readers/SQLite.h b/src/input/readers/SQLite.h
index cdea9808c0..a98b3e06b8 100644
--- a/src/input/readers/SQLite.h
+++ b/src/input/readers/SQLite.h
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 #include "../ReaderBackend.h"
 
-#include "threading/AsciiFormatter.h"
+#include "threading/formatters/Ascii.h"
 #include "3rdparty/sqlite3.h"
 
 namespace input { namespace reader {
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ private:
 	string query;
 	sqlite3 *db;
 	sqlite3_stmt *st;
-	AsciiFormatter* io;
+	threading::formatter::Ascii* io;
 
 	string set_separator;
 	string unset_field;
diff --git a/src/logging.bif b/src/logging.bif
index 1927e149c0..062e4dbe31 100644
--- a/src/logging.bif
+++ b/src/logging.bif
@@ -77,6 +77,8 @@ const separator: string;
 const set_separator: string;
 const empty_field: string;
 const unset_field: string;
+const use_json: bool;
+const json_timestamps: JSON::TimestampFormat;
 
 # Options for the DataSeries writer.
 
diff --git a/src/logging/writers/Ascii.cc b/src/logging/writers/Ascii.cc
index 1a9cc5c4cd..9b95639843 100644
--- a/src/logging/writers/Ascii.cc
+++ b/src/logging/writers/Ascii.cc
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@
 
 #include "Ascii.h"
 
-using namespace logging;
-using namespace writer;
+using namespace logging::writer;
+using namespace threading;
 using threading::Value;
 using threading::Field;
 
@@ -20,9 +20,46 @@ Ascii::Ascii(WriterFrontend* frontend) : WriterBackend(frontend)
 	fd = 0;
 	ascii_done = false;
 	tsv = false;
+	}
 
+Ascii::~Ascii()
+	{
+	if ( ! ascii_done )
+		{
+		fprintf(stderr, "internal error: finish missing\n");
+		abort();
+		}
+
+	delete formatter;
+	}
+
+bool Ascii::WriteHeaderField(const string& key, const string& val)
+	{
+	string str = meta_prefix + key + separator + val + "\n";
+
+	return safe_write(fd, str.c_str(), str.length());
+	}
+
+void Ascii::CloseFile(double t)
+	{
+	if ( ! fd )
+		return;
+
+	if ( include_meta && ! tsv )
+		WriteHeaderField("close", Timestamp(0));
+
+	safe_close(fd);
+	fd = 0;
+	}
+
+bool Ascii::DoInit(const WriterInfo& info, int num_fields, const Field* const * fields)
+	{
+	assert(! fd);
+
+	// Set some default values.
 	output_to_stdout = BifConst::LogAscii::output_to_stdout;
 	include_meta = BifConst::LogAscii::include_meta;
+	use_json = BifConst::LogAscii::use_json;
 
 	separator.assign(
 			(const char*) BifConst::LogAscii::separator->Bytes(),
@@ -49,45 +86,104 @@ Ascii::Ascii(WriterFrontend* frontend) : WriterBackend(frontend)
 			BifConst::LogAscii::meta_prefix->Len()
 			);
 
-	desc.EnableEscaping();
-	desc.AddEscapeSequence(separator);
+	ODesc tsfmt;
+	BifConst::LogAscii::json_timestamps->Describe(&tsfmt);
+	json_timestamps.assign(
+			(const char*) tsfmt.Bytes(),
+			tsfmt.Len()
+			);
 
-	ascii = new AsciiFormatter(this, AsciiFormatter::SeparatorInfo(set_separator, unset_field, empty_field));
-	}
-
-Ascii::~Ascii()
-	{
-	if ( ! ascii_done )
+	// Set per-filter configuration options.
+	for ( WriterInfo::config_map::const_iterator i = info.config.begin(); i != info.config.end(); i++ )
 		{
-		fprintf(stderr, "internal error: finish missing\n");
-		abort();
+		if ( strcmp(i->first, "tsv") == 0 )
+			{
+			if ( strcmp(i->second, "T") == 0 )
+				tsv = true;
+			else if ( strcmp(i->second, "F") == 0 )
+				tsv = false;
+			else
+				{
+				Error("invalid value for 'tsv', must be a string and either \"T\" or \"F\"");
+				return false;
+				}
+			}
+
+		else if ( strcmp(i->first, "use_json") == 0 )
+			{
+			if ( strcmp(i->second, "T") == 0 )
+				use_json = true;
+			else if ( strcmp(i->second, "F") == 0 )
+				use_json = false;
+			else
+				{
+				Error("invalid value for 'use_json', must be a string and either \"T\" or \"F\"");
+				return false;
+				}
+			}
+
+		else if ( strcmp(i->first, "output_to_stdout") == 0 )
+			{
+			if ( strcmp(i->second, "T") == 0 )
+				output_to_stdout = true;
+			else if ( strcmp(i->second, "F") == 0 )
+				output_to_stdout = false;
+			else
+				{
+				Error("invalid value for 'output_to_stdout', must be a string and either \"T\" or \"F\"");
+				return false;
+				}
+			}
+
+		else if ( strcmp(i->first, "separator") == 0 )
+			separator.assign(i->second);
+
+		else if ( strcmp(i->first, "set_separator") == 0 )
+			set_separator.assign(i->second);
+
+		else if ( strcmp(i->first, "empty_field") == 0 )
+			empty_field.assign(i->second);
+
+		else if ( strcmp(i->first, "unset_field") == 0 )
+			unset_field.assign(i->second);
+
+		else if ( strcmp(i->first, "meta_prefix") == 0 )
+			meta_prefix.assign(i->second);
+
+		else if ( strcmp(i->first, "json_timestamps") == 0 )
+			json_timestamps.assign(i->second);
 		}
 
-	delete ascii;
-	}
+	if ( use_json )
+		{
+		formatter::JSON::TimeFormat tf = formatter::JSON::TS_EPOCH;
 
-bool Ascii::WriteHeaderField(const string& key, const string& val)
-	{
-	string str = meta_prefix + key + separator + val + "\n";
+		// Write out JSON formatted logs.
+		if ( strcmp(json_timestamps.c_str(), "JSON::TS_EPOCH") == 0 )
+			tf = formatter::JSON::TS_EPOCH;
+		else if ( strcmp(json_timestamps.c_str(), "JSON::TS_MILLIS") == 0 )
+			tf = formatter::JSON::TS_MILLIS;
+		else if ( strcmp(json_timestamps.c_str(), "JSON::TS_ISO8601") == 0 )
+			tf = formatter::JSON::TS_ISO8601;
+		else
+			{
+			Error(Fmt("Invalid JSON timestamp format: %s", json_timestamps.c_str()));
+			return false;
+			}
 
-	return safe_write(fd, str.c_str(), str.length());
-	}
+		formatter = new formatter::JSON(this, tf);
+		// Using JSON implicitly turns off the header meta fields.
+		include_meta = false;
+		}
 
-void Ascii::CloseFile(double t)
-	{
-	if ( ! fd )
-		return;
-
-	if ( include_meta && ! tsv )
-		WriteHeaderField("close", Timestamp(0));
-
-	safe_close(fd);
-	fd = 0;
-	}
-
-bool Ascii::DoInit(const WriterInfo& info, int num_fields, const Field* const * fields)
-	{
-	assert(! fd);
+	else
+		{
+		// Use the default "Bro logs" format.
+		desc.EnableEscaping();
+		desc.AddEscapeSequence(separator);
+		formatter::Ascii::SeparatorInfo sep_info(separator, set_separator, unset_field, empty_field);
+		formatter = new formatter::Ascii(this, sep_info);
+		}
 
 	string path = info.path;
 
