diff --git a/accounts/pkg/config/config.go b/accounts/pkg/config/config.go
index e210736161..305fa5e219 100644
--- a/accounts/pkg/config/config.go
+++ b/accounts/pkg/config/config.go
@@ -12,9 +12,9 @@ type Config struct {
 
 	Service Service
 
-	Tracing Tracing `ocisConfig:"tracing"`
-	Log     *Log    `ocisConfig:"log"`
-	Debug   Debug   `ocisConfig:"debug"`
+	Tracing *Tracing `ocisConfig:"tracing"`
+	Log     *Log     `ocisConfig:"log"`
+	Debug   Debug    `ocisConfig:"debug"`
 
 	HTTP HTTP `ocisConfig:"http"`
 	GRPC GRPC `ocisConfig:"grpc"`
diff --git a/accounts/pkg/config/parser/parse.go b/accounts/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
index dee2dc13b7..92cba79b5f 100644
--- a/accounts/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
+++ b/accounts/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
@@ -28,6 +28,17 @@ func ParseConfig(cfg *config.Config) error {
 	} else if cfg.Log == nil && cfg.Commons == nil {
 		cfg.Log = &config.Log{}
 	}
+	// provide with defaults for shared tracing, since we need a valid destination address for BindEnv.
+	if cfg.Tracing == nil && cfg.Commons != nil && cfg.Commons.Tracing != nil {
+		cfg.Tracing = &config.Tracing{
+			Enabled:   cfg.Commons.Tracing.Enabled,
+			Type:      cfg.Commons.Tracing.Type,
+			Endpoint:  cfg.Commons.Tracing.Endpoint,
+			Collector: cfg.Commons.Tracing.Collector,
+		}
+	} else if cfg.Tracing == nil && cfg.Commons == nil {
+		cfg.Tracing = &config.Tracing{}
+	}
 
