What directory under contains the log files for a Linux system?
What are Linux Log Files?All Linux systems create and store information log files for boot processes, applications, and other events. These files can be a helpful resource for troubleshooting system issues. Show
Most Linux log files are stored in a plain ASCII text file and are in the /var/log directory and subdirectory. Logs are generated by the Linux system daemon log, syslogd or rsyslogd. This tutorial will walk you through how to find and read Linux log files, and configure the system logging daemon. Prerequisites
1. First, open the Linux terminal as a root user. This will enable root privileges. 2. Use the following command to see the log files:
3. To view the logs, type the following command:
The command displays all Linux log files, such as kern.log and boot.log. These files contain the necessary information for the proper function of the operating system. Log files are accessed using root privileges. By definition, root is the default account that has access to all Linux files. Use the following example line command to access the respective file:
This command displays a timeline of all information related to that operation. Note that log files are stored in plain text so they can be viewed by using the following standard commands:
Note: Check out our comprehensive guide on grep to learn how to use it with examples. Important Linux System LogsLogs can tell a lot about the operations of a system. A good understanding of each type of file will help how to distinguish the respective logs. Most directories can be grouped into one of four categories:
Many of these logs can be located in the var/log subdirectory. System LogsSystems log files are needed for Linux to work. On its own, it contains the most significant amount of information about system functionality. The most common log files are:
System Logging DaemonA daemon log is a program that runs in the background and is essential for system operations. These logs have their own category of logs and are seen as the heart of the logging operations for any system. The path for the system login daemon’s configuration is Each file consists of a selector and an action entry field. The Application LogsApplication logs store information relevant to any application that is executed. This can include error messages, signs of system compromise, and browser identification string. Log files that fall into this category include CUPS Print System logs, Rootkit Hunter log, Apache HTTP server logs, Samba SMB server logs, and X11 server log. Non-Human-Readable LogsNot all logs are designed in a human-readable format. Some are designed only to be read by system applications. Such files are often related to login information. They include login failure logs, last logins logs, and login records. There are tools and software for reading Linux log files. They are not necessary for reading files as most can be read directly from the Linux terminal. Supplemental GUIs for Viewing Linux Log FilesSystem Log Viewer is a GUI that can be used to monitor system logs. The interface provides several functions for managing logs, including a log statistics display. It is a user-friendly log monitoring GUI. Useful features include:
Alternatively, use Xlogmaster which can monitor a considerable number of log files. It features three different modes:
Xlogmaster is useful for increasing security. It translates all data for highlighting, hiding lines, and displays this information for taking user requested action. How to Configure Log Files on Ubuntu and CentOSThis section explains different mechanisms for configuring log files. Let’s start with a CentOS example. To view users currently logged onto a Linux server, enter the who command as a root user:
This also lists the login history of users. To view the login history of the system administrator, enter the following command:
To view information of the last login, enter:
Execute Log RotationLog files that have zeroes appended at the end are rotated files. That means log file names have automatically been changed within the system. The purpose of log rotation is to compress outdated logs that are taking up space. Log rotation can be done using
the
To include additional functionality to logrotate, start by entering the following command:
It compresses and resizes the desired log file. The commands perform the actions as follows:
Conclusion A thorough understanding of how to view and read Linux logs is necessary for troubleshooting a Linux system. Using the proper commands and tools can simplify this process. What directory under contains the log files and spools for Linux system?CIT222 Chapter 4- Linux Filesystem Management Key Terms. Which Linux file system contains log files by default?Most Linux log files are stored in a plain ASCII text file and are in the /var/log directory and subdirectory. Logs are generated by the Linux system daemon log, syslogd or rsyslogd.
In which directory would you expect to find the system log files?By default, Event Viewer log files use the . evt extension and are located in the %SystemRoot%\System32\winevt\Logs folder. Log file name and location information is stored in the registry.
Which directory contains all the files needed to boot the Linux system?The root filesystem is the top-level directory of the filesystem. It must contain all of the files required to boot the Linux system before other filesystems are mounted.
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