@@ -106,24 +202,6 @@ bool Ascii::DoInit(const WriterInfo& info, int num_fields, const Field* const *
 		return false;
 		}
 
-	for ( WriterInfo::config_map::const_iterator i = info.config.begin(); i != info.config.end(); i++ )
-		{
-		if ( strcmp(i->first, "tsv") == 0 )
-			{
-			if ( strcmp(i->second, "T") == 0 )
-				tsv = true;
-
-			else if ( strcmp(i->second, "F") == 0 )
-				tsv = false;
-
-			else
-				{
-				Error("invalid value for 'tsv', must be a string and either \"T\" or \"F\"");
-				return false;
-				}
-			}
-		}
-
 	if ( include_meta )
 		{
 		string names;
@@ -209,16 +287,10 @@ bool Ascii::DoWrite(int num_fields, const Field* const * fields,
 
 	desc.Clear();
 
-	for ( int i = 0; i < num_fields; i++ )
-		{
-		if ( i > 0 )
-			desc.AddRaw(separator);
+	if ( ! formatter->Describe(&desc, num_fields, fields, vals) )
+		return false;
 
-		if ( ! ascii->Describe(&desc, vals[i], fields[i]->name) )
-			return false;
-		}
-
-	desc.AddRaw("\n", 1);
+	desc.AddRaw("\n");
 
 	const char* bytes = (const char*)desc.Bytes();
 	int len = desc.Len();
diff --git a/src/logging/writers/Ascii.h b/src/logging/writers/Ascii.h
index 0ddcada57b..15afdef62f 100644
--- a/src/logging/writers/Ascii.h
+++ b/src/logging/writers/Ascii.h
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@
 #define LOGGING_WRITER_ASCII_H
 
 #include "../WriterBackend.h"
-#include "threading/AsciiFormatter.h"
+#include "threading/formatters/Ascii.h"
+#include "threading/formatters/JSON.h"
 
 namespace logging { namespace writer {
 
@@ -53,7 +54,10 @@ private:
 	string unset_field;
 	string meta_prefix;
 
-	AsciiFormatter* ascii;
+	bool use_json;
+	string json_timestamps;
+
+	threading::formatter::Formatter* formatter;
 };
 
 }
diff --git a/src/logging/writers/DataSeries.cc b/src/logging/writers/DataSeries.cc
index 1073e31a08..71a6428950 100644
--- a/src/logging/writers/DataSeries.cc
+++ b/src/logging/writers/DataSeries.cc
@@ -232,7 +232,8 @@ DataSeries::DataSeries(WriterFrontend* frontend) : WriterBackend(frontend)
 	ds_use_integer_for_time = BifConst::LogDataSeries::use_integer_for_time;
 	ds_set_separator = ",";
 
-	ascii = new AsciiFormatter(this, AsciiFormatter::SeparatorInfo());
+	threading::formatter::Ascii::SeparatorInfo sep_info;
+	ascii = new threading::formatter::Ascii(this, sep_info);
 
 	compress_type = Extent::compress_none;
 	log_file = 0;
diff --git a/src/logging/writers/DataSeries.h b/src/logging/writers/DataSeries.h
index 4fdc54eaa5..fe095bcb37 100644
--- a/src/logging/writers/DataSeries.h
+++ b/src/logging/writers/DataSeries.h
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 #include <DataSeries/GeneralField.hpp>
 
 #include "../WriterBackend.h"
-#include "threading/AsciiFormatter.h"
+#include "threading/formatters/Ascii.h"
 
 namespace logging { namespace writer {
 
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ private:
 	bool ds_use_integer_for_time;
 	string ds_set_separator;
 
-	AsciiFormatter* ascii;
+	threading::formatter::Ascii* ascii;
 };
 
 }
diff --git a/src/logging/writers/ElasticSearch.cc b/src/logging/writers/ElasticSearch.cc
index b22c3f4ab6..1096316afd 100644
--- a/src/logging/writers/ElasticSearch.cc
+++ b/src/logging/writers/ElasticSearch.cc
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
 #include "BroString.h"
 #include "NetVar.h"
 #include "threading/SerialTypes.h"
-#include "threading/AsciiFormatter.h"
 
 #include <curl/curl.h>
 #include <curl/easy.h>
@@ -53,13 +52,13 @@ ElasticSearch::ElasticSearch(WriterFrontend* frontend) : WriterBackend(frontend)
 
 	curl_handle = HTTPSetup();
 
-	ascii = new AsciiFormatter(this, AsciiFormatter::SeparatorInfo());
+	json = new threading::formatter::JSON(this, threading::formatter::JSON::TS_MILLIS);
 }
 
 ElasticSearch::~ElasticSearch()
 	{
 	delete [] cluster_name;
-	delete ascii;
+	delete json;
 	}
 
 bool ElasticSearch::DoInit(const WriterInfo& info, int num_fields, const threading::Field* const* fields)
@@ -98,134 +97,6 @@ bool ElasticSearch::BatchIndex()
 	return true;
 	}
 
-bool ElasticSearch::AddValueToBuffer(ODesc* b, Value* val)
-	{
-	switch ( val->type )
-		{
-		// ES treats 0 as false and any other value as true so bool types go here.
-		case TYPE_BOOL:
-		case TYPE_INT:
-			b->Add(val->val.int_val);
-			break;
-
-		case TYPE_COUNT:
-		case TYPE_COUNTER:
-			{
-			// ElasticSearch doesn't seem to support unsigned 64bit ints.
-			if ( val->val.uint_val >= INT64_MAX )
-				{
-				Error(Fmt("count value too large: %" PRIu64, val->val.uint_val));
-				b->AddRaw("null", 4);
-				}
-			else
-				b->Add(val->val.uint_val);
-			break;
-			}
-
-		case TYPE_PORT:
-			b->Add(val->val.port_val.port);
-			break;
-
-		case TYPE_SUBNET:
-			b->AddRaw("\"", 1);
-			b->Add(ascii->Render(val->val.subnet_val));
-			b->AddRaw("\"", 1);
-			break;
-
-		case TYPE_ADDR:
-			b->AddRaw("\"", 1);
-			b->Add(ascii->Render(val->val.addr_val));
-			b->AddRaw("\"", 1);
-			break;
-
-		case TYPE_DOUBLE:
-		case TYPE_INTERVAL:
-			b->Add(val->val.double_val);
-			break;
-
-		case TYPE_TIME:
-			{
-			// ElasticSearch uses milliseconds for timestamps and json only
-			// supports signed ints (uints can be too large).
-			uint64_t ts = (uint64_t) (val->val.double_val * 1000);
-			if ( ts >= INT64_MAX )
-				{
-				Error(Fmt("time value too large: %" PRIu64, ts));
-				b->AddRaw("null", 4);
-				}
-			else
-				b->Add(ts);
-			break;
-			}
-
-		case TYPE_ENUM:
-		case TYPE_STRING:
-		case TYPE_FILE:
-		case TYPE_FUNC:
-			{
-			b->AddRaw("\"", 1);
-			for ( int i = 0; i < val->val.string_val.length; ++i )
-				{
-				char c = val->val.string_val.data[i];
-				// 2byte Unicode escape special characters.
-				if ( c < 32 || c > 126 || c == '\n' || c == '"' || c == '\'' || c == '\\' || c == '&' )
-					{
-					static const char hex_chars[] = "0123456789abcdef";
-					b->AddRaw("\\u00", 4);
-					b->AddRaw(&hex_chars[(c & 0xf0) >> 4], 1);
-					b->AddRaw(&hex_chars[c & 0x0f], 1);
-					}
-				else
-					b->AddRaw(&c, 1);
-				}
-			b->AddRaw("\"", 1);
-			break;
-			}
-
-		case TYPE_TABLE:
-			{
-			b->AddRaw("[", 1);
-			for ( int j = 0; j < val->val.set_val.size; j++ )
-				{
-				if ( j > 0 )
-					b->AddRaw(",", 1);
-				AddValueToBuffer(b, val->val.set_val.vals[j]);
-				}
-			b->AddRaw("]", 1);
-			break;
-			}
-
-		case TYPE_VECTOR:
-			{
-			b->AddRaw("[", 1);
-			for ( int j = 0; j < val->val.vector_val.size; j++ )
-				{
-				if ( j > 0 )
-					b->AddRaw(",", 1);
-				AddValueToBuffer(b, val->val.vector_val.vals[j]);
-				}
-			b->AddRaw("]", 1);
-			break;
-			}
-
-		default:
-			return false;
-		}
-	return true;
-	}
-
-bool ElasticSearch::AddFieldToBuffer(ODesc *b, Value* val, const Field* field)
-	{
-	if ( ! val->present )
-		return false;
-
-	b->AddRaw("\"", 1);
-	b->Add(field->name);
-	b->AddRaw("\":", 2);
-	AddValueToBuffer(b, val);
-	return true;
-	}
-
 bool ElasticSearch::DoWrite(int num_fields, const Field* const * fields,
 			     Value** vals)
 	{
@@ -239,14 +110,7 @@ bool ElasticSearch::DoWrite(int num_fields, const Field* const * fields,
 	buffer.Add(Info().path);
 	buffer.AddRaw("\"}}\n", 4);
 