 	// load all env variables relevant to the config in the current context.
 	if err := envdecode.Decode(cfg); err != nil {
diff --git a/deployments/examples/oc10_ocis_parallel/monitoring_tracing/docker-compose-additions.yml b/deployments/examples/oc10_ocis_parallel/monitoring_tracing/docker-compose-additions.yml
index a077eda65d..8abdf4e838 100644
--- a/deployments/examples/oc10_ocis_parallel/monitoring_tracing/docker-compose-additions.yml
+++ b/deployments/examples/oc10_ocis_parallel/monitoring_tracing/docker-compose-additions.yml
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ services:
     environment:
       # tracing
       OCIS_TRACING_ENABLED: "true"
+      OCIS_TRACING_TYPE: "jaeger"
       OCIS_TRACING_ENDPOINT: jaeger-agent:6831
       # metrics
       APP_PROVIDER_DEBUG_ADDR: 0.0.0.0:9165
diff --git a/deployments/examples/ocis_hello/monitoring_tracing/docker-compose-additions.yml b/deployments/examples/ocis_hello/monitoring_tracing/docker-compose-additions.yml
index a077eda65d..8abdf4e838 100644
--- a/deployments/examples/ocis_hello/monitoring_tracing/docker-compose-additions.yml
+++ b/deployments/examples/ocis_hello/monitoring_tracing/docker-compose-additions.yml
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ services:
     environment:
       # tracing
       OCIS_TRACING_ENABLED: "true"
+      OCIS_TRACING_TYPE: "jaeger"
       OCIS_TRACING_ENDPOINT: jaeger-agent:6831
       # metrics
       APP_PROVIDER_DEBUG_ADDR: 0.0.0.0:9165
diff --git a/deployments/examples/ocis_keycloak/monitoring_tracing/docker-compose-additions.yml b/deployments/examples/ocis_keycloak/monitoring_tracing/docker-compose-additions.yml
index a077eda65d..8abdf4e838 100644
--- a/deployments/examples/ocis_keycloak/monitoring_tracing/docker-compose-additions.yml
+++ b/deployments/examples/ocis_keycloak/monitoring_tracing/docker-compose-additions.yml
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ services:
     environment:
       # tracing
       OCIS_TRACING_ENABLED: "true"
+      OCIS_TRACING_TYPE: "jaeger"
       OCIS_TRACING_ENDPOINT: jaeger-agent:6831
       # metrics
       APP_PROVIDER_DEBUG_ADDR: 0.0.0.0:9165
diff --git a/deployments/examples/ocis_ldap/monitoring_tracing/docker-compose-additions.yml b/deployments/examples/ocis_ldap/monitoring_tracing/docker-compose-additions.yml
index a077eda65d..8abdf4e838 100644
--- a/deployments/examples/ocis_ldap/monitoring_tracing/docker-compose-additions.yml
+++ b/deployments/examples/ocis_ldap/monitoring_tracing/docker-compose-additions.yml
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ services:
     environment:
       # tracing
       OCIS_TRACING_ENABLED: "true"
+      OCIS_TRACING_TYPE: "jaeger"
       OCIS_TRACING_ENDPOINT: jaeger-agent:6831
       # metrics
       APP_PROVIDER_DEBUG_ADDR: 0.0.0.0:9165
diff --git a/deployments/examples/ocis_s3/monitoring_tracing/docker-compose-additions.yml b/deployments/examples/ocis_s3/monitoring_tracing/docker-compose-additions.yml
index a077eda65d..8abdf4e838 100644
--- a/deployments/examples/ocis_s3/monitoring_tracing/docker-compose-additions.yml
+++ b/deployments/examples/ocis_s3/monitoring_tracing/docker-compose-additions.yml
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ services:
     environment:
       # tracing
       OCIS_TRACING_ENABLED: "true"
+      OCIS_TRACING_TYPE: "jaeger"
       OCIS_TRACING_ENDPOINT: jaeger-agent:6831
       # metrics
       APP_PROVIDER_DEBUG_ADDR: 0.0.0.0:9165
diff --git a/deployments/examples/ocis_traefik/monitoring_tracing/docker-compose-additions.yml b/deployments/examples/ocis_traefik/monitoring_tracing/docker-compose-additions.yml
index a077eda65d..8abdf4e838 100644
--- a/deployments/examples/ocis_traefik/monitoring_tracing/docker-compose-additions.yml
+++ b/deployments/examples/ocis_traefik/monitoring_tracing/docker-compose-additions.yml
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ services:
     environment:
       # tracing
       OCIS_TRACING_ENABLED: "true"
+      OCIS_TRACING_TYPE: "jaeger"
       OCIS_TRACING_ENDPOINT: jaeger-agent:6831
       # metrics
       APP_PROVIDER_DEBUG_ADDR: 0.0.0.0:9165
diff --git a/deployments/examples/ocis_wopi/monitoring_tracing/docker-compose-additions.yml b/deployments/examples/ocis_wopi/monitoring_tracing/docker-compose-additions.yml
index a077eda65d..8abdf4e838 100644
--- a/deployments/examples/ocis_wopi/monitoring_tracing/docker-compose-additions.yml
+++ b/deployments/examples/ocis_wopi/monitoring_tracing/docker-compose-additions.yml
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ services:
     environment:
       # tracing
       OCIS_TRACING_ENABLED: "true"
+      OCIS_TRACING_TYPE: "jaeger"
       OCIS_TRACING_ENDPOINT: jaeger-agent:6831
       # metrics
       APP_PROVIDER_DEBUG_ADDR: 0.0.0.0:9165
diff --git a/glauth/pkg/config/config.go b/glauth/pkg/config/config.go
index 3d687319cd..7de14cf687 100644
--- a/glauth/pkg/config/config.go
+++ b/glauth/pkg/config/config.go
@@ -12,9 +12,9 @@ type Config struct {
 
 	Service Service
 
-	Tracing Tracing `ocisConfig:"tracing"`
-	Log     *Log    `ocisConfig:"log"`
-	Debug   Debug   `ocisConfig:"debug"`
+	Tracing *Tracing `ocisConfig:"tracing"`
+	Log     *Log     `ocisConfig:"log"`
+	Debug   Debug    `ocisConfig:"debug"`
 
