protected GelfTransport buildTransport(final Configuration configuration) throws MessageOutputConfigurationException {
final String protocol = configuration.getString(CK_PROTOCOL).toUpperCase();
final String hostname = configuration.getString(CK_HOSTNAME);
final int port = configuration.getInt(CK_PORT);
final GelfConfiguration gelfConfiguration = new GelfConfiguration(new InetSocketAddress(hostname, port))
.transport(GelfTransports.valueOf(protocol));
LOG.debug("Initializing GELF sender and connecting to {}://{}:{}", protocol, hostname, port);
final GelfTransport gelfTransport;