-	buffer.AddRaw("{", 1);
-	for ( int i = 0; i < num_fields; i++ )
-		{
-		if ( i > 0 && buffer.Bytes()[buffer.Len()] != ',' && vals[i]->present )
-			buffer.AddRaw(",", 1);
-		AddFieldToBuffer(&buffer, vals[i], fields[i]);
-		}
-	buffer.AddRaw("}\n", 2);
+	json->Describe(&buffer, num_fields, fields, vals);
 
 	counter++;
 	if ( counter >= BifConst::LogElasticSearch::max_batch_size ||
diff --git a/src/logging/writers/ElasticSearch.h b/src/logging/writers/ElasticSearch.h
index b7aba09964..283fff2972 100644
--- a/src/logging/writers/ElasticSearch.h
+++ b/src/logging/writers/ElasticSearch.h
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #define LOGGING_WRITER_ELASTICSEARCH_H
 
 #include <curl/curl.h>
+#include "threading/formatters/JSON.h"
 #include "../WriterBackend.h"
 
 namespace logging { namespace writer {
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ private:
 
 	uint64 batch_size;
 
-	AsciiFormatter* ascii;
+	threading::formatter::JSON* json;
 };
 
 }
diff --git a/src/logging/writers/SQLite.cc b/src/logging/writers/SQLite.cc
index 25f5cb012e..44d01ec73f 100644
--- a/src/logging/writers/SQLite.cc
+++ b/src/logging/writers/SQLite.cc
@@ -35,7 +35,8 @@ SQLite::SQLite(WriterFrontend* frontend)
 			BifConst::LogSQLite::empty_field->Len()
 			);
 
-	io = new AsciiFormatter(this, AsciiFormatter::SeparatorInfo(set_separator, unset_field, empty_field));
+	threading::formatter::Ascii::SeparatorInfo sep_info(string(), set_separator, unset_field, empty_field);
+	io = new threading::formatter::Ascii(this, sep_info);
 	}
 
 SQLite::~SQLite()
diff --git a/src/logging/writers/SQLite.h b/src/logging/writers/SQLite.h
index b70381ebf6..a962e903ff 100644
--- a/src/logging/writers/SQLite.h
+++ b/src/logging/writers/SQLite.h
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 
 #include "../WriterBackend.h"
 
-#include "threading/AsciiFormatter.h"
+#include "threading/formatters/Ascii.h"
 #include "3rdparty/sqlite3.h"
 
 namespace logging { namespace writer {
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ private:
 	string unset_field;
 	string empty_field;
 
-	AsciiFormatter* io;
+	threading::formatter::Ascii* io;
 };
 