 	Ldap  Ldap  `ocisConfig:"ldap"`
 	Ldaps Ldaps `ocisConfig:"ldaps"`
diff --git a/glauth/pkg/config/parser/parse.go b/glauth/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
index b2a18b2a90..540bf80d3e 100644
--- a/glauth/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
+++ b/glauth/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
@@ -27,6 +27,17 @@ func ParseConfig(cfg *config.Config) error {
 	} else if cfg.Log == nil && cfg.Commons == nil {
 		cfg.Log = &config.Log{}
 	}
+	// provide with defaults for shared tracing, since we need a valid destination address for BindEnv.
+	if cfg.Tracing == nil && cfg.Commons != nil && cfg.Commons.Tracing != nil {
+		cfg.Tracing = &config.Tracing{
+			Enabled:   cfg.Commons.Tracing.Enabled,
+			Type:      cfg.Commons.Tracing.Type,
+			Endpoint:  cfg.Commons.Tracing.Endpoint,
+			Collector: cfg.Commons.Tracing.Collector,
+		}
+	} else if cfg.Tracing == nil && cfg.Commons == nil {
+		cfg.Tracing = &config.Tracing{}
+	}
 
 	// load all env variables relevant to the config in the current context.
 	if err := envdecode.Decode(cfg); err != nil {
diff --git a/graph-explorer/pkg/config/config.go b/graph-explorer/pkg/config/config.go
index d84c239fde..2d70fd664a 100644
--- a/graph-explorer/pkg/config/config.go
+++ b/graph-explorer/pkg/config/config.go
@@ -12,9 +12,9 @@ type Config struct {
 
 	Service Service
 
-	Tracing Tracing `ocisConfig:"tracing"`
-	Log     *Log    `ocisConfig:"log"`
-	Debug   Debug   `ocisConfig:"debug"`
+	Tracing *Tracing `ocisConfig:"tracing"`
+	Log     *Log     `ocisConfig:"log"`
+	Debug   Debug    `ocisConfig:"debug"`
 
 	HTTP HTTP `ocisConfig:"http"`
 
diff --git a/graph-explorer/pkg/config/parser/parse.go b/graph-explorer/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
index be113e4598..cb463eecf8 100644
--- a/graph-explorer/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
+++ b/graph-explorer/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
@@ -28,6 +28,17 @@ func ParseConfig(cfg *config.Config) error {
 	} else if cfg.Log == nil && cfg.Commons == nil {
 		cfg.Log = &config.Log{}
 	}
+	// provide with defaults for shared tracing, since we need a valid destination address for BindEnv.
+	if cfg.Tracing == nil && cfg.Commons != nil && cfg.Commons.Tracing != nil {
+		cfg.Tracing = &config.Tracing{
+			Enabled:   cfg.Commons.Tracing.Enabled,
+			Type:      cfg.Commons.Tracing.Type,
+			Endpoint:  cfg.Commons.Tracing.Endpoint,
+			Collector: cfg.Commons.Tracing.Collector,
+		}
+	} else if cfg.Tracing == nil && cfg.Commons == nil {
+		cfg.Tracing = &config.Tracing{}
+	}
 
 	// load all env variables relevant to the config in the current context.
 	if err := envdecode.Decode(cfg); err != nil {
diff --git a/graph/pkg/config/config.go b/graph/pkg/config/config.go
index 523bcfdb04..d094cf54f9 100644
--- a/graph/pkg/config/config.go
+++ b/graph/pkg/config/config.go
@@ -12,9 +12,9 @@ type Config struct {
 
 	Service Service
 
-	Tracing Tracing `ocisConfig:"tracing"`
-	Log     *Log    `ocisConfig:"log"`
-	Debug   Debug   `ocisConfig:"debug"`
+	Tracing *Tracing `ocisConfig:"tracing"`
+	Log     *Log     `ocisConfig:"log"`
+	Debug   Debug    `ocisConfig:"debug"`
 