 }
diff --git a/src/threading/AsciiFormatter.h b/src/threading/AsciiFormatter.h
deleted file mode 100644
index 1522e46191..0000000000
--- a/src/threading/AsciiFormatter.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,142 +0,0 @@
-// See the file "COPYING" in the main distribution directory for copyright.
-
-#ifndef THREADING_ASCII_FORMATTER_H
-#define THREADING_ASCII_FORMATTER_H
-
-#include "../Desc.h"
-#include "MsgThread.h"
-
-/**
-  * A thread-safe class for converting values into a readable ASCII
-  * representation, and vice versa. This is a utility class that factors out
-  * common rendering/parsing code needed by a number of input/output threads.
-  */
-class AsciiFormatter {
-public:
-	/**
-	 * A struct to pass the necessary configuration values to the
-	 * AsciiFormatter module on initialization.
-	 */
-	struct SeparatorInfo
-		{
-		string set_separator;	// Separator between set elements.
-		string unset_field;	// String marking an unset field.
-		string empty_field;	// String marking an empty (but set) field.
-
-		/**
-		 * Constructor that leaves separators etc unset to dummy
-		 * values. Useful if you use only methods that don't need any
-		 * of them, like StringToAddr, etc.
-		 */
-		SeparatorInfo();
-
-		/**
-		 * Constructor that defines all the configuration options.
-		 * Use if you need either ValToODesc or EntryToVal.
-		 */
-		SeparatorInfo(const string& set_separator, const string& unset_field, const string& empty_field);
-		};
-
-	/**
-	 * Constructor.
-	 *
-	 * @param t The thread that uses this class instance. The class uses
-	 * some of the thread's methods, e.g., for error reporting and
-	 * internal formatting.
-	 *
-	 * @param info SeparatorInfo structure defining the necessary
-	 * separators.
-	 */
-	AsciiFormatter(threading::MsgThread* t, const SeparatorInfo info);
-
-	/**
-	 * Destructor.
-	 */
-	~AsciiFormatter();
-
-	/**
-	 * Convert a threading value into a corresponding ASCII.
-	 * representation.
-	 *
-	 * @param desc The ODesc object to write to.
-	 *
-	 * @param val the Value to render to the ODesc object.
-	 *
-	 * @param The name of a field associated with the value. Used only
-	 * for error reporting.
-	 *
-	 * @return Returns true on success, false on error. Errors are also
-	 * flagged via the reporter.
-	 */
-	bool Describe(ODesc* desc, threading::Value* val, const string& name) const;
-
-	/**
-	 * Convert an IP address into a string.
-	 *
-	 * @param addr The address.
-	 *
-	 * @return An ASCII representation of the address.
-	 */
-	string Render(const threading::Value::addr_t& addr) const;
-
-	/**
-	 * Convert an subnet value into a string.
-	 *
-	 * @param addr The address.
-	 *
-	 * @return An ASCII representation of the subnet.
-	 */
-	string Render(const threading::Value::subnet_t& subnet) const;
-
-	/**
-	 * Convert a double into a string. This renders the double with Bro's
-	 * standard precision.
-	 *
-	 * @param d The double.
-	 *
-	 * @return An ASCII representation of the double.
-	 */
-	string Render(double d) const;
-
-	/**
-	 * Convert the ASCII representation of a field into a value.
-	 *
-	 * @param s The string to parse.
-	 *
-	 * @param The name of a field associated with the value. Used only
-	 * for error reporting.
-	 *
-	 * @return The new value, or null on error. Errors are also flagged
-	 * via the reporter.
-	 */
-	threading::Value* ParseValue(string s, string name, TypeTag type, TypeTag subtype = TYPE_ERROR) const;
-
-	/**
-	 * Convert a string into a TransportProto. The string must be one of
-	 * \c tcp, \c udp, \c icmp, or \c unknown.
-	 *
-	 * @param proto The transport protocol
-	 *
-	 * @return The transport protocol, which will be \c TRANSPORT_UNKNOWN
-	 * on error. Errors are also flagged via the reporter.
-	 */
-	TransportProto ParseProto(const string &proto) const;
-
-	/**
-	 * Convert a string into a Value::addr_t.
-	 *
-	 * @param addr String containing an IPv4 or IPv6 address.
-	 *
-	 * @return The address, which will be all-zero on error. Errors are
-	 * also flagged via the reporter.
-	 */
-	threading::Value::addr_t ParseAddr(const string &addr) const;
-
-private:
-	bool CheckNumberError(const string& s, const char * end) const;
-
-	SeparatorInfo separators;
-	threading::MsgThread* thread;
-};
-
-#endif /* THREADING_ASCII_FORMATTER_H */
diff --git a/src/threading/Formatter.cc b/src/threading/Formatter.cc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f003f37d29
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/threading/Formatter.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+// See the file "COPYING" in the main distribution directory for copyright.
+
+#include "config.h"
+
+#include <sstream>
+#include <errno.h>
+
+#include "Formatter.h"
+#include "bro_inet_ntop.h"
+
+using namespace threading;
+using namespace formatter;
+using threading::Value;
+using threading::Field;
+
+Formatter::Formatter(threading::MsgThread* t)
+	{
+	thread = t;
+	}
+
+Formatter::~Formatter()
+	{
+	}
+
+string Formatter::Render(const threading::Value::addr_t& addr) const
+	{
+	if ( addr.family == IPv4 )
+		{
+		char s[INET_ADDRSTRLEN];
+
+		if ( ! bro_inet_ntop(AF_INET, &addr.in.in4, s, INET_ADDRSTRLEN) )
+			return "<bad IPv4 address conversion>";
+		else
+			return s;
+		}
+	else
+		{
+		char s[INET6_ADDRSTRLEN];
+
+		if ( ! bro_inet_ntop(AF_INET6, &addr.in.in6, s, INET6_ADDRSTRLEN) )
+			return "<bad IPv6 address conversion>";
+		else
+			return s;
+		}
+	}
+
+TransportProto Formatter::ParseProto(const string &proto) const
+	{
+	if ( proto == "unknown" )
+		return TRANSPORT_UNKNOWN;
+	else if ( proto == "tcp" )
+		return TRANSPORT_TCP;
+	else if ( proto == "udp" )
+		return TRANSPORT_UDP;
+	else if ( proto == "icmp" )
+		return TRANSPORT_ICMP;
+
+	thread->Error(thread->Fmt("Tried to parse invalid/unknown protocol: %s", proto.c_str()));
+
+	return TRANSPORT_UNKNOWN;
+	}
+
+
+// More or less verbose copy from IPAddr.cc -- which uses reporter.
+threading::Value::addr_t Formatter::ParseAddr(const string &s) const
+	{
+	threading::Value::addr_t val;
+
+	if ( s.find(':') == std::string::npos ) // IPv4.
+		{
+		val.family = IPv4;
+
+		if ( inet_aton(s.c_str(), &(val.in.in4)) <= 0 )
+			{
+			thread->Error(thread->Fmt("Bad address: %s", s.c_str()));
+			memset(&val.in.in4.s_addr, 0, sizeof(val.in.in4.s_addr));
+			}
+		}
+
+	else
+		{
+		val.family = IPv6;
+		if ( inet_pton(AF_INET6, s.c_str(), val.in.in6.s6_addr) <=0 )
+			{
+			thread->Error(thread->Fmt("Bad address: %s", s.c_str()));
+			memset(val.in.in6.s6_addr, 0, sizeof(val.in.in6.s6_addr));
+			}
+		}
+
+	return val;
+	}
+
+string Formatter::Render(const threading::Value::subnet_t& subnet) const
+	{
+	char l[16];
+
+	if ( subnet.prefix.family == IPv4 )
+		modp_uitoa10(subnet.length - 96, l);
+	else
+		modp_uitoa10(subnet.length, l);
+
+	string s = Render(subnet.prefix) + "/" + l;
+
+	return s;
+	}
+
+string Formatter::Render(double d) const
+	{
+	char buf[256];
+	modp_dtoa(d, buf, 6);
+	return buf;
+	}
+
diff --git a/src/threading/Formatter.h b/src/threading/Formatter.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9f69a3879a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/threading/Formatter.h
@@ -0,0 +1,153 @@
+// See the file "COPYING" in the main distribution directory for copyright.
+
+#ifndef THREADING_FORMATTER_H
+#define THREADING_FORMATTER_H
+
+#include "../Desc.h"
+#include "MsgThread.h"
+
+namespace threading { namespace formatter {
+
+/**
+  * A thread-safe class for converting values into some textual format. This
+  * is a base class that implements the interface for common 
+  * rendering/parsing code needed by a number of input/output threads.
+  */
+class Formatter {
+public:
+	/**
+	 * Constructor.
+	 *
+	 * @param t The thread that uses this class instance. The class uses
+	 * some of the thread's methods, e.g., for error reporting and
+	 * internal formatting.
+	 *
+	 */
+	Formatter(threading::MsgThread* t);
+
+	/**
+	 * Destructor.
+	 */
+	virtual ~Formatter();
+
+	/**
+	 * Convert a list of threading values into an implementation specific
+	 * textual representation.
+	 *
+	 * @param desc The ODesc object to write to.
+	 *
+	 * @param num_fields The number of fields in the logging record.
+	 *
+	 * @param fields Information about the fields for each of the given
+	 * log values.
+	 *
+	 * @param vals The field values.
+	 *
+	 * @return Returns true on success, false on error. Errors must also
+	 * be flagged via the thread.
+	 */
+	virtual bool Describe(ODesc* desc, int num_fields, const threading::Field* const * fields,
+			      threading::Value** vals) const = 0;
+
+	/**
+	 * Convert a single threading value into an implementation-specific
+	 * representation.
+	 *
+	 * @param desc The ODesc object to write to.
+	 *
+	 * @param val the Value to render to the ODesc object.
+	 *
+	 * @param The name of a field associated with the value.
+	 *
+	 * @return Returns true on success, false on error. Errors are also
+	 * flagged via the thread.
+	 */
+	virtual bool Describe(ODesc* desc, threading::Value* val, const string& name = "") const = 0;
+
+	/**
+	 * Convert an implementation-specific textual representation of a
+	 * field into a value.
+	 *
+	 * @param s The string to parse.
+	 *
+	 * @param The name of a field associated with the value. Used only
+	 * for error reporting.
+	 *
+	 * @return The new value, or null on error. Errors must also be
+	 * flagged via the thread.
+	 */
+	virtual threading::Value* ParseValue(string s, string name, TypeTag type, TypeTag subtype = TYPE_ERROR) const = 0;
+
+	/**
+	 * Convert an IP address into a string.
+	 *
+	 * This is a helper function that formatter implementations may use.
+	 *
+	 * @param addr The address.
+	 *
+	 * @return An ASCII representation of the address.
+	 */
+	string Render(const threading::Value::addr_t& addr) const;
+
+	/**
+	 * Convert an subnet value into a string.
+	 *
+	 * This is a helper function that formatter implementations may use.
+	 *
+	 * @param addr The address.
+	 *
+	 * @return An ASCII representation of the subnet.
+	 */
+	string Render(const threading::Value::subnet_t& subnet) const;
+
+	/**
+	 * Convert a double into a string. This renders the double with Bro's
+	 * standard precision.
+	 *
+	 * This is a helper function that formatter implementations may use.
+	 *
+	 * @param d The double.
+	 *
+	 * @return An ASCII representation of the double.
+	 */
+	string Render(double d) const;
+
+	/**
+	 * Convert a string into a TransportProto. The string must be one of
+	 * \c tcp, \c udp, \c icmp, or \c unknown.
+	 *
+	 * This is a helper function that formatter implementations may use.
+	 *
+	 * @param proto The transport protocol
+	 *
+	 * @return The transport protocol, which will be \c TRANSPORT_UNKNOWN
+	 * on error. Errors are also flagged via the thread.
+	 */
+	TransportProto ParseProto(const string &proto) const;
+
+	/**
+	 * Convert a string into a Value::addr_t.
+	 *
+	 * This is a helper function that formatter implementations may use.
+	 *
+	 * @param addr String containing an IPv4 or IPv6 address.
+	 *
+	 * @return The address, which will be all-zero on error. Errors are
+	 * also flagged via the thread.
+	 */
+	threading::Value::addr_t ParseAddr(const string &addr) const;
+
+protected:
+	/**
+	 * Returns the thread associated with the formatter via the
+	 * constructor.
+	 */
+	threading::MsgThread* GetThread() const	{ return thread; }
+
+private:
+	threading::MsgThread* thread;
+};
+
+}}
+
+#endif /* THREADING_FORMATTER_H */
diff --git a/src/threading/AsciiFormatter.cc b/src/threading/formatters/Ascii.cc
similarity index 61%
rename from src/threading/AsciiFormatter.cc
rename to src/threading/formatters/Ascii.cc
index 616abbe2b6..c400f8a7ad 100644
--- a/src/threading/AsciiFormatter.cc
+++ b/src/threading/formatters/Ascii.cc
@@ -5,35 +5,54 @@
 #include <sstream>
 #include <errno.h>
 