 	HTTP HTTP `ocisConfig:"http"`
 
diff --git a/graph/pkg/config/parser/parse.go b/graph/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
index 8856821543..bfb1302bbf 100644
--- a/graph/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
+++ b/graph/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
@@ -28,6 +28,17 @@ func ParseConfig(cfg *config.Config) error {
 	} else if cfg.Log == nil && cfg.Commons == nil {
 		cfg.Log = &config.Log{}
 	}
+	// provide with defaults for shared tracing, since we need a valid destination address for BindEnv.
+	if cfg.Tracing == nil && cfg.Commons != nil && cfg.Commons.Tracing != nil {
+		cfg.Tracing = &config.Tracing{
+			Enabled:   cfg.Commons.Tracing.Enabled,
+			Type:      cfg.Commons.Tracing.Type,
+			Endpoint:  cfg.Commons.Tracing.Endpoint,
+			Collector: cfg.Commons.Tracing.Collector,
+		}
+	} else if cfg.Tracing == nil && cfg.Commons == nil {
+		cfg.Tracing = &config.Tracing{}
+	}
 
 	// load all env variables relevant to the config in the current context.
 	if err := envdecode.Decode(cfg); err != nil {
diff --git a/idp/pkg/config/config.go b/idp/pkg/config/config.go
index 7c16b9b1bf..4e5e4b0d13 100644
--- a/idp/pkg/config/config.go
+++ b/idp/pkg/config/config.go
@@ -12,9 +12,9 @@ type Config struct {
 
 	Service Service
 
-	Tracing Tracing `ocisConfig:"tracing"`
-	Log     *Log    `ocisConfig:"log"`
-	Debug   Debug   `ocisConfig:"debug"`
+	Tracing *Tracing `ocisConfig:"tracing"`
+	Log     *Log     `ocisConfig:"log"`
+	Debug   Debug    `ocisConfig:"debug"`
 
 	HTTP HTTP `ocisConfig:"http"`
 
diff --git a/idp/pkg/config/parser/parse.go b/idp/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
index de98f42d68..faa1ea1665 100644
--- a/idp/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
+++ b/idp/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
@@ -28,6 +28,17 @@ func ParseConfig(cfg *config.Config) error {
 	} else if cfg.Log == nil && cfg.Commons == nil {
 		cfg.Log = &config.Log{}
 	}
+	// provide with defaults for shared tracing, since we need a valid destination address for BindEnv.
+	if cfg.Tracing == nil && cfg.Commons != nil && cfg.Commons.Tracing != nil {
+		cfg.Tracing = &config.Tracing{
+			Enabled:   cfg.Commons.Tracing.Enabled,
+			Type:      cfg.Commons.Tracing.Type,
+			Endpoint:  cfg.Commons.Tracing.Endpoint,
+			Collector: cfg.Commons.Tracing.Collector,
+		}
+	} else if cfg.Tracing == nil && cfg.Commons == nil {
+		cfg.Tracing = &config.Tracing{}
+	}
 
 	// load all env variables relevant to the config in the current context.
 	if err := envdecode.Decode(cfg); err != nil {
diff --git a/ocis-pkg/tracing/tracing.go b/ocis-pkg/tracing/tracing.go
index f12664b9dd..7d76e63524 100644
--- a/ocis-pkg/tracing/tracing.go
+++ b/ocis-pkg/tracing/tracing.go
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ var Propagator = propagation.NewCompositeTextMapPropagator(
 // GetTraceProvider returns a configured open-telemetry trace provider.
 func GetTraceProvider(agentEndpoint, collectorEndpoint, serviceName, traceType string) (*sdktrace.TracerProvider, error) {
 	switch t := traceType; t {
-	case "jaeger":
+	case "", "jaeger":
 		var (
 			exp *jaeger.Exporter
 			err error
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ func GetTraceProvider(agentEndpoint, collectorEndpoint, serviceName, traceType s
 	case "zipkin":
 		fallthrough
 	default:
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid trace configuration")
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unknown trace type %s", traceType)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/ocs/pkg/config/config.go b/ocs/pkg/config/config.go
index bfad75d860..2c9693adca 100644
--- a/ocs/pkg/config/config.go
+++ b/ocs/pkg/config/config.go
@@ -12,9 +12,9 @@ type Config struct {
 
 	Service Service
 
-	Tracing Tracing `ocisConfig:"tracing"`
-	Log     *Log    `ocisConfig:"log"`
-	Debug   Debug   `ocisConfig:"debug"`
+	Tracing *Tracing `ocisConfig:"tracing"`
+	Log     *Log     `ocisConfig:"log"`
+	Debug   Debug    `ocisConfig:"debug"`
 