-#include "AsciiFormatter.h"
-#include "bro_inet_ntop.h"
+#include "./Ascii.h"
 
-AsciiFormatter::SeparatorInfo::SeparatorInfo()
+using namespace threading::formatter;
+
+Ascii::SeparatorInfo::SeparatorInfo()
 	{
-	this->set_separator = "SHOULD_NOT_BE_USED";
-	this->unset_field = "SHOULD_NOT_BE_USED";
-	this->empty_field = "SHOULD_NOT_BE_USED";
+	separator = "SHOULD_NOT_BE_USED";
+	set_separator = "SHOULD_NOT_BE_USED";
+	unset_field = "SHOULD_NOT_BE_USED";
+	empty_field = "SHOULD_NOT_BE_USED";
 	}
 
-AsciiFormatter::SeparatorInfo::SeparatorInfo(const string & set_separator,
-				 const string & unset_field, const string & empty_field)
+Ascii::SeparatorInfo::SeparatorInfo(const string& arg_separator,
+				    const string& arg_set_separator,
+				    const string& arg_unset_field,
+				    const string& arg_empty_field)
 	{
-	this->set_separator = set_separator;
-	this->unset_field = unset_field;
-	this->empty_field = empty_field;
+	separator = arg_separator;
+	set_separator = arg_set_separator;
+	unset_field = arg_unset_field;
+	empty_field = arg_empty_field;
 	}
 
-AsciiFormatter::AsciiFormatter(threading::MsgThread* t, const SeparatorInfo info)
+Ascii::Ascii(threading::MsgThread* t, const SeparatorInfo& info) : Formatter(t)
 	{
-	thread = t;
-	this->separators = info;
+	separators = info;
 	}
 
-AsciiFormatter::~AsciiFormatter()
+Ascii::~Ascii()
 	{
 	}
 
-bool AsciiFormatter::Describe(ODesc* desc, threading::Value* val, const string& name) const
+bool Ascii::Describe(ODesc* desc, int num_fields, const threading::Field* const * fields,
+                     threading::Value** vals) const
+	{
+	for ( int i = 0; i < num_fields; i++ )
+		{
+		if ( i > 0 )
+			desc->AddRaw(separators.separator);
+
+		if ( ! Describe(desc, vals[i], fields[i]->name) )
+			return false;
+		}
+
+	return true;
+	}
+
+bool Ascii::Describe(ODesc* desc, threading::Value* val, const string& name) const
 	{
 	if ( ! val->present )
 		{
@@ -128,17 +147,19 @@ bool AsciiFormatter::Describe(ODesc* desc, threading::Value* val, const string&
 			}
 
 		desc->AddEscapeSequence(separators.set_separator);
+
 		for ( int j = 0; j < val->val.set_val.size; j++ )
 			{
 			if ( j > 0 )
 				desc->AddRaw(separators.set_separator);
 
-			if ( ! Describe(desc, val->val.set_val.vals[j], name) )
+			if ( ! Describe(desc, val->val.set_val.vals[j]) )
 				{
 				desc->RemoveEscapeSequence(separators.set_separator);
 				return false;
 				}
 			}
+
 		desc->RemoveEscapeSequence(separators.set_separator);
 
 		break;
@@ -153,24 +174,26 @@ bool AsciiFormatter::Describe(ODesc* desc, threading::Value* val, const string&
 			}
 
 		desc->AddEscapeSequence(separators.set_separator);
+
 		for ( int j = 0; j < val->val.vector_val.size; j++ )
 			{
 			if ( j > 0 )
 				desc->AddRaw(separators.set_separator);
 
-			if ( ! Describe(desc, val->val.vector_val.vals[j], name) )
+			if ( ! Describe(desc, val->val.vector_val.vals[j]) )
 				{
 				desc->RemoveEscapeSequence(separators.set_separator);
 				return false;
 				}
 			}
+
 		desc->RemoveEscapeSequence(separators.set_separator);
 
 		break;
 		}
 
 	default:
-		thread->Error(thread->Fmt("unsupported field format %d for %s", val->type, name.c_str()));
+		GetThread()->Error(GetThread()->Fmt("Ascii writer unsupported field format %d", val->type));
 		return false;
 	}
 
@@ -178,12 +201,13 @@ bool AsciiFormatter::Describe(ODesc* desc, threading::Value* val, const string&
 	}
 
 
-threading::Value* AsciiFormatter::ParseValue(string s, string name, TypeTag type, TypeTag subtype) const
+threading::Value* Ascii::ParseValue(string s, string name, TypeTag type, TypeTag subtype) const
 	{
 	if ( s.compare(separators.unset_field) == 0 )  // field is not set...
 		return new threading::Value(type, false);
 
 	threading::Value* val = new threading::Value(type, true);
+	const char* start = s.c_str();
 	char* end = 0;
 	errno = 0;
 
@@ -202,36 +226,36 @@ threading::Value* AsciiFormatter::ParseValue(string s, string name, TypeTag type
 			val->val.int_val = 0;
 		else
 			{
-			thread->Error(thread->Fmt("Field: %s Invalid value for boolean: %s",
-				  name.c_str(), s.c_str()));
+			GetThread()->Error(GetThread()->Fmt("Field: %s Invalid value for boolean: %s",
+				  name.c_str(), start));
 			goto parse_error;
 			}
 		break;
 
 	case TYPE_INT:
-		val->val.int_val = strtoll(s.c_str(), &end, 10);
-		if ( CheckNumberError(s, end) )
+		val->val.int_val = strtoll(start, &end, 10);
+		if ( CheckNumberError(start, end) )
 			goto parse_error;
 		break;
 
 	case TYPE_DOUBLE:
 	case TYPE_TIME:
 	case TYPE_INTERVAL:
-		val->val.double_val = strtod(s.c_str(), &end);
-		if ( CheckNumberError(s, end) )
+		val->val.double_val = strtod(start, &end);
+		if ( CheckNumberError(start, end) )
 			goto parse_error;
 		break;
 
 	case TYPE_COUNT:
 	case TYPE_COUNTER:
-		val->val.uint_val = strtoull(s.c_str(), &end, 10);
-		if ( CheckNumberError(s, end) )
+		val->val.uint_val = strtoull(start, &end, 10);
+		if ( CheckNumberError(start, end) )
 			goto parse_error;
 		break;
 
 	case TYPE_PORT:
-		val->val.port_val.port = strtoull(s.c_str(), &end, 10);
-		if ( CheckNumberError(s, end) )
+		val->val.port_val.port = strtoull(start, &end, 10);
+		if ( CheckNumberError(start, end) )
 			goto parse_error;
 
 		val->val.port_val.proto = TRANSPORT_UNKNOWN;
@@ -243,14 +267,14 @@ threading::Value* AsciiFormatter::ParseValue(string s, string name, TypeTag type
 		size_t pos = s.find("/");
 		if ( pos == s.npos )
 			{
-			thread->Error(thread->Fmt("Invalid value for subnet: %s", s.c_str()));
+			GetThread()->Error(GetThread()->Fmt("Invalid value for subnet: %s", start));
 			goto parse_error;
 			}
 
 		string width_str = s.substr(pos + 1);
 		uint8_t width = (uint8_t) strtol(width_str.c_str(), &end, 10);
 
-		if ( CheckNumberError(s, end) )
+		if ( CheckNumberError(start, end) )
 			goto parse_error;
 
 		string addr = s.substr(0, pos);
@@ -316,7 +340,7 @@ threading::Value* AsciiFormatter::ParseValue(string s, string name, TypeTag type
 
 			if ( pos >= length )
 				{
-				thread->Error(thread->Fmt("Internal error while parsing set. pos %d >= length %d."
+				GetThread()->Error(GetThread()->Fmt("Internal error while parsing set. pos %d >= length %d."
 				          " Element: %s", pos, length, element.c_str()));
 				error = true;
 				break;
@@ -325,7 +349,7 @@ threading::Value* AsciiFormatter::ParseValue(string s, string name, TypeTag type
 			threading::Value* newval = ParseValue(element, name, subtype);
 			if ( newval == 0 )
 				{
-				thread->Error("Error while reading set or vector");
+				GetThread()->Error("Error while reading set or vector");
 				error = true;
 				break;
 				}
@@ -343,7 +367,7 @@ threading::Value* AsciiFormatter::ParseValue(string s, string name, TypeTag type
 			lvals[pos] = ParseValue("", name, subtype);
 			if ( lvals[pos] == 0 )
 				{
-				thread->Error("Error while trying to add empty set element");
+				GetThread()->Error("Error while trying to add empty set element");
 				goto parse_error;
 				}
 
@@ -362,7 +386,7 @@ threading::Value* AsciiFormatter::ParseValue(string s, string name, TypeTag type
 
 		if ( pos != length )
 			{
-			thread->Error(thread->Fmt("Internal error while parsing set: did not find all elements: %s", s.c_str()));
+			GetThread()->Error(GetThread()->Fmt("Internal error while parsing set: did not find all elements: %s", start));
 			goto parse_error;
 			}
 
@@ -370,8 +394,8 @@ threading::Value* AsciiFormatter::ParseValue(string s, string name, TypeTag type
 		}
 
 	default:
-		thread->Error(thread->Fmt("unsupported field format %d for %s", type,
-		name.c_str()));
+		GetThread()->Error(GetThread()->Fmt("unsupported field format %d for %s", type,
+						    name.c_str()));
 		goto parse_error;
 	}
 
@@ -382,128 +406,35 @@ parse_error:
 	return 0;
 	}
 
-bool AsciiFormatter::CheckNumberError(const string& s, const char* end) const
+bool Ascii::CheckNumberError(const char* start, const char* end) const
 	{
-	// Do this check first, before executing s.c_str() or similar.
-	// otherwise the value to which *end is pointing at the moment might
-	// be gone ...
-	bool endnotnull =  (*end != '\0');
+	threading::MsgThread* thread = GetThread();
 
-	if ( s.length() == 0 )
+	if ( end == start && *end != '\0'  ) {
+		thread->Error(thread->Fmt("String '%s' contained no parseable number", start));
+		return true;
+	}
+
+	if ( end - start == 0 && *end == '\0' )
 		{
 		thread->Error("Got empty string for number field");
 		return true;
 		}
 
-	if ( end == s.c_str() ) {
-		thread->Error(thread->Fmt("String '%s' contained no parseable number", s.c_str()));
-		return true;
-	}
-
-	if ( endnotnull )
-		thread->Warning(thread->Fmt("Number '%s' contained non-numeric trailing characters. Ignored trailing characters '%s'", s.c_str(), end));
+	if ( (*end != '\0') )
+		thread->Warning(thread->Fmt("Number '%s' contained non-numeric trailing characters. Ignored trailing characters '%s'", start, end));
 
 	if ( errno == EINVAL )
 		{
-		thread->Error(thread->Fmt("String '%s' could not be converted to a number", s.c_str()));
+		thread->Error(thread->Fmt("String '%s' could not be converted to a number", start));
 		return true;
 		}
 
 	else if ( errno == ERANGE )
 		{
-		thread->Error(thread->Fmt("Number '%s' out of supported range.", s.c_str()));
+		thread->Error(thread->Fmt("Number '%s' out of supported range.", start));
 		return true;
 		}
 