 	HTTP HTTP `ocisConfig:"http"`
 
diff --git a/ocs/pkg/config/parser/parse.go b/ocs/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
index 9a50e535b3..48f8e51a2d 100644
--- a/ocs/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
+++ b/ocs/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
@@ -28,6 +28,17 @@ func ParseConfig(cfg *config.Config) error {
 	} else if cfg.Log == nil && cfg.Commons == nil {
 		cfg.Log = &config.Log{}
 	}
+	// provide with defaults for shared tracing, since we need a valid destination address for BindEnv.
+	if cfg.Tracing == nil && cfg.Commons != nil && cfg.Commons.Tracing != nil {
+		cfg.Tracing = &config.Tracing{
+			Enabled:   cfg.Commons.Tracing.Enabled,
+			Type:      cfg.Commons.Tracing.Type,
+			Endpoint:  cfg.Commons.Tracing.Endpoint,
+			Collector: cfg.Commons.Tracing.Collector,
+		}
+	} else if cfg.Tracing == nil && cfg.Commons == nil {
+		cfg.Tracing = &config.Tracing{}
+	}
 
 	// load all env variables relevant to the config in the current context.
 	if err := envdecode.Decode(cfg); err != nil {
diff --git a/proxy/pkg/config/config.go b/proxy/pkg/config/config.go
index c525421e80..277b7dff2d 100644
--- a/proxy/pkg/config/config.go
+++ b/proxy/pkg/config/config.go
@@ -12,9 +12,9 @@ type Config struct {
 
 	Service Service
 
-	Tracing Tracing `ocisConfig:"tracing"`
-	Log     *Log    `ocisConfig:"log"`
-	Debug   Debug   `ocisConfig:"debug"`
+	Tracing *Tracing `ocisConfig:"tracing"`
+	Log     *Log     `ocisConfig:"log"`
+	Debug   Debug    `ocisConfig:"debug"`
 
 	HTTP HTTP `ocisConfig:"http"`
 
diff --git a/proxy/pkg/config/parser/parse.go b/proxy/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
index 65921b31cf..493ed0bca6 100644
--- a/proxy/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
+++ b/proxy/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
@@ -28,6 +28,17 @@ func ParseConfig(cfg *config.Config) error {
 	} else if cfg.Log == nil && cfg.Commons == nil {
 		cfg.Log = &config.Log{}
 	}
+	// provide with defaults for shared tracing, since we need a valid destination address for BindEnv.
+	if cfg.Tracing == nil && cfg.Commons != nil && cfg.Commons.Tracing != nil {
+		cfg.Tracing = &config.Tracing{
+			Enabled:   cfg.Commons.Tracing.Enabled,
+			Type:      cfg.Commons.Tracing.Type,
+			Endpoint:  cfg.Commons.Tracing.Endpoint,
+			Collector: cfg.Commons.Tracing.Collector,
+		}
+	} else if cfg.Tracing == nil && cfg.Commons == nil {
+		cfg.Tracing = &config.Tracing{}
+	}
 
 	// load all env variables relevant to the config in the current context.
 	if err := envdecode.Decode(cfg); err != nil {
diff --git a/settings/pkg/config/config.go b/settings/pkg/config/config.go
index fce3b34d5f..8e9e5f1eff 100644
--- a/settings/pkg/config/config.go
+++ b/settings/pkg/config/config.go
@@ -12,9 +12,9 @@ type Config struct {
 
 	Service Service
 
-	Tracing Tracing `ocisConfig:"tracing"`
-	Log     *Log    `ocisConfig:"log"`
-	Debug   Debug   `ocisConfig:"debug"`
+	Tracing *Tracing `ocisConfig:"tracing"`
+	Log     *Log     `ocisConfig:"log"`
+	Debug   Debug    `ocisConfig:"debug"`
 