 	return false;
 	}
-
-string AsciiFormatter::Render(const threading::Value::addr_t& addr) const
-	{
-	if ( addr.family == IPv4 )
-		{
-		char s[INET_ADDRSTRLEN];
-
-		if ( ! bro_inet_ntop(AF_INET, &addr.in.in4, s, INET_ADDRSTRLEN) )
-			return "<bad IPv4 address conversion>";
-		else
-			return s;
-		}
-	else
-		{
-		char s[INET6_ADDRSTRLEN];
-
-		if ( ! bro_inet_ntop(AF_INET6, &addr.in.in6, s, INET6_ADDRSTRLEN) )
-			return "<bad IPv6 address conversion>";
-		else
-			return s;
-		}
-	}
-
-TransportProto AsciiFormatter::ParseProto(const string &proto) const
-	{
-	if ( proto == "unknown" )
-		return TRANSPORT_UNKNOWN;
-	else if ( proto == "tcp" )
-		return TRANSPORT_TCP;
-	else if ( proto == "udp" )
-		return TRANSPORT_UDP;
-	else if ( proto == "icmp" )
-		return TRANSPORT_ICMP;
-
-	thread->Error(thread->Fmt("Tried to parse invalid/unknown protocol: %s", proto.c_str()));
-
-	return TRANSPORT_UNKNOWN;
-	}
-
-
-// More or less verbose copy from IPAddr.cc -- which uses reporter.
-threading::Value::addr_t AsciiFormatter::ParseAddr(const string &s) const
-	{
-		threading::Value::addr_t val;
-
-	if ( s.find(':') == std::string::npos ) // IPv4.
-		{
-		val.family = IPv4;
-
-		if ( inet_aton(s.c_str(), &(val.in.in4)) <= 0 )
-			{
-			thread->Error(thread->Fmt("Bad address: %s", s.c_str()));
-			memset(&val.in.in4.s_addr, 0, sizeof(val.in.in4.s_addr));
-			}
-		}
-
-	else
-		{
-		val.family = IPv6;
-		if ( inet_pton(AF_INET6, s.c_str(), val.in.in6.s6_addr) <=0 )
-			{
-			thread->Error(thread->Fmt("Bad address: %s", s.c_str()));
-			memset(val.in.in6.s6_addr, 0, sizeof(val.in.in6.s6_addr));
-			}
-		}
-
-	return val;
-	}
-
-string AsciiFormatter::Render(const threading::Value::subnet_t& subnet) const
-	{
-	char l[16];
-
-	if ( subnet.prefix.family == IPv4 )
-		modp_uitoa10(subnet.length - 96, l);
-	else
-		modp_uitoa10(subnet.length, l);
-
-	string s = Render(subnet.prefix) + "/" + l;
-
-	return s;
-	}
-
-string AsciiFormatter::Render(double d) const
-	{
-	char buf[256];
-	modp_dtoa(d, buf, 6);
-	return buf;
-	}
-
diff --git a/src/threading/formatters/Ascii.h b/src/threading/formatters/Ascii.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ab5e29c1f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/threading/formatters/Ascii.h
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+// See the file "COPYING" in the main distribution directory for copyright.
+
+#ifndef THREADING_FORMATTERS_ASCII_H
+#define THREADING_FORMATTERS_ASCII_H
+
+#include "../Formatter.h"
+
+namespace threading { namespace formatter {
+
+class Ascii : public Formatter {
+public:
+	/**
+	 * A struct to pass the necessary configuration values to the
+	 * Ascii module on initialization.
+	 */
+	struct SeparatorInfo
+		{
+		string separator;		// Separator between columns
+		string set_separator;	// Separator between set elements.
+		string unset_field;	// String marking an unset field.
+		string empty_field;	// String marking an empty (but set) field.
+
+		/**
+		 * Constructor that defines all the configuration options.
+		 * Use if you need either ValToODesc or EntryToVal.
+		 */
+		SeparatorInfo(const string& separator, const string& set_separator, const string& unset_field, const string& empty_field);
+
+		/**
+		 * Constructor that leaves separators etc unset to dummy
+		 * values. Useful if you use only methods that don't need any
+		 * of them, like StringToAddr, etc.
+		 */
+		SeparatorInfo();
+		};
+
+	/**
+	 * Constructor.
+	 *
+	 * @param t The thread that uses this class instance. The class uses
+	 * some of the thread's methods, e.g., for error reporting and
+	 * internal formatting.
+	 *
+	 * @param info SeparatorInfo structure defining the necessary
+	 * separators.
+	 */
+	Ascii(threading::MsgThread* t, const SeparatorInfo& info);
+	virtual ~Ascii();
+
+	virtual bool Describe(ODesc* desc, threading::Value* val, const string& name = "") const;
+	virtual bool Describe(ODesc* desc, int num_fields, const threading::Field* const * fields,
+	                      threading::Value** vals) const;
+	virtual threading::Value* ParseValue(string s, string name, TypeTag type, TypeTag subtype = TYPE_ERROR) const;
+
+private:
+	bool CheckNumberError(const char* start, const char* end) const;
+
+	SeparatorInfo separators;
+};
+
+}}
+
+#endif /* THREADING_FORMATTERS_ASCII_H */
diff --git a/src/threading/formatters/JSON.cc b/src/threading/formatters/JSON.cc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7f3321ca96
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/threading/formatters/JSON.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,213 @@
+// See the file "COPYING" in the main distribution directory for copyright.
+
+#include "config.h"
+
+#include <sstream>
+#include <errno.h>
+#include <math.h>
+
+#include "./JSON.h"
+
+using namespace threading::formatter;
+
+JSON::JSON(MsgThread* t, TimeFormat tf) : Formatter(t)
+	{
+	timestamps = tf;
+	}
+
+JSON::~JSON()
+	{
+	}
+
+bool JSON::Describe(ODesc* desc, int num_fields, const Field* const * fields,
+                    Value** vals) const
+	{
+	desc->AddRaw("{");
+
+	for ( int i = 0; i < num_fields; i++ )
+		{
+		const u_char* bytes = desc->Bytes();
+		int len = desc->Len();
+
+		if ( i > 0 && len > 0 && bytes[len-1] != ',' && vals[i]->present )
+			desc->AddRaw(",");
+
+		if ( ! Describe(desc, vals[i], fields[i]->name) )
+			return false;
+		}
+
+	desc->AddRaw("}");
+
+	return true;
+	}
+
+bool JSON::Describe(ODesc* desc, Value* val, const string& name) const
+	{
+	if ( ! val->present )
+		return true;
+
+	if ( name.size() )
+		{
+		desc->AddRaw("\"", 1);
+		desc->Add(name);
+		desc->AddRaw("\":", 2);
+		}
+
+	switch ( val->type )
+		{
+		case TYPE_BOOL:
+			desc->AddRaw(val->val.int_val == 0 ? "false" : "true");
+			break;
+
+		case TYPE_INT:
+			desc->Add(val->val.int_val);
+			break;
+
+		case TYPE_COUNT:
+		case TYPE_COUNTER:
+			{
+			// JSON doesn't support unsigned 64bit ints.
+			if ( val->val.uint_val >= INT64_MAX )
+				{
+				GetThread()->Error(GetThread()->Fmt("count value too large for JSON: %" PRIu64, val->val.uint_val));
+				desc->AddRaw("null", 4);
+				}
+			else
+				desc->Add(val->val.uint_val);
+			break;
+			}
+
+		case TYPE_PORT:
+			desc->Add(val->val.port_val.port);
+			break;
+
+		case TYPE_SUBNET:
+			desc->AddRaw("\"", 1);
+			desc->Add(Render(val->val.subnet_val));
+			desc->AddRaw("\"", 1);
+			break;
+
+		case TYPE_ADDR:
+			desc->AddRaw("\"", 1);
+			desc->Add(Render(val->val.addr_val));
+			desc->AddRaw("\"", 1);
+			break;
+
+		case TYPE_DOUBLE:
+		case TYPE_INTERVAL:
+			desc->Add(val->val.double_val);
+			break;
+
+		case TYPE_TIME:
+			{
+			if ( timestamps == TS_ISO8601 )
+				{
+				char buffer[40];
+				char buffer2[40];
+				time_t t = time_t(val->val.double_val);
+
+				if ( strftime(buffer, sizeof(buffer), "%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S", gmtime(&t)) > 0 )
+					{
+					double integ;
+					double frac = modf(val->val.double_val, &integ);
+					snprintf(buffer2, sizeof(buffer2), "%s.%06.0fZ", buffer, frac * 1000000);
+					desc->AddRaw("\"", 1);
+					desc->Add(buffer2);
+					desc->AddRaw("\"", 1);
+					}
+
+				else
+					GetThread()->Error(GetThread()->Fmt("strftime error for JSON: %" PRIu64));
+
+				}
+
+			else if ( timestamps == TS_EPOCH )
+				desc->Add(val->val.double_val);
+
+			else if ( timestamps == TS_MILLIS )
+				{
+				// ElasticSearch uses milliseconds for timestamps and json only
+				// supports signed ints (uints can be too large).
+				uint64_t ts = (uint64_t) (val->val.double_val * 1000);
+				if ( ts < INT64_MAX )
+					desc->Add(ts);
+				else
+					{
+					GetThread()->Error(GetThread()->Fmt("time value too large for JSON milliseconds: %" PRIu64, ts));
+					desc->AddRaw("null", 4);
+					}
+				}
+
+			break;
+			}
+
+		case TYPE_ENUM:
+		case TYPE_STRING:
+		case TYPE_FILE:
+		case TYPE_FUNC:
+			{
+			desc->AddRaw("\"", 1);
+
+			for ( int i = 0; i < val->val.string_val.length; ++i )
+				{
+				char c = val->val.string_val.data[i];
+
+				// 2byte Unicode escape special characters.
+				if ( c < 32 || c > 126 || c == '\n' || c == '"' || c == '\'' || c == '\\' || c == '&' )
+					{
+					static const char hex_chars[] = "0123456789abcdef";
+					desc->AddRaw("\\u00", 4);
+					desc->AddRaw(&hex_chars[(c & 0xf0) >> 4], 1);
+					desc->AddRaw(&hex_chars[c & 0x0f], 1);
+					}
+				else
+					desc->AddRaw(&c, 1);
+				}
+
+			desc->AddRaw("\"", 1);
+			break;
+			}
+
+		case TYPE_TABLE:
+			{
+			desc->AddRaw("[", 1);
+
+			for ( int j = 0; j < val->val.set_val.size; j++ )
+				{
+				if ( j > 0 )
+					desc->AddRaw(",", 1);
+
+				Describe(desc, val->val.set_val.vals[j]);
+				}
+
+			desc->AddRaw("]", 1);
+			break;
+			}
+
+		case TYPE_VECTOR:
+			{
+			desc->AddRaw("[", 1);
+
+			for ( int j = 0; j < val->val.vector_val.size; j++ )
+				{
+				if ( j > 0 )
+					desc->AddRaw(",", 1);
+				Describe(desc, val->val.vector_val.vals[j]);
+				}
+
+			desc->AddRaw("]", 1);
+			break;
+			}
+
+		default:
+			return false;
+		}
+
+	return true;
+	}
+
+threading::Value* JSON::ParseValue(string s, string name, TypeTag type, TypeTag subtype) const
+	{
+	GetThread()->Error("JSON formatter does not support parsing yet.");
+	return NULL;
+	}
diff --git a/src/threading/formatters/JSON.h b/src/threading/formatters/JSON.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..86f3472125
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/threading/formatters/JSON.h
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+// See the file "COPYING" in the main distribution directory for copyright.
+
+#ifndef THREADING_FORMATTERS_JSON_H
+#define THREADING_FORMATTERS_JSON_H
+
+#include "../Formatter.h"
+
+namespace threading { namespace formatter {
+
+/**
+  * A thread-safe class for converting values into a JSON representation
+  * and vice versa.
+  */
+class JSON : public Formatter {
+public:
+	enum TimeFormat {
+		TS_EPOCH,	// Doubles that represents seconds from the UNIX epoch.
+		TS_ISO8601,	// ISO 8601 defined human readable timestamp format.
+		TS_MILLIS	// Milliseconds from the UNIX epoch.  Some consumers need this (e.g., elasticsearch).
+		};
+
+	JSON(threading::MsgThread* t, TimeFormat tf);
+	virtual ~JSON();
+
+	virtual bool Describe(ODesc* desc, threading::Value* val, const string& name = "") const;
+	virtual bool Describe(ODesc* desc, int num_fields, const threading::Field* const * fields,
+	                      threading::Value** vals) const;
+	virtual threading::Value* ParseValue(string s, string name, TypeTag type, TypeTag subtype = TYPE_ERROR) const;
+
+private:
+	TimeFormat timestamps;
+};
+
+}}
+
+#endif /* THREADING_FORMATTERS_JSON_H */
diff --git a/testing/btest/Baseline/scripts.base.frameworks.logging.ascii-json-iso-timestamps/ssh.log b/testing/btest/Baseline/scripts.base.frameworks.logging.ascii-json-iso-timestamps/ssh.log
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5673a0605a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testing/btest/Baseline/scripts.base.frameworks.logging.ascii-json-iso-timestamps/ssh.log
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+{"t":"2008-07-09T16:13:30.005432Z"}
+{"t":"1986-12-01T01:01:01.900000Z"}
diff --git a/testing/btest/Baseline/scripts.base.frameworks.logging.ascii-json/ssh.log b/testing/btest/Baseline/scripts.base.frameworks.logging.ascii-json/ssh.log
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..180d6a4374
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testing/btest/Baseline/scripts.base.frameworks.logging.ascii-json/ssh.log
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{"b":true,"i":-42,"e":"SSH::LOG","c":21,"p":123,"sn":"10.0.0.0/24","a":"1.2.3.4","d":3.14,"t":1215620010.54321,"iv":100.0,"s":"hurz","sc":[2,4,1,3],"ss":["CC","AA","BB"],"se":[],"vc":[10,20,30],"ve":[],"f":"SSH::foo\u000a{ \u000aif (0 < SSH::i) \u000a\u0009return (Foo);\u000aelse\u000a\u0009return (Bar);\u000a\u000a}"}
diff --git a/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/logging/ascii-json-iso-timestamps.bro b/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/logging/ascii-json-iso-timestamps.bro
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fa2a6f1efd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/logging/ascii-json-iso-timestamps.bro
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+#
+# @TEST-EXEC: bro -b %INPUT
+# @TEST-EXEC: btest-diff ssh.log
+#
+# Testing all possible types.
+
+redef LogAscii::use_json = T;
+redef LogAscii::json_timestamps = JSON::TS_ISO8601;
+
+module SSH;
+
+export {
+	redef enum Log::ID += { LOG };
+
+	type Log: record {
+		t: time;
+	} &log;
+}
+
+event bro_init()
+{
+	Log::create_stream(SSH::LOG, [$columns=Log]);
+	Log::write(SSH::LOG, [
+		$t=(strptime("%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ", "2008-07-09T16:13:30Z") + 0.00543210 secs)
+		]);
+	Log::write(SSH::LOG, [
+		$t=(strptime("%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ", "1986-12-01T01:01:01Z") + 0.90 secs)
+		]);
+
+}
+
diff --git a/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/logging/ascii-json.bro b/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/logging/ascii-json.bro
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2b6055930f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testing/btest/scripts/base/frameworks/logging/ascii-json.bro
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+#
+# @TEST-EXEC: bro -b %INPUT
+# @TEST-EXEC: btest-diff ssh.log
+#
+# Testing all possible types.
+
+redef LogAscii::use_json = T;
+
+module SSH;
+
+export {
+	redef enum Log::ID += { LOG };
+
+	type Log: record {
+		b: bool;
+		i: int;
+		e: Log::ID;
+		c: count;
+		p: port;
+		sn: subnet;
+		a: addr;
+		d: double;
+		t: time;
+		iv: interval;
+		s: string;
+		sc: set[count];
+		ss: set[string];
+		se: set[string];
+		vc: vector of count;
+		ve: vector of string;
+		f: function(i: count) : string;
+	} &log;
+}
+
+function foo(i : count) : string
+	{
+	if ( i > 0 )
+		return "Foo";
+	else
+		return "Bar";
+	}
+
+event bro_init()
+{
+	Log::create_stream(SSH::LOG, [$columns=Log]);
+
+	local empty_set: set[string];
+	local empty_vector: vector of string;
+
+	Log::write(SSH::LOG, [
+		$b=T,
+		$i=-42,
+		$e=SSH::LOG,
+		$c=21,
+		$p=123/tcp,
+		$sn=10.0.0.1/24,
+		$a=1.2.3.4,
+		$d=3.14,
+		$t=(strptime("%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ", "2008-07-09T16:13:30Z") + 0.543210 secs),
+		$iv=100secs,
+		$s="hurz",
+		$sc=set(1,2,3,4),
+		$ss=set("AA", "BB", "CC"),
+		$se=empty_set,
+		$vc=vector(10, 20, 30),
+		$ve=empty_vector,
+		$f=foo
+		]);
+}
+
diff --git a/testing/external/scripts/testing-setup.bro b/testing/external/scripts/testing-setup.bro
index 4b4d110864..5ef35ff3b2 100644
--- a/testing/external/scripts/testing-setup.bro
+++ b/testing/external/scripts/testing-setup.bro
@@ -10,3 +10,9 @@
 	#log forwarding to ES.
 	redef LogElasticSearch::server_host = "";
 @endif
+
+@ifdef ( LogAscii::use_json )
+	# Don't start logging everything as JSON.
+	# (json-logs.bro activates this).
+	redef LogAscii::use_json = F;
+@endif