 	HTTP HTTP `ocisConfig:"http"`
 	GRPC GRPC `ocisConfig:"grpc"`
diff --git a/settings/pkg/config/parser/parse.go b/settings/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
index 551d44108c..5ceb37a1ff 100644
--- a/settings/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
+++ b/settings/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
@@ -28,6 +28,17 @@ func ParseConfig(cfg *config.Config) error {
 	} else if cfg.Log == nil && cfg.Commons == nil {
 		cfg.Log = &config.Log{}
 	}
+	// provide with defaults for shared tracing, since we need a valid destination address for BindEnv.
+	if cfg.Tracing == nil && cfg.Commons != nil && cfg.Commons.Tracing != nil {
+		cfg.Tracing = &config.Tracing{
+			Enabled:   cfg.Commons.Tracing.Enabled,
+			Type:      cfg.Commons.Tracing.Type,
+			Endpoint:  cfg.Commons.Tracing.Endpoint,
+			Collector: cfg.Commons.Tracing.Collector,
+		}
+	} else if cfg.Tracing == nil && cfg.Commons == nil {
+		cfg.Tracing = &config.Tracing{}
+	}
 
 	// load all env variables relevant to the config in the current context.
 	if err := envdecode.Decode(cfg); err != nil {
diff --git a/store/pkg/config/config.go b/store/pkg/config/config.go
index 46855d55da..585fd7424a 100644
--- a/store/pkg/config/config.go
+++ b/store/pkg/config/config.go
@@ -12,9 +12,9 @@ type Config struct {
 
 	Service Service
 
-	Tracing Tracing `ocisConfig:"tracing"`
-	Log     *Log    `ocisConfig:"log"`
-	Debug   Debug   `ocisConfig:"debug"`
+	Tracing *Tracing `ocisConfig:"tracing"`
+	Log     *Log     `ocisConfig:"log"`
+	Debug   Debug    `ocisConfig:"debug"`
 
 	GRPC GRPC `ocisConfig:"grpc"`
 
diff --git a/store/pkg/config/parser/parse.go b/store/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
index f3789eecbf..29e2efa292 100644
--- a/store/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
+++ b/store/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
@@ -27,6 +27,17 @@ func ParseConfig(cfg *config.Config) error {
 	} else if cfg.Log == nil && cfg.Commons == nil {
 		cfg.Log = &config.Log{}
 	}
+	// provide with defaults for shared tracing, since we need a valid destination address for BindEnv.
+	if cfg.Tracing == nil && cfg.Commons != nil && cfg.Commons.Tracing != nil {
+		cfg.Tracing = &config.Tracing{
+			Enabled:   cfg.Commons.Tracing.Enabled,
+			Type:      cfg.Commons.Tracing.Type,
+			Endpoint:  cfg.Commons.Tracing.Endpoint,
+			Collector: cfg.Commons.Tracing.Collector,
+		}
+	} else if cfg.Tracing == nil && cfg.Commons == nil {
+		cfg.Tracing = &config.Tracing{}
+	}
 
 	// load all env variables relevant to the config in the current context.
 	if err := envdecode.Decode(cfg); err != nil {
diff --git a/thumbnails/pkg/config/config.go b/thumbnails/pkg/config/config.go
index 8ab2d5bfd2..527f94a50e 100644
--- a/thumbnails/pkg/config/config.go
+++ b/thumbnails/pkg/config/config.go
@@ -12,9 +12,9 @@ type Config struct {
 
 	Service Service
 
-	Tracing Tracing `ocisConfig:"tracing"`
-	Log     *Log    `ocisConfig:"log"`
-	Debug   Debug   `ocisConfig:"debug"`
+	Tracing *Tracing `ocisConfig:"tracing"`
+	Log     *Log     `ocisConfig:"log"`
+	Debug   Debug    `ocisConfig:"debug"`
 
 	GRPC GRPC `ocisConfig:"grpc"`
 
diff --git a/thumbnails/pkg/config/parser/parse.go b/thumbnails/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
index 3591aea8a5..e621f53d07 100644
--- a/thumbnails/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
+++ b/thumbnails/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
@@ -27,6 +27,17 @@ func ParseConfig(cfg *config.Config) error {
 	} else if cfg.Log == nil && cfg.Commons == nil {
 		cfg.Log = &config.Log{}
 	}
+	// provide with defaults for shared tracing, since we need a valid destination address for BindEnv.
+	if cfg.Tracing == nil && cfg.Commons != nil && cfg.Commons.Tracing != nil {
+		cfg.Tracing = &config.Tracing{
+			Enabled:   cfg.Commons.Tracing.Enabled,
+			Type:      cfg.Commons.Tracing.Type,
+			Endpoint:  cfg.Commons.Tracing.Endpoint,
+			Collector: cfg.Commons.Tracing.Collector,
+		}
+	} else if cfg.Tracing == nil && cfg.Commons == nil {
+		cfg.Tracing = &config.Tracing{}
+	}
 
 	// load all env variables relevant to the config in the current context.
 	if err := envdecode.Decode(cfg); err != nil {
diff --git a/web/pkg/config/config.go b/web/pkg/config/config.go
index 13f67adfef..d403136e18 100644
--- a/web/pkg/config/config.go
+++ b/web/pkg/config/config.go
@@ -12,9 +12,9 @@ type Config struct {
 
 	Service Service
 
-	Tracing Tracing `ocisConfig:"tracing"`
-	Log     *Log    `ocisConfig:"log"`
-	Debug   Debug   `ocisConfig:"debug"`
+	Tracing *Tracing `ocisConfig:"tracing"`
+	Log     *Log     `ocisConfig:"log"`
+	Debug   Debug    `ocisConfig:"debug"`
 
 	HTTP HTTP `ocisConfig:"http"`
 
diff --git a/web/pkg/config/parser/parse.go b/web/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
index 71870c8ce6..766c4d6e81 100644
--- a/web/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
+++ b/web/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
@@ -28,6 +28,17 @@ func ParseConfig(cfg *config.Config) error {
 	} else if cfg.Log == nil && cfg.Commons == nil {
 		cfg.Log = &config.Log{}
 	}
+	// provide with defaults for shared tracing, since we need a valid destination address for BindEnv.
+	if cfg.Tracing == nil && cfg.Commons != nil && cfg.Commons.Tracing != nil {
+		cfg.Tracing = &config.Tracing{
+			Enabled:   cfg.Commons.Tracing.Enabled,
+			Type:      cfg.Commons.Tracing.Type,
+			Endpoint:  cfg.Commons.Tracing.Endpoint,
+			Collector: cfg.Commons.Tracing.Collector,
+		}
+	} else if cfg.Tracing == nil && cfg.Commons == nil {
+		cfg.Tracing = &config.Tracing{}
+	}
 
 	// load all env variables relevant to the config in the current context.
 	if err := envdecode.Decode(cfg); err != nil {
diff --git a/webdav/pkg/config/config.go b/webdav/pkg/config/config.go
index 7c48724c22..04fb193e56 100644
--- a/webdav/pkg/config/config.go
+++ b/webdav/pkg/config/config.go
@@ -12,9 +12,9 @@ type Config struct {
 
 	Service Service
 
-	Tracing Tracing `ocisConfig:"tracing"`
-	Log     *Log    `ocisConfig:"log"`
-	Debug   Debug   `ocisConfig:"debug"`
+	Tracing *Tracing `ocisConfig:"tracing"`
+	Log     *Log     `ocisConfig:"log"`
+	Debug   Debug    `ocisConfig:"debug"`
 
 	HTTP HTTP `ocisConfig:"http"`
 
diff --git a/webdav/pkg/config/parser/parse.go b/webdav/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
index 66341b0992..e6e0246aff 100644
--- a/webdav/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
+++ b/webdav/pkg/config/parser/parse.go
@@ -28,6 +28,17 @@ func ParseConfig(cfg *config.Config) error {
 	} else if cfg.Log == nil && cfg.Commons == nil {
 		cfg.Log = &config.Log{}
 	}
+	// provide with defaults for shared tracing, since we need a valid destination address for BindEnv.
+	if cfg.Tracing == nil && cfg.Commons != nil && cfg.Commons.Tracing != nil {
+		cfg.Tracing = &config.Tracing{
+			Enabled:   cfg.Commons.Tracing.Enabled,
+			Type:      cfg.Commons.Tracing.Type,
+			Endpoint:  cfg.Commons.Tracing.Endpoint,
+			Collector: cfg.Commons.Tracing.Collector,
+		}
+	} else if cfg.Tracing == nil && cfg.Commons == nil {
+		cfg.Tracing = &config.Tracing{}
+	}
 
 	// load all env variables relevant to the config in the current context.
 	if err := envdecode.Decode(cfg); err != nil {